[00:00:01]
>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE DECEMBER 05, 2023 REGULAR MEETING OF THE TOWNSHIP BOARD THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, NOT USED TO FALL ALONG. [LAUGHTER] WELCOME TO YOU ALL.
PLEASE JOIN ME WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE,
>> A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CALL TO ORDER, FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
>> THANK YOU. MS.GORDON, COULD WE HAVE A ROLL CALL?
>> SUPERVISOR JACKSON, CATHERINE, TREASURER DESCHAINE, TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON, TRUSTEE SAMUEL, TRUSTEE WILSON, TRUSTEE WILSON.
SIX BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. TONIGHT. ITEM FOUR IS A PRESENTATION.
[1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER]
I HAVE ONE PRESENTATION.THIS PARTICULAR PRESENTATION IS A RECOGNITION OF GAYELORD MANKOWSKI, SANTA'S FIRST RESPONDERS.
>> HEY, COME ON UP, GUYS. REST OF THE BOARD, THANK YOU.
I'LL INTRODUCE WHO WE HAVE HERE.
THIS IS T-J BOOMS FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
HE IS ON OUR BOARD FOR SENSE FIRST RESPONDERS AND GAYELORD MANKOWSKI RETIRED FROM MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP AND CURRENTLY WORKS FOR THE STATE OF MICHIGAN.
HE IS THE CHAIRMAN OF OUR BOARD FOR FIRST RESPONDERS.
I THINK WE'RE HERE TONIGHT, I GUESS JUST TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE.
I GUESS OVER THE YEARS, THE PAST 33 YEARS,
[4. PRESENTATION]
I SHOULDN'T SAY GAYELORD HAS BEEN ONE THAT'S BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN IT.T-J AND I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS, BUT PROVIDED A HOLIDAY PARTY FOR KIDS AND NEED INWARDLY AND TOWNSHIP.
WHAT STARTED AS A VERY SMALL PARTY BACK IN, I GUESS YOU GUYS DO THE MATH, THE 1900S, IF WE WILL [LAUGHTER], THAT GAYELORD WAS ASSIGNED TO THE TRAILER PARKS IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP AS A COMMUNITY POLICING OFFICER AND RECOGNIZE THAT A LOT OF THESE KIDS WEREN'T GONNA GET ANYTHING FOR CHRISTMAS, SO HE TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF TO RESERVE SOME SPACE FOR A PARTY AND USED HIS HOLIDAY CHECK THAT IT GETS AND BOUGHT PRESENTS FOR THE KIDS.
AS WORD GREW ABOUT WHAT GAYELORD WAS DOING.
AS WORD SPREAD, DONATIONS STARTED COMING IN.
THE PARTY GREW, TO THE POINT WHERE YOU HIT WHERE WE WERE BUSTING AT THE SEAMS, AND HAD TO USE SCHOOLS, WORKING WITH THE SCHOOLS TO DETERMINE OTHER KIDS WHO WERE ALSO IN NEED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE TOWNSHIP.
IT HAS GROWN INTO AN EXTRAORDINARILY IMPRESSIVE ORGANIZATION.
IT'S A 501C3 ORGANIZATION THAT WAS FORMED, I BELIEVE IT WAS THREE YEARS AGO. THAT'S ALRIGHT.
THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO, IT WAS RENAMED SANTA'S FIRST RESPONDERS.
WE'VE EXPANDED OUR PARTY, NOT JUST TO THE KIDS IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, BUT WE NOW ALSO INTO THE HOSPITAL AT SPIRO OUT OF THE CANCER UNIT.
WE'VE PROVIDED THEM WITH A FIRST RESPONDER PARADE OUTSIDE, AND THEN WE GO ON THE UNIT AND DELIVER TOYS TO THE KIDS WHO HONESTLY AREN'T OUT OF THE HOSPITAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
IT'S TALKING TO MANAGER WALSH ABOUT IT.
HE ASKED, LIKE, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE REAL EMOTIONAL? I SAID, YEAH. I MEAN [LAUGHTER] AS POLICE OFFICERS.
WHEN YOU GO IN, YOU SEE THESE KIDS, THEY'RE TINY AND SOME OF THEM CAN'T EVEN GET OUT OF BED [BACKGROUND], AND SO HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO DELIVER THIS PRESENCE, WE HAVE CHIEFS OF POLICE THERE WHERE SANTA COMES ALONG.
I'VE GOT THE GRINCH COMING THIS YEAR AS WELL.
WE'VE GOT SOME BATMAN AND SUPERMAN COMING ONTO THE UNIT AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO DELIVER TOYS.
ALONG WITH THAT, GAYELORD WORKED WITH A COMPANY THAT MAKES CHEMO CHAIRS SPECIFICALLY FOR CHILDREN.
HE WAS ABLE TO GET $50,000 WORTH OF CHEMO CHAIRS THAT ARE GOING TO BE INTRODUCED AT SPARROW WHEN WE GO TO OUR PARTY ON THE 21ST THERE.
I'M VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE AS AN ORGANIZATION, AND HONESTLY, GAYELORD HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN WHAT WE'VE DONE.
[00:05:11]
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR APPRECIATION FOR THESE CENTERS' FIRST RESPONDERS.
BUT I HAVE A SEPARATE COMMEMORATION TO MAKE THIS EVENING.
GAYELORD MANKOWSKI WAS BORN AND RAISED AND GAYELORD, MICHIGAN.
HIS FATHER SERVED ON THE CITY COUNCIL FOR 44 YEARS AND HAS THE PATRICK MANKOWSKI ELK PARK NAMED AFTER HIM.
AFTER WORKING FOR THE GAYELORD POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE COW COSTCO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
GAYELORD BEGAN HIS CAREER WITH MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP ON JANUARY 8, 1990.
GAYELORD BECAME OUR FIRST CANINE OFFICER AND WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN DEVELOPING THE CANINE PROGRAM WHICH CONTINUES TO FLOURISH TODAY.
HE WAS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE SPECIAL RESPONSE TEAM, THE BICYCLE PATROL UNIT, AND WORKED AS A DARE OFFICER AND THE OAKLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT.
ON MAY 31, 2014, GAYELORD RETIRED FROM THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT.
33 YEARS AGO, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO LOW-INCOME AREAS AS THE COMMUNITY POLICING OFFICER AND RECOGNIZED A GOOD NUMBER OF THE CHILDREN, AND THESE NEIGHBORHOODS WERE GOING WITHOUT THE HOLIDAYS.
WHILE USING HIS OWN MONEY, HE RENTED SPACE FOR THE HOLIDAY PARTY, BOUGHT TOYS FOR ALL THE KIDS.
AS WORD OF GAYELORD'S GENEROSITY SPREAD, OTHERS BEGAN TO DONATE AND THE PARTY BECAME AN ANNUAL TRADITION THAT EXPANDED IT TO THE SCHOOLS AND THOUSANDS OF KIDS FROM ALL OVER MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
IN 2020, GAYELORD FORMED SANTA'S FIRST RESPONDERS, A 501C3, CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION THAT CONTINUES TO TEAR, A CHARITABLE WORK THAT HE BEGAN OVER 30 YEARS PRIOR.
IN 2022, HE RECOGNIZED AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP KIDS WHO ARE ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL DURING THE HOLIDAYS.
GAYELORD ORGANIZED A PARADE OF FIRST RESPONDER VEHICLES OUTSIDE OF SPARROW HOSPITAL AND PRESENTS WERE DELIVERED TO THE ILL CHILDREN.
HE IS WELL-KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY FOR THE DELICIOUS PICKLES HE SELLS TOWNSHIP FARMER'S MARKET.
HE IS A LEADER WITHOUT RANK AND CONTINUES TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP BOARD, THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP WITH MERIDIAN, INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN HEREBY OFFICIALLY NAME ON THE DECEMBER 08TH, 2023, AS GAYELORD MANKOWSKI DAY IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.
>> [INAUDIBLE] THERE'S NO TEAM THAT ISN'T BELIEVED.
I BELIEVE WE ALL WORK TOGETHER.
IF IT WASN'T FOR RICK, T-J, CONFETTI, BOMB CALLS FROM MSU AND DIANNE FROM HAZARDS SCHOOLS, THIS WOULDN'T HAPPEN.
JUST A LITTLE BIT, MAYBE GET JERICHO.
MY DAD WAS IN CITY COUNCIL FOR 44 YEARS.
HE WAS A TENACIOUS PHILANTHROPIST.
WHEN I CALLED THEM, I SAID, HEY, I GOT THESE KIDS THAT HAVE NOTHING.
I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY THEM ALL TOYS.
I CAN'T IMAGINE ONE DAY HE WENT TO MARY'S TAVERN AND DOWNTOWN GAYELORD, HELD COURT WITH OTHER POLICE FOLKS.
HE SAID, GIGS GOT KIDS WHO HAVE NEED HELP 3 HOURS AWAY DOWN IN THE ALCHEMISTS, GET YOUR WALLETS OUT.
THEN HE HAD A SAYING ABOUT THE OYSTERS.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT AN OYSTER AND GETS A PIECE OF DIRT IN IT AND IT JUST TOILS AND TOILS.
HE WOULD TELL US AFTER DRINKING USUALLY.
BUT HE SAID THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, SOME OYSTERS CREATE BEAUTIFUL PEARLS.
HIS SAYING WAS, WHAT CAN WE DO WITH OUR OWN PIECE OF DIRT OR THINGS THAT BOTHER US? WE DO THIS AND NOW WE'VE TAKEN ON THE SECOND MEASURE.
WE CALL IT THE CREATIVES KIDS OF SPARROW.
BUT DOES A CANCER KID IN THERE FOR LONG-TERM CARE?
[00:10:03]
I WENT DOWN TO THE POD UNIT WHICH IS THE DAILY CARE.THOSE KIDS ARE HURTING TOO, SO WE GOT TONS OF STUFF FOR ALL THE KIDS.
WILL HOPEFULLY HAVE 300 KIDS ON THE 16TH AT MURPHY SCHOOL AND OTHER PARTNERS.
OLIVE GARDEN DONATED FOOD FOR 10 TO 15 YEARS.
WE HAVE COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN OUR AREA AND THAT'S WHY WE LIVE HERE, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE NOW MOVE TO ITEM FIVE ON OUR AGENDA.
CITIZENS ADDRESS AGENDA ITEMS AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS. I HAVE TWO GREEN CARDS.
THE FIRST ONE IS FOR SHAWN O'BRIEN.
AGAIN, MY NAME IS SHAWN O'BRIEN.
I LIVE AT 16948 PINE HOLLOW DRIVE, EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN.
I'M HERE TO COMMENT ON THE REZONING FOR PARK LAKE ROAD.
I HAPPENED TO REPRESENT THE THREE BROTHERS THAT OWN THE PROPERTY THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT.
AS I MENTIONED LAST YEAR OR LAST WEEK OR STANDING HERE IN FRONT OF IT MUST HAVE BEEN TWO WEEKS AGO OR SO.
[5. CITIZENS ADDRESS AGENDA ITEMS AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS]
THEY'VE OWNED THIS PROPERTY FOR 30 YEARS AND IT'S BEEN ZONED TO ACCOMMODATE A SPLIT ZONED PARCEL, JUST MAKES IT CHALLENGING.FOR AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, RD&RA, SOME OF THE IMPEDIMENTS TO DEVELOPING THIS SIDE.
WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIND A DEVELOPER FOR THE PROPERTY FOR YEARS.
IT DOES HAVE WETLANDS, IT DOES HAVE FLOODPLAIN.
IT HAS A RAIL LINE GOING BY IT, WHICH CREATES A HIGHER SETBACK REQUIREMENT.
THE WETLANDS REQUIRE CREATE A HIGHER SETBACK AND IT'S A CHALLENGING SITE.
REDWOOD HAS DONE THEIR HOMEWORK.
THEY KNOW WHAT'S INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING THIS SITE.
THEIR PLAN BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS PRESENTS A LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT THAT'S A SINGLE-STORY IN KEEPING, I BELIEVE, WITH THE NEIGHBORING USES.
AGAIN, YOU'VE GOT COMMERCIAL ON ONE SIDE.
YOU'VE GOT MULTIFAMILY AND A RAILROAD ON THE WEST ARE ON THE EAST SIDE AND YOU'VE GOT RESIDENTIAL ON THE NORTH AND THE EASTSIDE.
THEIR PROPOSAL IS GOING TO BRING A AS I SAID, A LOWER IMPACT DEVELOPMENT THAN WHAT IS CURRENTLY ZONED FOR THE PROPERTY.
I RESEARCHED THE TOWNSHIPS MASTER-PLAN ORDINANCE AND I PROVIDED A LETTER THAT I'M SURE YOU'VE GOT.
DIVERSITY AND HOUSING IS WHAT WE NEED IN THIS TOWNSHIP.
WHAT THEY'RE PLANNING SOMEBODY MADE THE COMMENT THAT THERE'S SEVERAL HUNDRED MULTIFAMILY HOUSING UNITS PROPOSED IN WHETHER THEY GET DEVELOPS AND OTHER THING PROPOSED IN THE TOWNSHIP.
BUT LAST NIGHT I LOOKED, THERE IS LESS THAN 50 HOUSES FOR SALE IN OPENNESS AND HAZLETT.
THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO BRING 106 HOUSING UNITS INTO THE TOWNSHIP THAT WILL APPEAL TO PEOPLE THAT ARE LOOKING TO DOWNSIZE.
AGAIN, FREEING UP SOME ADDITIONAL HOMES THAT COULD BE USED IN THAT TOWNSHIP FOR FAMILIES AND IT'S FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS THAT WANT THEIR OWN GARAGE.
THEY WANT TO FEEL LIKE THEY'VE GOT ESSENTIALLY AT HOME INSTEAD OF A MULTI-STORY APARTMENT.
THEY DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE WHEREVER THEY GO.
THEY BUILD A QUALITY COMMUNITY.
I THINK MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, THEY KNOW 106 HOUSING UNITS WILL BE ABSORBED QUICKLY.
I BELIEVE IT'S IN KEEPING WITH YOUR TOWNSHIP GOALS TO CREATE ADDITIONAL HOUSING IN DIVERSIFICATION AND HOUSING IN THE TOWNSHIP. THANK YOU.
[00:15:05]
>> THANK YOU. THE NEXT GREEN CARD I HAVE IS FOR EDGAR GILLESPIE.
>> I'M EDGAR GILLESPIE. I'M NOT WINKING AT YOU.
I CAN'T SEE OUT OF THIS SIZE, SO I HAVE TO LOOK AT SOME NOTES HERE.
BUT I'VE LIVED AT 2692 ROCKWOOD DRIVE, THE WORKLOAD SUBDIVISION FOR 36 YEARS.
ALONG WITH MY NEIGHBORS, I SPOKE AT SEVERAL MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS URGING THE DENIAL OF REDWOODS REQUEST TO CONDITIONALLY REASON ON THE PROPERTY.
THEY WANT TO DEVELOP, JUST EASE THE PARK LAKE ROAD CLOSE TO THE INTERSECTION OF GRAND RIVER AND PER-CLICK.
AFTER SEVERAL MEETINGS AND EXTENSIVE DISCUSSIONS, THE NINE MEMBER PLANNING COMMISSION OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED 7-2 DENY REDWOODS REQUEST.
IN CONSIDERATION OF YOUR TIME TONIGHT, MY FRIEND VINCE LEONI OVER HERE, AND I CHOSE NOT TO BRING 50 OF OUR NEIGHBORS HERE TONIGHT TO MAKE IT ALONE MADE FOR YOU.
THAT'S WHY YOU ONLY HAVE THREE-MINUTE SPEAKERS TONIGHT.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MY NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE ALREADY SHARED THEIR COMMENTS AND IN PERSON OR IN WRITING AND I THINK YOU'VE SEEN THAT IN YOUR PACKAGES, YOUR PACKET.
I WON'T ELABORATE ON PREVIOUSLY SHARED CONCERNS SUCH AS THE INCREASED TRAFFIC ON PARK LAKE ROAD, SERIOUS TRAINING ISSUES, OR THE PROJECT NOT AESTHETICALLY BLENDING WITH THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD.
INSTEAD, I, LET ME USE THE PRONOUN WE AS THE TONIGHT, YOU VOTE TO UPHOLD THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S DECISION BASED ON THE FOLLOWING INDISPUTABLE FACT.
A FACT AFFIRMED BY BOTH THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE TOWNSHIPS PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
REDWOODS REQUEST DOES NOT CONFORM WITH THE TOWNSHIPS MARINE TOWNSHIPS MASTER PLAN.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT. THANKS.
>> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD AT THIS TIME? THANK YOU. WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 6, TOWNSHIP MANAGER'S REPORT.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
THERE'S LOT OF THINGS ON YOUR AGENDA TONIGHT, BUT THERE'S NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT YOU JUST DID.
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO'VE WORKED IN THIS TOWNSHIP AND WHAT THEY CONTINUE TO DO.
I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DID FOR MR. MANKOWSKI AND FOR ALL THE CENTER HAS HELPED US TONIGHT SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THE DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM IS NOW UP TO 115.
WE'RE BACK TO THE ARCHERY SEASON.
THE STATE'S FIREARM SEASON ENDED NOVEMBER 30TH.
WE'VE NOW SWITCHED OVER BACK TO ARCHERY, AND THAT PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE UNTIL JANUARY 1 WHEN THE DNR SANCTIONED TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT OF FIREARMS SEASON STARTS.
TOMORROW, THE TASK-FORCE, WHICH INCLUDES THREE BOARD MEMBERS, THE COMMUNITY SENIOR CENTER TASK-FORCE,
[6. TOWNSHIP MANAGER REPORT]
MEETING WITH THE SENIOR CENTER OR ADVISORY BOARD TOMORROW MORNING, HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHERE WE ARE, WHICH WERE STILL VERY MUCH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU COULD SAY SQUARE ONE ARE LOOKING AT SQUARE 1, BUT WE HAVE SO MUCH IN FRONT OF US SITTING DOWN AND HAVING DISCUSSION ABOUT WHERE WE'RE AT.THE TOWNSHIPS HOLIDAY PARTY WILL BE ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15TH, OR SO THE 11TH ANNUAL.
