Jun 04, 2024 Township Board

[1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER]

[00:01:47]

MIC] IT IS 6 P.M.

AND WE WILL CALL THIS REGULAR MEETING, THE JUNE 4TH REGULAR MEETING OF THE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN TO ORDER.

FIRST ON OUR AGENDA THIS EVENING IS THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE RISE AS YOU'RE ABLE TO JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

ITEM THREE ON OUR AGENDA IS A ROLL CALL WOULD THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON HERE.

CLERK GUTHRIE IS HERE.

TREASURER DESCHAINE HERE.

TRUSTEE SUNDLAND HERE.

TRUSTEE TREZISE HERE.

AND TRUSTEE WILSON HERE.

ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE PRESENT.

THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.

ITEM FOUR ON OUR AGENDA IS PRESENTATIONS.

WE HAVE NONE THIS EVENING.

AND SO ITEM FIVE IS CITIZENS ADDRESS AGENDA ITEMS AND NOT AGENDA ITEMS. THERE ARE SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AT TONIGHT'S MEETING.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO ADDRESS OUR AGENDA, OR ANY ITEM NOT ON OUR AGENDA, HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, AS WELL AS NEAR THE END OF THE MEETING. THOSE WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE BOARD MUST COMPLETE A GREEN CARD LOCATED ON THE TABLE NEAR THE DOOR, AND PRESENT THAT CARD TO THE BOARD, TO THE BOARD, OR A MEMBER OF THE TOWNSHIP STAFF PRIOR TO THE START OF PUBLIC COMMENT.

WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN, THE SUPERVISOR.

THAT'S ME. WE'LL CALL YOU UP.

CALL UP THE NEXT SPEAKER TO THE PODIUM TO SPEAK ON THE TOPICS INDICATED.

WHILE IT'S NOT REQUIRED, IT'S HELPFUL FOR THE SAKE OF OUR MEETING MINUTES IF YOU PROVIDE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR REMARKS.

CITIZENS ARE REQUIRED TO LIMIT COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES.

AN AUTOMATED SYSTEM KEEPS TRACK OF THE TIME, AND AN INDICATOR LIGHT AND AUDIBLE BEEP WILL ALERT YOU WHEN YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS REMAINING AND WHEN YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD VALUE COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC OUR MEETING FORMAT AND RULES RESTRICT BOARD MEMBERS FROM ENGAGING IN CONVERSATION WITH COMMENTERS OR ANSWERING QUESTIONS DIRECTLY. QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS MAY BE ADDRESSED BY BOARD MEMBERS AT A LATER TIME, OR MAY BE REFERRED TO A MEMBER OF THE TOWNSHIP STAFF TO FOLLOW UP ON.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO ADDRESS ALL COMMENTS TO THE BOARD AND OR THE BOARD'S CHAIR, AND NOT TO INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERS OR OTHERS IN THE AUDIENCE.

WITH THAT SAID, WE HAVE NOT COLLECTED ANY GREEN CARDS.

WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK BEFORE THE BOARD THIS EVENING? SEEING NONE WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AT 6:03 P.M..

NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM SIX, INTERIM MANAGER REPORT.

[6. INTERIM TOWNSHIP MANAGER REPORT]

THANK YOU, MR. SUPERVISOR.

A FEW THINGS. ONCE AGAIN, LET ME PUBLICLY THANK DEPUTY MANAGER OPSOMMER AND NEIGHBORHOOD AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR CLARK, FOR ABLY KEEPING THINGS MOVING WHILE I WAS GONE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, ENJOYING THE EMERALD ISLE.

BUT WE'RE BACK AT IT.

SO A FEW THINGS I WANT TO UPDATE EVERYONE ON.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, THERE'S THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION EARLIER IN THE INTERVIEW PROCESS F OR THE VACANT SEAT ABOUT THE POLICE STAFFING.

