Village of Constanitne
Regular Council Meeting May 18
Village Hall 8:00 P.M.

NOTE: Some portions of the meeting were unrecorded because of recorder problems.

President Weiss called the Regular May 18, 2009 Meeting of the Constantine Village Council to order at 8:01PM at the Village Hall.

ROLL CALL
Present at Roll Call: Trustees Brewer, Brown, Harder, LaFluer, Mathers, and President Weiss. Absent: Trustee Moore. Also present: Manager Honeysett, Fire Chief Haydon, Treasurer Strawser, Administrative Assistant Lammott and Clerk Strawser. The pledge of allegiance followed Roll Call.

AGENDA
Motion by Mathers, Seconded by Brewer, to approve the agenda as amended. Motion passed by Roll Call 6 – 0. Absent: Moore. Added: under New Business – Parks & Recreation Contribution.

Trustee Moore entered 8:07PM.

MINUTES
Clerk Strawser asked that any corrections or additions of length be provided in writing to insure their accuracy. Trustee Brown said he trusted her abilities to word his addition correctly.

Motion by Brown, Seconded by LaFluer, to approve the Regular May 4, 2009 minutes as corrected. Motion passed by Roll Call 6 –0. Abstained: Moore.

Corrections: Page 1, Paragraph 5, Line 1 - Motion by Mathers, Seconded by Harder, to accept the Regular April 20, 2009 Meeting minutes as correct. –corrected to read– Motion by Mathers, Seconded by Harder, to accept the Regular April 20, 2009 Meeting minutes as corrected. Page 2, Paragraph 1, Line 4 –removed– Manager Honeysett said he preferred purchasing and fewer good quality chairs…should the need arise.

Manager Honeysett said he preferred purchasing and fewer good quality chairs, but that they could store the better of the old audience chairs for use should the need arise. –corrected to read– Manager Honeysett said he preferred purchasing fewer good quality chairs, but that they could store the better of the old audience chairs for use should the need arise. Page 2, Paragraph 1 –insert– Replacements for the old Council room chairs had been deferred until all Village office furniture replacements were purchased.

Page 2, Paragraph 5, Line 3 –removed– Manager Honeysett said that the current MSHDA grant buildings have met the grant requirements, and that the rules are for such grants are even easier to comply with, although such loans cannot be offered to existing building owners. –corrected to read– Manager Honeysett said that the current MSHDA grant buildings have met the grant requirements, and that the rules for such grants are even easier to comply with, although such loans cannot be offered to existing building owners.

PAYMENT OF BILLS
In response to Police Commissioner Brewer’s questions, Manager Honeysett said that although one of the Tasers had never been fired in the line-of-duty, its relatively exposed holster caused irreparable damage necessitating replacement, and that the units were not as long-lived as regular firearms. Also, the unit’s warranty had expired. In response to questions regarding the computer service bill, Manager Honeysett said that the charges covered multiple computers at multiple locations, much of the repairs having to do with Internet connectivity and website access.

Treasurer Strawser called attention to the Three Rivers Sewer Services Bill for March 2009, pointing out the large increase in daily flow. Manager Honeysett said that increases were likely due to sewer infiltration from runoff caused by melting snow and heavy rain, but that while it increased overall costs, we were not surcharged since our BOD discharges did not increase. Treasurer Strawser expressed concern that TR Clean Water Plant’s Mr. Rozeboom told manager Honeysett that Three Rivers may no longer provide monthly sewer reports since it is not required in the existing contract, Treasurer Strawser pointing out the usefulness of such report information and the ease of creating such reports.

Motion by Brewer, Seconded by LaFluer, to pay the bills and make the necessary transfers totaling $96,685.35.

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

Motion by Brown, Seconded by Brewer, to accept and file the Manager’s and Commissioners’ reports as presented. Motion passed by affirmation 7 – 0.

PUBLIC HEARING – MSHDA SMALL BUSINESS INITIATIVE GRANT CLOSURE

President Weiss called the Public Hearing on the MSHDA SBIG Closure on the Myers-Patterson building located at 105 South Washington Street and Ryan Building located at 176 South Washington Street at 8:19PM.