NEXT BOARD MEETING YOU CAN EXPECT THE FOURTH-QUARTER BUDGET AMENDMENTS, WHICH IS A RATHER IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S A SIGNAL FOR HOW ARE WE GOING TO END UP THE YEAR FINANCIALLY.
MAYBE SAYING NOT GOODBYE, BUT CONGRATULATIONS AND FIRMLY ACKNOWLEDGED LUANN MAISNER CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE TOWNSHIP OVER NEARLY 25 YEARS THAT'LL BE ON DECEMBER 21 IN THIS ROOM FROM02:00-04:00.
SAME THING OF ROBIN FAUST, 34 YEARS WITH A TOWNSHIP, 10:00 ON DECEMBER 20TH IN THIS ROOM SHE'S ENCOURAGING YOU TO WEAR PURPLE.
THIS FRIDAY IS A BIG DAY, WE'VE BEEN WORKING FOR YEARS ON GETTING THE MSU LAKE LANSING PATHWAY.
OF COURSE, WHEN WE FIRST CAME UP WITH THIS CONCEPT YEARS AGO, YOU'RE GOING TO BUILD A BRIDGE OVER THE RED CEDAR AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
IT'S IN PLACE NOW AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE RIBBON-CUTTING NOON FOR THOSE THAT WISH TO ATTEND.
THE MUSIC BUILDING JUST NORTH OF SHAW, THE MSU MUSIC BUILDING.
YOUR PARK THERE AND YOU CAN SEE THAT BRIDGE OVER THE RED CEDAR THERE AND IT GOES ALL THE WAY TO FOODS FOR LIVING ABOUT ONE MILE OF A PATHWAY THAT YOU'LL NOW BE ABLE TO USE EVENTUALLY GOING ALL THE WAY TO LAKE LANSING.
THE NEW FLOORING AND THE SPELLING IS UNDERWAY.
[00:20:04]
THE LOCAL ROAD PROGRAM WE'RE ABOUT READY TO GO OUT FOR BID, BELIEVE IT OR NOT FOR THE 2024 ROBOTS WILL HAVE THAT LIST.DEPUTY MANAGER, OPS MORAL HAD THAT LIST FOR YOU IN JANUARY.
ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12TH, EIGHT YOUR NEXT BOARD MEETING, YOU'LL BE GIVEN THE GOALS DOCUMENT, THE DRAFT DOCUMENT FOR 2024.
IT'LL INCLUDE IT WILL ENCAPSULATE WHAT HAPPENED IN 2023 AND I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO 2024.
OF COURSE WE'LL TALK ABOUT GOALS AT A LATER TIME.
THE BONUS CONCLUDED THERE SIX LISTENING SESSIONS.
WE HAD OVER 300 RESIDENTS ATTEND OUR LISTENING SESSIONS AND SOON WILL BE AUTHORING A SUMMARY OF WHAT WE HEARD IN SOME OF THE OUTCOMES AND THINGS THAT WE CAN REALLY FOCUS ON BASED ON THAT.
WE HAD SOME ISSUES WITH HOME TV OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS THAT HAVE BEEN FIXED.
NOW THE ISSUE HAS COME UP WITH CAM TV.
WE ARE WORKING TO GET THAT BACKEND SERVICE.
IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE AN EMERGENCY PURCHASE AND MANAGE OR DEAL IS WORKING ON THAT AND WE'LL HAVE THAT BEFORE YOU AT THE DECEMBER 12TH MEETING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THE MERS MIGRATION IS COMPLETE.
WE ARE NOW ALL OF OUR PENSION SYSTEM HAS BEEN MOVED FROM MISSION SQUARE OVER TO MERS.
THAT WAS COMPLETED JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO.
FINALLY, OUR NEW PARKS AND REC DIRECTOR IS READY TO BE ANNOUNCED, VERY EXCITED FOR HER ARRIVAL AND SHE'LL BEGIN ON DECEMBER 18TH AND SHE'LL WORK FOR A WEEK.
WE'RE DIRECTOR MAISNER LEARNING THE ROPES AND THEN GO SOLO IN JANUARY.
IT WILL HAVE MORE ON THAT AT OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING.
THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE TOWNSHIP WERE PREPARING FOR BOARD MEETING TONIGHT, BOARD MEETING NEXT WEEK, AND THEN GOAL-SETTING THIS MONTH AND LOTS GOING ON.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL, DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS?
SEVEN OR NINE AGENDA IS BOARD MEMBER REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.
>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR MANKOWSKI RECOGNITION TONIGHT HE IS VERY DESERVING OF THAT.
FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, I'VE BEEN PART OF THE FUNDRAISING EFFORTS AND EVERY DOLLAR GOES RIGHT BACK INTO THESE GIFTS FOR THESE CHILDREN AND THE EVENTS THEMSELVES ARE REALLY QUITE MAGICAL.
INSTEAD DONE WITH A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS, SWEAT AND LABOR AND THE OTHER ONE'S SHARED DRIVE AND MAKE SURE THAT HUNDREDS OF KIDS WHO WOULDN'T HAVE A CHRISTMAS EVERY YEAR HAVE ONE.
TAX BILLS. TAX BILLS WERE MAILED LAST WEEK.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR TAX BILL, GIVE MY OFFICE A CALL 8534140, OR ENROLL EMAIL OR MAIL YOU ONE RIGHT AWAY.
LASTLY, I WANT TO MENTION THE LISTENING SESSIONS IS THE MANAGER MENTIONED THERE LAST ONE ON THE 28TH AT CORNELL ELEMENTARY.
WE HAD 300 PEOPLE TOTAL ATTEND THOSE.
WE DIDN'T KNOW WHO WOULD BE COMING, HOW MANY WOULD BECOMING AND WE HAD EXCELLENT TURN OUT.
I'LL SAY THIS, AS LONG AS I'M ON THIS BOARD,
[7. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS]
I WILL VERY MUCH PUSH FOR US DOING THIS EVERY YEAR.THESE WERE EXCELLENT FORUMS FOR US.
WE GOT A LOT OF INFORMATION BACK FROM THEM.
I LEARNED A LOT, SO SUCCESSIONS AND I'M SURE ALL OF US DID AS WELL. IT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
OUR TEAM MET TODAY WITH THE POLICE AND WITH FIRE TO DISCUSS OUR ELECTIONS SECURITY MEASURES FOR THE NINE DAYS OF EARLY VOTING FOR ELECTION DAY PRE-PROCESSING.
WE JUST DISCUSSED WHAT FURTHER MEASURES WE COULD TAKE TO IMPROVE OUR SECURITY FOR ELECTION WORKERS AND FOR VOTERS.
THAT WAS A VERY GOOD DISCUSSION.
WE'LL BE MOVING FORWARD ON THOSE ITEMS THAT WE DISCUSSED.
THIS THURSDAY IS IN INGHAM COUNTY TRAFFICS SUMMIT THAT OUR DEPUTY TOWNSHIP MANAGER, DAN OPSOMMER, WILL BE ATTENDING AND REPRESENTING THE TOWNSHIP AND ALL OF THE FEEDBACK THAT THE TOWNSHIP BOARD RECEIVED AT THE LISTENING SESSIONS AND BRINGING THAT INFORMATION TO THE INGHAM COUNTY TRAFFIC SUMMIT IS OCCURRING.
I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THAT AND TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW ABOUT THAT.
ALSO, IF YOU HAVE A PERMANENT MAIL BALLOT APPLICATION IN YOUR HANDS, PLEASE RETURN IT TO OUR OFFICE.
WE'VE RECEIVED 8,000 AND WE KNOW WE HAVE 17,000 PEOPLE ON OUR PERMANENT APPS AND TLS.
WE KNOW WE WILL STILL EXPECT TO AT LEAST RECEIVE 8,000 BAGS.
[00:25:01]
IF YOU HAVE THOSE, PLEASE SEND THEM BACK TO US SO WE CAN PROCESS THEM INTO SUMMER, RATHER THAN JANUARY.HANUKKAH BEGINS THIS THURSDAY.
IF ANYONE'S CELEBRATES, HAPPY HANUKKAH TO ANYONE OUT THERE.
THEN I TOO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO GAYELORD MANKOWSKI, AND ALL OF THE WORK THAT HE'S DONE AS SOMEONE WHO DIDN'T HAVE A LOT FOR CHRISTMAS AS A KID, AND SOMEONE WHO UTILIZED SERVICES TO HELP HAVE PRESENCE FOR MY OWN CHILDREN.
I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT HE'S DONE AND IT'S A TRUE LOVE TO SEE THAT HE'S GIVEN TO HIS FAMILY INTO THIS COMMUNITY.
I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THAT HE'S GIVEN TO THIS COMMUNITY. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT.
>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. MR. DESCHAINE?
>> A MOVE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
>> SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE WILSON.
ALL IN FAVOR THE MOTION, PLEASE SAY YES.
>> VOTES NO? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
I THINK I'M TAKING SOMEBODY ELSE'S JOB.
>> WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. IT'S OKAY.
>> THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW. I DON'T MIND.
ON THE CONSENT AGENDA TONIGHT, WE HAVE A TYPICAL COMMUNICATIONS MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 21, 2023 REGULAR TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING.
THE MANAGERS BILLS OR BOARD'S BILLS.
THE ITEM 9D IS THE RATIFICATION OF A NEW PARAMEDIC FIREFIGHTER APPOINTMENTS.
[8. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
CHIEF HAMEL IS BRINGING TO US, EMMA BROWN AND CARSON KNICKS.ITEM E IS RATIFICATION OF NEW POLICE OFFICER APPOINTMENTS.
CHIEF GRILLO IS BRINGING US NATHAN WIX AND ALEX BARBER.
ITEM 9F IS A LIQUOR LICENSE APPLICATION FOR MAC LEGENDS INDOOR GOLF LLC AT 1982 WEST GRAND RIVER AVENUE.
[9. CONSENT AGENDA]
ITEM 9G IS THE TOWNSHIP'S ANNUAL GOAL SETTING MEETING DATE WHICH MR. WALSH PROPOSES TO BE MONDAY, DECEMBER 18TH AT 5:00 P.M. DO I HAVE A MOTION? MR. HENDRICKSON.>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR, I MOVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED THIS EVENING.
>> SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE WILSON.
BUT WE NEED A ROLL CALL VOTE FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> THANK YOU. THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS FOR THE ATTORNEY TONIGHT.
ACTION ITEMS. TWELVE A IS ORDINANCE 2023-07, FIRE PROTECTION AND EMERGENCY SERVICES COST RECOVERY ORDINANCE.
CHIEF HAMEL. I GOT IT RIGHT THIS TIME.
>> MADAM SUPERVISORY BOARD. THANK YOU.
WE'VE BEEN TO YOU TWICE ON THIS AND WE CHANGED.
THE QUESTION WAS NUMBER 2 IN THE BACK THERE IN REGARDS TO TAKING HOUSE FIRE OFF THAT.
NOW MY HOPE IS THAT YOU'LL PASS IT SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND UTILIZE IT.
>> GIVE ME JUST A SECOND TO CATCH UP WITH YOU.
IS THERE A MOTION YOU WOULD LIKE TO OFFER? TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
I MOVE TO ADOPT THE UPDATED COST RECOVERY ORDINANCE NUMBER 2023-07,
[12.A. Ordinance 2023-07-Fire Protection and Emergency Services Cost Recovery Ordinance Update-Final Adoption]
AMENDING CHAPTER 18 OF THE CODE OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN TO INCLUDE THE ADDITION OF ARTICLE 3, FIRE PROTECTION AND EMERGENCY SERVICES AND AUTHORIZE THE CLERK AND SUPERVISOR TO SIGN THE ORDINANCE.[00:30:02]
>> I THINK I SAW MR. DESCHAINE'S HAND FIRST.
>> [LAUGHTER] ARE THERE QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COMMENT ON THE MOTION?
>> SURE. THANK YOU CHIEF HAMEL FOR BRINGING THIS BACK IN FOR INCORPORATING THE CHANGE REQUESTED FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING.
I WILL SAY WHAT I'VE SAID LAST TIME THIS TIME AS WELL, WHICH IS, THIS IS AN OPTIONAL THING, NOT A RECOVERY OF COSTS FROM A STANDARD USAGE OF FIRE SERVICES.
THESE ARE EXTRAORDINARY EVENTS WHERE WE SEE POTENTIAL ABUSES OR EXTRAORDINARY COSTS AND SO FOR THAT REASON, I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS ORDINANCE.
>> FOR THE SAME REASONS I WILL BE SUPPORTING APPRECIATE THE CHIEF BRINGING THIS TO US.
IT IS A CHANCE TO RECOVER SOME OF OUR COST FOR SOME OF THESE COSTS THAT SHOULD BE HANDLED BY OTHER PROVIDERS, PARTICULARLY PRIVATE SERVICES THAT HAVE EITHER LEFT THE MARKET OR NOT FULFILLING THEIR CONTRACTS.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET SOMEONE DIE WITHOUT A CALL, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THEM TO THE HOSPITAL.
BUT IF SOMEONE ELSE WAS A CONTRACT AND DO THAT AND THEN FAIL TO PERFORM, AND WE HAVE TO PERFORM AND THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THAT COST, SO FOR THAT REASON, I WILL SUPPORT THIS.
>> I JUST HAVE A QUESTION UNDER CLAUSE 5A, HAS THE WORD HOUSE BEEN REMOVED?
>> WHEN WE SUBMITTED IT LAST WEEK, I SUBMITTED THE WRONG ONE.
I CAME IN AND TOOK THE FIRE OFF AND RESUBMIT IT TO THE CLERK SO YES.
>> THAT'S A RECOGNITION OF A VOTING ON TONIGHT?
>> WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE UPDATED COST RECOVERY ORDINANCE NUMBER 2023-07, AMENDING CHAPTER 18 AND THE CODE OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN TO INCLUDE THE ADDITION OF ARTICLE 3, FIRE PROTECTION AND EMERGENCY SERVICES, AND AUTHORIZE THE CLERK AND SUPERVISOR TO SIGN THE NEW ORDINANCE.
>> IS THERE LIKE A FEE SCHEDULE ATTACHED TO THIS?
>> THE FEE SCHEDULE YOU HAD PROVED IN THE BUDGET.
>> IF YOU WANT A COPY OF THAT I CAN GET THAT FOR YOU AS WE DID CHANGE THAT A LITTLE BIT FOR NEXT YEAR.
>> ABSOLUTELY. AND THAT'S WHAT CHANGES ANNUALLY.
THIS WON'T CHANGE LESS SOMETHING ORDINARY COMES UP THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR.
OTHER THAN THAT, IT SHOULD BE GOOD.
THE FEE SCHEDULE MIGHT CHANGE ANNUALLY BASED ON INCREASED PRICING OR ADDITIONAL FEES ALSO.
>> THANK YOU [OVERLAPPING] GUYS VERY MUCH.
>> ITEM 12B, IS ORDINANCE 2023-06 REZONE 5010 PARK LAKE ROAD AND ADJACENT BASE VACANT PROPERTIES FROM RA TO RD, WITH A CONDITIONING REZONING AGREEMENT. DIRECTOR SMITH.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
THIS REQUEST WAS IN FRONT OF THE BOARD AT THE NOVEMBER 21ST MEETING FOR INITIAL DISCUSSION WAS A ROBUST DISCUSSION AT THAT MEETING ABOUT MOVING THIS FORWARD AND SO JUST TO GIVE EVERYONE A BACKGROUND AND REMINDER WHERE WE'RE AT, THE REQUEST IS TO REZONE THE PROPERTY AT 50.
IT'S THE PROPERTY 5010 PARK LAKE ROAD, AND A PORTION OF THE VACANT PROPERTY TO THE REAR.
PORTION OF THAT VACANT PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY ZONED RD MULTIFAMILY WITH A MAXIMUM OF EIGHT DWELLING UNITS PER ACRE.
PORTION OF THAT PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY ZONED RA.
[12.B. Ordinance 2023-06 – Rezone 5010 Park Lake Road and Adjacent Vacant Property – RA to RD, with a Conditional Rezoning Agreement]
A PORTION OF THAT RA PORTION IS BEING REZONED, ALONG WITH THE ENTIRETY OF 5010 PARK LAKE ROAD.THE APPLICANT HAS [NOISE] PROPOSED NINE CONDITIONS RESTRICTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SITE, THAT WOULD LIMIT THE PROPOSED USES TO ATTACHED TOWNHOUSE STYLE UNITS ONLY [NOISE].
THE BUILDING HEIGHTS SHALL BE NO GREATER THAN 16 FEET, OR ONE STORY BUILDING LENGTH SHALL NOT EXCEED 196 FEET.
MINIMUM FLOOR AREA OF EACH UNIT WILL BE 1,200 SQUARE FEET.
[00:35:01]
ALL ROADS WILL BE PRIVATE.THAT REZONING IS CONDITIONED UPON REDWOOD.
THE APPLICANT ACTUALLY CONSUMMATING THE SALES OF PROPERTY AND PURCHASE, THE DEVELOPMENT WILL NOT EXCEED 106 DWELLING UNITS.
THE DEVELOPMENT WILL NOT ENCROACH ONTO THE AREA DESCRIBE AS EXHIBIT B IN THE AGREEMENT.
WHAT THIS MEANS IS THE NORTH SOUTH 14 ACRES IS SET ASIDE IN PERPETUITY.
AND LASTLY, NO CLUBHOUSES, POOLS, TENNIS COURTS, BASKETBALL COURTS OR GYMNASIUMS ARE ALLOWED TO BE CONSTRUCTED ON THE PROPERTY.
THAT'S THE PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF YOU.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION REVIEWED THIS AT A PUBLIC HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 25TH AND RECEIVED A GREAT DEAL OF PUBLIC FEEDBACK, AS WAS ALLUDED TO PREVIOUSLY THAT SPEAKER.
FOLLOWED UP AFTER OCTOBER 23RD MEETING WHERE THEY RECOMMENDED DENIAL TO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD LARGELY DUE TO THE REQUEST NOT BEING COMPLETELY IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE MASTER PLAN, THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP SPECIFICALLY.
THE BOARD ESSENTIALLY HAS THREE OPTIONS AT THIS POINT.
THE BOARD CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH INTRODUCTION OF THE ORDINANCE FOR ADOPTION, WHICH WOULD BE THE NORMAL COURSE WITH ARIZONA, YOU WOULD DIRECT STAFF TO PUBLISH IT IN A NEWSPAPER OF GENERAL RECORD AND WE WOULD BRING IT BACK TO THE NEXT MEETING FOR ADOPTION.