AND EVERYONE IS AWARE OF THE PLAN THAT CHIEF GRILLO PUT IN PLACE TO WITH THE BOARD'S APPROVAL TO START MOVING THIS FORWARD.

AND I'M HAPPY TO SAY IT'S WORKING.

THE LIGHT IS DEFINITELY AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

I CAN I CAN SEE IT.

AS OF JULY 1ST, WE'LL GET TWO PEOPLE BACK FROM MATERNITY LEAVE AND ONE OFFICER OUT OF TRAINING, SO WE'LL BE UP THREE BY AUGUST, WE SHOULD HAVE POTENTIALLY THREE NEW

[00:05:08]

THAT WOULD, IN THE END, GET US TO FULL CAPACITY.

AND BY DECEMBER, ALL OF OUR TRAINING THAT'S CURRENTLY HAPPENING SHOULD BE COMPLETE AND WE SHOULD BE AT 42.

SO THANK YOU TO THE BOARD FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS.

WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU.

AND THANK YOU TO CHIEF GRILLO AND HIS STAFF FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN.

THEN OUTSIDE OF THE NOKOMIS CENTER, YOU MAY NOTICE A NEW GARDEN HAS GONE IN.

AND I JUST WANT TO BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT THIS.

THIS IS A JOINT EFFORT WITH MSU.

IT'S, I BELIEVE, CALLED THE THREE SISTERS GARDEN.

AND DON'T DON'T QUOTE ME ON THAT BECAUSE I HAVE LIMITED INFORMATION RIGHT NOW.

BUT I WANT TO POINT OUT, BECAUSE BIG THINGS ARE HAPPENING THERE, IT WILL END UP BEING A RESEARCH STUDY LOCATION FOR BEE POLLINATION.

THEY WILL THEY'RE GOING TO BE MULTIPLE CONCENTRIC GARDENS THERE THAT ALLOW FOR THE STUDY OF POLLINATORS IN THE GARDEN.

AND THEN THERE WILL ALSO BE A LARGE DREAMCATCHER INSTALLED HARKENING BACK TO THE HERITAGE OF THE AREA.

SO YOU'LL START TO SEE THINGS HAPPEN THERE.

AND THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP OF MR. OSTRANDER AND, AND THE COMA CENTER, THIS IS A THIS IS A GOOD ADDITION TO THE AREA, AND IT WILL BE A VERY NICE THING ONCE IT'S DONE.

STAFF IS WORKING HARD ON ON UTILITY BILLING AND MOVING THIS IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION.

THIS WAS, I WOULD ARGUE, ONE OF THE TWO THINGS THAT SORT OF GOT MOST SCREWED UP BY COVID BETWEEN THIS AND RENTAL INSPECTIONS.

WE GOT RENTAL INSPECTIONS BACK ON TRACK, AND WE'RE WORKING ON UTILITY BILLING.

WE'VE GOT A GREAT STAFF THAT'S WORKING ON IT.

DEPUTY MANAGER OPSOMMER ONCE AGAIN HAS GRABBED THIS BULL BY THE HORNS.

AND ALONG WITH DIRECTOR TITHOF AND DIRECTOR ARNIE, WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.

WE DID EXPEDITE THE LENGTH OF A TEMP THAT WE WERE BRINGING ON BECAUSE OF A MATERNITY LEAVE AND TREASURY.

WE BROUGHT THEM ON EARLY TO HELP US WITH UTILITY BILLING.

SO THEN WE CAN GET WORK ON PROCESS WITH THE FULL TIME UTILITY BILLING MEMBERS.

AND SO WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION HERE, BUT THERE'S MORE TO COME ON.

THAT MARSHALL PARK IS NOT OFFICIALLY OPEN YET.

IT IS MOSTLY IN.

BUT DIRECTOR WISINSKI IS WORKING ON SCHEDULING SOME FINAL DETAILS.

AND SO ONCE WE HAVE A SCHEDULE FOR THAT, I WILL RELAY IT TO THE BOARD.

