January 4, 2005
The regular board meeting of the Sylvan Township Board was held January 4, 2005 at 7PM in the Sylvan Township Hall, 18027 Old US 12, Chelsea, MI 48118
The following board members were present: Supervisor Williams, Clerk Koch, Treasurer Grau, Trustees Merkel and Solo.
Also present Scott Baird, Paul Kalmbach, Gregg Simon of Jones & Henry, Jamie Bollinger, Richard Bollinger, Jeff Gunnis, Paul Bollinger, Tom Caplis, Ray Steinbach, Don Schoenberg, Tom and Teri Bareis, David Brooks, Mike Swartz of Plante & Moran, Earl Heller, Corinne Sikorski, Trent and Barb Satterthwaite, Jim Neiderheide, Scott Cooper, Ann Feeney, Reuben Lesser, Brian Koch, Steve Ricci, Chelsea Standard, Cheng Peng, Ann Arbor News.
Meeting was called to order and the pledge recited.
Motion by Grau, seconded by Merkel to approve minutes as presented. Carried.
Motion by Koch, seconded by Grau to pay bills as presented. Carried.
Motion by Merkel, seconded by Grau to amend the agenda to add under New Business the 3/31/04 financial statements.
No public hearings.
Public participation: Brian Koch spoke regarding the recent article in the Chelsea Standard regarding Board of Review asking it to be reprinted for correction of errors. Ask Williams if he could help get the correct facts printed in the articles and ask the reporter to send to members of the board articles for fact checking. Williams stated he would ask for fact checking articles from Ricci.
David Brooks stated that the past board violated the Open Meetings Act several times in the past and that it will be proven at this meeting tonight.
Zoning Inspector Lange reported 2 zoning permits, 2 certificate of occupancy and 1 waiver were issued in December. In 2004 there were 131 permits issued and in 2003 only 61 permits were issued.
Reports:
Supervisor Williams reported on attending the County Supervisors meeting and discussing the upcoming jail millage election also presented the board with a 5 page memo issued by himself and addresses his personal views of the Sylvan Township Sewer and Water Authority, including a memo to Jerry Dresselhouse, Chair of the Sewer & Water Authority dated 12/27/04. The memo is broke down into three categories, Financial, Organizational and Operational. The memos will be part of the minutes. Discussion occurred with several public comments regarding personal views vs. board views. Gregg Simon of Jones & Henry interjected several times to correct the issues being discussed. Simon also stated that the Water Treatment plant was not 100% operational and still is not. The RO system is projected to be running by April of 2005.
Clerk Koch reported being in receipt of an FOIA request from David Brooks requesting all FOIA requests received by the Township from September through December of 2004.
Treasurer Grau stated that there was no MTA Chapter meeting to report on.
Trustee Solo reported that the Sylvan Township Website is up and running, at this time not a whole lot of information on it, but looking to add meeting dates of all boards/commissions and its members, looking for historical data and adding links to other governmental agencies.
Trustee Merkel reported on the Citizens Advisory Committee is moving along, next meeting on February 9th and reported on the Planning Commission meeting.
No old business.
New business:
Mike Swartz of Plante & Moran was present to discuss the 3-31-04 Financial Statements in which Supervisor Williams claims are reported incorrectly in regards to the Water Treatment Plant being operational vs. construction prior to the Township’s 3-31-04 year end. Williams also indicated to the Auditors that information was not provided intentionally by Clerk and therefore the financial statements are misrepresented. Auditors responded there was not client misrepresentation and financial statements were prepared to their satisfaction. The discussion followed regarding the potable water which has been permitted by the MDEQ versus the softened water which has not be permitted by MDEQ . Therefore the plant was not 100 percent operational at year end. Swartz indicated that he could either way but it was the Township’s call, but from the Invoices he has seen the financial statements could be revised and the Plante & Moran would revise the statements without cost to the Township. Motion by Merkel, seconded by Solo to revise statements. Carried with 1 descending vote.
