City of Albion

City Council Meeting

December 15, 2008

I.         CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Joseph Domingo opened the regular session at 7:00 p.m.

II.       MOMENT OF SILENCE WAS OBSERVED

III.     ROLL CALL

Ron Gant (1), Betty Branche (2), Thorland Bradley (3), Andy Zblewski (4), Cheryl Krause (5), George Strander (6) and Mayor Joseph Domingo.

Administration:  Mike Herman, City Manager; Kevin Markovich, Director of Public Services; Kerry Helmick, Finance Director/City Clerk/City Treasurer; Eric Miller, Chief of Public Safety; Nidia Wolf, Downtown Development Authority Executive Director; John Tracy, Code Enforcement Officer and Chuck Robison, City Attorney.

IV.       MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS’ COMMENTS

Comments were received from Council Members Gant, Krause and Strander and Mayor Domingo.  City Manager Herman spoke at Council Member Strander’s request regarding the recent Albion Recorder article on the Maple Grove apartment complex repairs/renovations.

V.         PUBLIC HEARING – CDBG Facade Grant – Bohm Theatre.

Mayor Domingo opened the Public Hearing at 7:07 p.m.

DDA Executive Director Wolf provided an overview of the Bohm Theatre project to be undertaken with the grant funding.

City Manager Herman stated that no City funds are being invested in this project.

Mayor Domingo inquired as to whether the work will be let for bids.  City Manager Herman responded in the affirmative.

Council Member Strander inquired as to what repairs will be undertaken.  DDA Executive Director Wolf indicated tuck pointing of the brick on the back wall, replacement of fire doors and installation of emergency lighting are the main items to be addressed.  Also, although not eligible for grant funding, roof repairs will be undertaken by the owner in conjunction with these items.

With no other comments being brought forth, Mayor Domingo closed the Public Hearing at 7:12 p.m.

VI.       CITIZEN’S COMMENTS (Persons addressing the City Council shall limit their comments to agenda items and to no more than five (5) minutes.  Proper protocol and decorum is required.)

No comments were received.

VII.     CONSENT CALENDAR

A.                 Approval of Regular Session Minutes – December 01, 2008.

No comments were received.

Gant moved, Krause supported, CARRIED, to approve the Consent Calendar as Presented.  (7-0, rcv).

VIII.   ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL DISCUSSION

A.         Request Approval of Resolution #2008-29, to Approve the FY 2009 Budget Appropriation – All Funds with General Fund at $4,601,299.

                        No comments were received.

Strander moved, Zblewski supported, to Approve Resolution #2008-29, to Approve the FY 2009 Budget Appropriation – All Funds with General Fund at $4,601,299.

Bradley moved to Table Approval of Resolution #2008-29, to Approve the FY 2009 Budget Appropriation – All Funds with General Fund at $4,601,299.  The motion died for lack of a second.

CARRIED, to Approve Resolution #2008-29, to Approve the FY 2009 Budget Appropriation – All Funds with General Fund at $4,601,299  (6-1, rcv, Bradley dissenting).

B.         Request for Approval of Resolution #2008-31, to Make Final Year-End Amendments to the 2008 Budget.

Comments were received from Council Members Strander and Zblewski and City Manager Herman.

Strander moved, Branche supported, CARRIED, to Approve Resolution #2008-31, to Make Final Year-End Amendments to the 2008 Budget.  (7-0, rcv).

C.         Request for Approval of 2% Salary Increase for City Manager.

Comments were received from Council Member Zblewski and City Manager Herman.

Zblewski moved, Strander supported, CARRIED, to Approve the 2% Salary Increase for City Manager Herman effective January 01, 2009.  (7-0, rcv).

D.         Request for Approval of Resolution #2008-30, to Approve a Community Development Plan.

            Comments were received from Council Members Krause, Bradley, Zblewski, Strander and Gant and City Manager Herman.

            Zblewski moved, Branche supported, CARRIED, to Approve Resolution #2008-30, to Approve a Community Development Plan.  (7-0, rcv).

E.         Request for Approval of Resolution #2008-28, Authorizing the Submission of a Grant Application to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority for a Community Development Block Grant Facade Grant - $29,022.44.

            No comments were received.

            Strander moved, Krause supported, CARRIED, to Approve Resolution #2008-28, Authorizing the Submission of a Grant Application to MSHDA for a CDBG Facade Grant - $29,022.44.  (7-0, rcv).

F.         Request for Approval to Award the Rieger Park Pump Station Renovation Contract to the Paul Bengel Company - $148,000.

            Comments were received from Council Members Zblewski, Strander, Gant and Krause, City Manager Herman, Director of Public Services Markovich and City Attorney Robison.

            Zblewski moved, Branche supported, CARRIED, to Award the Rieger Park Pump Station Renovation Contract to the Paul Bengel Company - $148,000.  (7-0, rcv).

G.         Request for Approval for Albion College Grounds Department to Use the Eastern Ball Diamond Areas in Victory Park from March Through Early May 2009 and August Through October 2009.

            Comments were received from City Manager Herman.

            Strander moved, Branche supported, CARRIED, to Approve Albion College Grounds Department Using the Eastern Ball Diamond Areas in Victory Park from March Through Early May 2009 and August Through October 2009.  (7-0, rcv).

H.        Discussion – Request from Citizens to Beautify Albion to Change the City Flower from the Iris to the Petunia.

            Comments were received from Council Members Strander, Zblewski and Gant, City Manager Herman, Director of Public Services Markovich, City Attorney Robison and Betty Chapman, 615 Irwin Avenue.

            I.         Motion to Excuse Absent Council Member(s)

No action was needed as all Council Members were present.

IX.       CITIZEN’S COMMENTS (Persons addressing the City Council shall limit their comments to no more than five (5) minutes.  Proper decorum is required.

Comments were received from Council Member Zblewski; City Manager Herman; LaRose Bradley, 312 Arthur Street and Robina Quale-Leach, 422 Darrow Street.

X.         ADJOURNMENT

Krause moved, Strander supported, CARRIED to Adjourn the Regular Session.  (7-0, rcv).

Mayor Domingo adjourned the Regular Session at 7:58 p.m.

______________________           _________________________________________

Date                                                    Kerry Helmick, Finance Director/City Clerk/Treasurer