THE BOARD CAN AT THIS TIME MOVE TO DENY.
NO PUBLICATION WOULD BE MADE, NO FURTHER ACTION WOULD BE NECESSARY.
THE BOARD COULD ALSO REFER THE MATTER OF EXOPLANET CRUSHER FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION.
SPECIFICALLY, IF THIS IS THE CASE, YOU WOULD RECOMMEND YOU IDENTIFY THAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION POINT THAT YOU NEED THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO FOCUS ON IN THEIR DISCUSSION.
IF I'M JUST REFERRING BACK TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION WITHOUT DIRECTION IS PROBABLY NOT ADVISABLE.
THOSE ARE THE THREE OPTIONS IN FRONT OF YOU THIS EVENING.
STAFF DOES CONTINUE TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
THIS IS A VERY BORDERLINE CASE, AS WE'VE POINTED OUT MULTIPLE TIMES.
THIS WAS NOT A CONDITIONAL REZONING.
THIS WOULD BE A FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD DENIAL FROM US.
BUT BECAUSE IT'S A CONDITIONAL REZONING AND BECAUSE OF THE CONDITIONS THEY ARE OFFERING, WE ARE AT A POINT OF BEING ABLE TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
[NOISE] THE APPLICANT HAS AGAIN TRIED TO FOLLOW UP ON SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WERE RAISED AT THE LAST MEETING WITH THE LETTER THAT'S INCLUDED WITH YOUR PACKET SPECIFICALLY, THEY DID DO SOME INITIAL RESEARCH ON THE ON THE STORM WATER MANAGEMENT FOR THE SITE BECAUSE THAT HAS COME UP A COUPLE OF TIMES AND ALTHOUGH WE HAVEN'T DONE A DEEP DIVE INTO IT, IT DOES LOOK LIKE THEY ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK FOR ADDRESSING THE DRAIN COMMISSIONER CONCERNS WHEN WE GET TO THE POINT OF SITE PLAN REVIEW.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD MAY HAVE THIS EVENING.
THE APPLICANT AND THEIR ENGINEERS ARE HERE THIS EVENING ALONG WITH THE BROKER AND THE PROPERTY OWNERS.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR, I DO WANT THE APPLICANT TO KNOW THAT WE DID RECEIVE COMMUNICATION AND THAT IT IS PART OF THE OFFICIAL RECORD FOR THE PACKAGE.
JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT.
>> I'VE GOT A QUESTION IF I CAN MAKE THAT BEFORE [OVERLAPPING] THE MOTION AND IF IT'S APPROPRIATE, I'D LIKE TO ASK THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OWNERS IF THEY'RE STILL PRESENT IN THE [INAUDIBLE]. WOULD YOU MIND?
>> MR. O'BRIEN, YOU REPRESENT THE THREE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY?
>> HAVE YOU HAD ANY DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM AS TO WHAT WOULD HAPPEN, WHAT YOU WOULD DO IF THIS REZONING WAS NOT TO GO FORWARD THIS EVENING?
>> [NOISE] WELL, WE'VE MARKETED THE PROPERTY FOR SEVERAL YEARS, TRYING TO FIND THE RIGHT TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD FIT WITHIN THE ZONING THAT'S PRESENTLY ZONED? [NOISE] AGAIN, THEY PURCHASED IT IN THE YEARS AGO FOR RD.
THEY DO HAVE SOME MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN THAT THEY OWN AND OPERATE IT.
WE WOULD CONTINUE DOWN THAT PATH.
PROBABLY. THERE IS A WAY TO DEVELOP IT WITH ITS PRESENT ZONING.
WE'VE PROVIDED I THINK REDWOODS ENGINEERS HAVE PROVIDED WHAT COULD BE DONE BY RIGHT.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE ARE DIFFICULTIES BECAUSE OF THE WETLANDS THAT ARE THERE IN THE FLOODPLAIN.
THE RAIL LINE, WHICH IS 175 FOOT SETBACK, I BELIEVE FROM 75, IT'S A LONGER SETBACK THAN A TYPICAL SIDE YARD WOULD BE.
WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR OTHER DEVELOPERS.
[00:40:04]
BUT AGAIN, I GO BACK TO WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING HERE.YES, THEY NEED TO REZONE BECAUSE THEY ARE CLUSTERING.
THE PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT WHERE THE AREA DOES NOT CONTAIN WETLANDS AND DOES NOT CONTAIN THE FLOOD ISSUES.
WORKING WITH IT AS BEST THEY CAN WITH PRIVATE ROADS TO NOT IMPACT THAT.
THEY'RE DONATING 14 ACRES COULD BE CONSERVANCY, IT COULD BE THE DRAIN COMMISSIONER TO CREATE ADDITIONAL DRAIN CAPACITY IF THEY NEEDED.
AGAIN, THROUGH AN EASEMENT, I DON'T KNOW IF THE IF THEY WANT TO ACTUALLY CONVEY THE PROPERTY, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER OPTION.
AGAIN, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED FOR SEVEN YEARS.
WE'VE TRIED TO FIND WE'VE GONE THROUGH A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF DEVELOPERS.
THE TOWNSHIP WOULDN'T BE HAPPY WITH THOSE PROJECTS.
I DON'T BELIEVE COMPARED TO WHAT I'VE WHAT I'VE FEEDBACK I'VE GOTTEN OVER THE YEARS.
>> WELL, AT THE LAST MEETING, I STATED A NUMBER OF REASONS WHY I BELIEVE THIS REZONING TO BE A CONDITIONAL REZONING REQUEST THAT CAME BEFORE US.
I THINK THAT STAFF HAS PROVIDED US WITH AN INTERESTING THIRD ALTERNATIVE TO APPROVAL OR DENIAL, WHICH IS REVISITING IT, THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
THE ONLY REASON WHY I WOULD CONSIDER THAT IS THE FOLLOWING.
THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER OF PIECES OF INFORMATION THAT HAVE COME IN SINCE THE MATTER WAS BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
THE WETLAND INFORMATION, THE STORMWATER INFORMATION.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE ACTUAL TRAFFIC COUNTS ON PARKWAY ROAD.
WHICH MAY HAVE A LATENT NUMBER OF CONCERNS THAT PLANNING COMMISSIONERS HAVE.
CERTAINLY THEY DID FOR ME WHEN I WAS REVIEWING THIS INFORMATION.
I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT THE CONDITIONAL REZONING REQUEST BEFORE US IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP.
IF I WERE PUT TO A VOTE TODAY, I WOULD LIKELY VOTE TO APPROVE THIS REZONING REQUEST.
I UNDERSTAND FROM THE CONVERSATION AT THE LAST MEETING THAT MAY NOT BE THE PLEASURE OF THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD, WHICH IS FINE.
EVERYONE IS CERTAINLY ENTITLED TO THEIR OWN OPINIONS.
I THINK THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS REQUEST AS WHAT CAN THEY BUILD WITH THE CURRENT ZONING TODAY VERSUS WHAT COULD THEY BUILD WITH THE CONDITIONAL REZONING REQUEST THAT'S BEING PROPOSED? I THINK WHAT A LAY PERSON MIGHT MISS OUT ON IS REZONING THIS PARCEL CONDITIONALLY AS REQUESTED, WILL RESULT IN FEWER FEWER HOMES BEING BUILT ON THIS PROPERTY, LESS DENSITY.
IF THE PROPERTY OWNER WERE TO BUILD OUT TO ITS MAX CAPACITY AS CURRENTLY ZONED, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO BUILD 185 HOMES.
EVEN IF BY SOME MAGIC STROKE OF THE PEN THIS PARCEL WORD TO BE ZONED COMPLETELY RA.
IT WOULD BE ABLE TO BUILD 126 UNITS ON THIS PROPERTY.
THE 106 THAT ARE BEING OFFERED AS A PART OF THE CONDITIONAL REZONING IS ACTUALLY FEWER THAN ANY OTHER SCENARIO IN WHICH THIS PARCEL IS BUILT OUT.
I THINK THAT THERE'S A FALSE CHOICE BEING OFFERED BETWEEN SOMETHING AND NOTHING.
THIS COULD BE SOMETHING OR MORE SOMETHING.
I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT AS THE GOVERNING BODY MAKING THIS DECISION.
I THINK THAT THE APPLICANT HAS BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE TO EVERY QUESTION THAT HAS BEEN ASKED OF THEM THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.
I THINK THE CONDITIONS ARE WELL CONSIDERED AND I THINK THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE PROPOSAL THAT'S BEFORE US DOES MEET WITH A NUMBER OF THE TOWNSHIP GOALS THAT WE HAVE SET FORTH IN OUR MASTERPLAN IN OUR GOVERNING DOCUMENTS SO FOR THOSE REASONS, I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS REZONING.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. SUPERVISOR. I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE AND FEEL THAT GIVEN THE INFORMATION AND MORE INFORMATION THAT'S GIVEN,
[00:45:06]
THE MORE I DISAGREE WITH APPROVING THE REZONING.THEREFORE, CAN I MAKE A MOTION?
>> YOU CAN, BUT YOU'LL HAVE TO TELL US WHY. NO DISAGREE.
>> THEREFORE, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION DENYING ORDINANCE 2023-06 AND ORDINANCE TO REZONE THE PROPERTY AT 5:01 ZERO PARK LAKE ROAD.
THE PORTION OF THE ADJACENT VACANT PROPERTY PARCEL ID NUMBERS THROUGH 33-02-02-17-47601 SEX AND 33-02-02-17-476 DASH O TO FOUR FROM RAA, SINGLE-FAMILY MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL TO RD MULTIPLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, MAXIMUM OF EIGHT DWELLING UNITS PER ACRE ARE SUBJECT TO A SERIES OF CONDITIONS OFFERED BY THE APPLICANT SUPPORT.
>> [INAUDIBLE] YOU'RE FREE. WOULD YOU TELL US WHY?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
THE REASON THAT I MOVE TO ADOPT THE DENYING OF THE RESOLUTION IS THAT I AGREE WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THERE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS TO DENY THE REZONING BASED OFF OF THE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT THEY HELD AND THE NUMEROUS DISCUSSIONS THAT THEY HELD, AND THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT WAS PRESENTED TO THE BOARD.
IN ADDITION TO THE PREVIOUS BOARD MEETING AND THE INFORMATION THAT IS IN THIS POCKET.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
I WON'T BE SUPPORTING THE RESOLUTION TO DENY BASED ON ONE SHEER FACT AND THAT IS THAT IT IS NOT IN THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP OF THE 2017 MASTER PLAN UNDER WHICH WE ARE OPERATING TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR. I APPRECIATE THE FULL PRESENTATION.
THE REDWOOD HAS GIVEN US WITH THIS PROPOSAL AND MR. O'BRIEN OR OVERVIEWED AS WELL.
I ALSO APPRECIATE MR. GILLESPIE SPEAKING FOR 50 RESIDENTS AND WE NOT NEED TO HEAR FROM ALL 50 AGAIN.
I'M VERY CONFIDENT BASED ON PLANNING COMMISSION THAT I WATCHED.
THEY WOULD VERY WELL COME OUT OF FIFTH OUT THERE WAS A NEED TO COME OUT.
ALSO HAVE GREAT APPRECIATION FOR THE FACT THIS IS A DIFFICULT PARCEL TO DEVELOP.
IT'S GOT A LOT OF IMPEDIMENTS TO DEVELOPMENT.
THIS PROPOSAL TRIES TO [NOISE] THREAD THE NEEDLE IF YOU WILL.
THE DRAIN ISSUES OR JUST ONE OF MANY THAT I THINK WOULD CAUSE IT TO BE DIFFICULT TO DEVELOP.
NONETHELESS, I WILL ALSO SUPPORT THE MOTION TO DENY, BASED AGAIN, ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION TO THIS BOARD AND THE FACT THAT THIS REASON IT IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP.
WE RELY ON A PLANNING COMMISSION.
WE VERY RARELY GO AGAINST THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND I DON'T HAVE COMPELLING REASON TO WORK CONTRARY TO THE RECOMMENDATION TONIGHT'S FOR THOSE REASONS, I'LL BE SUPPORTING THE MOTION. THANK YOU.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. IS THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP FOR THE 2019 MASTER PLAN THE SAME AS THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP FOR THAT THAT WE HAVEN'T ADOPTED YET.
>> THIS AREA IS NOT PROPOSED TO CHANGE IT AT THIS TIME.
>> AREA IS NOT PROPOSED TO CHANGE.
>> THERE ARE SOME CHANGES TO THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP BEING PROPOSED FROM STAFF AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION, WHICH WE EXPECT TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON NEXT WEEK.
BUT THIS AREA IS NOT ONE OF THOSE CHANGES
>> MY MY APOLOGIES, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
DID YOU NEED THE 2017 [OVERLAPPING] FUTURE LAND USE MAP JUST FOR THE RECORD.
>> OTHER COMMENTS? I'D LIKE TO ADD, FIRST OF ALL, THAT I DISAGREE WITH YOU AND I SUPPORT JUSTICE HENDRICKSON'S ALLOWANCES.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LEARNED MANY YEARS AGO,
[00:50:01]
AS I'VE LEARNED PLANNING COMMISSION WAS ONE IT WAS A LIVING DOCUMENT.IT CONSTANTLY CHANGED. TWO, IS THAT YOU HAVE TO ALLOW SOME REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP THEIR LAND.
THREE, THAT IN THIS CASE, UNDER THE RULES OF OUR ARRAY, JUST DIVIDED PROPERTY CANNOT BE BUILT ON AT THE MAXIMUM NUMBERS THAT ARE ALLOWED UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS.
THAT NOT ONLY DO THE MAPS CHANGE, BUT THE CONDITIONS AROUND A PROPERTY CHANGE.
IN THIS CASE, OH, AND ALSO THAT SOMETIMES THE MAP IS JUST WRONG.
BECAUSE THE ZONING IS INAPPROPRIATE.
IN THIS CASE TO THE EXTENT THAT THIS PROPERTY CANNOT BE APPROPRIATELY USED UNDER THE ZONING THAT IT HAS.
IN MY OPINION, I THINK THE DEVELOPERS HAVE GIVEN US A GIFT IN A WAY TO ACHIEVE THE TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT THAT WE PREFER TO SEE.
THE ONLY WAY TO GET THERE IS TO REZONE THE POVERTY TO SOMETHING LIKE AI.
THEN IN ADDITION TO THE CONDITIONS WHICH ALLOW THEM TO CHANGE ANYTHING SO WE DON'T LIKE, WE DON'T LIKE THE DENSITY.
THEY CAN GET IT DOWN TO THE DISSIDENT AND RA AND RD.
IF WE DON'T WANT THE PROPERTY TO BE COVERED WITH HOUSING AND WE PREFER TO PRESERVE AS MUCH GREEN SPACE AS WE CAN OFFERING BECAUSE OF THE CONDITIONS OF THE LAND, NOT TO DEVELOP THAT PROPERTY.
IF WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC THAT WOULD BE PRODUCED, THEN THERE ARE OFFERING REDUCED NUMBERS AND REDUCE USAGE OF THE ROAD BY REDUCING THE NUMBERS.
FOR THAT REASON, I AM IN SUPPORT OF THIS REZONING, PARTICULARLY WITH THE CONDITIONS THAT THE DEVELOPERS HAVE OFFERED TO BETTER MEET OUR DESIRABLE DEVELOPMENT TYPE.
>> YEAH, IT'S ALL VERY DIFFICULT ISSUE AND WE'VE GOT SOME VARYING OPINIONS.
I HAVE A TENDENCY TO AGREE WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
WE TYPICALLY DO NOT DISAGREE WITH THEM AND FUTURE LAND-USE, I'M A LITTLE HESITANT TO HAVE THAT CHANGED SO JUST HAVING SAID THAT, THOSE ARE THE REASONS THAT I WOULD BE HESITANT TO HAVE ANY CHANGES MADE AT THIS TIME.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? THEN I THINK WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
THE MOTION WAS TO NOT REZONE THE PROPERTY.
OH, I NEED TO FIND THE MOTION.
THE MOTION WAS TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION DENYING ORDINANCE 2023-06,
[00:55:05]
TO REZONE THE PROPERTY AT 5010 PARK LAKE ROAD, AND A PORTION OF THE ADJACENT VACANT PROPERTY PARCEL, ID NUMBERS 33-02-02-17-476016 AND 33-02-02-17476-024 FROM OUR A SINGLE-FAMILY MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL TO RD, MULTIPLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, WITH A MAXIMUM OF EIGHT DWELLING UNITS PER ACRE, SUBJECT TO THE SERIES OF CONDITIONS OFFERED BY THE APP.>> TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENT MOTION TO REFER BACK.
>> I THINK THAT ACTION WAS FINAL ON-DEMAND.
>> WE NOW MOVE ON TO ORDINANCE 2023-08-CD CONSERVANCY DISTRICT UPDATES INTRODUCTION.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
THIS IS AN ORDINANCE THAT YOU'VE SEEN BEFORE.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED, RECOMMENDED APPROVAL, HAD NO MAJOR CONCERNS.
JUST TO BRIEFLY GO THROUGH IT ONE LAST TIME.
THIS WOULD AMEND THE DEFINITIONS AND THE CV CONSERVANCY DISTRICT AS OUTLINED IN YOUR PACKET THIS EVENING.
TO UPDATE THEM TO CURRENT STANDARDS.
IT WOULD CHANGE SEVERAL REFERENCES TO FEMA MAPS TO NOT REFERENCE SPECIFIC MAPS BUT REFERENCED CURRENT MAPS AND IT WOULD ALLOW DECKS AS A PERMITTED USE WITHIN THE CV DISTRICT, WHICH IS CURRENTLY NOT THE CASE.
LASTLY, IT WOULD ALLOW FOR ESSENTIALLY AN ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW OF PHIL UNDER 10 CUBIC YARDS.
[12.C. Ordinance 2023-08 – CV, Conservancy District Updates-Introduction]
THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH HOW IT'S CURRENTLY TREATED AROUND LAKE LANSING WHEN THERE IS SO THERE WASN'T A SEDIMENTATION CONCERNS.YOU'RE ALLOWED TO MAKE UP TO 10 CUBIC YARDS OF ESSENTIALLY A REPAIR.