Motion by Koch, seconded by Williams to give authority to Koch to sign a contract with Plante & Moran for accounting services. Carried.
Motion by Grau, seconded by Merkel to approve election workers for the February 22, 2005 Special Election. Carried.
Supervisor Williams ask the next 2 agenda items, Planning Commission appointment and Zoning Board of Appeal appointments be combined and have become victims of the calendar and to not achieve the appointments at this meeting. Treasurer Grau requested the two appointments be separated as indicated on the agenda. The Planning Commission appointment was a vacant seat and Tom Bareis’ term was up in January 2005. Williams stated he would be to solve the larger planning issues next month bringing environmental, legal, and engineer strengths to broaden the representation of the group and would like to proceed with appointing a 7 member planning commission. Therefore Williams was going to bring forth next month his recommendation for the 7 member board with re-appointing Tom Bareis, filling the vacant seat and now two additional seats with Tom Caplis, Jim Neiderheide and Hector Gonzolas. Trustee Solo supported the idea of an expanded board. Trustee Merkel stated he would like to see Williams and Solo sit back for 6 months and see how things work and bring it up again, it appears 5 member board is working just fine. Clerk Koch pointed out that if Bareis’ name was to brought forth next month then why not reappoint Bareis at this meeting. Koch also pointed out that in order to appoint a 7 member board the Ordinance would need to be amended as it is stated only a 5 member board at this time. The change in the Ordinance could not be made by the next Township Board meeting and again asking for Bareis’ reappointment at this meeting. Motion by Solo, seconded by Grau to reappoint Tom Bareis to Planning Commission for a 3-year term. The vacant seat which was created by the resignation of Bob Lange in December 2004. Williams ask Lange to extend his term until the February board meeting.
Motion by Grau, seconded by Koch to reappoint Ray Steinbach and Linda Hahn to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a 3year term. Carried. There remains a vacant seat due to the resignation of Mary Anne Mangelsen in December.
Motion by Grau, seconded by Merkel to send Don Schoenberg and Walter Hahn, members of the Board of Review to an MTA BOR Training Session in February. Carried.
Chelsea Area Fire Authority’s Joint Building Authority and its Budget was presented to the Board The Board took no official action on either item, however recommended the CAFA representative Reuben Lesser take back to the CAFA that the budget is acceptable and the Joint Building Authority discussions should continue with 2 separate millages in mind.
Motion by Koch, seconded by Grau to accept the 2005 Holiday schedule for Sylvan Township offices. Carried.
Supervisor Williams brought to the attention of the Board that there were no terms up for appointment on the Sylvan Township Sewer and Water Authority Board, however Williams offered himself up for appointment for cost savings purposes and a better handle on information from the Authority. Trustee Merkel stated he was not in favor of changing any appointments. Clerk Koch stated that Williams could share is information with the Authority without holding a seat on the Authority and also that Williams has difficulities with the Chair and Secretary/Treasurer of the Authority and it would not be in the best interest of the Township to make any changes. Williams stated he not only would like the seat the on the Authority but the position of Secretary/Treasurer on the Authority Board. Williams made a motion to appoint himself to the Authority. That motion was seconded by Trustee Solo for purposes of discussion. The question was asked that someone would have to step down to vacate a seat to appoint himself to the Authority. Williams restated his motion to ask that Clerk Koch, the Township Board representative to the Authority to step down from the Authority and appoint himself to replace Koch. Trustee Solo called the move “really divisive” and suggested that this not go forward. Williams withdrew his motion. There were no changes to the Sylvan Township Sewer and Water Authority Board.
Motion by Merkel, seconded by Grau to approve the Resolution for the Skidmore Land Division. Roll call vote, Carried.
Motion by Koch, seconded by Solo to adjourn.
LuAnn S. Koch
Sylvan Township Clerk
