CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF COMMERCE

REGULAR BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

2840 Fisher Avenue

Commerce Township, Michigan 48390

 

 

CALL TO ORDER: Supervisor Thomas Zoner called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and introduced the members of the Board.

 

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO FLAG

 

 

ROLL CALL: Present:         Thomas K. Zoner, Supervisor

Sandra Abrams, Clerk

Susan Gross, Treasurer

Debra Kirkwood, Trustee

Robert Long, Trustee

Daniel Munro, Trustee

Rick Sovel, Trustee

 

Also Present: Phillip Adkison, Township Attorney

Hans Rentrop, Township Attorney

Loren Crandell, Giffels-Webster Engineers

 

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

MOTION by Abrams, supported by Gross, to approve the Regular Township Board Meeting Minutes of February 12, 2008 as submitted.                                                                                                                MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

 

PRESENTATIONS:

  1. Walled Lake Central Girls Varsity Bowling Team – 2nd Place State Finals

 

MOTION by Abrams, supported by Kirkwood, to approve the Resolution commending The Walled Lake Schools Girls Varsity Bowling Team for placing 1st in the Oakland County Tournament, 1st in Regional Competition and 2nd in the MHSAA State Bowling Finals.                      MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

 

 

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Regular Township Board Meeting

 

 

PRESENTATIONS (continued):

 

  1. Walled Lake Central Boys Varsity Bowling Team – 1st Place State Champions

 

MOTION by Abrams, supported by Kirkwood, to approve the Resolution commending the Walled Lake Schools Boys Varsity Bowling Team for placing 1st in the Oakland County Tournament, 2nd in Regional Competition and earned the prestigious title of State Champions in the MHSAA State Bowling Finals.

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

 

PETITIONS:

None

 

 

ITEM 1:3-11 APPROVAL OF AGENDA

 

MOTION by Abrams, supported by Sovel, to approve the Agenda with the added addendum to New Business.                   MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

 

ITEM 2:3-11  PUBLIC COMMENTS

Richardson Senior Center - Walled Lake Seniors are looking for additional tables (3)  and opening up the doors, which are blocked with boxes, for more ventilation on Tuesdays during the day.  They are looking for additional space to play cards.  Supervisor Thomas Zoner will review their request although he did mention there are not enough Federal Funds to accommodate additional space for Commerce Township residents.

 

 

ITEM 3:3-11 PUBLIC HEARINGS

None

 

 

ITEM 4:3-11 BOARD APPOINTMENTS

Zoning Board of Appeals

 

MOTION by Sovel, supported by Long, to approve the recommendation of Supervisor Thomas Zoner to appoint Jorge Pacheco to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a three-year term expiring March 2011.

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Page 3                                                                       Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Regular Township Board Meeting

 

 

ITEM 5:3-11 CONTRACTS AWARDS AND AGREEMENTS

McKenna Landscaping Proposal

Seth Shpargel, Senior Planner McKenna Associates, Inc. was present.

 

Kathleen Bartoluzzi, Planning Director was present.

 

MOTION by Zoner, supported by Munro, to table the Addendum to Section 8, Additional Services, Contract dated May 20, 2004 and authorize the appropriate signatures.                                                              MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

 

ITEM 6:3-11 INTRODUCTIONS

None

 

 

ITEM 7:3-11 ADOPTIONS

  1. An Ordinance to Amend Ordinance No. 73-95-0, The Charter Township of Commerce Hardship Tax Exemption Ordinance.  Ordinance to be known as 73-08-2.

Phillip Adkison, Township Attorney gave a review of the Ordinance.

 

MOTION by Sovel, supported by Abrams, to Adopt an Ordinance to Amend Ordinance No. 73-95-0, The Charter Township of Commerce Hardship Tax Exemption Ordinance.  Ordinance to be known as 73-08-2 and to post and publish according to law.                          MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

  1. An Ordinance to Amend Ordinance No. 62, the Charter Township of Commerce Water 7 Sewer Ordinance.  Ordinance to be known as 62-08-38.

Phillip Adkison, Township Attorney gave a review of the Ordinance.