POTENTIAL RIBBON CUTTING DAYS FOR THAT NEW PARK.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU COULD PROBABLY ENJOY THE SLIDE NOW IF YOU WANTED TO.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WILL SEE ON YOUR NEXT AGENDA IS WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT LATER THIS EVENING, BUT ON YOUR NEXT AGENDA IS A SORT OF AN EARLY PRIORITIES DISCUSSION FOR THE BUDGET. AND I JUST WANT TO BRIEFLY MENTION THIS SO THE BOARD CAN START THINKING ABOUT IT.

I WILL ALSO FOLLOW UP WITH AN EMAIL.

BUT ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I HEARD WHEN I STARTED HERE IS JUST THAT THE BUDGET PROCESS WAS A LITTLE BIT DISJOINTED.

THERE WAS A LITTLE LACK OF BACK AND FORTH.

AND SO WITH THE BOARD AND THE MANAGEMENT TEAM AND SO I'M TRYING TO DO IS BRING FORWARD A VERY EARLY DISCUSSION OF PRIORITIES.

I'VE AT LEAST GOT THE TOP LEVEL THOUGHTS FROM STAFF, AND THEN WE'LL RELAY THOSE TO THE BOARD AND GET THE BOARD'S FEEDBACK AND THE TOP LEVEL IDEAS FROM THE BOARD.

AND THEN WE WILL START TO GET INTO THE NUTS AND BOLTS.

I'M GUARANTEEING NOTHING MAKES IT IN BUT I WANT TO SORT OF LAY OUT SORT OF WHERE EVERYONE'S THINKING IS AND GET YOUR THINKING EARLY IN THE PROCESS SO WE CAN TRY AND CREATE AS COLLABORATIVE AS A BUDGET AS POSSIBLE THIS YEAR.

LASTLY, I WANT TO GIVE THE PUBLIC AN UPDATE ON TRADER JOE'S.

I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING.

WE DO NOT HAVE A DATE YET FOR WHEN THEY ARE OPENING.

AS SOON AS WE KNOW I PROMISE I WILL SHARE IT WITH EVERYONE.

BUT I SUSPECT THAT THEY'RE JUST GOING TO OPEN THE DOORS ONE DAY AND SAY, HEY, COME SHOP.

BUT IT IS MOVING RIGHT ALONG.

THEY'RE VERY CLOSE.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE RIGHT NOW.

I'D BE HAPPY TO DISCUSS ANY OF THAT OR ANYTHING ELSE.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR MANAGER SCHMITT? OKAY SAYING NONE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM SEVEN.

[7. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS OF ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS]

ANY BOARD MEMBERS WITH ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.

TRUSTEE TREZISE REMIND THE PUBLIC THAT NEXT WEEK IS THE JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION, AND THERE'S A DAY AT THE PARK IN THE LAKE ON THE 15TH.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S SOMETHING EARLIER IN THE WEEK.

I THINK THAT'S THE MAIN CELEBRATION IS THE 15TH, AND THEN TWO WEEKS LATER IS THE MERIDIAN APPRECIATION OR CELEBRATE MERIDIAN FESTIVAL. AND SO KEEP YOUR SUMMER OPEN.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYONE ELSE? I WILL GO AHEAD AND SAY THAT SINCE OUR LAST MEETING, I ATTENDED THE MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATION AT GLENDALE CEMETERY, WHICH IS, AS ALWAYS, ORGANIZED CAPABLY BY CLERK GUTHRIE.

IT WAS A LOVELY CEREMONY, DESPITE SOME DRIZZLY WEATHER.

I KNOW THAT MANY OF US WERE THERE TO CELEBRATE WITH WITH THE VETERANS WHO WERE THERE C ELEBRATING AS WELL.

[00:10:08]

AND WE HAD A NEW BAGPIPER, OF COURSE.

AND WHO DID HOW FILLED THE SHOES ABLY.

SO GREAT. YEAH, HE WAS WONDERFUL.

SO THANK YOU TO CLERK GUTHRIE FOR FOR PUTTING THAT EVENT TOGETHER.