TREATED THE SAME WAY HERE, WOULD STILL HAVE TO MITIGATE PROPERLY WOULD STILL HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE FLOODPLAIN ADMINISTRATOR, BUT ESSENTIALLY TAKES OUT THE ESSENTIALLY THREE-MONTH SPECIAL USE PERMIT PROCESS AFTER THEY'VE ALREADY GONE THROUGH WHAT IS A LENGTHY REVIEW WITH THE STATE AND POTENTIALLY THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.
JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THE MAIN QUESTION THAT WAS RAISED AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING.
OUR CURRENT FLOODPLAIN MAPS ARE FROM 2011 AS I THOUGHT THEY WERE.
THEY ARE UNDER REVIEW BUT THERE IS NO ETA AND WHEN THEY'LL BE UPDATED, THIS IS A LENGTHY PROCESS.
WITH THE ARMY CORPS, THEY FOCUS ON AREAS THAT HAVE SUBSTANTIAL PROPERTY LOSS AND CHANGES LIKE THAT AND SLOWLY WORK THEIR WAY OUTWARD FROM RIVERS AND SO OURS ARE UNDER REVIEW.
THEY'RE NOT DONE YET THOUGH, AND I DO NOT HAVE AN ETA YET.
>> I MOVE TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPROVING FOR INTRODUCTIONS DON'T EVEN AMENDMENT 2023-08 TO AMEND ARTICLE 4 FOR THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CHART HUNCH OF ERNIE, AND TO UPDATE THE CV CONSERVANCY DISTRICT.
>> SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE WILSON.
>> A LOT OF THIS JUST SEEMS TO BE NECESSARY HOUSEKEEPING TO KEEP FROM PUTTING THE HOMEOWNERS IN THESE CVS THROUGH UNDUE HARDSHIP AND A PROCESS THAT IS ARCANE AND UNNECESSARY.
I LIKE THE FACT THAT IT'S MODELED AFTER ESPECIALLY THE DISTRICT ON LAKE LANSING WHERE WE HAVE UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES JUST AS WE DO WITH THE CV AREA
>> I CONCUR WITH TREASURER DESCHAINE THAT IT'S HOUSEKEEPING MATTERS, MINOR CHANGES TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO FULLY UTILIZE THEIR PROPERTY, PARTICULARLY AROUND THE LAKE.
[01:00:02]
THE MOTION AS WRITTEN AS TO UPDATE THE STANDARDS OF THE CV AND IT WAS READ TO UPDATE THE CV CONSERVANCY DISTRICT THAT WE ARE UPDATING THE MOTION AS WRITTEN THE STANDARDS OF THE CV CONSERVANCY DISTRICT.
>> NO. NO OBJECTION TO THAT CLARIFICATION. THANK YOU.
>> ARE THERE OTHER COMMENTS? THE MOTION IS TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION APPROVING FOR INTRODUCTION ZONING AMENDMENT 2023-08, TO AMEND ARTICLE 4 OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP AND MARTIN, TO UPDATE THE STANDARDS OF THE CV, CONSERVANCY DISTRICT.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE SAY YES.
>> OPPOSE, NO. THE CHAIR VOTES YES.
>> MOTION CARRIES SIX TO ZERO.
ITEM 12D IS PAID PARENTAL LEAVE POLICY.
OUR PRESENTER TONIGHT IS MANAGER WALSH.
>> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU MADAM SUPERVISOR, THIS ISSUE WAS BROUGHT TO THE ADMINISTRATION THREE MONTHS AGO FROM TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON, TRUSTEE WILSON, CLERK GUTHRIE.
WE WERE ASKED TO DO SOME BACKGROUND WORK ON IT OVER TIME AND TO BRING BACKUP POLICY TO BE IMPLEMENTED BY JANUARY 1 OF 2024.
AT THIS TIME, I THINK WE'VE COMPLETED ALL OF OUR WORK.
WE APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK OF THE BOARD ON THIS.
I KNOW OUR STAFF IS VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL POLICY AND AT THIS TIME, I TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU, TO THE AUTHORS BECAUSE WE'VE DONE ALL OUR WORK.
IT'S NOW UP TO THE BOARD IF THEY WANT TO MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR, I MOVE TO ADOPT THE PAID PARENTAL LEAVE POLICY FOR MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP FOR A PILOT PROGRAM STARTING JANUARY 1ST, 2024.
[12.D. Paid Parental Leave Policy]
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. SUPERVISOR. WHAT IS BEFORE YOU, THIS EVENING IS A POLICY DOCUMENT THAT WILL ESTABLISH A PAID PARENTAL LEAVE PROGRAM HERE IN THE TOWNSHIP.
BASED ON THE FEEDBACK FROM OUR PREVIOUS MEETING, THIS IS FOR FOUR WEEKS PAID PARENTAL LEAVE TIME UPON THE BIRTH OF A CHILD OR PLACEMENT OF A CHILD FOR ADOPTION.
SOME HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE THE FACT THAT THIS MUST BE A PERMANENT FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE WHO'S COMPLETED 12 MONTHS OF SERVICE.
THE CHILD IN QUESTION MUST HAVE BEEN BORN OR AN ADOPTIVE MINOR CHILD UP TO AGE FIVE, PARENTS OF THOSE.
THE GOAL IS FOR IT TO RUN ALONGSIDE THE FEDERALLY MANDATED FMLA LEAVE, SO THAT PARENTS CAN GET PAID FOR THAT WITHOUT HAVING TO BURN THROUGH THEIR ACCRUED HOURS FOR VACATION TIME OR SICK TIME.
THIS IS ON TOP OF ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
THIS IS A NEW PROGRAM, NEW TO THE TOWNSHIP, AND THE PILOT NATURE OF THE PROGRAM IS AN INDICATION THAT WE HOPE TO REVISIT THIS AT SOME POINT DOWN THE ROAD, TO SEE IF IT MERITS EXPANSION IN ANY WAY.
BUT WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A NEW BENEFIT TO OUR EMPLOYEES AND TO HELP MAINTAIN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIPS PLACE AS A VERY COMPETITIVE EMPLOYER IN THE REGION.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO BRING THIS FORWARD TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
WHEN WE FIRST LOOKED AT THIS, WE WERE TRYING TO MIMIC THE PROGRAM THAT IS WITH THE STATE OF MICHIGAN AND THAT IS PARENTAL LEAVE UP TO 12 WEEKS.
WELL WE HAD TO PIVOT BECAUSE AS IT TURNED OUT, IT WOULD CREATE SOME PRETTY DRAMATIC STAFFING ISSUES, PARTICULARLY IN OUR PUBLIC SECTOR AREA.
I'M GLAD THAT WE ARE STEPPING AHEAD WITH THIS OPPORTUNITY.
WE'RE GOING TO BABY STEP OUR WAY INTO IT WITH A PILOT PROGRAM.
I THINK IT'S EXCITING AND IT DOES RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF
[01:05:03]
OUR EMPLOYEES AND HOW ALSO THE VALUE OF HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HOME WITH YOUR INFANT OR WITH YOUR ADOPTED CHILD AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHERE YOUR PAYCHECK IS COMING FROM.I'M GLAD TO SEE WE'RE STARTING THIS.
>> HI. MY QUESTION IS JUST THAT IT IS A PILOT PROGRAM AND WE'RE SAYING IT'S A PILOT PROGRAM.
I WAS JUST WONDERING WHAT THE PARAMETERS OF THE TIMEFRAME ARE LIKE.
ARE WE GOING TO REVIEW IT IN A YEAR? WE'RE GOING TO SET THREE YEARS TO REVIEW IT.
I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE SOME TIMEFRAME FOR REVIEW, WHATEVER IS APPROPRIATE.
I'M JUST THINKING THAT WE SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING.
>> I AGREE. WE SHOULD REVIEW IF I DON'T REALLY WANT TO TIE OUR HANDS TONIGHT TO A ONE-YEAR REVIEW OR TO YOUR REVIEW.
I'M CONFIDENT THAT THE MORE THAT WILL BE ELECTED NEXT YEAR.
WE'LL LOOK AT THIS POLICY AND REVIEW IT IN TIME.
ONCE WE'VE GOT SOME VALID DATA ON IT.
THIS IS A REALLY EXCELLENT BENEFIT TO GIVE OUR EMPLOYEES.
I RECOMMEND TRUSTEES HENDRICKSON AND WILSON FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU. FOR ALL THREE OF YOU.
WE DID TALK ABOUT 12 WEEKS. THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL DISCUSSION.
I THINK THIS WHOLE PROCESS SHOWS THE COLLABORATION THAT WE HAVE WITH THE STAFF.
WE SETUP POLICY, WE SUGGEST A POLICY AND WE GET SOME FEEDBACK FROM STAFF.
SANTIAGO. THIS WILL HELP EMPLOY RETENTION, BUT IT COULDN'T GOT OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS.
WE PULLED BACK AND WENT FROM 12 BACK TO FOUR INITIALLY AND POSSIBLY WILL KEEP IT AT FOUR.
POSSIBLY WE WOULD EXPAND IT. WE DON'T KNOW YET.
YOU DID SOME RESEARCHER DID IS TO WHAT OTHER COMMUNITIES NOT IMMUNE, BUT THE STATE GOVERNMENT OFFERED WHAT WOULD THE SOAP BUBBLE, THE OTHER PAID PARENTAL LEAVES PROGRAMS THAT YOU SAW? THE LENGTH OF BITS OFFERED.
>> YEAH. THANK YOU. IF YOU DON'T MIND.
CAN I RESPOND TO THE TIGHT TIMETABLE?
>> THE GOAL THAT WE HAVE THOUGHT OF, CENSUS IS A PILOT PROGRAM IS TO COME BACK A YEAR FROM NOW DURING OUR GOAL SETTING AND HAD THAT PART OF OUR GOAL SETTING IS HOW DID THE FIRST YEAR AGO? THAT WAS THE THOUGHT THAT WE HAD.
TREASURED ASHAMED, IS THAT WE FIND THAT LESS THAN 15% OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SURVEYED EVEN HAD A PAID PARENTAL POLICY.
WE WOULDN'T BE IN THE TOP 15% IN THE STATE THAT HAVE THIS PROGRAM.
WHAT WE'VE FOUND IS A STRONG MAJORITY OF THOSE WERE BETWEEN 2 AND 4 WEEKS.
WE FIND ONE OUTLIER THAT HAD SIX WEEKS, BUT WE FOUND NOTHING GREATER THAN SIX.
BUT ON THE AVERAGE, IT WAS ABOUT THREE WEEKS WAS THE AVERAGE FOR THE STATE OF THE 15% THAT ACTUALLY HAD A PROGRAM.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
UNDER TWO PROCEDURE, IT SAYS FOR FMLA ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES, THE FMLA PROVIDES UP TO 12 WEEKS OF UNPAID LEAVE FOLLOWING THE BIRTH OR ADOPTION OF A MINOR CHILD.
ANY PARENTAL PAID LEAVE TIME UTILIZED UNDER THOSE POLICY WILL RUN SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH ANY AVAILABLE FMLA LEAVE FOR THE SAME QUALIFYING OF THAT.
ONE, LET'S SAY I NEED TO USE TWO WEEKS OF PAID PARENTAL LEAVE TIME.
DOES THAT MEAN I'M ALSO USING TWO WEEKS OF FMLA?
>> AS I UNDERSTAND IT, WE MIGHT GET A DIFFERENT ANSWER IF LIZZIE MILLS ARE COUNSEL WAS IN FRONT OF US THIS EVENING.
BUT AS I UNDERSTAND IT AND I CAN GET FURTHER CLARIFICATION FOR YOU, CLERK GUTHRIE.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IT IS 12 WEEKS PERIOD.
IT JUST DEPENDS ON HOW YOU COUNT UP TO THAT 12 WEEKS.
FOR INSTANCE, IF LET'S JUST SAY WE HAVE AN EXPECTANT MOTHER
[01:10:01]
IN THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT WHO IS GOING TO HAVE A BABY ON JANUARY 2.THAT 12 WEEKS WE START COUNTING FROM JANUARY 2.
BUT THE FIRST FOUR WEEKS WOULD BE PAID PARENTAL LEAVE, AND THEN THE ADDITIONAL EIGHT WEEKS WOULD BE EITHER THE USE OF THEIR SICK TIME, PERSONAL TIME OR VACATION TIME.
>> IF THAT'S TRUE, IT COULD HAPPEN.
>> WHAT I HEAR YOU SAYING AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG BECAUSE I JUST WANT TO MAKE THIS SECTION CLEAR FOR ME.
WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT THE PAID PARENTAL LEAVE IS NOT GOING TO AFFECT VACATION, SICK, OR PERSONAL TIME.
>> WELL, BUT TO USE FMLA, YOU HAVE TO USE SOME TIME TO GET PAID.
AGAIN, IT'S 12 WEEKS THAT YOU GET, AND IF THE BOARD APPROVES THIS TONIGHT, THAT USED TO BE OUT OF THOSE 12, YOU HAD TO USE SICK, VACATION, OR PERSONAL OR UNUSED OR UNPAID.
WE ALWAYS TRY TO WORK IT OUT WHERE IT'S NOT ON PAID FOR THE WEATHER WHAT HAVE TO DO TO HELP THE EMPLOYEE WITH THAT.
WHAT THIS DOES IS IT GIVES THE FIRST FOUR WEEKS THEY DON'T HAVE TO USE ANYTHING.
THEY USE THE PAID PARENTAL LEAVE.
>> THEY DON'T HAVE TO USE VACATIONS, SICK OR PERSONAL?
>> YOU'RE GIVEN THEM THE FIRST FOUR WEEKS IF YOU APPROVE THIS TONIGHT.
STARTING ON WEEK 5, THEN THEY HAVE TO USE THEIR OWN TIME BEFORE THEY'D HAVE TO USE 12 WEEKS OF THEIR TIME.
NOW THEY HAVE TO USE EIGHT. DOES THAT ANSWER IT?
>> IT DOES. THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
>> I'M SORRY, I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.
IT SAZ THE SECOND PART OF THIS SAZ, THIS POLICY WILL RUN SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH ANY AVAILABLE FMLA LEAVE FOR THE SAME QUALIFYING EVENT.
LET'S SAY I HAD TO, I'LL USE MY MOTHER'S AN EXAMPLE.
I HAD TO TAKE CARE OF MY MOTHER FOR 12 WEEKS AND THEN I GET PREGNANT OR I ADOPT A CHILD OR WHATEVER AND NEED TO TAKE ADDITIONAL TIME OFF THIS PAID PARENTAL LEAVE, THIS FOUR WEEKS GRANTS ME THAT ABILITY TO DO THAT EVEN THOUGH I USED ALL OF MY FMLA TIME.
>> I THINK I CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
THE INTENT WAS THAT IF YOU HAVE FMLA AND YOU ARE USING FMLA FOR PARENTAL LEAVE, THAT PAID PARENTAL LEAVE WILL RUN CONCURRENTLY AND SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH IT.
IF YOU DON'T CLAIM FMLA AND YOU MEET THE REST OF THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA LAID FORTH IN SECTION 1, THEN YES, YOU'D BE ABLE TO CLAIM THE FOUR WEEKS OF PAID TIME.
IT'S NOT INTENDED TO EXCLUDE YOU FROM BEING ABLE TO TAKE PAID PARENTAL LEAVE IF YOU ARE FOR SOME REASON NOT ELIGIBLE FOR FMLA.
>> THIS SAYS ANY AVAILABLE FMLA.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY FMLA, YOU DON'T GET PAID PARENTAL LEAVE TIME.
IT WAS HOW THIS READS TO ME AND WATER OFF.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S HOW IT READS TO ME.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY AVAILABLE FMLA LEAVE, YOU DON'T GET PAID PARENTAL LEAVE.
>> THE INTENT OF THAT CLAUSE WAS TO PRECLUDE THE POSSIBILITY OF SOMEONE TRYING TO SAY, I'M TAKING 12 WEEKS OF FMLA AND THEN FOUR WEEKS OF PAID PARENTAL LEAVE, SO THAT IT'S ACTUALLY 16 WEEKS.
THE INTENT OF THAT CLAUSE WAS TO SAY, IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE FMLA THAT YOU ARE USING AND YOU HAVE PAID PARENTAL LEAVE, THEY MUST OVERLAP SO THAT WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT 16 TOTAL WEEKS.
WHEN IT WAS ORIGINALLY DRAFTED, IT WAS 12 WEEKS.
WE WEREN'T LOOKING AT 24 TOTAL WEEKS OF BEING OFF. THAT WAS THE GOAL.
>> THIS ISN'T SAYING THAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE FMLA AVAILABLE, YOU CAN'T GET PARENTAL PAID LEAVE TIME?
>> CORRECT. IT IS NOT SAYING THAT.
>> IS THAT HOW YOU, AS TOWNSHIP MANAGER AND HR INTERPRETED THIS TO READ? IF SOMEBODY DIDN'T HAVE ANY FMLA LEFT, THAT THEY COULD STILL GET PAID PARENTAL LEAVE TIME FOR FOUR WEEKS?
>> WELL I'M NOT GOING TO SPEAK FOR HR.
I'LL SPEAK FOR MYSELF AND ONLY MYSELF.
I AGREE, AND THE THING IS TO YOU AS YOU KNOW, IT IS WHEN YOU WRITE A POLICY AND YOU WRITE A THREE OR FOUR PAGE POLICY, THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE PARTS OF IT THAT ARE UP FOR INTERPRETATION.
YOU CAN NEVER NAIL DOWN A POLICY IRONCLAD.
I'VE SPENT MY CAREER, MY 32 YEARS DOING THIS.
IS THAT WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS COMES UP AND IT'S QUESTIONABLE AT ANY POLICY,
[01:15:06]
TRY TO WORK WITH A TEAM MEMBER, DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE TEAM MEMBER'S EYES AND WORK IT OUT.I'M CONFIDENT. I WILL JUST RUN THE SPECIFIC QUESTION BY COUNSEL TO MAKE SURE IF THERE'S ANY HICCUP AT IT, WE CAN BRING IT BACK ON THE 12TH, BUT I AGREE WITH WHAT THE INTERPRETATION OF THE TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON JUST LAID OUT.
>> THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR ASKING THE ATTORNEYS BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THIS SECTION TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NO QUESTION WANTS STAFF WHO WERE ON THE SAME POINT BECAUSE THAT IS NOT HOW I INTERPRETED IT WHEN I READ IT AND SOLD TO BE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE WITH THE ATTORNEYS GLOSSING WOULD BE WOULD BE GREAT.
I APPRECIATE YOU ASKING THAT QUESTION.
>> I'M PREPARED TO APPROVE THIS TONIGHT, AND KNOWING THAT YOU WILL FOLLOW UP ON THAT POINT.
JUST TO POINT ABOUT FMLA, FEDERAL MEDICAL LEAVE ACT IS A FEDERAL LAW THAT YOU AS AN EMPLOYEE AFTER ONE YEAR OF SERVICE, AND YOU'LL NOTE THAT THIS DOVETAILS WITH THE PARENTAL LEAVE POLICY, WHICH SAYS YOU MUST HAVE ONE YEAR SERVICE BEFORE YOU'RE ELIGIBLE TO TAKE THIS.
AND WHAT IT SAYS IS THAT YOU ARE ENTITLED TO TAKE UP TO 12 WEEKS OF UNPAID LEAVE, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE IT AT ONE TIME.
YOU CAN TAKE IT WORK HALF-TIME AND TAKE HALF TIME FMLA.
THERE'S LOTS OF VARIATIONS ABOUT HOW YOU CAN USE IT, BUT IT IS CAPPED AT 12 WEEKS.
AND THE PURPOSE OF FMLA IS TO ENSURE YOU HAVE A JOB TO GO BACK TO IT.
DURING THAT PERIOD THAT YOU ARE ON FMLA, YOUR JOB HAS TO BE HELD FOR YOU.
SO THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT PART ABOUT FMLA IS THAT IT UNPAID, BUT IT GIVES YOU A GUARANTEE YOU GET BACK TO WORK.
THIS IS TRYING TO DOVETAIL WITH FMLA AND THAT'S WHY LOOKING AT IT AS CONCURRENT, IF YOU HAVE FMLA AND YOU'RE ELIGIBLE FOR IT HAVING SERVED YOUR ONE-YEAR AND YOUR POSITION, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE PARENTAL LEAVE THOSE FOUR WEEKS, AND THAT WILL COUNT AGAINST YOUR MAXIMUM 12 WEEKS OF TIME FOR FMLA, WHICH ROLLS OVER EVERY YEAR.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? I HOPE THAT HELPS.
>> THANK YOU MADAM CYNTHIA. SO WHAT I HEAR YOU SAYING IS THAT FMLA, 12 WEEKS OF UNPAID PARENTAL LEAVE, IF THEY UTILIZE IT, HOWEVER MUCH IS UTILIZED, WILL BE TAKEN AGAINST THE FMLA LEAVE TIME, BUT THEY WILL BE PAID RATHER THAN NON-PAID.
>> IS NOT AN ADDITIONAL FOUR WEEKS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THE MAXIMUM IS 12 WEEKS AND INTERESTING WILSON'S CORRECT ASSIGN PAID.
BUT THEN WHAT TEAM MEMBERS ARE ABLE TO DO OBVIOUSLY, IS THEY USE THEIR PERSONAL TIME, THEY USE THEIR SICK TIME, AND THEY GET PAID FOR THAT TIME.
ALMOST EVERYONE HAS THAT ACCUMULATED TIME TO USE TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT HOME WITHOUT A CHECK.
>> BUT THEY'RE NOT DOING THAT IN THIS INSTANCE WITH PAID PARENTAL LEAVE.
>> THEY'RE GETTING A FOUR-WEEK CREDIT OF PAID TIME WITHOUT USING ANY OTHER TIME.
>> THINK OF IT AS AN EXTRA BONUS.
>> AND I GET THAT. IT SEEMED UNCLEAR TO ME IN LETTER F AND AS A FORMER DIRECTOR, I RECEIVED LOTS OF FMLA QUESTIONS WHICH I ALWAYS DEFERRED TO HR.
AND SO I WANTED TO BE CLEAR WHAT OUR OFFICE SPELLING OUT.
I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME.
>> ANYONE ELSE? SO WE'RE READY TO MOVE TO ADOPT THE PAID PARENTAL LEAVE PROGRAM FOR MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP FOR A PILOT PROGRAM STARTING JANUARY 1, 2024.
EVERYBODY AGREE WITH WHAT I'VE READ? INVOLVING MONEY AGAIN, LET'S TAKE A ROLL CALL VOTE.
>> ITEM 12 E IS THE MARSHALL PARK PLAYGROUND ENHANCEMENTS.
[01:20:03]
>> SUPERVISOR JACKSON AND BOARD, I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT MARSHALL PARK.
FIRST PARK YOU SEE AS YOU ENTER MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP ON MARSH ROAD FROM THE NORTH, LARGE OPEN SPACE, A LOT OF IT IS WET, BUT WHAT IS THERE IS A SMALL PARKING LOT, A BASKETBALL COURT, AND A PLAY STRUCTURE THAT HAS LONG EXCEEDED ITS LIFE EXPECTANCY.
I KNOW THE BOARD CONDUCTED LISTENING SESSIONS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, AND THIS WAS MAYBE ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT CAME UP DURING ONE OF THOSE SESSIONS.
AND I KNOW YOU SPOKE AT A PREVIOUS MEETING ABOUT AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE WORK WITH THE PARK COMMISSION AND PROVIDE FUNDING TO REPLACE THE PLAY STRUCTURE THERE.
I DID TAKE THAT BACK TO THE PARK COMMISSION, UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTIVE [LAUGHTER] OF MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS.
[12.E. Marshall Park Playground Enhancements]
AND SO I AM HERE TODAY WITHOUT REQUESTS AND A MOTION FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH AN ALLOCATION FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO PAY FOR NEW PLAY STRUCTURE AND I KNOW MY DAYS ARE LIMITED HERE [LAUGHTER] BUT I I CAN WORK ON THAT, WE CAN GET THAT ROLLING AND SO MY PREDECESSOR CAN TAKE IT HOME.I HAVE TO SAY AND I KNOW THE SPIN ALONG THEY'D ALREADY BUT WHEN I STARTED HERE, THE PARK COMMISSION AND THE TOWNSHIP BOARD DID NOT GET ALONG.
EACH BOARD HAS THEIR OWN ROLE TO PLAY, BUT THE RESPECT THAT EACH BOARD HAS HAD FOR ONE ANOTHER TODAY AND FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW HAS BEEN REALLY OUTSTANDING.
AND SO I THINK THIS IS GREAT THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
>> HEY, CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION?
>> WHAT'S THE TYPICAL LIFESPAN OF THE-
>> ABOUT 20 YEARS. ABOUT 20 AND THIS IS 27.
AND 150,000 SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY, IT REALLY IS NOT.
I THINK PATRIARCH PARK, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE BEEN THERE, THERE'S WAS I THINK UPWARDS OF 700,000 OR MORE FOR THIS.
>> SO 150 REALLY ISN'T THAT MUCH MONEY.
>> IN COMPARISON TO WHAT WE PUT INTO OTHERS.
>> THANK YOU. WHEN WE ORIGINALLY CONCEIVED AT THIS IDEA OF DOING THIS, TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON AND MYSELF, WE WERE ALSO THINKING THERE MIGHT BE BENCHES, THERE MIGHT BE SOME OTHER AMENITIES.
THIS IS SPECIFIC TO A NEW PLACE STRUCTURE.
BUT WOULD YOU BE INCORPORATING SOME BENCHES, SOME RESTING AREAS INTO THE PROJECT?
>> I JUST WANTED TO BE SURE. I DROVE BY THERE TODAY THAT PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT DOESN'T LOOK THAT BAD, BUT IT'S WORN OUT.
I GUESS I'M JUST WONDERING WE KNOW IT'S NOT UNSAFE, BUT IT IS INDEFINITE NEED OF REPLACEMENT.
ESPECIALLY WITH OUR NEW PARKS AND GOING IN, AND NOW THAT'S GOING TO MAKE EVERYONE TAKE A LOOK.
[LAUGHTER] WE CAN DO BETTER THAN WHAT'S THERE.
THIS IS REALLY WORKING OUT TO EVERYONE'S BENEFIT HERE, SO APPRECIATE IT.
>> IT'S ALSO AN EXAMPLE OF CHEAP THINGS CHANGING IN THE PROCESS AND FOR THE BETTER.
>> MAY I MAKE THE MOTION MADAM SUPERVISOR.
>> MOVED TO APPROVE FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $150,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO SUPPORT A NEW PLAY STRUCTURE AND AMENITIES IN MARSHALL PARK LOCATED AT 6105 MARSH ROAD, HAZLETT FOR INSTALLATION IN THE SPRING OF 2024.
GUYS, JUST TO BE SURE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT NOT ONLY THE STRUCTURE ITSELF, BUT SOME OTHER AMENITIES THERE, LIKE A PLAYGROUND, [OVERLAPPING].
>> I GUESS I SHOULD SAY IT INCORPORATES THE WORKPLACE BASED.
>> YOU WILL MAKE ANTIGEN [OVERLAPPING].
>> YES. FOR THE RECORD, WE WILL INCLUDE AND AMENITIES. [OVERLAPPING] YES.
>> THEN WE'LL RELY ON MADAM DIRECTOR WHO'S WALKING OUT THE DOOR [LAUGHTER] TO PUT THAT TOGETHER.
>> I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THIS BECAUSE WE REALIZED WE HEARD IN OUR LISTENING SESSION IN HAS LED THE SECOND LISTENING SESSION THAT WE HAVE.
IT SEEMED VERY CLEAR TO US THAT THERE'S THE POPULATION UP THERE THAT DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS, EASY WALKING ACCESS TO A PARK AREA.
ONE OF THE THINGS TO DIRECTOR MAISNER AND I DISCUSSED AT LENGTH WAS YES, WE PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO PARSE UP IN HAZLETT, PARTICULARLY INTO TOWN OR PARK.
BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CAR TO GET TO TOWN OR PARK FROM THIS AREA.
SPOOFING UP THIS AREA TO BE AVAILABLE TO CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN THE IMMEDIATE WALKABLE AREA.
IT JUST SEEMS LIKE A REALLY GOOD THING TO DO.
[01:25:02]
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR. I AGREE.
IN MANY WAYS THIS IS THE GATEWAY TO MERIDIAN FROM THE NORTH AND THE RESIDENTS WERE ASKING FOR IT AT THE LISTENING SESSION.
IT'S RELATIVELY LOW HANGING FRUIT.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE A CHANGE AND MAKE A CHANGE QUICKLY.
I THINK THE OTHER DOWNSTREAM EFFECT OF THIS IS EVERY OTHER PROJECT THAT'S BEEN STACKED UP ONE PER YEAR FOR THE NEXT 27 YEARS, GETS BUMPED ONE-YEAR FORWARD.
WHAT THESE OTHER PARKS IN FUTURE YEARS WE'LL BE SEEING PROGRESS MADE MORE QUICKLY AS WELL.
THAT'S JUST THE THE TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECT OF HAVING ACTED ON SOMETHING THAT'S NEXT TO YOURS PLAN THIS YEAR.
I THINK THIS WILL BE A TREMENDOUS BENEFIT TO THE TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS IN THIS AREA AROUND THE LAKE DISTRICT AND HAZLETT AT LARGE.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD SIGN TO THE RESIDENTS THAT CAME TO OUR LISTENING SESSIONS, THAT WE HEAR YOU AND THAT WHERE WE CAN MAKE CHANGE. WE WILL.
>> OTHER COMMENTS? THE MOTION IS TO APPLY FUNDING, TO APPROVE FUNDING, THE AMOUNT OF $150,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO SUPPORT A NEW PLACE STRUCTURE AND MARSHALL PARK.
>> TO SUPPORT A NEW PLAY STRUCTURE AND AMENITIES IN MARSHALL PARK LOCATED AT 6105 MARSH ROAD, HAZLETT FOR INSTALLATION AND THE SPRING OF 2024.
ROLL CALL VOTE, PLEASE. MRS. GORDON.
>> THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS WHAT DISCUSSION ITEMS. 213A IS MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP PUBLIC SAFETY RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION PROGRAM.
WE'LL HEAR FROM SHEATH GRILLO [LAUGHTER].
>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. YOU MAY RECALL THAT THIS ISSUE IS BEFORE YOU TWO MONTHS AGO.
BUT AT THAT TIME, THE OUTLINE OF THAT PLAN HAS CHANGED.
I WANT TO CREDIT BOTH CHIEFS FOR THAT.
BECAUSE THE FIRST ATTEMPT, IF THIS REALLY DID NOT HIT THE BULLSEYE THAT WE WERE HOPING TO HIT AFTER SOME REFLECTION.
THERE'S TWO COMPONENTS TO THIS AND CHIEF GRILLO HAS GOT TO DO AN OUTLINE OF THIS AS A REFRESHER TO THE BOARD SAYS DISPENSE A LOT.
THE REASON IS BACK IS ON FOR DISCUSSION IS BECAUSE IT'S THE PROPOSAL HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY SINCE WE BROUGHT THIS TO YOU.
[13.A. Meridian Township Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Program]
THIS IS A COSTLY PROPOSAL AND IT'S GOT TO BE ONE THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT OUR BUDGET OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.BUT I'VE REALLY POURED OVER THE NUMBERS FOR 25 AND 26 AND I BELIEVE THAT WE COULD DO THIS, WE CAN SUSTAIN THIS AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
IT ALL IS BASED ON THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY OF THIS COMMUNITY, OF KEEPING THIS COMMUNITY, THE SAFEST COMMUNITY AROUND.
IT'S ALL ABOUT A STRONG POLICE AND A STRONG FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE THING WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
WE'VE DONE AS A COMMUNITY AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO.
THAT'S WHAT THIS PROPOSALS ABOUT THIS EVENING.
IT'S A VERY COMPETITIVE WORLD AND MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP IS GOING TO STEP IT UP HOPEFULLY OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
WITH THAT, I WON'T GO INTO IT BECAUSE WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS.
I WON'T GO THROUGH THE WHOLE THING BECAUSE I THINK CHIEF GRILLO AND CHIEF HAMEL ARE GOING TO BOTH ADEQUATELY INFORM YOU OF WHERE WE'RE AT AND WHERE WE HOPE TO GO.
I'LL BE HEARING IN CASE YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I'LL TURN IT OVER NOW TO OUR CHIEF GRILLO.
>> THANK YOU MANAGER WALSH BOARD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LISTENING TO ME TONIGHT.
I KNOW IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC, MY STAFFING LEVELS.
WHEN I CAME BEFORE YOU IN OCTOBER, THEY WEREN'T GREAT AND THEY HAVEN'T IMPROVED SINCE THEN.
AGAIN, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TONIGHT.
I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE MANAGER WALSH AND THE CONCERN IS SHOWN FOR THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE HAVING RIGHT NOW AND HIS OPENNESS TO ALL OF THE DIFFERENT IDEAS THAT WE'VE COME UP WITH AND I THINK THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE A VERY GOOD PLAN MOVING FORWARD.
QUICK RECAP. THIS IS A REGURGITATION OF THE INFORMATION THAT YOU ALREADY
[01:30:01]
HAVE THAT I GAVE TO YOU DURING THE LAST PRESENTATION, BUT JUST A REMINDER.CALLS FOR SERVICE HAVE GONE UP, CITATIONS HAVE GONE DOWN AND OUR POPULATION HAS GONE UP.
FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS SIMILAR ISSUES.
THEIR STAFFING LEVEL HAS STAYED STAGNANT SINCE 2010, BUT THEIR CALLS FOR SERVICE HAVE GONE UP, INCLUDING EMS CALLS AND FIRE CALLS.
JUST TO ILLUSTRATE THE EXACT AMOUNT OF CHANGE THAT WE HAD, 42 OFFICERS AND I GUESS WE DECREASED OUR STAFF ON THE ROAD BY 17% IN 2022 AND IF YOU USE 2023 NUMBERS IS ACTUALLY OVER 25%.
CALLS FOR SERVICE HAVE GONE UP BY 27%.
POPULATION HAS STEADILY INCREASED BY 13%.
FIREFIGHTERS, VERY SIMILAR ISSUES.
THEIR CALLS FOR SERVICE HAVE GONE UP BY 17% AND MUTUAL AID CALLS, I'M SURE CHIEF HAMEL COULD SPEAK TO IT BETTER THAN I COULD HAVE EXPLODED 218%.
I HAD TO DO ANOTHER FOURTH-QUARTER BUDGET AMENDMENT BECAUSE WE WILL PROBABLY BE THREE TIMES WHAT ARE ALLOTTED AMOUNT WAS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR FROM $80,000 TO OVER $240,000 THIS YEAR.
TODAY, 31 OFFICERS, HOWEVER, I HAVE TWO OFFICERS THAT ARE SLOTTED TO RETIRE NEXT YEAR.
I CURRENTLY HAVE FOUR RECRUITS THAT ARE IN THE POLICE ACADEMY, TWO OF WHICH GRADUATE ON FRIDAY.
I HAVE TWO OTHERS THAT GRADUATE IN MAY AND TWO MORE THAT ARE SLOTTED TO START THE ACADEMY IN JANUARY AND WILL GRADUATE IN MAY.
DO YOU WANT US TO BE TENURES CHIEF HAMEL?
>> THANK YOU. OUR DEPARTMENT BASICALLY FROM ME ON DOWN, WE HAVE UP TO 36 FIREFIGHTERS AS OF NEXT YEAR, WHICH YOU APPROVED.
THANK YOU AND OUR NEXT BUDGET.
THEN THAT WILL TAKE US UP TO 36 PLUS FOUR ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF.
AS OUR CALL VOLUME HAS GONE UP, THAT'S REALLY THE REASONS WE'VE PUSHED ADDITIONAL STAFFING BECAUSE IT'S JUST WHO KNOWS WHERE IT'S GOING.
FOR US, THIS HAS BEEN A BENEFIT.
WE'VE BEEN LUCKY TO FIND EMPLOYEES WITH TWO RESIGNING THIS FALL.
WE WERE ABLE TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS AS THIS WEEK THAT YOU APPROVED TONIGHT? FOR THE MOST PART UNTIL NEXT WEEK WHEN BRING THEM IN.