 

MOTION by Gross, supported by Abrams, to Adopt an Ordinance to Amend Ordinance No. 62, The Charter Township of Commerce Water 7 Sewer Ordinance.  Ordinance to be known as 62-08-38 2 and to post and publish according to law.                                          MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

 

ITEM 8:3-11 SITE CONDOMINIUMS AND PLATS

None

 

 

 

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Regular Township Board Meeting

 

 

ITEM 9:3-11 CONSENT AGENDA

A.     Proclaim April as National Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month in the Charter Township of Commerce

B.    Brian Blaesing Proclamation

C.    Amendment of Post Closing Occupancy Agreement

D.    Request by Open Door Outreach for a Banner across Union Lake Road

E.     Request by St. Patrick’s Parish for a Banner across Union Lake Road

 

MOTION by Gross, supported by Abrams, to approve the Resolution of the Township Board of the Charter Township of Commerce Consent Agenda.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

AYES:  Gross, Abrams, Long, Munro, Sovel, Kirkwood, Zoner

NAYS:  None

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

 

ITEM 10:3-11 PURCHASES

None

 

 

ITEM 11:3-11 OLD BUSINESS

RCOC Tri-Party (Tabled 2-12-08)

 

MOTION by Sovel, supported by Abrams, to remove RCOC Tri-Party from the table.                                                                       MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

Thomas G. Noechel, Programming Supervisor Road Commission for Oakland County was present and gave an explanation and review of the Tri-Party Funds for Commerce Township.

 

MOTION by Long, supported by Kirkwood, to table the Fiscal Year 2008 Tri-Party Funds.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

AYES:  Long, Kirkwood 

NAYS:  Sovel, Abrams, Zoner, Gross, Munro

MOTION FAILED

 

 

Page 5                                                                       Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Regular Township Board Meeting

 

 

ITEM 11:3-11 OLD BUSINESS

RCOC Tri-Party (continued)

 

MOTION by Munro, supported by Abrams, to approve the Fiscal Year 2008 Tri-Party Funds as recommended by Thomas Zoner, Township Supervisor and the Road Commission for Oakland County  at a total cost of $170,000.00 to Commerce Township -

 

·        S. Commerce Road from Oakley Park Road to Cooley Lake Road (3.00 miles)

·        Oakley Park Road from Benstein Road to S. Commerce Road (1.35 miles)

·        Benstein Road from Oakley Park Road to N. of Bass Lake Road (0.75 miles)

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

AYES:  Munro, Abrams, Gross, Zoner   

NAYS:  Kirkwood, Long, Sovel

MOTION CARRIED

 

 

ITEM 12:3-11 NEW BUSINESS

 

A.     Appoint Committee for union matters.

 

MOTION by Gross, supported Abrams, to appoint Thomas Zoner, Dan Munro and Debra Kirkwood to a committee in order to hold a hearing for union matters.

 

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

Discussion - Randy Hall would like Thomas Zoner to be removed from the recommendation because he receives and acts on union grievances in his position as Township Supervisor.

 

B.     Glenmore

No action

 

 

C.     Water rate update

Mark Beauchamp was present and advised the Board of his projection of the sewer treatment financing.

 

 

 

 

Page 6                                                                       Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Regular Township Board Meeting

 

 

 

ITEM 12:3-11 NEW BUSINESS

C.  Water rate update (continued)

 

Tom Traciac gave a review of the bond schedule and addressed selling bonds.  He recommends that future bond sales by utilizing an underwriter up front to negotiate a competitive rate.  This would give more control over pricing of bonds.  Discussion ensued.

 

MOTION by Sovel, supported by Munro, to commence with the sewer treatment financing and the two bond issues in two separate series to pay for a sanitary sewer treatment plant.

 

Motion and support withdrawn

           

 

ITEM 14:3-11 ORDERS

 

MOTION by Abrams, supported by Gross, to approve the orders with additions.                                                                                MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

 

ITEM 15:3-11 OTHER MATTERS

Update - Library Advisory Board

 

 

ITEM 13:3-11 EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

MOTION by Sovel, supported by Abrams, to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing the acquisition of property.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

AYES:            Abrams, Gross, Kirkwood, Long, Munro, Sovel, Zoner 

NAYS:            None

                                                MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

 

Entered into Executive Session at 10:05 p.m.

Returned from Executive Session at 11:20 p.m.

 

 

Page 7                                                                       Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Regular Township Board Meeting

 

 

MOTION by Kirkwood, supported by Gross, to authorize 19M in negotiated bond sales, contingent on DDA Board recommendation for same.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

AYES:          Gross, Abrams, Kirkwood, Sovel, Zoner

NAYS:            Munro, Long

                                                                        MOTION CARRIED

 

 

ITEM 16:3-11 ADJOURNMENT

 

MOTION by Sovel, supported by Abrams, to adjourn the meeting at 11:50 p.m.

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

 

 

______________________________

Sandra Abrams, CMC

Clerk, Charter Township of Commerce