Treasurer Strawser asked for the closure date, Manager Honeysett saying it could be several weeks into June and that he expects MSHDA to ask for more information before the process is complete. In response to questions, Manager Honeysett said that all conditions have been met and new jobs provided. (No associated paperwork was provided in the packet.)

President Weiss closed the Public Hearing on the MSHDA SBIG Closure at 8:20PM.

PUBLIC HEARING – MEDC SMALL BUSINESS INITIATIVE GRANT APPLICATION

President Weiss called the Public Hearing on the Michigan Economic Development SBIG application on the property at 130 East Water Street at 8:21PM.

Treasurer Strawser expressed concern at the Village taking on more downtown building debt before current MSHDA grants are actually closed. She also questioned the reported appraisal value. Manager Honeysett said that the Village risks were minimal, only $35,750, with the obligation dropping 20% each year of the five-year contract, and that the Village could re-sell the building to make up the loss should the purchaser default. Manager Honeysett admitted that he had not yet received the second appraisal, but that he did not expect a great difference. In response to Clerk Strawser’s concerns about the likely success of the proposed business – an ice cream/coffee shop with customer WiFi – Manager Honeysett said those were not legitimate concerns for the Village, rather evaluating the viability of business proposals fell to the MEDC. Rachel Mullins will make an initial $11,250.00 investment toward the appraised purchase price of $45,000.00. President Weiss said it is another step in revitalizing the downtown.

President Weiss closed the Public Hearing on the MEDC SBIG Application at 8:29PM.

CONSENT AGENDA
Trustees rejected President Weiss’ request to accept the Consent Agenda without reading aloud the reports, trustees saying they had done so the prior meeting because of time constraints.

Manager Honeysett read the list of meetings he attended in April 2009. He asked that the Council disregard the March entries under “Community”. He agreed to Clerk Strawser’s request that the Downtown Brainstormers meeting entries be removed from Village “Committees” meeting and place them under “Community” meetings. Manager Honeysett said that he attended the Small Town and Rural Development Conference at Crystal Mountain (April 21-23) with President Weiss and Administrative Assistant Lammott. He said he also found the Miller Canfield Employment Law Seminar in Kalamazoo very worthwhile.

Police Commissioner Brewer gave a synopsis of the April 2009 Police Department report. Trustee Brown questioned why, despite paying for more man-hours thus far in 2009 than 2008, the officers have written fewer tickets. Manager Honeysett explained that some of the extra hours reflect school/training and said that more complaints are taking hours to follow up thereby giving the officers fewer discretionary hours. Trustee LaFluer asked if there were any reports from the speed monitor. Manager Honeysett said that he has yet to attempt to set the monitor to create reports.

DPW Commissioner Harder gave a synopsis of the April 2009 DPW report. In response to questions, Manager Honeysett said that the DPW had thirteen (13) overtime hours under “Water” in part due to a leak on Broad Street. He said that the DPW is jack cleaning sewer lines, but have not found any serious breaks so far. Manager Honeysett said the Best Sweeping would begin street cleaning this week.

Fire Commissioner Moore gave a synopsis of the April 2009 Fire Department report. Trustee Brown noted that the percentages of “Call Volume” did not add up, totaling 110%. Trustee Brewer asked if the Village should expect a bill in conjunction with the reported radio grants. Manager Honeysett said he did not think so, but that he would ask Chief Haydon.

UNSAFE BUILDING – 557 OSBORN STREET
Motion by Weiss, Seconded by Harder, to appoint the Village Manager to schedule a Dangerous Building Hearing and serve as the Hearing Officer for the purpose of taking testimony to determine whether or not to recommend the destruction of the home and separate garage located at 557 Osborn Street in the Village of Constantine. Motion withdrawn following discussion.

