City Of Albion

City Council Meeting

December 03, 2007

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor William M. Wheaton opened the regular session at 7:00 p.m.

MOMENT OF SILENCE WAS OBSERVED

ROLL CALL

Ron Gant (1), Betty Branche (2), Ken Waito (3), Andy Zblewski (4), Cheryl Krause (5), George Strander (6) and Mayor William M. Wheaton.

            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 Director; Peggy Sindt, Economic Development Corporation President; John Tracy, Code Enforcement Officer; Joe Domingo, Superintendent of Public Works; Jill Domingo, Deputy Clerk  and Chuck Robison, City Attorney.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS' COMMENTS

Comments were received from Council Members Zblewski and Strander and Mayor Wheaton.

V.         PUBLIC HEARING

A.         Public Hearing on the Revised Financing and Development Plan Adopted by the Board of Directors of the Tax Increment Finance Authority of the City of Albion.

                        Mayor Wheaton opened the Public Hearing at 7:02 p.m.

                        EDC President Sindt gave an overview of the proposed revised plan.

Council Member Waito requested clarification regarding the possible future status of the Harvard property.

Council Member Gant requested clarification as to what effect, if any, the requested revision may have on other businesses coming to Albion.

Council Member Strander inquired as to the current Taxable Value of the Harvard property.

Mayor Wheaton requested clarification as to what effect, if any, the proposed revision would have on American Colloid’s operations.

Council Member Gant inquired as to the current status of the MDEQ clean-up at the Harvard property.

EDC President Sindt responded to all of the above questions.

Mayor Wheaton inquired as to any other comments from Council Members or the audience.

With no other comments being brought forth, Mayor Wheaton closed the Public Hearing at 7:09 p.m.

B.                  Public Hearing on the FY 2008 City Budget.

Mayor Wheaton opened the Public Hearing at 7: 10 p.m.

City Manger Herman gave opening remarks.

Council Member Gant requested clarification as to the timeline followed in establishing the budget.

Council Member Waito inquired as to whether the proposed fire truck purchase was included in the proposed 2008 Budget.

Beverly Bentley, 303 North Albion Street, inquired as to the possibility of additional funds being made available for the Senior Recreation Program in either 2008 or 2009.  She also inquired as to when the Recreation millage would be up for renewal.

City Manager Herman responded to all of the above questions.

Mayor Wheaton inquired as to any other comments from Council Members or the audience.

With no other comments being brought forth, Mayor Wheaton closed the Public Hearing at 7:13 p.m.

VI.       CITIZENS’ 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 – November 19, 2007.

Council Member Waito indicated the minutes for Individual Discussion Item G. Fire Truck Purchase should indicate that he and Council Member Zblewski dissented.  Council Member Zblewski concurred with Council Member Waito’s comments.

No other comments were received.

Gant moved, Zblewski supported, CARRIED, to Approve the Consent Calendar as Amended.  (7-0, rcv).

 VIII.  ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL DISCUSSION

A.         Board & Commission Appointments.

·         Alfred Pheley, Initial Appointment, Downtown Development Authority Board, term to expire 12/31/2011.

·         Jeff Bell, Reappointment, Downtown Development Authority Board, term to expire 12/31/2011.

·         George Strander, Reappointment, Planning Commission, term to expire 12/31/2008.

·         Mark Garrison, Reappointment, Building Board of Appeals, term to expire 01/01/2013.

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

Waito moved, Branche supported, CARRIED, to Approve the Board & Commission Appointments as Presented.   (7-0, rcv).

B.         Request for Approval of Resolution #2007-25, to Approve the Revised Financing and Development Plan of the Tax Increment Finance Authority of the City of Albion.

No comments were received.

Strander moved, Krause supported, CARRIED, to Approve Resolution #2007-25, to Approve the Revised Financing and Development Plan of the Tax Increment Finance Authority of the City of Albion.  (7-0, rcv).

C.         Request for Approval of Resolution #2007-26, to Approve Transfer of Assets to the Albion District Library.

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

            Waito moved, Krause supported, CARRIED, to Approve Resolution #2007-26, to Approve Transfer of Assets to the Albion District Library.  (7-0, rcv).

D.         Request for Approval of Changes to Cemetery Fees and Regulations.

            Comments were received from City Manager Herman.

            Gant moved, Branche supported, CARRIED, to Approve the Changes to Cemetery Fees and Regulations as Presented.  (7-0, rcv).

E.         Request for Discussion/Approval of Purchase of Aerial Fire Truck - $18,000.

            Gant moved, Krause supported, CARRIED,to Remove Discussion/Approval of Purchase of Aerial Fire Truck from Agenda as said Truck has not yet been made Available for City Staff Inspection.  (7-0, rcv).

F.         Discussion of Draft Ordinance #2007-08, to Expand the Provisions of the Curfew Ordinance.

            Comments were received from Council Members Waito, Gant and Strander;  Mayor Wheaton; City Manager Herman; Chief of Public Safety Miller; City Attorney Robison; Lynn Reid, 306 West Chestnut Street; Bob Dunklin, 707 Huntington Boulevard and Mary Pressley, 210 Washington Street.

G.         Discussion of Draft Ordinance #2007-09, to Provide for Boarding Up Rental Property Used for Illegal Use or Sale of Narcotics, Controlled Dangerous Substances, Gambling or Prostitution.

            Comments were received from Council Members Waito, Gant and Zblewski, Mayor Wheaton, City Manager Herman, Chief of Public Safety Miller and Code Enforcement Officer Tracy.

H.                 Discussion of Possible Demolition of Structures.

Comments were received from Council Members Waito, Branche, Gant, Zblewski, Krause and Strander; Mayor Wheaton; City Manager Herman; Code Enforcement Officer Tracy and James Hull, 301 Perry Street.

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.)

No comments were received.

X.         EXECUTIVE SESSION

A.         The City Manager requests an Executive Session under the Open Meetings Act (Section 15.268 (c), P.A. 267 of 1976, as amended) for strategy and negotiation sessions connected with the negotiation of a collective bargaining agreement when either negotiating party requests a closed hearing.

Waito moved, Branche supported, CARRIED, to adjourn to Executive Session.  (7-0, rcv).

Mayor Wheaton adjourned to Executive Session at 8:20 p.m.

XI.       ADJOURNMENT

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

            Mayor Wheaton adjourned the Regular Session at 8:48 p.m.

____________                                             _________________________

date                                                                Kerry Helmick

                                                                        City Clerk