THEN WE'VE GOT TWO THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR NEXT YEAR THAT WE HOPE WILL COME ON BOARD.
WE'VE BEEN LUCKY TO FIND PARAMEDICS.
THAT'S REALLY WHERE OUR SHORTAGE IS.
>> TREASURER DESCHAINE, I BELIEVE THAT YOU ASKED ME LAST TIME IT CAME BEFORE YOU, HOW OUR WAGES COMPARED, AND I BELIEVE I SAID BELOW AVERAGE.
A WAGE STUDY WAS DONE BY GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP.
FOR TOP WAGE, THE AVERAGE FROM THE COMPARABLES WAS OVER 77,000, AND WE WERE AT 71,000 FOR OUR TOP WAGE.
WHAT IS OUR PLAN? OUR INITIAL PLAN WAS A $5,000 INCENTIVE FOR RECRUITING.
INITIALLY IT WAS FOR ANY POLICE OFFICER WHO BROUGHT US A PROSPECTIVE RECRUIT THAT COULD MAKE IT THROUGH FIELD TRAINING AND MAKE IT THROUGH PROBATION, THANKS TO SCOTT HENDRICKSON'S IDEA AT THE LAST MEETING.
WE'VE ACTUALLY CHANGED THAT TO ANY FULL-TIME MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP EMPLOYEE, SO ANYBODY WHO WORKS FULL-TIME ANY OVER 160 PLUS EMPLOYEES THAT COMES TO US WITH A POLICE OFFICER OR A FIREFIGHTER THAT JOINS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE A STEP PROGRESSION FOR THEIR BONUS WHERE FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SPECIFICALLY, IT'S A $1,000 UPON HIRE, $1,000 UPON COMPLETION OF THE FIELD TRAINING PROGRAM, AND THEN AN ADDITIONAL $3,000 WHEN THEY ARE AFTER PROBATION, WHICH IS AFTER ONE YEAR OF SERVICE.
>> VERY SIMILAR TO US ONLY DIFFERENCES, WE HAVE TWO STEPS.
IF WE HIRE AN EMT FIREFIGHTER WHO IS GOING TO GO TO PARAMEDIC SCHOOL, IT'S GOING TO DRAG IT OUT A LITTLE BIT LONGER, SO THE FIRST ENTRY LEVEL, THEY WOULD GET $1,000, AND THEN AS SOON AS THEY FINISH PARAMEDIC SCHOOL, THEY GET THE 2,000 AND THEN WITH THE ANNIVERSARY AFTER THAT, THEY WOULD GET THE OTHER 2,000.
IF YOU HIRE A PARAMEDIC, IT'S SIMILAR TO CHIEF WHERE THEY GET 1,000 AND THEN AFTER THE FIRST YEAR THEY GET TWO AND THEN THE NEXT YEAR TWO.
[01:35:01]
WE APPRECIATE THAT, THAT'S ALREADY PAID DIVIDENDS.>> THAT'S THE FIRST PART OF THE PROPOSAL FOR RECRUITMENT AS FAR AS RETENTION GOES.
WHEN MANAGER WALSH AND I DISCUSSED THIS, WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT DIFFERENT TYPES OF BONUSES AND HOW WE CAN MAKE THAT WORK AND HE SPECIFICALLY ASKED ME ABOUT A WAGE INCREASE.
MY SUGGESTION WAS A 10% WAGE INCREASE, AND HE AGREED THAT THAT WAS THE PROPER AMOUNT TO MAKE US ATTRACTIVE TO OTHER RECRUITS THAT ARE COMING IN AND POSSIBLY SOME LATERAL TRANSFERS.
THE PROPOSAL THAT WE'RE BRINGING BEFORE YOU TODAY IS A 10% WAGE INCREASE IN ADDITION TO THE ALREADY BUDGETED FOR 3% WAGE INCREASE, WHICH IS AGREED UPON IN OUR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS.
THIS WOULD TAKE EFFECT JANUARY 1.
I CAN SPEAK FOR POLICE BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE ON THE FIRE NUMBERS, BUT I CAN SAY THAT THIS WOULD MAKE US THE HIGHEST PAID BASE-WAGE IN THE GREATER LANSING AREA.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT'D BE THE SAME. I'M HERE TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
>> MAY I ASK, DO YOU HAVE ANY RETENTION REQUIREMENT TO THIS THAT THEY WORKED FOR THE DEPARTMENT FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME?
>> THAT'S NOT BUILD WITH THIS PROPOSAL.
>> THE ONLY PROPOSAL, OR THE ONLY THING WE HAVE ON THAT, IF I DO HIRE AN EMT, THEY HAVE TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT THAT THEY WILL STAY, AND IF THEY DON'T PASS THE PARAMEDIC PROGRAM OR RESIGN, THEY HAVE TO PAY BACK THE COST OF THE PROGRAM.
I THINK IT'S SIMILAR WITH YOUR POLICE ACADEMY.
>> THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS IF WE PAY FOR THEIR POLICE ACADEMY THAT THEY HAVE TO PAY US BACK.
BUT AS FAR AS THE WAGES GO, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT SAYS YOU'RE SIGNING A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT TO STAY HERE.
>> I ASSUME THAT'S WHAT YOUR QUESTION IS.
>> GUTHRIE. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR MANAGER WALSH.
IF AN EMPLOYEE RECRUITS SOMEONE, DO THEY HAVE TO STAY AS AN EMPLOYEE TO GET THE REMAINING RECRUITMENT BONUS MONIES, OR IF YOU END EMPLOYMENT YOU DON'T GET, HOW'S THAT NOT FLUSHED OUT YET?
>> WELL, THAT'S LIKE A CRAZY BALL IN FRONT OF YOU.
[LAUGHTER] THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT WAS THE LAST MEETING BECAUSE [INAUDIBLE], SO I'M HERE TO ASK QUESTIONS.
>> IT'S A GOOD QUESTION, BUT ONE WE'VE NOT THOUGHT ABOUT IT AT ALL. I DON'T KNOW.
WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT IF AN EMPLOYEE SIGNS THE FORUMS AND GETS APPROVAL FOR THE CHIEFS THAT I'M SPONSORING THIS PERSON THEY'RE COMING HERE AND I GET 1,000, BUT I LEAVE THE EMPLOYMENT, DO I COLLECT THE REST? MY ANSWER TODAY WOULD PROBABLY BE NO.
IF THIS PROGRAM IS ABOUT RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT AND YOU'RE LEAVING.
[LAUGHTER] BUT THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
MY ANSWER TONIGHT WOULD BE NO, THEY WOULD NOT GET THE EXTRA AMOUNT.
>> EITHER WAY, I SUPPORT YOUR RECOMMENDATION, JUST SOMETHING TO INCLUDE IN THIS.
>> ONE OF THE BIG QUESTIONS IS HOW DO WE PAY FOR THIS.
I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF SUGGESTIONS FOR THAT THAT I'D LIKE TO BRING UP TO AT LATER.
ONE IS OUT OF THE REDEVELOPMENT FUND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT WOULD CARRY US FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND ITSELF.
ANOTHER WAY THAT I HAD THOUGHT ABOUT WAS, RIGHT NOW WE'RE PAYING OUR REQUIRED CONTRIBUTION, OUR ARC ON OUR PENSION.
PLUS WE'RE PAYING IT UP ANOTHER A MILLION AND A HALF ON TOP OF THAT PENSION, AND NOW WE HAVE OUR PENSION FOR THE MID-'50S UP TO THE MID-'70S.
PERHAPS IT'S A TIME TO STEP BACK A LITTLE BIT THAT AND SAY, WE'VE GOT THE PENSION UP NOW WHERE IT BELONGS, WE'VE GOT OUR TOWNSHIP HEALTHCARE WHICH WAS $4.9 MILLION IN DEBT, WE HAVE OUR TOWNSHIP HEALTHCARE NOW PAID AT 100%, WE HAD ABOUT TWO MILLION DOLLARS IN DEBT AND OUR TOWNSHIP PENSION FUND WHICH IS CLOSED, WHICH IS THAT INCLUDES POLICE AND FIRE, THAT IS NOW 108% PAID OFF.
WE PAID OFF ALL THIS DEBT AND WE'VE INCREASED OUR MERS PENSION, THE ONE THAT INCLUDES POLICE AND FIRE, FROM 54-74% OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.
WE MAY WANT TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND SAY, NOW WHERE'S THE MISSING PIECE? WE USED TO HAVE FOUR MISSING PIECES AND NOW WE HAVE ONE.
I THINK THAT WE MAY WANT TO TAKE A STEP BACK IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
[01:40:02]
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS DURING OUR GOAL SETTING BECAUSE IT'S REALLY POLICY-DRIVEN.OBVIOUSLY, WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO PAY THAT MILLION AND A HALF AND THE REQUIRED CONTRIBUTION.
BUT THAT THIRD PIECE OF IT, WE MAY WANT TO PUT INTO POLICE AND FIRE RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT.
BECAUSE WE CAN PAY DOWN THAT PENSION AT A HIGHLY ACCELERATED RATE LIKE WE ARE,, BUT WHERE ARE WE GOING TO BE IF WE DON'T HAVE THE PEOPLE TO ANSWER THE DOMESTICS AND ALL THE HEART ATTACKS, ALL THE STUFF THAT OUR MEN AND WOMEN DO, WHICH IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
THAT'S WHERE I'M HEADING ON THIS.
WE KNOW WHERE WE'VE BEEN IN THE LAST 10 YEARS OUT OUR DEBT, AND WE KNOW WHERE WE ARE NOW, WHICH HAS GONE FROM ABOUT A D- UP TO ABOUT AN A-, SO LET'S FIX THIS MISSING PIECE AND THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO FOCUS ON FINANCIALLY GOING FORWARD.
BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO STRAP THE TOWNSHIPS SO MUCH IN TRYING TO DO THIS.
IT'S TOUGH TO DO ANYTHING ELSE.
THOSE ARE WAY TO DO THIS AND DO IT RIGHT AND STILL BE A+ PRIME COMMUNITY FINANCIALLY.
SORRY FOR THE LONG ANSWER, BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW WHEN IT COMES TO FINANCING THIS, WELL UNDER CONTROL. THANK YOU.
>> I CAN SEE HOW THIS BOY HELPING RETENTION.
WHAT IS YOUR EXPECTATION IN TERMS OF ATTRACTING NEW OFFICERS? AND HOW LIKELY DO YOU THINK IT IS WE WOULDN'T GET MAD ROME MOVES FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS WITH INCREASING PAY SCALE.
>>YES, SIR. I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL.
AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE JUST FROM TALKING TO MY OFFICERS WHO ARE CONNECTING WITH OTHER OFFICERS, THAT THIS HAS ALREADY CREATED QUITE A BUZZ LOCALLY.
AND I CAN'T SAY FOR SURE THAT SOMEBODY ELSE IS GOING TO APPLY IT, BUT I KNOW THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER AGENCIES TALKING ABOUT THIS AND A LOT OF LINE WORKERS THAT ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS.
I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THAT THIS WILL ATTRACT LOCAL TALENT TO COME HERE.
AND MAYBE EVEN PEOPLE WHO AREN'T NECESSARILY LOCAL PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR JOBS.
AND THEY SEE THAT THIS WOULD FIT INTO THEIR LIFESTYLE.
TO WORK IN A COMMUNITY LIKE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP IS AN AWFUL HUGE BONUS.
BUT THEN ON TOP OF THAT, YOU COME TO A PLACE WHERE YOU'RE COMPENSATED THE WAY THAT WE'RE COMPENSATED WITH THE HEALTH CARE THAT NONE OF US REALLY ARE OUT-OF-POCKET FOR.
WITH ALL OF THE ADDITIONAL THINGS THAT WE GET PLUS THIS 10% INCREASE AND THE SUPPORT THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THE BOARD, I THINK IT WILL BE VERY EFFECTIVE.
>> YOU'RE DIRECTLY TO RETIREES IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR.
IS THERE ANY CHANCE YOU CAN OFFER AN INCENTIVE TO KEEP THEM?
>> ONE OF THEM NO, SHE'S MADE IT VERY CLEAR TO ME THAT HER INTENTIONS ARE TO LEAVE AND SHE HAS FULFILLED EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE ASKED HER TO DO.
AND I'M EXTRAORDINARILY GRATEFUL FOR THE SERVICE THAT SHE'S PROVIDED.
THE OTHER ONE, HE HAS SOME OTHER THINGS GOING ON.
I ANTICIPATE THAT EVEN THOUGH HE'S ELIGIBLE TO LEAVE EARLIER, I THINK HE'LL PROBABLY STAY TILL LATER IN THE YEAR.
I'M NOT SURE IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE CAN DO.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT MORE YOU CAN DO THEM 13% RAISE.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM SUPERVISOR.
MANAGER WALSH, I'M CURIOUS AS TO IF WE HAVE STUDIED THE LONG-RANGE IMPACT THIS WILL HAVE ON OUR PENSION DOWN THE ROAD.
OBVIOUSLY, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT RATHER DRAMATICALLY INCREASING AFTER WE HAVE JUST MADE SOME INCREASES TO PAY.
AND I'M WONDERING, ARE THERE STUDIES DONE? IS THERE IF YOU LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS FOR WHAT THIS WOULD LOOK LIKE IN THE AFTER STATE IF WE APPROVE THIS?
>> WE HAVE NOT. AND I'M NOT GOING TO SET UP HERE AND TRY TO ILLUSTRATE THAT WE HAVE.
THAT'S A PIECE OF THIS THAT IS CONCERNING MOVING FORWARD.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY CAN'T ARTICULATE IT THIS TIME.
WE'LL KNOW MORE IN THE NEXT 24 MONTHS HOW IT AFFECTS OUR PENSION AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO STABILIZE FROM THERE.
THERE'S SOME RISK HERE INVOLVED.
THERE'S SOME RISK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS ACTUALLY TODAY AT OUR MEETING AT FOUR O'CLOCK AS WE PREPARED FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
I THOUGHT WE'D COME UP TONIGHT.
AND I COULD SIT HERE AND TRY TO SPIN A MAZE AND TELL YOU I'VE DONE THIS, I'VE DONE THAT.
I HAVEN'T BECAUSE I DON T THINK THERE'S A WAY TO CLEARLY ARTICULATE WHERE WILL BE ON THIS BECAUSE IT DEPENDS ON A LOT OF THINGS.
I WILL TELL YOU, THE GOOD NEWS IS, IS THAT, MORE THAN HALF OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RECEIVING THIS INCREASE ARE ON THE NEW PENSION SYSTEM.
THAT'S GOING TO BE THE SAVING GRACE IF WE WERE STILL ALL ON THE 2.75 MULTIPLIERS WITHOUT THE HYBRID PENSION SYSTEM THAT WE BROUGHT IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.
WE NOW HAVE A 1.75 MULTIPLIER, AND A 10% DC,
[01:45:02]
AND A 7% HEALTH CARE PAYMENT FOR.WE DON'T EVEN OFFER RETIRE HEALTH CARE TO DO.
I BELIEVE STRONGLY IN A PERSON WHO'S DEALT WITH PENSIONS FOR A LONG TIME.
MY HUNCHES, WE'RE GOING TO BE JUST FINE BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE.
BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE BUMPS ALONG THE ROAD THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO.
AND THAT'S WHY I THINK PULLING BACK THIS EXTRA FUNDING AND SETTING IT AT A FUND, OF COURSE WE ALREADY HAVE A $2.1, 2.2 MILLION PENSION STABILIZATION FUND.
WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ADD GREATLY TO THAT IF WE DON'T MAKE THAT THIRD PAYMENT, [INAUDIBLE] WE'RE MAKING THE ARC, WE'RE MAKING THE 1.5.
IF WE DON'T MAKE THAT THIRD ADDITIONAL PAYMENT AND STOCK THAT UP ON OUR PENSION FUND WILL BE JUST FINE.
BUT IT IS A VERY VALID QUESTIONS, VERY VALID POINT.
TO ME, I LOOK AT RISK IN A VERY RISK ADVERSE.
BUT WHEN I LOOK AT THE RISKS THAT'S FACING US, THE GREATEST RISK IS NOT BEING ABLE TO RESPOND, MAYBE NOT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE IN FOUR YEARS, ALTHOUGH VERY VALID QUESTION.
BUT THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT AND [INAUDIBLE] THAT TRUSTEE HENDRICKSON.
>> THANK YOU. THEN MY SECOND QUESTION WAS A MATTER OF PROCEDURE.
SAVE THE BOARD WANTS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, AND PRESUMABLY THERE'S A VOTE AT SOME POINT, ARE WE AT LEAST INDICATE TO YOU AT SOME POINT THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE INTERESTED IN DOING.
DOES THIS REQUIRE A RE-OPENER WITH THE LABOR UNIONS? AND HAVE YOU STARTED ANY OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS OR IS IT JUST LETS HAVE INITIAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THE BOARD FIRST?
>> SO WE'RE HOPING TO GET THIS APPROVED NEXT TUESDAY, THE 12TH, AND IT'LL BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE WAGE SCALES ON JANUARY 1ST.
WE HAVE GONE TO THE UNIONS, AND WE HAVE SECURED THEIR APPROVALS, AND THERE'S LETTERS OF AGREEMENT THAT ARE IN THE WORKS BETWEEN THE TWO.
IN FACT, OUR ATTORNEY, LIZZIE MILLS IS WORKING ON THOSE WITH HR, AND THOSE ACTUALLY WILL BE SIGNED BEFORE.
I SEND AN EMAIL TO COUNCIL LAST WEEK AND SAID, WHAT EXACT STEPS DO YOU WANT TO HAPPEN HERE IN ORDER? SHE WAS PRETTY CLEAR SHE'D LIKED TO HAVE THE LETTERS OF AGREEMENT, LETTER OF UNDERSTANDINGS COMPLETED BEFORE IT'S APPROVED BY THE BOARD.
SO WE WILL HAVE THOSE IN PLACE BEFORE THE MEETING ON THE 12TH.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. SURPRISE THERE.
SO THAT INCLUDES THE NEW WAGE SCALE FOR THE 13% INCREASE THAT'LL BE BEFORE THE BOARD AT THE NEXT MEETING.
>> THE LETTERS OF AGREEMENT IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO?
