President Strawser called the Regular June 6, 2011 meeting of the Constantine Village Council to order at 7:00PM.

CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE TO FLAG
Present at Roll Call: Trustees Robert Brewer, Willie Harder, Cindy LaFluer, Dick Larrance, Gary Mathers and Sarah Moore, and President Strawser. Other elected officials present: Treasurer Strawser and Clerk Strawser. Village employees present: Manager Mark Honeysett and DDA Director/Personal Assistant Diana Lammott. The pledge of allegiance followed.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Brewer, Seconded by Larrance, to approve the agenda as amended. Motion passed by affirmation 7 – 0.

MINUTES
Clerk Strawser presented the Council with a revised first page of draft minutes, citing two corrections pointed out prior to the meeting.

Motion by Mathers, Seconded by Moore, to approve the Regular May 16, 2011 meeting minutes as presented. Motion passed by affirmation 7 – 0.

NEWSLETTER MINUTES
Motion by Mathers, Seconded by Moore, to approve the abridged version of the Regular May 16, 2011 meeting minutes as presented for newsletter printing. Motion passed by affirmation 7 – 0.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
John Hackler, Robinson Street, complained that 660 White Pigeon Street remains unsecured and un-demolished more than a year after it was made uninhabitable following a fire. He asked what was being done to address the smell and safety problems. Manager Honeysett said the delays were caused by insurance red tape due to an active arson investigation. He said as soon as Police Chief Bedell finds out where the investigation stands, Manager Honeysett will inform the Council.

Chuck Worley and Bruce Gosling of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War asked the Council to pay for the majority cost of soda-blasting and re-painting of the Washington Street Park cannon; the Sons of the Union Veterans will pay $50 and for the black paint. Manager Honeysett rejected suggestions to seek contributions from the American Legion saying he hoped they and the Masons would be contributing to a replacement Bandholtz memorial plaque.

Motion by Larrance, Seconded by Mathers, to authorize the Village Manager to contract with Barney’s Soda Blasting, 66851 N. Big Hill Road, Sturgis, MI for the removal of paint from an iron cannon and its cut stone base for $300.00, payment within 30 days of work and cleanup. Motion passed By Roll Call 7 – 0. Voting YES: Brewer, Harder, LaFluer, Larrance, Mathers, Moore and Strawser. Voting NO: None.

Treasurer Strawser asked the Council to consider allowing higher grass heights saying some communities have taken such action in order to save on gasoline prices. Trustee Larrance said he suggested reducing mowing of the parks. Manager Honeysett disagreed, saying higher grass poses rodent and other problems, and that he encourages the Village’s contracted mower to contact grass ordinance violators prior to citation. If the Village cuts ordinance violator’s grass, the cost can be placed on their property tax bill.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

PROPOSED ORDINANCE – MEDICAL MARIJUANA (#237)
Manager Honeysett said that copies of the proposed ordinance would be available free of charge.

Motion by Harder, Seconded by Moore, to set a Public Hearing for the purpose of receiving comment on the proposed Medical Marijuana Ordinance for Monday, July 18, 2011 at 7:05PM during the Regular Council meeting at Village Hall. Motion passed by Roll Call 7 – 0. Voting YES: Brewer, Harder, LaFluer, Larrance, Mathers, Moore and Strawser. Voting NO: None.

PROPOSED ORDINANCE – COST RECOVERY (#238)
Manager Honeysett said that copies of the proposed ordinance would be available free of charge.

Motion by Larrance, Seconded by Harder, to set a Public Hearing for the purpose of receiving comment on the proposed Cost Recovery Ordinance for Monday, July 18, 2011 at 7:10PM during the Regular Council meeting at Village Hall. Motion passed by Roll Call 7 – 0. Voting YES: Brewer, Harder, LaFluer, Larrance, Mathers, Moore and Strawser. Voting NO: None.

