Delhi Charter Township Board of Trustees Minutes

The Delhi Charter Township Board of Trustees met in a regular meeting on Tuesday, October 17, 2006 in the Multipurpose Room at the Community Services Center, 2074 Aurelius Road, Holt, Michigan. Supervisor Goodrich called the meeting to order at 7:33 p.m.

Members Present: Supervisor Stuart Goodrich, Treasurer Harry Ammon, Clerk Evan Hope, Trustees John Hayhoe, Jerry Ketchum, Paul Krepps, Roy Sweet

Others Present:         John Elsinga, Township Manager
                                        Lt. Jeff Cook, Delhi Div., Ing. County Sheriff’s Office
                                        Rick Royston, Fire Chief
                                        Sandra Diorka, Superintendent of Public Services
                                        Tracy Carney-Miller, Dir. of Community Development
                                        Gail Meredith, Accounting Technician
                                        Wendy Thielen, Assist. Twp. Mgr. of Human Resources
                                        Amy Finch, Assistant Twp. Clerk/Deputy Clerk

SET/ADJUST AGENDA

HOPE MOVED TO REMOVE AGENDA ITEM NO. 4K –SANITARY SEWER ACCEPTANCE-ASPEN CENTRE, PHASE II AND 4L – SANITARY SEWER ACCEPTANCE-ASPEN LAKES APARTMENTS, PHASE II AND ADD LATE AGENDA ITEM NO. 5 – DISPOSAL OF FIXED ASSETS.

DISTINGUISHED BUDGET PRESENTATION AWARD

Supervisor Stuart Goodrich presented Gail Meredith, Accounting Technician, with the Distinguished Budget Award for the 2006 Budget. Jason Coker, former Director of Accounting and Ms. Meredith, were involved in the preparation of the 2006 Budget.

PUBLIC SERVICES DEPARTMENT STAFFING CHANGES

The Board reviewed a memorandum dated October 12, 2006 from Twp. Mgr. Elsinga (ATTACHMENT I).

AMMON MOVED TO APPROVE ONE (1) REGULAR PART-TIME PUBLIC SERVICES MAINTENANCE LABORER POSITION AT A PAY GRADE 4, AND ELIMINATE ONE (1) REGULAR PART-TIME CUSTODIAN POSITION AT A PAY GRADE 3 IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICES.

A Roll Call Vote was recorded as follows:
Ayes: Goodrich, Hayhoe, Hope, Ketchum, Krepps, Sweet, Ammon
MOTION CARRIED

PETITION FOR CHANGE OF ZONE – CASE NO. 06-815 – PRIVATE ACRES SUBDIVISION – A-1, AGRICULTURAL TO R1-E, ONE FAMILY HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL, SECOND CONSIDERATION (PROPOSED ZONING ORDINANCE NO. 600)

The Board reviewed a memorandum dated September 27, 2006 from Tracy Miller, Director of Community Development (ATTACHMENT II).

KREPPS MOVED UPON SECOND CONSIDERATION TO APPROVE THE REZONING OF CASE NO. 06-815, THE ENTIRE PRIVATE ACRES SUBDIVISION, FROM A-1, AGRICULTURAL, TO R1-E, ONE FAMILY HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL, AS RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION AT THEIR SEPTEMBER 25, 2006 MEETING, BASED ON IT BEING CONSISTENT WITH THE ADOPTED DELHI TOWNSHIP MASTER PLAN, INCLUDING THE INTENT OF THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP (ZONING ORDINANCE NO. 600).

A Roll Call Vote was recorded as follows:
Ayes: Hayhoe, Hope, Ketchum, Krepps, Sweet, Ammon, Goodrich
MOTION CARRIED

A.        Approval of Minutes – Committee of the Whole Meeting of October 3, 2006
B.        Approval of Minutes – Regular Meeting of October 3, 2006
C.        Approval of Minutes – Budget Meeting of September 20, 2006
D.        Approval of Minutes – Budget Meeting of September 27, 2006
E.        Approval of Minutes – Special Meeting of October 9, 2006
F.         Approval of Claims – October 10, 2006 (ATTACHMENT III)
G.        Approval of Payroll – October 5, 2006 (ATTACHMENT IV)
H.        Year 2007 Township Holiday Schedule (ATTACHMENT V)
I.          Resolution No. 2006-031 – Streetlight Special Assessment District/Roll – Meadow Ridge Subdivision No. 5                             (ATTACHMENT VI)
J.         Lansing Board of Water and Light Streetlight Proposal – Request No. 2BDH-00 – Meadow Ridge Subdivision No. 5                             (ATTACHMENT VII)

A Roll Call Vote was recorded as follows:
Ayes: Hope, Ketchum, Krepps, Sweet, Ammon, Goodrich, Hayhoe
MOTION CARRIED

DISPOSAL OF FIXED ASSETS – VEHICLES

The Board reviewed a memorandum dated October 17, 2006 from Twp. Mgr. Elsinga (ATTACHMENT VIII).

