VILLAGE OF CONSTANTINE
Regular Meeting, March 2, 2009
Council Room, 7:30 PM

President Weiss called the Regular March 2, 2009 Meeting of the Constantine Village Council to order at 7:30PM at the Village Hall.

ROLL CALL
Present at Roll Call: Trustees Brewer, Brown, Harder, LaFluer, Mathers, Moore and President Weiss. Also present: Manager Honeysett, Treasurer Strawser, Rental Inspector Lammott and Clerk Strawser. The pledge of allegiance followed Roll Call.

President Weiss read a homily about change attributed to President Obama.

AGENDA
Motion by Brewer, Seconded by LaFluer, to adopt the agenda as presented. Motion passed by affirmation 7 – 0.

MINUTES
Motion by Brown, Seconded by Harder, to approve the Regular February 16, 2009 minutes as corrected. Motion passed by Roll Call 7 – 0. Corrections: Page 2, Paragraph 11, Line 2: President Weiss said that since all the quote differences were on the “slick top” model… - add- President Weiss said that since all the quote differences were less on the preferred “slick top” model, she no longer saw a need for an explanation.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
President Weiss welcomed the CHS students in attendance. No one rose to speak.

JACKSON INTERNATIONAL IFT – PUBLIC HEARING
President Weiss called the Public Hearing regarding Jackson International’s Industrial Facilities Tax Abatement to order at 7:35PM .

Manager Honeysett introduced Jackson International’s request for an IFT, saying that the State Department of Treasury had recommended the action following the fire. Mr. Jackson praised the Fire Department for its speed and skill, and the Village for providing office space so that their company could continue operating within two days of the fire that destroyed 20% of their building and smoke-damaged the remainder. He said they are still waiting to learn full details of their insurance settlement. The company is one of two in North America producing railcar-uncoupling devices. The abatement request is for replacement equipment and restoration of the fire-damaged building and takes the place of their 2006 IFT.

President Weiss closed the Public Hearing at 7:40PM .

RESOLUTION NO. 09-01 JACKSON IFT
Motion by Brewer, Seconded by LaFluer, to approve Resolution No. 09-01, an application by Jackson International for an IFT. Motion passed by Roll Call 7 – 0.

Resolution No. 09-01

Approving an application by Jackson International for an Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate for equipment acquisition.

WHEREAS, Jackson International Inc. has filed an application for an Industrial Facilities exemption Certificate with respect to equipment acquisition and building restoration within a Constantine Industrial Development District, and;

WHEREAS, before acting on said application, the Village Council held a Public Hearing on March 2, 2009 to allow the applicant, the assessor and representatives of the affected taxing units an opportunity to be heard on said application, and;

WHEREAS, it appears to the Village Council that said application complies with Section 9 of PA198 of 1974 and with other provisions of the Act;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Constantine Village Council that:

• The Village finds and determines that the granting of this IFE Certificate, considered together with the aggregate amount of Industrial Facilities Certificates previously granted and currently in force under PA198 of 1974 and PA225 of 1978, shall not have the effect of substantially impeding the operation of the Village of Constantine or impairing the financial soundness of a taxing unit that levies ad valorem property taxes in the Village of Constantine.
• The application by Jackson International, Inc. for an Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate with respect to the acquisition of new equipment to be installed, and restoration of the building on the following described parcel of real property situated within a Constantine Industrial Development District, to wit:

Parcel – 43 100 006 000 (description attached)

Be and the same is hereby approved.

3) The Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificates, when issued, shall be and remain in force and effect for a period of twelve (12) years.

NEW POLICE CRUISER
Manager Honeysett said it was partly his fault that the new police car arrived white instead of black, but that if Seelye cannot trade it for a black model, they will paint it black.

BILLS AND TRANSFERS
Motion by Mathers, Seconded by LaFluer, to pay the bills and make the necessary transfers totaling $6,562.88. Motion passed by Roll Call 7 – 0. (These were bills paid after the 2-16-09 bill approval.)

VILLAGE BOARD/COMMITTEE APPLICATION
Manager Honeysett asked for comment on the application and informational paperwork for board and committee appointment based on the Sturgis model. Manager Honeysett and Trustee Brown praised Diana Lammott for her hard work. Clerk Strawser said that while the information taken from the Sturgis website had useful sections, inserting Constantine instead of Sturgis was not appropriate, especially the page on “Governing of Village Boards and Commissions” since it was in direct conflict with the Village’s own adopted “Rules and Procedures”. President Weiss said that the “Rules and Procedures” needed amending, especially to include an attendance policy for committees. Clerk Strawser reminded President Weiss that such a policy would have no effect on the DDA, Planning Commission or ZBA, since they have their own individual bylaws/procedures they must follow. Trustee LaFluer asked that descriptions be included for the Cool Cities Committee and the Park & Recreation Board.

