Village of Constantine
Regular Council Meeting
September 20, 2010
7:30 PM

President Weiss called the Regular Monday, September 20, 2010 meeting of the Constantine Village Council to order at 7:30PM.

President Weiss opened the meeting with a reminder that Constantine is the Seed Corn Capital of the World and read several witticisms.

CALL TO ORDER
Present at Roll Call: Trustees Robert Brewer, Mark Brown, Willie Harder, Cindy LaFluer, Gary Mathers, Sarah Moore and President Patricia Weiss. Other elected officials present: Treasurer Donna Strawser and Clerk Ruth Strawser. Village employees present: Manager Mark Honeysett, Police Chief Bedell and Administrative Assistant Diana Lammott. The pledge of allegiance followed Roll Call.

Approval of Agenda
Motion by Brown, Seconded by Harder, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion passed by affirmation 7- 0.

Minutes
Motion by Brewer, Seconded by Moore, to approve the Regular September 7, 2010 meeting minutes as corrected. Motion passed by Roll Call 5 –2. Voting YES: Brewer, harder, LaFluer, Moore and Weiss. Voting NO: Brown and Mathers.Corrections: Page 2, Paragraph 3, Sentence 4 – delete - Former ZBA member Strawser expressed concern that the council would once again ignore the zoning rules based on personality instead of public need. Page 2, Paragraph 3 – insert – Trustee Brown indicated that while he might have opposed the variance, he would not because the much larger building next door was even closer to the sidewalk.

Newsletter Minutes
Motion by Mathers, Seconded by Brewer, to approve the abridged version of the Regular September 7, 2010 minutes for newsletter printing as presented. Motion passed by affirmation 7 – 0.

Public Hearing – Rental Rehabilitation Grant
President Weiss called the Public Hearing to receive comment on the DDA request to apply for a $300,000 Rental Rehabilitation Grant to order at 7:39PM.

In response to questions, Manager Honeysett said that all documents re: the grant application and rental rehabilitation program were available to the general public at the Village office the week before.

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

Payment of the Bills
In response to questions, Manager Honeysett said that bills for expenses for the Farmers Market would be paid by the DDA, as would be the Rental Inspection Registration fee for the Incubator apartment.

Trustee Brown expressed his irritation at the Council once again being presented with additional bills for approval just before the meeting. Treasurer Strawser explained that she, too, had just been presented the addendum. Manager Honeysett calculated the new total.

Motion by Brewer, Seconded by Moore, to pay the bills and make the necessary transfers totaling $279,467.54. Motion passed by Roll Call 7 – 0.

Audience Participation
No one rose to speak.

Consent Agenda

Manager
Manager Honeysett read the list of meetings he attended in August 2010, giving further details on the (DDA) Façade Grant and Rental Rehabilitation Grant meetings offered to building owners in the TIF District, and the Farmers Market “Fun for the Kids Event”. Manager Honeysett said the Farmers Market while on the right track, but that it was in need of tweaking in order to secure vendors.

Police
Trustee Brewer synopsized the list of police department activity for the month of August 2010. Police
Chief Bedell and CPS Superintendent Chuck Frisbie spoke about the reasons for the change in parental on & off-loading of Eastside Elementary students, subsequent problems and concerns brought about by no longer allowing such at the front of the school (White Pigeon Road) and steps the school hoped to take to lessen the impact on the residents in the Russell subdivision.

DPW
Trustee Harder synopsized the DPW activity for the month of August 2010. In response to questions, Manager Honeysett said the park post replacement was due to normal wear-and-tear, not vandalism.

Fire
Trustee Moore read the fire department report on call volume and training submitted by Chief Haydon for the month of August 2010.

Motion by Mathers, Seconded by Moore, to accept and file the Manager’s and Commissioners’ reports (Consent Agenda) as [presented. Motion passed by affirmation 7 – 0.

Unfinished Business
Drinking Water Revolving Fund Application Jon Moxey of Fleis & Vandenbrink (Village engineers) revisited the Drinking Water Revolving Fund (DWRF) proposal saying the Village scored eighth out of forty-none applicants, in large part because of the wide-ranging water improvements projects included in the Village’s plan. The $1.955,000 twenty-year loan at 2.5% interest, would qualify to a 15% principal forgiveness, and is expected to add, on average an additional $17.00 per month, between $30.69 and $33.18, per monthly residential water bill. A previous plan to offset the increased water rates by lowering sewer rates is no longer viable due to increased sewer pipe breaks and costs. Discussion ensued on points discussed at previous Council meetings.

