City Of Albion

City Council Meeting

December 17, 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; John Tracy, Code Enforcement Officer; Dan Strowbridge, Public Safety Lieutenant and Chuck Robison, City Attorney.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS' COMMENTS

Comments were received from Council Members Gant, Krause, Strander and Waito and Mayor Wheaton.

A.         Sister City Presentation – Michelle Mueller.

Michelle Mueller, Albion Sister City Committee President, presented Mayor Wheaton with gifts from the Mayors of Noisy le Roi, France and Godella, Spain and gave a presentation discussing her recent trip to Noisy le Roi and some of the key accomplishments of the Sister City relationship’s ten-year existence.

Additional comments were received from Council Member Gant and Mayor Wheaton.

V.         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.

VI.       CONSENT CALENDAR

A.                 Approval of Regular Session Minutes – December 03, 2007.

No comments were received.

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

VII.     ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL DISCUSSION

            A.         Request for Approval for the Greater Albion Chamber of Commerce to Hold the Annual Cardboard Classic Sled Race at Victory Park on Sunday, January 27, 2008.

                        No comments were received.

                        Gant moved, Branche supported, CARRIED, to Approve the Greater Albion Chamber of Commerce Holding the Annual Cardboard Classic Sled Race at Victory Park on Sunday, January 27, 2008.  (7-0, rcv).

B.         Request for Approval of Resolution #2007-28, to Approve the FY 2008 Budget Appropriation - $4,711,390.

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

Strander moved, Waito supported, CARRIED, to Approve Resolution #2007-28, to Approve the FY 2008 Budget Appropriation - $4,711,390 .   (7-0, rcv).

C.         Request for Approval of Resolution #2007-27, to Approve FY 2007 Year-End Budget Amendments.

Comments were received from City Manager Herman.

Strander moved, Branche supported, CARRIED, to Approve Resolution #2007-27, to Approve FY 2007 Year-End Budget Amendments.  (7-0, rcv).

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

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

            Zblewski moved, Strander supported, CARRIED, to Approve a 2% Salary Increase for City Manager Herman Effective 01/01/2008.  (7-0, rcv).

E.         Request for Approval of Engineering Services Agreement with Jones & Henry for Design/Upgrade of Rieger Park Sanitary Lift Station - $6,500.

            Comments were received from Council Members Strander and Gant, City Manager Herman and Public Services Director Markovich.

            Gant moved, Krause supported, CARRIED, to Approve an Engineering Services Agreement with Jones & Henry for Design/Upgrade of Rieger Park Sanitary Lift Station - $6,500.  (7-0, rcv).

F.         Request for Approval of Changes to Employee Policies & Procedure Handbook.

            Comments were received from Mayor Wheaton and City Manager Herman.

            Waito moved, Strander supported, CARRIED, to Approve Changes to the  Employee Policies & Procedure Handbook as Presented.  (7-0, rcv).

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

            Comments were received from Council Members Strander, Waito, Krause and Zblewski, City Manager Herman, Chief of Public Safety Miller and Public Safety Lieutenant Strowbridge.

            Krause moved, Strander supported, CARRIED, to Approve Purchase of an Aerial Fire Truck - $18,000.  (7-0, rcv).

H.        Motion to Excuse Absent Council Member(s).

No action was needed as all Council Members were present.

VIII.   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 Strander; City Manager Herman; City Attorney Robison; Code Enforcement Officer Tracy; Robina Quale-Leach, 422 Darrow Street; Richard Fuentes, 901 East North Street and James Hull, 301 Perry Street.

IX.       EXECUTIVE SESSION

A.         The City Manger 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.

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

Mayor Wheaton adjourned to Executive Session at 8:18 p.m.

X.         REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF UNION CONTRACTS

No action was taken on this item at this time.

XI.       ADJOURNMENT

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

            Mayor Wheaton adjourned the Regular Session at 9:02 p.m.

____________                                             _________________________

date                                                                Kerry Helmick

                                                                        City Clerk