THAT WAS THAT WAS LOVELY.

YEAH. TREASURER DESCHAINE.

I WILL ANNOUNCE THAT A WEEK FROM TONIGHT IS OUR FIRST OF THREE LISTENING SESSIONS WE'RE HAVING RIGHT HERE IN THIS ROOM.

AND WE INVITED PEOPLE BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THEY ARE LIVING IN TO ATTEND THOSE.

SO WE DON'T HAVE EVERYONE SHOWING UP AT ONE AND NO ONE AT THE OTHER ONES.

SO THEY BEGIN NEXT TUESDAY THE 11TH AT 6 P.M..

THANK YOU. AND THOSE ARE HERE IN THIS ROOM NOW AS OPPOSED TO ELSEWHERE SO PLEASE FEEL FREE TO STOP BY.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS?

[8. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

DO WE HAVE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA? MOVE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.

SUPPORT. MOVED BY TRUSTEE WILSON, SUPPORTED BY TREASURER DESCHAINE.

ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS OR ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA? SEEING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED, PLEASE SAY YES.

YES, YES. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE AGENDA PASSES.

NEXT UP ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM NINE, THE CONSENT AGENDA ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

[9. CONSENT AGENDA]

WE HAVE THE MINUTES FROM OUR MAY 21ST, 2024 REGULAR MEETING AND THE BILLS.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON ANY OF THE ITEMS ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA? MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

MOVED BY TRUSTEE WILSON.

ANY SUPPORT? SUPPORT.

SUPPORTED BY TREASURER DESCHAINE.

ANY COMMENTS? SEEING NONE. THIS IS A ROLL CALL VOTE AND WE'LL ASK CLERK GUTHRIE TO PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALL RIGHT.

NEXT UP ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 10 QUESTIONS FOR THE ATTORNEY.

WE HAVE NONE. ITEM 11 HEARINGS.

WE HAVE NONE.

THAT BRINGS US TO AGENDA ITEM 12 A, WHICH IS OUR OUR FIRST ACTION ITEM OF THE EVENING.

[12.A. Township Trustee Appointment]

SO AS A BRIEF RECAP, SINCE MY NAME IS ON THE MEMORANDA HERE THE BOARD DID MEET AT 4:00 THIS AFTERNOON.

AND CONDUCTED INTERVIEWS WITH THREE FINALISTS FOR THE VACANCY THAT WE HAVE ON THE TOWNSHIP BOARD FOR TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE.

THE THREE APPLICANTS WERE SELECTED FROM A POOL OF EIGHT APPLICANTS WHO APPLIED.

AND WE HAD A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THIS BOARD WHO MET TO WINNOW THOSE DOWN TO THE THREE THAT WE ENDED UP INTERVIEWING.

I THINK AS A GENERAL NOTE, WE HAD THREE EXCELLENT INTERVIEWS AND REALLY EIGHT EXCELLENT CANDIDATES, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND.

AND THIS IS NOT AN EASY DECISION, AS IT NEVER IS TO APPOINT SOMEONE TO THIS BOARD.

SO THE THREE CANDIDATES THAT WE DID INTERVIEW THIS AFTERNOON WERE JAMES ATHERTON, JAMES MCCURTIS, AND JEFFREY ROMBACH.

AND SO WE HAD A LOT OF INTERESTING DISCUSSION, A LOT OF DIVERSE FEEDBACK AND, AND THOUGHTS AS TO, YOU KNOW, ANSWERS TO OUR QUESTIONS.

AND WE'RE VERY PLEASED THAT WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO ALL THREE.

WITH THAT WE HAVE THIS MOTION, THIS ITEM ON OUR AGENDA THIS EVENING FOR ACTION TO FILL THE VACANCY.

I'D BE HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN DISCUSSION OR TO MOVE DIRECTLY INTO MAKING A MOTION IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT.

CLERK GUTHRIE. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON, BEFORE DISCUSSION, I JUST HAVE A CLARIFYING QUESTION FOR YOU.