>> THE NEW WAGE SCALE WILL BE IN THERE.
WE TAKE A LOOK AT RECRUITING AND KEEPING THIS COMMUNITY SAFE, WHICH IS THE NUMBER ONE THING I THINK OF IN THE MORNING AND THE LAST THING I THINK WHEN [INAUDIBLE] THAT IS WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.
AND WE TAKE A LOOK AT NOW WHAT WE'RE OFFERING OUT TO POTENTIAL CANDIDATES TO GET TO TREASURE TO SHADE'S QUESTION, WE NOW HAVE A DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION, WE HAVE DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PENSION DOLLARS FOR HEALTH CARE.
PHONY PAID MEDICAL HEALTH CARE PREMIUMS, ABOUT A 90% PAID ANNUAL HSA PAYMENT, AND THE HIGHEST WAGES IN THE AREA.
WE ARE IMPROVING OUR FACILITY.
OUR POLICE STATION NEEDED SOME TLC FOR SURE.
AND IT'S RECEIVED AND OVER THE LAST SAY 14 MONTHS.
SO WHEN YOU ADD ALL THAT TOGETHER AND WE'VE GOT GREAT LEADERSHIP AND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WHEN YOU MEET CHIEF GRIT, WHEN YOU MEET THE PEOPLE ON OUR TEAM, CAPTAIN CRANE AND CHIEF GRILLO AND CHIEF HAMEL AND ALL.
WE HAVE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ONLY GOING TO HAVE A FINANCIAL INCENTIVES, BUT WE HAVE THE PEOPLE THERE THAT ARE GOING TO DRAW PEOPLE HERE TOO.
YOU GOT TO HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE.
YOU CAN'T JUST HAVE THE FINANCIAL PART OF IT AND A NICE BUILDING.
YOU GOT TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT'LL BE MAGNETIC TO ATTRACT PEOPLE HERE.
AND WE HAVE IT ALL. I EXPECT THIS PLAY TO WORK IF APPROVED BY THE BOARD. THANK YOU.
>> NO ONE ELSE? I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
DON'T GO WHY MR. [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER] KNOW WHOMEVER HAS THE INFORMATION, I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT THE RECRUITMENT PAY.
I DON'T KNOW WHO'S GETTING THESE BONUSES.
WOULD YOU EXPLAIN TO ME HOW MUCH GOES TO THE RECRUITER, AND HOW MUCH GOES TO THE OFFICER?
>> SO ANY OF OUR 165 TEAM MEMBERS CAN BE THE RECRUITER NOW. SO THIS IS APPROVED.
[01:50:01]
THEY'RE THE ONLY ONES WHO RECEIVE THE PERSON.IF I HAVE WELL, I WOULDN'T BE ME BECAUSE I WENT AND GOT ANYONE ELSE LET'S SAY NILE ON UP AN ENGINEERING HAS A COUSIN'S BROTHER'S COUSIN WHO WORKS FOR WATERFORD TOWNSHIP BECAUSE WE KNOW EVERYONE WORKS AT A WATERFORD.
THAT PERSON WANTS TO COME IN AS RELOCATED TO LANSING.
HE FINDS OUT THAT LISA WANTS TO COME HERE FROM WATERFORD TOWNSHIP.
HE GOES TO CHIEF GRILLO, HE SIGNS A FORM THAT I AM THE RECRUITER FOR LISA SMITH OUT OF WATERFORD AND HE RECEIVES THE TOTAL $5,000 IN STEPS.
IN STEPS ONCE THEY SIGNED, ONCE THEY GET THROUGH THE ACADEMY, ONCE THEY'VE BEEN HERE FOR A YEAR, HE RECEIVES THE TOTAL 5,000.
LISA DOESN'T RECEIVE ANYTHING EXCEPT FOR THE ENTIRE BENEFIT PACKAGE WE OFFER.
>> THAT EXPLAINS EVERYTHING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> I'M SURE NILE WILL BE [INAUDIBLE] LOOKING OVER THERE [LAUGHTER]
>> ANYONE ELSE? I CAN SAY CLERK GUTHRIE HAS ALREADY SAID SHE'S IN SUPPORTIVE OF THIS POLICY.
I HAVEN'T SUPPORTED THIS POLICY.
CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE IT BACK ON THE 12TH?
>> THEN WE WILL ANXIOUSLY AWAIT THAT.
>> THANK YOU ALL, I KNOW I CAN SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE CHIEFS.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT THAT WE'VE SEEN AND WE EXPECT ONGOING AND WE'RE GOING TO TURN THE TIDE ON THIS.
I HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE THIS IS GOING TO WORK.
>> THE NEXT, THERE SHE IS AGAIN.
>> ITEM 13B MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE OKEMOS PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
>> SORRY I WASN'T HERE FOR THE LAST MEETING WHEN THIS WAS ON THE AGENDA.
BUT WE OPERATE A LOT OF YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS, YOUTH BASEBALL, SOFTBALL, TEE-BALL, SOCCER PROGRAMS UTILIZE A LOT OF OKEMOS SCHOOLS FACILITIES, OVER THE YEARS.
AND MOST OF THE TIME, THERE'S BEEN NO CHARGE INVOLVED WITH THAT.
BUT WE GO IN AND WE LINE THE FIELDS.
MOST OF THE SOCCER GOALS AT ALL THE SCHOOLS WE'VE PROVIDED THAT STAY AT THE SCHOOLS.
WHEN IT'S BASEBALL, WE'RE DRAGGING LINING.
WE PROVIDE ALL THE BASES ON ALL THE FIELDS WE USE, PROVIDE THE PORTA JOHNS.
AND SO THERE'S A LOT THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING OVER THE YEARS.
AND THEN A FEW YEARS BACK, THEY STARTED CHARGING US OUT OF THE BLUE NO NOTIFICATION.
THEY JUST STARTED SENDING US A BILL.
[13.B. Memorandum of Understanding-Okemos Public Schools]
AND THEN I WENT AND TALKED TO JOHN HOOD RECENTLY AND HE GOES, WELL, WHY ARE WE DOING THAT? THAT STOPPED.BUT WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING IS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF FOR-PROFIT, I'LL SAY SOCCER ORGANIZATIONS THAT GO AND THEY LOOK FOR FIELDS TO RESERVE FOR THEIR PROGRAMS. AND SO THE REAL REASON FOR THIS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING REALLY IS MORE FOR PRIORITY.
TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE REQUEST USE OF SCHOOL FACILITIES THAT MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP HAS ONE OF THE HIGHER PRIORITIES, RIGHT BELOW THE SCHOOL AND ALL OF THEIR ACTIVITIES.
THE PROGRAMS THAT WE RUN ARE PURELY RECREATIONAL.
EVERYONE SIGNS UP, PLAYS, EVERYONE HAS EQUAL PLAYING TIME.
IT'S A COMMUNITY EVENT, AND SOME OF THESE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ARE TRAVEL TEAMS, AND FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS GOING IN.
WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T GET LOST IN THE SHUFFLE.
AND THAT REALLY IS THE MAIN REASON FOR THIS.
AND ALSO WITH JOHN HOOD, ANOTHER REASON IS OUR SENIOR CENTER.
WHEN THAT ALL STARTED, PEOPLE ARE GONE NOW AND NOBODY REALLY UNDERSTANDS THE WHOLE SENIOR CENTER THING.
NOW THAT WE'RE HAVING A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP HERE IN THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, AND THE SCHOOL CONTINUALLY HAS TURNOVER.
THAT HERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE GET SOMETHING IN WRITING AND IT'S JUST A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, IT'S NOT A BINDING CONTRACT.
BUT IT'S LIKE, HEY, I KNOW THE SCHOOLS USE HARTRICK PARK.
THE SCHOOL BUSES FOR THE OPPOSING TEAMS PULL INTO HARTRICK PARK.
WHEN THE TEAM'S PRACTICE FOR BASEBALL OR SOFTBALL, LACROSSE, AND SOMETIMES THE FOOTBALL, THEY ARE PARKING AT HARTRICK, USING OUR BATHROOMS, LEAVING THE TRASH.
THE GIRLS JV SOFTBALL TEAM USES HARTRICK PARK.
AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, A LOT OF THE CLASSES GO TO A PARK AND USE A PAVILION.
WE DON'T CHARGE FOR ANY OF THOSE THINGS.
I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL THAT THE SCHOOLS ARE USING THE PARKS.
[01:55:01]
AND THIS IS REALLY JUST TO SHOW THIS GOOD FAITH RECIPROCATION WITH THE SCHOOLS IN THE TOWNSHIP.THAT IS THE ONLY REASON AND THE ONLY PURPOSE FOR THIS.
NOW, JOHN HOOD DRAFTED THIS AGREEMENT AND HE ALSO ADDED IN THERE NUMBER FIVE AND NUMBER SIX.
AND NUMBER FIVE HAD TO DO WITH POLICE.
THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE AGREEMENT THAT WE SAT DOWN AND TALKED ABOUT.
AND I SEE THERE'S NO TITLE ON THIS AND IT SHOULD BE A FACILITY USE MOU.
BECAUSE THAT WAS THE INTENT OF OUR MEETING, WAS JUST SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT FACILITY USE.
I WOULD SAY THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING TO CONSIDER THAT WE DELETE FROM THIS DRAFT AGREEMENT.
THEN THE NEXT ONE WOULD BE NUMBER SIX, WITH REFERENCE TO THE SENIOR CENTER.
I THINK THE SENIOR CENTER NEEDS ITS OWN, IT DOESN'T EVEN NEED A REFERENCE IN THIS, RIGHT.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT GETS TAKEN OUT.
AND BASICALLY IT'S SAYING THE SAME THINGS THAT WE DO, THAT WE'RE PROVIDING ALL OF THE MAINTENANCE THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN WHEN WE'RE USING SCHOOL FACILITIES.
AND CONVERSELY, IF THE SCHOOL USES OUR FACILITIES, THEY'VE GOT TO PROVIDE THEIR OWN.
IF THERE'S A DIRECT EXPENSE THAT THE SCHOOL IS EXPERIENCING, THEN WE WILL PAY THAT AND THE SAME WITH US.
IF SOMEHOW THEY USE THE FACILITY BUT WE HAVE OVERTIME FOR MAINTENANCE STAFF, THEN THEY WILL HAVE TO PAY THAT OVERTIME FOR MAINTENANCE STAFF.
AND THAT REALLY IS ALL THAT THIS AGREEMENT IS FOR, BUT IT'S REALLY JUST A GOOD-FAITH.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF YOU, YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF US.
I CAN BRING THIS BACK WITH DELETING NUMBER FIVE AND SIX, I THINK WHICH WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.
THEY HAD ANOTHER LINE IN THERE THAT I PUT THROUGH THERE.
I CROSSED OUT ABOUT HOW CURRENTLY WE'RE NOT USING ANY INDOOR FACILITIES AT OKEMOS SCHOOLS.
WHERE WE ALREADY IDENTIFY IN HERE THAT IF WE USE THE GYMNASIUMS, FOR INSTANCE, ON A REGULAR EVENING WHEN THERE'S CUSTODIANS ALREADY THERE, THERE WOULD BE NO CHARGE.
BUT IF WE'RE THERE ON A SATURDAY, FOR INSTANCE, WHEN THERE'S NOT A CUSTODIAN THERE, BUT THEY HAVE TO HAVE THEM THERE.
WELL, THEN YES, WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY THAT FEE.
AND THAT'S ALREADY OUTLINED IN THIS MEMORANDUM.
SO THERE'S NO NEED TO SAY THAT WE'RE NOT USING THAT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WHO KNOWS IN THE FUTURE WE MAY BE THERE, SO IT'S IRRELEVANT.
I THINK THAT COMES OUT AND FIVE AND SIX.
I CAN BRING THIS BACK ON THE 12TH FOR ACTION.
>> WHAT MEMBERS? JUST [INAUDIBLE] WILSON.
>> THANK YOU FOR POINTING OUT THE CLAUSES FIVE AND SIX, BECAUSE WHEN I READ THOSE, I WAS VERY ALARMED.
THIS IS NOT LANGUAGE THAT SHOULD BE IN THIS KIND OF MEMORANDUM.
I TOTALLY CONCUR WITH YOU THAT THOSE TWO SEGMENTS SHOULD NOT BE IN THIS DOCUMENT.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU [INAUDIBLE].
>> I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO US.
THE SAME THING HAPPENED IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE.
WHERE THERE WERE NO CHARGES TO UTILIZE THE SCHOOLS ON ELECTION DAY AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WERE CHARGES.
THAT BECAME ALARMING TO OUR OFFICE AS WELL, AND WE HAD TO CONTINUALLY CALL TO GET THE CHARGES TAKEN OFF AND TO ONLY BE CHARGED FOR THE CUSTODIAL SERVICES AFTER HOURS.
I UNDERSTAND THE PREDICAMENT AND THE NEED FOR A MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE ITEM IN HERE ABOUT MEETING ANNUALLY, TO PLAN THE EVENTS AND CALENDAR ITEMS THAT ARE HAPPENING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS CORRESPONDING BETWEEN THE TOWNSHIP AND IN THE SCHOOLS.
ALTHOUGH WE DON'T HAVE POLLING LOCATIONS IN THE SCHOOLS ANYMORE.
IF WE DID, I WOULD ASK FOR THAT TO BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE ANNUAL PLANNING.
BUT I CAN APPRECIATE THIS PLANNING AND THE EFFORT THAT GOES INTO THIS MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING AND THE NEED FOR IT.
>> BECAUSE WE KNOW BASICALLY FOR YOUTH BASEBALL, SOFTBALL, AND TEE-BALL, WE'D BEEN DOING THIS FOR 23 OF OUR 24 YEARS, PROBABLY.
THAT WHICH FIELDS WE USE, WHICH NIGHTS OF THE WEEK, WHAT TIME OF THE YEAR? LET'S GET THAT, THEY CAN PUT IT ON THEIR SCHEDULE, SO WHEN THEY DO GET OTHER REQUESTS THEN THEY CAN FIT IN AROUND IT.
I CAN APPRECIATE IF THEY'RE NOT QUITE SURE OF WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE.
SOMEBODY'S SCHEDULES GETS IN BEFORE US, I GUESS IT'S SHAME ON US.
THIS WHOLE THREE YEARS MIGHT BE A LITTLE EXTREME.
BUT I'M GOOD WITH THREE YEARS BECAUSE WE ALREADY KNOW BASICALLY WHAT IT IS AND WE'RE GOING TO MEET AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH YEAR, JUST TO HASH IT ALL OUT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED.
BUT IT DOES ENSURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET IN AND GET OUR FIELD SPACE IN BEFORE SOME OF THEM FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WOULD.
>> DO WE HAVE SIMILAR OPERATING PROGRAM WITH THE HAZLETT SCHOOL SYSTEMS?
>> WE DO WITH HAZLETT? IT'S NOT IN WRITING.
I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S ONE OF THOSE, IF IT'S NOT BROKE, DON'T FIX IT.
[02:00:01]
I THINK WE'VE GOT A REALLY GOOD THING GOING ON RIGHT NOW.AND I DON'T REALLY KNOW IF THERE'S A NEED TO START A PROCESS RIGHT NOW.
I THINK THERE WAS IN THIS INSTANCE AND I THINK THIS IS A GOOD START FOR US.
PLUS THEN IT GIVES US SOMETHING TO IF IN THE FUTURE ONE IS NEEDED IN HAZLETT.
RIGHT NOW, THERE REALLY ISN'T THERE ISN'T ONE NEEDED, WHERE THERE'S AN OUTSTANDING RELATIONSHIP AND IT'S THE SAME THINGS.
THERE'S NO CHARGE FOR FIELDS, WE ONLY PAID FOR CUSTODIANS.
SAME EXACT AGREEMENT WITH OKEMOS.
>> CAN I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CREATE THE SOME KIND OF AGREEMENT WITH HAZLETT?
>> IF YOU DON'T WITH ANOTHER CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP THERE AND OR HERE, YOU WOULD GET RIGHT BACK HERE TRYING TO DO THE SAME THING ANOTHER TIME.
>> WE MAY HAVE A WRITTEN AGREEMENT WITH HAZLETT.
WHEN I STARTED 24 YEARS AGO, HAZLETT WELCOMED US WITH OPEN ARMS. OKEMOS WAS A LITTLE MORE OF A CHALLENGE.
AND SO WE MAY HAVE GOTTEN INTO ONE OF THOSE RIGHT AWAY WITH HAZLETT AND I'LL LOOK IN MY FILES.
>> LUANN HOW ARE THE FIELDS GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY THE CONSTRUCTION? BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE MOST OF THE CHIPPEWA FIELDS.
HOW IS THAT GOING TO IMPACT THIS AGREEMENT AND OUR UTILIZATION?
THEY HAVE ALREADY, WE'VE MET WITH OKEMOS, THEY HAVE A PLAN TO BUILD NEW FIELDS [NOISE] AT [INAUDIBLE].
THE LARGE OPEN SPACE WILL NOW BECOME MULTIPLE BALL FIELDS.
AND THEY ARE WORKING ON THAT AND WILL SUPPOSEDLY HAVE THAT READY FOR US FOR NEXT LATE SPRING.
WE HAVE MET, THEY HAVE ALERTED US TO THE SITUATION AND HOPEFULLY THEY GET IT DONE, AND IF NOT, WE'LL JUST HAVE TO WORK IT OUT.
THERE'S SOME OTHER GROUPS THAT USE OUR FIELDS THAT MAY GET BUMPED SO WE CAN MANAGE OUR OWN PROGRAMS. HOPEFULLY WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER.
THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF EVERYTHING.
LET'S JUST MAKE SURE WE GET EVERYONE ACCOMMODATED.
FOR INSTANCE IN THE YOUTH BASEBALL PROGRAM, THERE'S TRAVEL TEAMS. THE OKEMOS BASEBALL CLUB FOR INSTANCE, AND SO WE WORK WITH THEM AND GET OUR YOUNGER KIDS TAKEN CARE OF, BUT THEN ALSO MAKES SURE THERE'S SPACE FOR THE BASEBALL.
SINCE WE'RE IN IT, WE UNDERSTAND THE INS AND OUTS, SO ALL THE FIELDS GET USED AND THE MOST EFFECTIVELY.
WE HAVE OUR FINGER ON THE PULSE WHEN IT COMES TO STUFF LIKE THAT.
