City Of Albion
City Council Meeting
March 03, 2008
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; Anne Earle, City Assessor; Eric Sanchez, Economic Development Corporation Vice President; Dan Strowbridge, Albion Public Safety Lieutenant; Sandee MacGeorge, City Manager Administrative Assistant; John Tracy, Code Enforcement Officer; Jamelah Earle, Staff Appraiser and Mark Robison, City Attorney.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS' COMMENTS
Comments were received from Council Member Zblewski.
V. PUBLIC HEARING – Proposed Sidewalk Assessment.
City Manager Herman gave an overview of the appeal process procedures and a brief history of the sidewalk issues.
Mayor Wheaton opened the Public Hearing at 7:07 p.m.
Sue Shepherd, 819 North Clinton Street, inquired as to if walking in the street will be ticketed if the sidewalks are repaired.
Washington Miller, 120 East Chestnut Street, stated that he had just repaired the sidewalk abutting his property at his own cost.
Barb Benavidez, 1008 Hall Street, stated that she does not use the sidewalk system.
Steve Gordon, 219 South Dalrymple Street, proposed a community-wide volunteer labor force to perform the needed sidewalk work.
Tamara Johnson, 104 West North Street, inquired as to the cost of the assessment for large parcels and parcels owned by Albion College and the Housing Commission.
Barbara Landry-Davis, 1212 Crescent Drive, inquired as to the assessment for an adjacent vacant lot.
Father Ed Scully, St. James Episcopal Church, read a letter from the Rectory Board in support of the proposed sidewalk assessment.
Kathryn Hemingway, 905 South Superior Street, stated that some sidewalks are already being repaired in conjunction with the current street improvement program and, that while she supports the concept, believes that the cost is unreasonable in this economic climate.
Richard Fuentes, 901 East North Street, inquired as to why this program wasn’t implemented several years ago.
James Hull, 301 Perry Street, suggested a millage by the vote of the people instead of an assessment and questioned the proposed cost of the program.
Pastor William Murphy, 714 Hoaglin Drive, inquired as to why property taxes increase when no improvements have been made to the property being assessed.
Joseph Romanchuk, 215 West Pine Street, cited Federal poverty level statistics and the increased cost of living.
Price Burgess, 208 East Oak Street, questioned the assumptions cited in the sidewalk program report.
Don Goble, 1210 Algo Street, expressed his believe that the City hasn’t enforced the current sidewalk ordinance and questioned why sidewalk repair issues weren’t addressed in prior years.
Midge Jacob, 502 Lombard Street, requested a policy requiring any damage to repaired sidewalks by an outside contractor be corrected by said contractor if the proposed sidewalk program is implemented.
Esther McGear, 805 Huntington Boulevard, stated that the timing was faulty for this program due to the recession she believes is currently in place.
Robin Vafiadis, 1100 South Dalrymple Street, indicated her preference for a task force to study the issue in order to determine the exact amount of sidewalk to be replaced and the exact cost for said work.
Sue Robinson, 116 East Ash, suggested that those in the community that are financially able should donate the funds for the needed repairs rather than everyone being assessed.
Jody Mathes, 821 Prospect Court, stated that, while the City’s appearance is important, other issues should be addressed first.
Steve Caines, 215 West Ash, inquired as to why the assessment would be imposed on property owners with no sidewalk or already repaired sidewalk on their parcel(s) and stated that the ordinance prohibiting walking in the street is not being enforced.
Mitchell Endicott, 213 Booth Street, stated that Postal workers cross through residents’ yards rather than using the sidewalk.
Robina Quale-Leach, 422 Darrow Street, stated her support of the proposed sidewalk assessment program and indicated her opinion that it would aid homeowners who need assistance in performing needed sidewalk repairs.
Alicia Botello, 300 South Eaton Street, requested more information from and study by the Council on the sidewalk issues.
Phyllis Cramer, 417 Darrow Street, thanked the Council for their efforts and indicated her belief that the proposed sidewalk assessment program is a workable solution.