IS THERE A TIME LIMIT COMPONENT TO THIS APPOINTMENT? IS THERE A TIME CONSTRAINT OR ARE WE UNDER ANY KIND OF TIME PRESSURE? COULD YOU EXPLAIN HOW ALL OF THAT WORKS? SURE. SO AS IT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED TO ME BY OUR LEGAL COUNSEL, IS WHAT I WILL SAY.

WE HAVE 45 DAYS FROM THE DATE THE VACANCY OCCURS TO FILL THE VACANCY.

AND THE VACANCY OCCURS WHEN THE BOARD ACCEPTS BASICALLY THAT THERE IS A VACANCY.

SO IN THIS CASE, THE BOARD APPOINTED ME ON MAY 9TH.

WE HAVE 45 DAYS FROM MAY 9TH WHEN I VACATED MY SEAT AS TRUSTEE TO FILL THAT VACANCY.

THE GOOD NEWS IS WE'VE BEEN VERY EFFICIENT AND WE ARE NOT TO 45 DAYS YET.

HOWEVER, WE WILL REACH 45 DAYS PRIOR TO OUR NEXT MEETING, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE TAKING ACTION ON IT THIS EVENING, AS I UNDERSTAND IT.

AND SO THAT'S WHY WE WERE MAKING SURE WE HAD IT ON OUR AGENDA FOR ACTION TONIGHT SO THAT WE COULD DO THAT.

[00:15:08]

AND BECAUSE WE HAVE ALREADY PASSED THE FILING DEADLINE FOR THE 2024 ELECTION WHOEVER WE APPOINT WOULD, IF THEY'RE NOT ALREADY ON THE BALLOT, WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE ON THE BALLOT FOR THE 2024 TO 2028 TERM.

SO THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE ATTEMPTED TO HIGHLIGHT WITH EVERYONE WHO APPLIED.

BUT THAT WAS CERTAINLY WORTH WORTH POINTING OUT FOR ANYONE AT HOME WHO'S WATCHING NOW.

OKAY. SO IS IT OKAY TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS, PLEASE.

YEAH. NOW THEN. OKAY.

THANK YOU TO THE CANDIDATES FIRST OFF FOR APPLYING.

IT'S NOT AN EASY THING TO DO TO APPLY OR RUN FOR OFFICE AND HAVE BEEN BEEN IN THE STAFF POSITION BEFORE, AND IT'S IT CAN BE INTIMIDATING.

AND IT CAN BE INTIMIDATING AS A PUBLIC PERSON COMING TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF THE BOARD AS WELL.

AND SO I APPRECIATE ANYONE WHO RUNS FOR OFFICE, PUTS THEIR HAT IN THE RING AND SITS ON ANY OF THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WITH THE TOWNSHIP OR ANY ANYONE FOR THAT MATTER.

THE CANDIDATES THAT WE HAD TODAY WHAT STUCK OUT TO ME WHAT WERE ANSWERS THAT BASICALLY RELATED TO THE RESPONSE YOU GAVE SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON GAVE REGARDING OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE COMING UP, WHICH I AM LOT STOP IN LINE WITH.

AND THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WE HAVE IS HIRING OUR NEXT TOWNSHIP MANAGER BECAUSE EVERYTHING GOES ALONG WITH THAT.

AND THERE HAS, LIKE TRUSTEE TREZISE STATED IN HIS CHALLENGE WHEN HE FIRST CAME ON BOARD, WAS BEING THROWN INTO THE MIDDLE OF THAT. AND IT WAS A TOUGH DECISION.

IT WAS A TOUGH THING TO DO.

THERE WERE LOTS OF ISSUES THAT WE HAD TO LOOK AT REGARDING THAT.

AND SO FOR ME WHEN I LISTENED TO THE CANDIDATES TODAY, THE BIGGEST I TEMS OR RESPONSES THAT STOOD OUT IN MY MIND WERE ALL RELATED TO THAT.