VISIONING MEETING
Manager Honeysett announced that because the success of the February 26 th Visioning Meeting, a second Visioning meeting facilitated by MSUE’s Brad Neumann is planned for Tuesday, March 3, 2009 at 7:00PM, at the Village Hall. Manager Honeysett said the most expressed concern from those in attendance was that nothing came to fruition from past Visioning sessions; he said they would not let failure occur this time.

POLICE CHIEF CONTRACT
Manager Honeysett said the Personnel Committee met on February 24 th to consider entering into 2-year Police Chief contract with Jim Bedell (retired MI State Police officer) for the Village effective June 1, 2009 . Personnel Committee Chairperson Trustee Brewer read Mr. Bedell’s résumé and praised his qualifications, saying he has known him for many years. Trustee Brown said he could support the contract with the severance clause as written, saying an “at will” employee serves at the pleasure of his employer. Trustee Brewer and Manager Honeysett said other departments allow such severance compensation as long as they are not terminated for “just cause”. Treasurer Strawser asked why the Village Council was not conducting job interviews for the position as in the past. Manager Honeysett said he had been given a mandate to hire by the Council and that it was not normal Village practice to hold public interviews for the position of Police Chief. Treasurer Strawser said she attends all meetings and did not hear any such mandate and asked why the more open procedure could not be followed. Trustee Brewer said this way saved time and money. Manager Honeysett said Mr. Bedell more then met the hiring criteria. President Weiss questioned the three weeks paid vacation in the first year. Manager Honeysett said it would be for the first calendar year. Clerk Strawser asked if the attorney had reviewed the contract. Manager Honeysett said the attorney had not, and that there was no need since it was based on the Manager’s contract. Clerk Strawser asked if the additional $50,000 was coming from the Police and General Funds. Manager Honeysett said it would be spread across multiple department funds.

Motion by Brewer, Seconded by Moore , to appoint James Bedell as Police Chief as per the recommendation of the Village Manager.

Manager Honeysett said the start date needed to be changed from July 1 to June 1, 2009 andthat the Village President should sign the contract.

Motion amended by Brewer, Seconded by Moore, to appoint James Bedell as Police Chief as per the recommendation of the Village Manager, and to authorize the Village Manager and Village President to enter into the employment agreement as presented, date to start corrected to June 1, 2009. Motion passed by Roll Call 6 – 1. Voting YES: Brewer, Harder, LaFluer, Mathers, Moore and Weiss. Voting NO: Brown. (This is a two-year contract; first year the annual salary will be $49,000.00. Health, life and disability insurance, sick, vacation and personal time off, and retirement benefits bring the total package to $55,892.00.)

DASAS SERVICES CONTRACT
President Weiss said that the Domestic Assault contract was the same as passed each year, and that it should be supported although the figures were again in error, the difference in the correct amount was negligible.

Motion by Brown, Seconded by Mathers, to authorize the Village Manager to sign an agreement with Domestic and Sexual Assault Services of Cass and St. Joseph Counties on behalf of the Village of Constantine, the Village to assist with the funding of 2009 DASAS programs in the amount of $529.25 or 25¢ per village resident. Motion passed by Roll Call 7 – 0.

VILLAGE HALL – TREE
Some Village officials asked that the pine tree in front of Village Hall be cut down since it was no longer pretty, is a security hazard because it blocks the street view of the Village Hall meeting room door, and is a safety hazard because the sidewalk is beginning to buckle. They suggested replacing it with a historically appropriate sign, such as the Meek’s Mill logo. Manager Honeysett said it wouldn’t cost the Village anything since the DPW would remove it. Trustee Brown and Treasurer Strawser asked why the Village planned to ignore the otherwise enforced policy of not removing a healthy tree. Leonard Moyer, 324 N Washington Street , suggested the tree be re-located.

Motion by Harder, Seconded by Brown, to remove the pine tree from the front of Village Hall was withdrawn following discussion. The Manager will look into the feasibility of relocating the tree.

Adjourned meeting at 8:25PM .

Ruth Strawser
Village Clerk