City Manager Herman responded to the various questions regarding assessment amounts and the waiver and exemption procedures and recapped the Council’s efforts and study regarding the sidewalk issues over the past few years.
With no other comments being offered, Mayor Wheaton closed the Public Hearing at 8:34 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 – February 19, 2008.
No comments were received.
Krause moved, Branche supported, CARRIED, to Approve the Consent Calendar as Presented. (7-0, rcv).
VIII. ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL DISCUSSION
A. Request for Discussion/Approval of:
1. Property Exemption Form for Sidewalk Assessment.
2. Sidewalk Assessment Waiver Form.
Comments were received from Council Members Zblewski, Strander, Gant and Branche and City Manager Herman.
Strander moved, Krause supported, CARRIED, to Approve the Property Exemption and Sidewalk Assessment Waiver Forms as Presented. (7-0, rcv).
B. Request for Approval of Resolution #2008-08, to Confirm the Procedure and Special Assessment Roll to Repair City Sidewalks Over a Ten Year Period.
Comments were received from Council Member Strander and City Manager Herman.
Strander moved, Zblewski supported, CARRIED, to Approve Resolution #2008-08, to Confirm the Procedure and Special Assessment Roll to Repair City Sidewalks Over a Ten Year Period. (7-0, rcv).
C. Request for Approval for American Legion Post 55 of Albion to Sell Poppies on May 15, 16 & 17, 2008.
No comments were received.
Branche moved, Krause supported, CARRIED, to Approve American Legion Post 55 of Albion Selling Poppies on May 15, 16 & 17, 2008. (7-0, rcv).
D. Request for Approval for American Legion Post 55 to Hold the Annual Memorial Day Parade on May 26, 2008.
No comments were received.
Gant moved, Zblewski supported, CARRIED, to Approve American Legion Post 55 of Albion Holding the Annual Memorial Day Parade on May 26, 2008. (7-0, rcv).
E. Request for Approval to Hold Albion’s 2nd Annual A-Mazing Corn Harvest Festival on October 04, 2008.
No comments were received.
Strander moved, Branche supported, CARRIED, to Hold Albion’s 2nd Annual A-Mazing Corn Harvest Festival on October 04, 2008. (7-0, rcv).
F. Request for Approval to Set a Joint Study Session Between the Albion City Council & the Albion Public Schools Board for Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at the Snyder Building on Cooper Street.
No comments were received.
Branche moved, Zblewski supported, CARRIED, to Approve Setting a Joint Study Session Between the Albion City Council & the Albion Public Schools Board for Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at the Snyder Building on Cooper Street. (7-0, rcv).
G. Request for Approval of a 4-Year Agreement with the Albion Clerical Alliance with the Mayor and Clerk Authorized to Sign the Agreement After the Union Has Signed the Agreement.
No comments were received.
Strander moved, Krause supported, CARRIED, to Approve a 4-Year Agreement with the Albion Clerical Alliance with the Mayor and Clerk Authorized to Sign the Agreement After the Union Has Signed the Agreement. (7-0, rcv).
H. Request for Approval of a 4-Year Agreement with AFSCME with the Mayor and Clerk Authorized to Sign the Agreement After AFSCME Has Signed the Agreement.
No comments were received.
Gant moved, Waito supported, CARRIED, to Approve a 4-Year Agreement with AFSCME with the Mayor and Clerk Authorized to Sign the Agreement After AFSCME Has Signed the Agreement. (7-0, rcv).
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 City Manager Herman and Richard Fuentes, 901 East North Street.
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.
The Mayor cancelled the Executive Session as it was not needed at this time.
XI. ADJOURNMENT
Krause moved, Branche supported, CARRIED, to adjourn the Regular Session. (7-0, rcv).
Mayor Wheaton adjourned the Regular Session at 8:58 p.m.
____________ _________________________
date Kerry Helmick
City Clerk