Motion by Brewer, Seconded by Moore, to direct village engineers Fleis & Vandenbrink to notify the State of the Village’s intent to move forward on the proposed $1,955,000 Drinking Water Revolving Fund project for Village water improvements. Motion passed by Roll Call 7 – 0.

Rental Rehabilitation Grant Application
Trustees Mathers and Brown expressed concerns at the language/liability to the Village in the document entitled L. Administration. The DDA-appointed third-party grant administrator explained the basics of the program – owners of current rented apartments in DDA district buildings could receive $25,000 while those with new or empty apartments could receive $35,000 in rehabilitation funds with the building owner providing an additional 25%. At least one rehabilitated apartment would be subsequently rented to a low-to-moderate income person. The loan(s) would be forgiven in five (5) years if the building owners met the grant requirements. A third-party administrator is necessary to guide the Council through the complicated process and paperwork, including: the establishment of local program guidelines, project administration controls, contracted third-party guidelines and administration plans, environmental review, fair housing and fair housing participant guarantees, adoption of a separate building code (since older buildings would fail to meet current adopted codes), equal access to program benefits and qualified contractors. The administrator’s salary comes directly from the grant fund, although monies would have to go through the Village. The administrator said the liability to the Village was negligible in case of default. The Village is seeking $300,000 in grant money, although only one (1) building owner seeks to apply, in the hope more building owners would apply. President Weiss said we must support out business owners.

Motion by Brewer, Seconded by Moore, to adopt (number to be assigned) the resolution supporting the Downtown Rental Rehabilitation Grant application. Motion passed by Roll Call 7 - 0.

Resolution No. 10-10

DRR (Downtown Rental Rehabilitation) Housing Resource Fund

WHEREAS, the Village of Constantine is interested in providing affordable rental housing opportunities for its low-to-moderate income residents; and

WHEREAS, the members of the Constantine Village Council recommend that the Village of Constantine support applications for DRR funds for rehabilitation of downtown commercial and rental buildings to promote the viability of the downtown district; and

WHEREAS, the Constantine Village Council is requesting the application not to exceed $300,000;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Constantine Village Council authorizes the preparation of the application for funding through the Michigan State Housing Development Authority’s Housing Resource Fund.

SAAC Update
In response to questions, SAAC Representative Trustee Brown said the increased ambulance rates were adopted at the last SAAC meeting, but did not know when they would go into effect. President Weiss related a personal experience with LifeCare ambulance.

New Business

Traffic Order Request
Police Chief Bedell explained the steps he and the school have taken to stop the drop-off and pick-up of students at Eastside Elementary via White Pigeon Road. Discussion ensued re: complaints that have followed, safety concerns, similar actions and the results therein, possible residents’ reactions (no resident was notified prior to the actions), and the encompassing nature of the traffic order as presented.

Motion by Harder, Seconded by Brown, approve Traffic Control Order No: 01-2010. Motion passed by Roll Call 7 – 0.

TRAFFIC CONTROL ORDER No. 01-2010

VILLAGE OF CONSTANTINE

TOWNSHIP OF CONSTANTINE

In accordance with Ordinance 62-26 as amended, we have made an investigation of traffic conditions on White Pigeon Road and as a result of said investigation, do hereby direct that: posting of No Stopping, standing or Parking between 7:00AM and 4:00PM Weekdays, on White Pigeon Road between US 131 and Clinton Street.

Fish Ponds The Council asked that more information be provided before acting on the DPW request to use the abandoned retention ponds at the old sewer plant for leaf/compost storage. The ponds have been used in the past to nurture walleye fingerlings used to stock rivers by the Colon Angler Society, but have not been used for that purpose recently because of a fish virus.

Hazard Mitigation Plan
St. Joseph County Grant Writer Marcia Saunders informed the Council via email that the proposed countywide Hazard Mitigation Plan grant application was withdrawn because of timing constraints, but that discussion could begin in 2011.

Clerk Strawser asked if the Financial Oversight Committee expects to have its first meeting prior to the November election, reminding them that all committees are expected to meet and provide a report quarterly (minimum). Committee members said they have yet to set a meeting.

Adjournment
President Weiss declared the meeting adjourned at 9:20PM.

Ruth Strawser
Village Clerk

Included in the packet, but not formally discussed: Revenue/Expenditure Report dated 9/17/2010.