Village of Constantine

Regular Council Meeting
September 8, 2009
Council Room, 8:00 PM

President Weiss called the Regular September 8, 2009 Meeting of the Constantine Village Council to order at 8:00PM at the Village Hall.

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

AGENDA
Motion by Brown, Seconded by Brewer, to approve the agenda as amended. Motion passed by Roll Call 7 – 0. Amended: remove from VII. New Business/B. Sewer Flow.

MINUTES
Clerk Strawser objected when President Weiss asked the clerk to correct the Regular August 17, 2009 Meeting minutes by removing all except those exact requirements in the Village’s Rules of Procedure and the Open Meetings Act, saying the previously adopted motion applied to newsletter publication only. President Weiss said she had spoken that morning to Village Attorney Bush; Clerk Strawser asked for the written legal opinion. Upon learning the trustees had not received copies of the previous legal opinion, Clerk Strawser suggested it might serve everyone to read the opinion. Copies were made and distributed. Limited discussion ensued since the Council would not discuss the letter except in closed session which they could not call since it had not been placed on the agenda. Manager Honeysett said the full minutes will continue to be posted on the website.

Motion by Harder, Seconded by LaFluer, that the Village Clerk shall provide the abridgement for the newsletter as per the August 17, 2009 meeting Council motion. Motion passed by affirmation 7 – 0.

Motion by Brewer, Seconded by Harder, to approve the Regular August 17, 2009 Meeting minutes as corrected. Motion passed by affirmation 7 – 0.

Correction: Cool Cities Committee chairman Hagey said he came seeking approval for the beer tent and the Texas Hold ‘em Tournament, with the American Legion paying for the license and then profiting from the beer tent while the Harvest Festival Committee would do likewise for the Texas Hold ‘em Tournament. - to read - Cool Cities Committee chairman Hagey said he came seeking approval for the beer tent and the Texas Hold ‘em Tournament, with the Cool Cities Committee paying for the license and the American Legion running the beer tent and profiting from the beer tent while the Harvest Festival Committee would do likewise for the Texas Hold ‘em Tournament.

Fire Chief Haydon entered 8:23PM .

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
Treasurer Strawser asked the status of the West 6 th Street paving project as previously planned for 2010. Manager Honeysett said that with the federal funding already secured, he was waiting for project engineering by Fleis & Vandenbrink.

Treasurer Strawser asked if the State had closed on the two original MSHDA grant buildings (Myers-Patterson building located at 105 South Washington Street and Ryan Building located at 176 South Washington Street ). Manager Honeysett said they were still waiting for the State to finish the paperwork.

Treasurer Strawser asked the status of the MEDC grant on the Donley building. Manager Honeysett said the second appraisal was received and an expected topic at the next SJCEDOC meeting. Following discussion, he agreed there was still another step required before approval, the Council still having the chance for further input.

UNSAFE BUILDING – 557 OSBORN STREET
Manager Honeysett said the building could not be used for a controlled burn/Fire Department training due to asbestos. The legal description will be added to the demolition specs and the Building Inspector and bidding companies will be contacted re: suggestion to completely remove the foundation.

HARVEST FESTIVAL – 2009
Manager Honeysett said the Texas Hold ‘em Tournament was cancelled because the State Gaming Commission had rejected the CCAA’s 501c designation as the licensee. Volunteers are still needed to work the event.

CHIP & SEAL
Work was completed on Cherry, Plum , East Clinton and West Third Streets.

SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL GRANT APPLICATION
MSEU’s Brad Neumann was instrumental in Constantine being chosen for the Safe Routes 2 School initiative, a federal program to make it safe, convenient and fun for children to bicycle or walk to school while contributing to physical health and lessening pollution. Manager Honeysett said that while they, as yet, have no specifics as to what implementations or enhancements might occur upon receiving the grant, he did not expect local costs to be more than $3,000, to be split 50/50 with the school district.

INVOICE APPROVAL
Motion by Brown, Seconded by Weiss, to approve the bills and make the necessary transfers totaling $3,604.32. Motion passed by Roll Call 7 – 0.

The letter of appreciation from the Youth In Government advisor will be directed to the Parks and Recreation Board since they awarded the YIG $300 in funds.

Meeting adjourned at 9:12PM .

Ruth Strawser
Village Clerk

Included in the packet, but not discussed: August 31, 2009 letter from Judy Nelson/Land Resource Center e: special assessments to tax bills; City of Hiroshima “Peace Declaration”; “What Every Parent Should Know” booklet.