In response to questions from Trustee Mathers regarding the requirement that the Hearing Officer have “expertise in housing matters”, Manager Honeysett said that he was comfortable in interpreting the existing housing ordinance. Trustee Brown urged that some other person be appointed Hearing Officer, saying that the modest cost of an expert would prove worthwhile should the demolition be legally contested, expressing concern that the Village Manager was the receiver of the original complaint and all follow up, including determination of demolition. President Weiss said that Village Attorney Bush approved the proposed action. When Trustee Brown pointed out that the included paperwork provided for such appointment by the Village President, President Weiss appointed Manager Honeysett Hearing Officer for the property at 557 Osborn Street.

COUNCIL ROOM AUDIENCE CHAIRS
Motion by Brewer, Seconded by Mathers, to authorize the purchase of twenty (20) audience chairs, model PRN 2794TG at an individual cost of $105.00 and totaling $2,100.00 from Interstate Office Interiors, Kalamazoo, MI. (The chairs are black, stackable, padded pew chairs.)

CONSTANTINE FIRE DEPARTMENT – EMPLOYEE RESTRICTIONS
Motion by Brown, Seconded by Mathers, to go in opposition of the changing the Fire Department policy to make it exclusive to be on the Fire Department.

Trustee Brown said that since Fire Chief Haydon approached the Council for input on his planned exclusivity contract for volunteer firefighters, he has spoken with several members of the department, has examined the logic of the proposal and is opposition of the policy change, and expressed surprise that there was no response from the Chief since he had been informed of the agenda item in advance. Trustee Brewer questioned the Council’s involvement, saying it was a Fire Board/administrative issue. Trustee Brown agreed in principal, but pointed out that Chief Haydon had specifically sought out their opinion. Trustees suggested their silence was not consent, rather simply no expressed opinion. President Weiss asked that the Council table any action until Chief Haydon was available.

Motion withdrawn with the understanding that it would be re-presented at the next regular meeting.

PRIDE DAY
Manager Honeysett reported that the May 12 th Pride Day utilizing a reduced number of students was a great success and referred the Council to the included Three Rivers Commercial-News article.

MICHIGAN WORKS/ YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES UNLIMITED
Manager Honeysett reported that the Village has applied for two student workers (over age 18 so they could handle machinery if necessary) to work with the DPW and in the Village office and Hoffman House under the Youth Summer Work Experience and Youth Opportunities Unlimited of Kalamazoo and St. Joseph Counties. The cost of the minimum wage jobs for low-income youth is underwritten with federal stimulus money. One of the attending CHS students asked why he has never been matched to a job, though he has applied numerous times. He was offered the local contact number.

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Manager Honeysett said that the Village failed to pay their membership dues with the St. Joseph County EDC for the past two years. When questioned, he said the error was no one’s fault, but that SJCEDC was invoicing the Village for the arrears.

Motion by Brown, Seconded by Brewer, to authorize payment of $1,676.00 to the St. Joseph County Economic Development Corporation, invoice dated April 1, 2009. Motion passed by Roll Call 7 – 0. (Annual SJCEDC membership dues.)

Motion by Harder, Seconded by Weiss, to authorize payment of $1,676.00 to the St. Joseph County Economic Development Corporation for 2008. Motion passed by Roll Call 7 – 0. (Annual SJCEDC membership dues invoiced February 6, 2008.)

PARKS & RECREATION CONTRIBUTION
Manager Honeysett said that Parks and Recreation representative Trustee LaFluer had reminded him of the need to release the budgeted Village contribution to the Parks & Recreation Board since they had voted the annual community awards at their last meeting.

Motion by Mathers, Seconded by LaFluer, to authorize payment of $4,500.00 to the Constantine Parks & Recreation Board. Motion passed by Roll Call 7 – 0. (Annual Village contribution.)

Trustee Brown announced that the Community Soup Kitchen at the United Methodist church begins Monday, June 1 st.

Adjourned meeting at 9:14PM.

Ruth Strawser
Village Clerk

Included in the packet, but not formally discussed: SJCEDC Annual Report November 2007-November 2008, SJCEDC Annual Report November 2006-November 2007, Trial Balance report dated 5-18-09 for the DDA.