325 SOUTH WASHINGTON STREET
Manger Honeysett reported that the insurance check for the property at 325 S. Washington St. has been re-issued and expects it to be in escrow for 10-14 days. Ernie Haydon has begun some work on his property, but cannot demolish the house because he is not licensed to do so. In response to concerns, Manager Honeysett said he would remind Mr. Haydon that the contractor needs to be ready to demolish the house as soon as the check clears.

NEW BUSINESS

SIDEWALK – 500 BLOCK OF CASS STREET
Manager Honeysett asked that the Council consider not replacing the removed sidewalk in the 500 block of Cass Street until next year in order to spare the homeowners of the property at 320 W. 5 th Street the possible (approx. $300) expense of replacing the sidewalk should it be damaged by heavy trucks during their planned 2012 building of a garage adjoining the [new] second driveway. He cited unforeseen expenses to the homeowner as well as the lack of school foot traffic. Treasurer Strawser said she wished to be a good neighbor (the Strawser property abuts the Messner property) and asked that the Council decide the issue. Clerk Strawser said the Mrs. Messner had told her of their plans to not immediately build the garage or replace the sidewalk prior to the driveway excavation. School crossing guard, John Hackler, echoed the Clerk’s assertion that Cass Street served as common school footpath (the block fronts the 6 th street entrance to the middle school) and that people were using the street instead of the [removed] sidewalk. Trustee LaFluer showed her sketch of the sidewalk, saying the drop is ditch-like and cited safety concerns. President Strawser expressed concern of possible Village liability should anyone be injured because of the slope and the increased effect of winter weather. Trustee Harder asked if there were a band-aid fix, such as gravel packing. Manager Honeysett said he would speak to Scott King (a licensed concrete contractor/DPW worker) and get back to the Council.

DDA RESIGNATION – LEONARD MOYER
In response to President Strawser’s questions, Manager Honeysett said he did not ask for the resignation since Mr. Moyer offered it.

Motion by LaFluer, Seconded by Mathers, to accept Leonard Moyer’s resignation from the (DDA) Downtown Development Authority. Motion passed by Roll Call 7 – 0. Voting YES: Brewer, Harder, LaFluer, Larrance, Mathers, Moore and Strawser. Voting NO: None.

DDA APPOINTMENT – ASHLEY RICE
Trustee LaFluer asked that all board and committee positions be advertised. Manager Honeysett argued that such advertising should be done only prior to term expirations and seldom works, and that the DDA members work so well together they shouldn’t be replaced simply for new appointees.

Motion by Mathers, Seconded by Larrance, to appoint Ashley Rice to the (DDA) Downtown Development Authority for the remainder of Mr. Moyer’s appointment (expires 4-6-2013). Motion passed by Roll Call 7 – 0. Voting YES: Brewer, Harder, LaFluer, Larrance, Mathers, Moore and Strawser. Voting NO: None. (Ashley Rice is the manager of the Constantine branch of the Southern Michigan Bank and a village resident.)

MANAGER EVALUATION
Manager Honeysett asked that his evaluation be conducted in closed session.

Motion by Moore, Seconded by Mathers, to go into Closed Session at the request of the Village Manager to discuss his evaluation. Motion passed by Roll Call 7 – 0. Voting YES: Brewer, Harder, LaFluer, Larrance, Mathers, Moore and Strawser. Voting NO: None.

Regular Meeting recessed at 7:51PM.

Regular Meeting reconvened at 8:56PM.

OTHER

Personnel Committee Chairperson LaFluer said there would be a prepared statement regarding the Manager’s evaluation for the next Council meeting.

The Council was reminded that the Farmer’s Market begins Wednesday from 3:00-7:00PM.

The Council was invited to participate in the library’s Summer Reading program, kick-off Monday, June 13 th.

ADJOURNMENT
Seeing no other business, President Strawser declared the meeting adjourned at 9:00 PM.

Ruth Strawser
Village Clerk