Village of Constantine
Regualr Council Meeting
January 18, 2010
Village Hall 7:30 P.M.

President Pro-Tem Mathers called the Regular January 18, 2010 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, Moore and President Pro-Tem Mathers. Also present: Manager Honeysett, Treasurer Strawser, Police Chief Bedell, Fire Chief Haydon, Administrative Assistant Lammott and Clerk Strawser. Absent: President Weiss. The pledge of allegiance followed Roll Call.

AGENDA
Motion by Brown, Seconded by Brewer, to approve the agenda as set forth. Motion passed by affirmation 6- 0. (Absent: Weiss.)

MINUTES
Motion by Brewer, Seconded by Moore, to approve the Regular January 4, 2010 meeting minutes as presented. Motion passed by affirmation 6- 0. (Absent: Weiss.)

NEWSLETTER PRINTING OF MINUTES
Motion by Brown, Seconded by LaFluer, to approve the abridged version of the Regular January 4, 2010 meeting minutes for publication. Motion passed by affirmation 6- 0. (Absent: Weiss.)

PAYMENT OF BILLS
Treasurer Strawser prompted a discussion on the Three Rivers sewer bills and the November 2009 Pipeline Activity Report, stressing the importance of receiving a monthly activity report and in a timely fashion. Discussion followed on the variable drives and pump failures, which necessitated purchase of a new pump. The two months flow rates were reasonable, supporting the view that previous high flows are likely due to ground water infiltration.

Motion by Brewer, Seconded by Harder, to pay the bills and make the necessary transfers totaling $153,767.99. Motion passed by Roll Call 6 – 0. Voting YES: Brown, Brewer, Harder, LaFluer, Mathers and Moore. (Absent: Weiss.)

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
No one rose to speak.

CONSENT AGENDA
Manager Honeysett read the list of meetings he attended in December 2009, expanding on some items as per performance review request:

• Retention visit to Retro Enterprises

Police Commissioner Brewer gave a synopsis of the December 2009 Police Department report. Police Chief Bedell spoke about the year-end statistical comparisons, focusing on man-hour losses due to the loss of two officers who have since been replaced, saying he was unsatisfied at the possible explanations for the increase in verbal traffic warnings versus tickets.

DPW Commissioner Harder gave a synopsis of the December 2009 DPW report. It is hoped that the Village salt/sand supply will last to the end of winter.

Fire Commissioner Moore gave a synopsis of the December 2009 Fire Department report. In response to questions, Fire Chief Haydon explained that the preferred ten (10) hours per month training, per firefighter, was unattainable for volunteer fire departments. The department averaged 30.4 hours practical/hands-on training and 2.5 hours of classroom training per firefighter. He said that the department was now adding fire prevention calls and burning ordinance responses into the call volume statistics.

Motion by Moore, Seconded by Mathers, to accept and file the Manager’s and Commissioners’ reports as presented. Motion passed by affirmation 6 – 0. (Absent: Weiss.)

CURED-IN-PLACE UPDATE
Discussion focused on the import of the discovery of an un-identified metal pipe originating on private property and the necessity of its removal or truncation before the previously approved Garden Street cured-in-place lining can proceed. The cost is based on a full days work with the mobilization fee waived. Cured-in-place lining cannot be done in below freezing temperatures.

Motion by Brown, Seconded by Moore, to authorize the Village Manager to contract with ProForm Pipe Lining Co., Mishawaka, IN to extract or grind down a piece of metal that has breached the sewer line on Garden Street in preparation for the installation of cured-in place lining, at a cost of $1,800.00. Motion passed by Roll Call 6 – 0. Voting YES: Brown, Brewer, Harder, LaFluer, Mathers and Moore. (Absent: Weiss.)

RESOLUTION 09-03 REVISION
In response to procedural questions: Manager Honeysett said that 1) despite specific language requests, the MEDC does not require an actual local community development plan to have been adopted by the Council, 2) if the MEDC grant is approved following amendment of the previously adopted resolution, the buyer will close on her purchase of the building at 130 E. Water Street without further input from the Village Council, 3) The original MSHDA downtown building grants have not been closed despite deadlines/repeated requests.

Motion by Brewer, Seconded by Harder, to adopt the corrections to Resolution 09-03 by reference. Motion passed by Roll Call 6 – 0. Voting YES: Brown, Brewer, Harder, LaFluer, Mathers and Moore. (Absent: Weiss.)

RESOLUTION 09-03

SIGNATURE BUILDING INITIATIVE GRANT – 130 EAST WATER STREET

WHEREAS, the Village of Constantine has received approval for the Notice of Intent for the Strategic Building Initiative Program through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and

WHEREAS, the property to be purchased and rehabilitated is located at 130 East Water Street in Constantine, Michigan, and

WHEREAS, the SBI project is consistent with the village’s commitmentlocal community development plan as described in the application to restoring its downtown through the rehabilitation of its buildings and the promotion of new shops and businesses, and

WHEREAS, funding for the project totals $45,000 toward the purchase of the building and $15,000 toward the renovation of the ground floor, and

WHEREAS, the funding for the $45,000 purchase price will be shared by the MEDC in the form of a community development block grant and $11,250 local match, while the $15,000 renovation cost will be borne by the Developer, and

WHEREAS, the proposed project will create at least one (1)two (2) full-time job jobs or its equivalent in part-time employment) and that at least 51% of the created jobs will benefit low and moderate income persons, and

WHEREAS, no project costs will be incurred prior to a formal grant award, completion of the environmental review procedures and formal, written authorization to incur costs is received from MEDC, and

WHEREAS, the MEDC requires a Certifying Officer to be designated by the local unit of government,

NOW THEREFORE, the Constantine Village Council hereby designates the Village Manager, Mark Honeysett, as its Certifying Officer and authorizes an application for their SBI grant.

EMPLOYMENT SEPARATION AGREEMENT – MARK SHERER

Comment was made that the Council had not a chance to read the agreement, but trustees were assured that Attorney Marks had review of the agreement purports it is the more cost-effective solution and that no further legal action will be taken by Mark Sherer.

Motion by Brown, Seconded by LaFluer, to authorize President Pro-Tem Mathers to sign a separation agreement with former Constantine Police Officer Mark Sherer, which stipulates that Mr. Sherer receive a one-time lump sum payment of $6,000.00 in lieu of any unemployment benefits and with the provision that Mr. Sherer agrees to waive any and all other claims against the Village of Constantine now and at any time in the future. Motion passed by Roll Call 6 – 0. Voting YES: Brown, Brewer, Harder, LaFluer, Mathers and Moore. (Absent: Weiss.)

DDA MEETING SCHEDULE
Regular meetings of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) are the third Thursday of every month at 7:00AM at the Constantine Village Hall, dates as listed:

January 21 February 18 March 18 April 15

May 20 June 17 July 15 August 19

September 16 October 21 November 18 December 16

COOL CITIES MEETING SCHEDULE

Regular meetings of the Cool Cities Committee are on the second Wednesday of every month at 7:00PM at the Constantine Village Hall, dates as listed:

January 13 February 10 March 10 April 14

May 12 June 9 July 14 August 11

September 8 October 13 November 10 December 18

Adjourned meeting at 8:09PM.

Ruth Strawser
Village Clerk

Included in the packet, but not discussed: Revenue/Expenditure Report dated 1/15/10.