THIS I THINK IS GOING TO BE A GOOD MOVE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
>> EXCELLENT, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SO YOU WILL RETURN ON THE 12TH WITH MODIFIED INFORMATION?
THE ITEM 13 C DOCTOR AGREEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS AND RECREATION, TP0AM, WHATEVER THAT MEANS.
>> GOOD EVENING, SUPERVISOR JACKSON ON BOARD MEMBERS.
SO TONIGHT BEFORE YOU, WE HAVE A LETTER OF AGREEMENT WHICH EFFECTIVELY JUST AMENDS THE EXISTING UNION CONTRACT WHICH WILL RUN 2023-2027, IS A FIVE-YEAR AGREEMENT.
THERE ARE TWO FOCAL POINTS OF THIS LETTER OF AGREEMENT, ONE OF WHICH IS AN EXISTING STIPEND, AND I WANT TO START BY JUST SAYING THAT THE LOA THERE, WE WORKED ON THIS WITH THE UNION.
SO THIS WAS WORK ON COLLABORATIVELY BETWEEN THE UNION AND MYSELF AND OUR SUPERINTENDENT ROB MCKENZIE.
SO WE DO HAVE AN EXISTING $250 STIPEND.
EVERY UNION MEMBER, THERE ARE 22 UNION MEMBERS IN THIS BARGAINING UNIT.
TWO OF WHOM ARE MECHANICS WHO TYPICALLY DON'T PURSUE THIS STIPEND, BUT THEY COULD, THEY WISH TO.
[13.C. Letter of Agreement with the Department of Public Works and Parks and Recreation TPOAM Union]
BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, TODAY WHERE WE'RE HAVING 20 UNION MEMBERS GO THROUGH THIS TRAINING.IT'S THE MOSCOW LICENSING TRAINING.
SO THIS IS FOR GRADING PIPE SEWER MAIN PREDOMINANTLY.
WHEN WE TELEVISE SEWER MAIN, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO GRADE THE CONDITION OF THE PIPE.
WE DO HAVE STAFF IN THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE SOME STAFF WITHIN THE DPW UNIT WHO WILL PURSUE THIS LICENSE.
BUT WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE UNION CONTRACT, IT'S NOT NECESSARY TO HAVE 20 EMPLOYEES, SIX OF WHOM ARE WORKING ON PARKS FACILITIES, TWO OF WHOM ARE WORKING ON OUR BUILDING FACILITIES.
ALL GOING THROUGH THIS TRAINING.
SO EVERY THREE YEARS OR EMPLOYEES WILL GO THROUGH THIS TRAINING, AND FROM THE EMPLOYEE STANDPOINT, THEY'RE DOING IT BECAUSE THEY WANT IT STIPEND.
THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF STIPENDS AND THE UNION CONTRACT AND THEY WANT TO
[02:05:02]
CHECK THOSE BOXES TO GET THAT PAY, AND IT DOES PROVIDE SOME VALUE, BUT REALLY NOT TO THEIR DAY-TO-DAY JOB FUNCTIONS.SO ROUGHLY SPEAKING, BY CONVERTING THIS TYPE AND WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING BEFORE YOU TONIGHT, WE WOULD CONVERT THIS TO VECTOR TRAINING.
SO THE TOWNSHIP OWNS TWO DIFFERENT VECTORS.
IT COULD BE ON ANYTHING FROM A WATER MAIN BREAK TO A SEWER COLLAPSE, TO EVEN JUST SETTING A FENCE POST.
ANY EXCAVATION ACTIVITY YOU CAN USE THE VECTOR FOR.
SO EVERY EMPLOYEE, FOR INSTANCE, THE NEW SIGNPOSTS THAT WE'RE IN HERE IN THE PARKING LOT.
THOSE WERE EXCAVATED WITH THE VECTOR.
SO OUR FACILITY CREW USE THE VECTOR THAT DAY.
THE PARKS SCREW WILL USE IT ON OCCASION FOR EXCAVATION ACTIVITIES, AND OF COURSE, THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENTS USE IT FREQUENTLY.
BUT THEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, THOSE EMPLOYEES NEED TO BE ABLE TO USE THE VECTORS AFTER HOURS FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSES.
IN MOST CASES WITH AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE OUTSIDE OF A OCCASIONALLY WE HAVE A LEAKY METER IN THE BASEMENT, BUT OUTSIDE OF SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WE WILL NEED THE VECTOR AFTER HOURS.
IN ONE OF OUR VECTORS IS NEWER, AND SO THE EMPLOYEES WHO DON'T WORK WITH THE VECTORS ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS, ARE STILL LEARNING THE VECTORS, AND SO WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IS CONVERT THIS $250 STIPEND TO BEING BASED ON VECTOR TRAINING AND BEING ABLE TO OPERATE AND PERFORM GENERAL PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE ON THE VECTOR.
SO OCCASIONALLY, THESE ARE ESSENTIALLY LARGE VACUUM CLEANERS.
THEY WILL SUCK UP VERY LARGE RACKS, AND SOMETIMES THOSE GET LODGED, AND YOU'LL HAVE TO TROUBLESHOOT THE VECTOR TO GET AN OPERATING IN.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE MEAN BY GENERAL PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE AS BEING ABLE TO GET IT FUNCTIONING AGAIN IN THE FIELD OR BACK AT THE SERVICE CENTER.
SO ESSENTIALLY TODAY WE HAVE A STIPEND THAT DOESN'T REALLY PRODUCE VALUE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES OR FOR OUR RESIDENTS, AND IT PRODUCES A LOT OF COST FOR THE TOWNSHIP.
WHEN WE LOOKED AT THIS AND I'LL GIVE THE CREDIT TO ROB MCKENZIE, MY SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
THIS WAS ROB'S IDEA WHEN WE LOOKED AT IT, IT REALLY DIDN'T MAKE SENSE.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT ONCE IT GETS IN THE CONTRACT, PEOPLE STOP PAYING ATTENTION AND STOP ASKING WHY IT'S THERE.
MORE OR LESS, THAT'S WHAT WE DID.
AND WE LOOKED AT WHAT WE ACTUALLY DO NEED BECAUSE WE HAD BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE VECTOR ISSUE AND SOME OF THE DBW MEMBERS EXPRESSING THE NEED FOR TRAINING.
SO WE WILL BRING INTO HONEY TO DO THE TRAINING.
THEY CONSTRUCT OUR VECTORS AND THEY PERFORM PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE WHEN NECESSARY ON A VECTOR, SO WE WILL HAVE THEM COME IN AND DO TRAINING.
IT MIGHT BE ANNUAL, IT MIGHT BE BIANNUAL, IT MIGHT BE EVERY OTHER YEAR.
IT'LL DEPEND ON TURNOVER WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT AND THE NEEDS EXPRESSED BY THE UNION MEMBERS.
BUT TODAY, WE WOULD ANTICIPATE GETTING A TRAINING SCHEDULED FOR EARLY 2024.
THE SECOND COMPONENT OF THE LETTER OF AGREEMENT IS OUR ON-CALL SIGN-UP.
AT ALL TIMES 24/7,365 DAYS A YEAR, WE HAVE TO HAVE A MEMBER OF THIS UNION SERVING ON CALL FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSES.
SO IF WE HAVE A LINE BREAK, MAIN BREAK AT NIGHT, WE CAN MOBILIZE AND RESPOND TO THAT.
SO WE DO A SIGN UP WHERE YOUR ON-CALL FOR A WHOLE WEEK.
RIGHT NOW WE DO THE SIGN-UP BY ANNUALLY AND THAT'S WHAT'S IN THE CONTRACT.
SO TWICE A YEAR WE DO THE SIGN UP.
PART OF THAT WAS BECAUSE WHEN I FIRST CAME IN, WE WERE DEALING WITH, THERE WERE SOME CONVERSATIONS OCCURRING ABOUT HOW WE SHOULD DO THE SIGN UP, AND WE PUT A PROCEDURE TOGETHER WHICH WE USE THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF 2022, AND THEN WE ACTUALLY MEMORIALIZED IT INTO THE CONTRACT.
EVERY COMPONENT OF THAT PROCEDURE THAT WE WERE FALLING AND HAS NOW BEEN MEMORIALIZED HAS WORKED GREAT.
THE ONE THING IS THE UNION MEMBERS REQUESTED THE ABILITY TO DO THE SIGN-UP ON A QUARTERLY BASIS.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO PLAN THEIR LIVES QUITE AS FAR IN ADVANCE, WHETHER IT'D BE VACATIONS OR APPOINTMENTS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO MYSELF AND ROB HAVE NO CONCERNS OVER GOING TO A QUARTERLY SIGN UP.
THE ONLY ISSUE TODAY IS THAT THE UNION CONTRACT DOES NOT ALLOW THAT.
SO THAT'S WHERE IT'S BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
>> QUESTIONS, MR HENDRICKSON? >. NOT SO MUCH A QUESTION, BUT JUST A STATEMENT THAT THESE BOTH OF THEM SEEM LIKE VERY COMMON SENSE AND STRAIGHT FORWARD PROPOSALS THAT I HAVE NO ISSUE WITH INCLUSION IN THEIR CONTRACT GOING FORWARD.
>> I CONCUR WITH TRUSTEE HENDERSON THAT THESE ARE SIMPLE CHANGES
[02:10:01]
TO BE MORE COST-EFFECTIVE AND ALSO TO GET PEOPLE MORE FLEXIBILITY AND PLANNING THEIR CALENDARS.I MEAN, THIS IS JUST REALLY SIMPLE STUFF.
>> THANKS TO YOU AND TO ROB FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND BEING PROACTIVE AND APPROACHING THESE THINGS, AND IT IS EASY JUST TO HEARING SYSTEMS AND JUST FOLLOW THEM AND NOT CHANGE THEM TAKES A LOT OF EFFORT TO BREAK THAT INERTIA, AND I'M GLAD YOU'RE STRESSED AND EXCHANGES AND IT MAKES SENSE TO ME AS WELL.
WHAT IS TP0AM? WHAT DOES THAT STAND FOR?
>> IT'S THE ACRONYM FOR THE IT'S AN OVERARCHING UNION.
YOU GIVE ME JUST ONE SECOND BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GET IT WRONG.
>> OFFICE WORKERS ASSOCIATION TO MICHIGAN.
>> PROFESSOR, TECHNICAL PROFESSIONAL AND OFFICE WORKERS ASSOCIATION.
SO LET'S SEE THAT ACRONYM WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT UNIONS.
SO THAT'S KIND OF AN UMBRELLA ACRONYM THAT YOU'LL SEE ACROSS DIFFERENT BARGAINING UNITS.
>> I'VE SEEN IT HERE. I JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.
>> I WAS EXPECTING NASCAR TO BE THE ACRONYM QUESTIONS.
>> NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SEWER SERVICE COMPANY, SO IT'S A TRADE ASSOCIATION OF CONTRACTORS THAT WORK ON PUBLIC SEWER SYSTEMS. OKAY.
>> DO YOU MANAGE YOUR PROCESS QUESTION? THIS IS A PROPOSAL.
THE BOARD ONCE THE OKAYS IT, YOU CAN GO TO THE UEN AND PROPOSE IT TO THE UNION OR THEY ALREADY SIGNED ONTO IT.
>> SORTED. THEY'VE ALREADY SIGNED OFF FROM A VERBAL STANDPOINT, WE HAVE WITH THEM COLLABORATIVELY, SO THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT WE JUST BROUGHT TO THE UNION.
WE BROUGHT THEM THE CONCEPT OF CONVERTING THE STIPEND, WHICH WAS RECEIVED FAVORABLY.
THEY BROUGHT US THE SWITCH FROM BIANNUAL TO QUARTERLY.
>> WE HAD PREVIOUSLY WANTED TO STAY WITH BIANNUAL JUST BECAUSE IT USED TO FALL ON THE ADMINISTRATION TO DO THE SIGN-UP AND IT DOES TAKE TIME TO GET THE SIGN-UP PROCESS.
DOING IT FOUR TIMES A YEAR DOES BECOME BURDENSOME, BUT NOW WITH THE NEW PROCESS THAT WE PUT INTO PLACE WHEN I STARTED, THE UNION FACILITATES THEIR SIGN UP ON THEIR OWN.
THEY JUST GIVE US THE LIST BY A DATE CERTAIN UNDER THE CONTRACT.
THAT ISSUE HAS ALREADY BEEN RESOLVED THROUGH OTHER MEANS, SO WE HAVE NO ISSUES WITH GOING QUARTERLY.
>> [INAUDIBLE] I UNDERSTAND THE SECOND PART, THE QUARTERLY SIGN UP AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE STIPEND, HOW YOU EXPLAINED IT OR HOW IT'S WRITTEN IN THE MANTLE.
MY APOLOGIES, IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE FOR ME, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.
IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING I RE-EMPLOYEE IN THIS BARGAINING UNIT IS NOW GOING TO BE TRAINED?
>> ON THE BACK TOWNSHIP AND VECTORS AND WHEN WE REPLACE THEM, WE WILL PROVIDE TRAINING FOR ANY NEW VECTORS AS WELL.
>> ARE THEY GETTING A $250 STIPEND TO GET TRAINED ON THE VECTORS EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE IN THE BARGAINING UNIT?
>> CORRECT. WITH ONE MINOR CORRECTION IN SO MUCH AS IT'S GOING THROUGH THE TRAINING DOESN'T SATISFY THE STIPEND.
IT'S BEING PROFICIENT IN OPERATING AND PERFORMING PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE, SO IT'S YOUR PROFICIENCY COMING OUT OF THAT TRAINING.
>> THEY WILL HAVE TRAINING AND THEN A PROFICIENCY TESTING, AND THEN THEY WILL RECEIVE THE $250 IF THEY PASS BOTH COMPONENTS?
>> EVERY EMPLOYEE IN THIS BARGAINING UNIT?
>> OKAY. YOU'RE MEMOS SAYS THAT YOU ONLY NEED 1-3 EMPLOYEES TO BE ABLE TO GRADE PIPE AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT DID YOU SAY THE VECTOR? I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE VECTOR IS AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT GREETING PLACE.
YOU'RE SAYING EVERY EMPLOYEE IS BEING TRAINED, BUT THEN YOU ONLY NEED 1-3 EMPLOYEES TO DO THIS.
>> THE EXISTING STIFLING TODAY THAT FOR THE EXISTING STIPEND, THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS VERY COSTLY TRAINING AND THAT TRAINING HELPS THEM KNOW HOW TO GRADE PIPE.
OUR POINT HERE IS THAT WE DON'T NEED ALL 20 EMPLOYEES IN THIS BARGAINING UNIT TO KNOW HOW TO GRADE PIPE BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY DO.
FOR MOST OF THEM, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE 20 EMPLOYEES, THEY WILL NEVER GRADE PIPE.
>> ONE TO THREE EMPLOYEES WILL BE TRAINED HOW TO GRADE PIPE WITH THAT EXPENSIVE TRAINING THING AND THEN ALL EMPLOYEES WILL BE TRAINED ON THE VECTOR MACHINE AND THEY WILL RECEIVE THE STIPEND ONCE THEY PASS THE TEST AND
[02:15:03]
THE PROFICIENTLY TAKE THE TRAINING AND THE PROFICIENCY TEST?>> THEY PASS THOSE THINGS. THIS IS IT.
IS THE REQUIREMENT FOR A CERTAIN NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES TO BE TRAINED ON THESE STEPS? IS THERE A STATE REQUIREMENT THAT WE HAVE EMPLOYEES TRAINED ON THESE SYSTEMS?
>> THERE'S NO STATE REQUIREMENTS, BUT WE DO JUST THROUGH OUR DAY-TO-DAY RESPONSIBILITIES NEED IN PLACE WHO DO HAVE THE MOSCOW LICENSE, BUT WE HAVE THOSE UP AND ENGINEERING.
WE ALREADY HAVE ONE DBW MEMBER THAT'S STILL INTERESTED IN PURSUING IT.
WE'LL HAVE FURTHER CONVERSATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT A FEW OTHER DBW MEMBERS STILL PURSUE THAT LICENSE.
WE'RE JUST NOT GOING TO RUN OUT OF THAT CONTRACT BECAUSE OF THAT STIPEND.
EVERYBODY WANTS TO GET THAT LICENSE EVEN THOUGH IT DOESN'T SERVE THEM IN THEIR DAY-TO-DAY JOB FUNCTIONS.
>> THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS AND BRINGING THIS TO THE BOARD AND WORKING WITH THE EMPLOYEES IN THE BARGAINING UNIT ON SOMETHING THAT WORKS BETTER FOR THEM, IT MAKES THEIR JOB MORE EFFICIENT AND FOR HELPING ME UNDERSTAND THIS LANGUAGE IN THE MEMO, I APPRECIATE IT.
>> SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, I PRESUMED THAT YOU ARE PREPARED TO BRING THIS BACK IN TWO WEEKS?
>> WILL BRING US BACK AND ONE WEEKEND, WE DO APPRECIATE THE BOARD'S CONSIDERATION AND THE TIMING IS JUST RIGHT BECAUSE WE'RE ABOUT TO START A NEW YEAR, NEW SIGN-UPS AND YOUR STIPENDS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE NOW COME TO ITEM 14, COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.
[LAUGHTER] WE COME TO ITEM 15, OTHER MATTERS AND BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS.
>> MR. WALSH, I HOPE WE CAN ASK.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO HAVE THE NUMBERS THAT CAME WITH THE PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT TONIGHT ADDED TO THE PACKET.
>> YOU'D LIKE TO POWERPOINT ADDED THAT EXTRA [OVERLAPPING].
>> YES. WITH THE REAL NUMBERS?
>> ABSOLUTELY. THE WAGE NUMBERS THE [INAUDIBLE] THERE IN THE LAST MEETING.
>> OKAY. OTHER BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS MATTERS.
WE STAND, OH I NEED A MOTION. [OVERLAPPING]
[15. OTHER MATTERS AND BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS]
>> CHARTER TO CHANGE THE CORNER.
DOES THAT MEAN YOU RECOGNIZE THIS PART?
>> EMILY NEEDS THAT FOR THE MINUTES.
>> I GET THAT GOING SOMETIMES, ALL OF THEM TO THE WASHINGTON WE'RE DONE?
VOTE YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.