MAYBE YOU DIDN'T THOROUGHLY READ THE GIGANTIC BUDGET.

THAT'S I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY INCHES THAT IS FIVE INCHES THICK.

MAYBE YOU DIDN'T READ THE READ IT IN ITS ENTIRETY.

MAYBE THERE WERE A FEW THINGS THAT COULDN'T BE FOUND ON THE WEBSITE, MAYBE ANSWERS WERE A LITTLE OFF HERE OR THERE, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.

THE ANSWERS I, I WAS LOOKING FOR WERE HOW THIS TOWNSHIP WAS GOING TO MAKE A CULTURAL CHANGE IN HOW THIS TOWNSHIP WAS GOING TO HANDLE THE NORMAL DAY TO DAY THINGS THAT WE NORMALLY DO AND THE BUDGET COMING UP.

WITH POSSIBLY A NEW MANAGER IN PLACE BY THAT TIME.

SO THOSE WERE THE THE ITEMS THAT STUCK OUT THE MOST IN MY MIND.

AND OUR SECOND CANDIDATE, WHICH I'M TRYING TO FIND MY NOTES FOR HIS RESPONSES, MR. ATHERTON. YES.

THANK YOU. MR. ATHERTON, HE IN HIS RESPONSE REGARDING THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER, HE TALKED ABOUT THE MANAGER BEING THE CEO AND KEEPING THE PROCESSES IN LINE AND THE POLICIES IN LINE AND KEEP THINGS ON THE TRACK.

AND SO, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, I'M SITTING ON THE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE WITH TRUSTEE TREZISE.

AND SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO ME, ESPECIALLY AS I'M WRITING PROCESSES IN OUR DEPARTMENT BEFORE I LEAVE AT THE END OF NOVEMBER.

KEEPING THOSE PROCESSES IN LINE AND HAVING SOMEBODY WHO CAN PICK UP THOSE REINS AND SEE WHAT THOSE ARE, SEE WHERE THE HOLES ARE, THOSE ARE VERY IMPORTANT THINGS.

SO I THOUGHT HIS STATEMENT REGARDING THE PROCESSES AND A MANAGER MANAGES THE PROCESS, DIRECTORS DIRECT, LEADERS LEAD, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, THINGS I THOUGHT WAS A VERY GOOD ANSWER THAT HE HAD.

AND THEN OUR THIRD CANDIDATE, JEFFREY ROMBACH.

I'M SORRY, JEFF, I HAVE THE SAME THING.

[00:20:01]

SO I GET IT.

I GET IT WITH THE NAME.

ALSO HAD A VERY GOOD RESPONSE.

I THOUGHT FOR WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR IN THE ROLE BETWEEN A BOARD MEMBER AND THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER.

WHILE, I DID ASK A QUESTION ABOUT IT AND WHAT THE POSITION WAS.

HIS ANSWER WAS VERY WELL SPOKEN IN REGARDS TO THE MANAGER FOCUSING ON STRATEGY AND OVERSIGHT FUNCTION IN A PARTNERSHIP WITH NOT ONLY THE BOARD, BUT THE STAFF WHO'S HERE AND MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF THAT IS FLOWING.

SO THOSE I MAY HAVE MORE TO SAY, BUT THOSE ARE MY INITIAL THOUGHTS ON THE CANDIDATES WITH WHAT WHAT I THOUGHT WERE THE TOP TWO ANSWERS OVERALL FROM THE HOWEVER MANY QUESTIONS WE ASKED PEOPLE, 13 QUESTIONS OF EACH CANDIDATE. I THOUGHT THOSE WERE THE BEST TWO ANSWERS IN REGARDS TO THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER'S ROLE AND HOW IT FUNCTIONS. OKAY.

THANK YOU. TREASURER DESCHAINE THANK YOU SUPERVISOR.

I TOO WAS IMPRESSED WITH ALL THREE CANDIDATES, AND I APPLAUD THE COMMITTEE IN THE AND I KNOW YOU HAD EIGHT GOOD ONES TO BEGIN WITH.