HOPE MOVED TO DISPOSE OF THE 1980 FORD F350 TRUCK (VIN #F37ZUHJ1175), THE 1995 FORD F250 TRUCK (VIN #1FTHF26H6SLA93070) AND THE 1996 CHEVY TAHOE (VIN #1GNEK13R7TJ401762) AT THE STATE OF MICHIGAN VEHICLE AUCTION ON NOVEMBER 7, 2006.

A Roll Call Vote was recorded as follows:
Ayes: Ketchum, Krepps, Sweet, Ammon, Goodrich, Hayhoe, Hope
MOTION CARRIED

AREA TAX RATES

The Board reviewed a document entitled “2005 Delhi Charter Township Tax Rate with Principle Residence Exemption” (ATTACHMENT IX).

Supervisor Goodrich stated that the 2005 Delhi Charter Township Tax Rate document shows tax rates for area Townships, Villages and Cities. The document shows that many of the areas have higher tax rates than Delhi Township.

TOWNSHIP BOARD PRESS RELEASES

Supervisor Goodrich requested that any press release submitted on behalf of the Delhi Township Board of Trustees is submitted to the Township Manager’s office before going to the newspaper. Supervisor Goodrich asked the opinion of the Board.

Trustee Krepps stated that he agrees with Supervisor Goodrich for press releases that are coming out as “Delhi Township Board Announces”. The press release published in the October 15, 2006 edition of the Holt Community Newspaper was not submitted on behalf of the Township Board but rather a press release submitted by a Trustee.

Trustee Hayhoe stated that he agrees with the October 15^th article; however, he feels that Board press releases should come from the entire Board having one voice and should go through the proper channels.

Trustee Ketchum stated that statements published in the newspaper by a Board member should be shown to the Board first, but he feels that the Board should not be allowed to censor the statement.

Trustee Krepps stated that it is not unusual in the “real world” for individual politicians, such as Mike Rogers or Dianne Byrum, to publish a story without prior approval. Trustee Krepps stated that when he submits an article to the newspaper he does not submit it as coming from the Township Board but rather as Paul Krepps, Township Trustee.

Clerk Hope stated that politicians, such as Dianne Byrum or Mike Rogers, solely represent their own district. They do not share a district with an entire Board. Clerk Hope stated that the article should be made clear if it is one individual speaking or the entire Board.

Trustee Krepps stated that if a reporter phones a Board member they should not have to tell the reporter that they cannot answer questions without first speaking to the Township Manager’s office.

Trustee Ketchum stated that normally when a reporter is writing a story, he contacts several of the Board members not just one Board member. If a press release is submitted to the newspaper, Trustee Ketchum stated that he feels it represents the entire Board and the Board should be consulted.

Will Kangas, Holt Community Newspaper Editor, stated that when Trustee Krepps’ article was submitted to the Holt Community Newspaper, there was not time to consult with the rest of the Board members, so the October 15^th article was run as a press release. The newspaper identified Paul Krepps as a member of the Delhi Charter Township Board of Trustees, which may have slanted the release making it look as if it came from the entire Board.

Treasurer Ammon stated that he feels that press releases should be submitted to the Board members as well as the Manager’s office.

TAX DOLLARS COLLECTED

Treasurer Ammon stated that out of $7,943,000, the Treasurer’s office has collected $7,430,000 in summer tax dollars.

INGHAM COUNTY CHAPTER-MICHIGAN TOWNSHIPS ASSOCIATION

Clerk Hope reminded the Board that the Ingham County Chapter-Michigan Townships Association will meet for a Pot Luck Dinner/Meeting at 6:30 p.m. on October 25, 2006 at the Onondaga Township Hall.

MID-DECADE CENSUS UPDATE

Clerk Hope reported on the progress of the Mid-Decade Census. Clerk Hope stated that 85% of the Township homes have been visited for the first time and many districts are now starting with the second pass of homes that have not yet responded. Approximately 50% of the call back sheets have been returned.

CHANGE OF BOARD MEETING DATE TO WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2006

Clerk Hope reminded the Board that the next Board meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 8, 2006 due to the Tuesday, November 7, 2006 General Election.

Will Kangas, Holt Community Newspaper Editor, stated that if the Township submits Township news he will make every effort to publish the stories in the paper.