AND BRINGING THE THREE TO US.

MR. ROMBACH JEFF, WITH HEALTH CARE EXPERIENCE AND HIS COMMENT THAT WE'RE ALL RUNNING HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS THESE DAYS BECAUSE OF THE HIGH COST OF HEALTH CARE WAS REALLY APPROPRIATE TO OUR ISSUES AND OUR IN OUR BUDGET.

MR. ATHERTON, SENIOR IT LEADER, AND HIS EXTENSIVE BUDGETING AND CONTRACT NEGOTIATION EXPERIENCE WOULD BE VERY VALUABLE MEMBER OF THE BOARD.

AND THEN MR. MCCURTIS WITH HIS EXPERIENCE WITH MESA, ALL THREE OF THEM STOOD OUT FOR ME.

I THINK MR. MCCURTIS HAS STOOD OUT THE MOST FOR ME BECAUSE HE DID SEEM TO HAVE THE HAVING RESEARCHED THE JOB THE MOST IN OUR OUR DOCUMENTS, THE MOST IN PREPARATION FOR IT.

ALSO, I'M IMPRESSED THAT HE'S BEEN PART OF OUR, OUR PLANNING COMMISSION AND OUR ZBA AND IT THERE'S REALLY NO BETTER PREPARATION FOR THE TOWNSHIP BOARD THAN BEING ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION DOES AS MUCH HOMEWORK BEFORE MEETINGS AS THIS BOARD DOES O FTENTIMES THEY REALLY HAVE TO IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN THE IN THE ZONING ORDINANCES TO MAKE THE RECOMMENDATIONS THEY DO TO THE BOARD.

IN SOME CASES, THEY MAKE THE FINAL APPROVAL.

SO I THINK FOR THAT REASON, I THOUGHT MR. MCCURTIS REALLY STOOD OUT.

SO FOR THAT REASON, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO A POINT JAMES L MCCURTIS JR TO FILL THE VACANCY AS MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE FOR A TERM ENDING NOVEMBER 20TH, 2024. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY TREASURER DESCHAINE.

DO WE HAVE A SUPPORT? SUPPORT.

SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE WILSON.

MR. DESCHAINE, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS TO ADD? JUST WHAT I STATED, IF NEED BE.

I'LL MAKE SOME MORE COMMENTS, BUT I WANT TO HEAR OTHER BOARD MEMBERS FIRST.

TRUSTEE WILSON, I WAS SO HAPPY TO BE ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE THAT TOOK A LOOK AT ALL OF THE CANDIDATES THAT CAME FORWARD.

I THINK THESE THREE CANDIDATES REALLY STOOD OUT AND FOR VARIOUS REASONS AT WHICH WERE ECHOED WHEN YOU CAME AND DID YOUR ACTUAL PRESENTATION TO US TODAY.

I THINK THEY'RE STRENGTHS WITH EVERY ONE OF THE CANDIDATES, BUT WE HAVE TO FACE THE PRACTICALITY OF THIS IS A FIVE MONTH TERM.

AND I WILL TELL YOU, I WAS ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR FOUR YEARS, 30 YEARS AGO.

I WAS ON THE BOARD 30 YEARS AGO FOR FOUR YEARS, AND I'VE BEEN TWO YEARS THIS ROUND ON THE BOARD.

THERE'S SUCH A STEEP LEARNING CURVE TO UNDERSTAND THE OPERATIONS OF BOTH THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE TOWNSHIP BOARD, AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS DEFINITELY THE SPRINGBOARD TO BEING ON THE BOARD.

I THINK MANY OF US HAVE SERVED ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND IT'S IT'S A CRITICAL SKILL SET TO DEVELOP TO UNDERSTAND LAND ISSUES.

AND SO FOR THAT REASON, I AM SUPPORTING MR. MCCURTIS BECAUSE HE HAS THAT BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF OPERATIONS RELATED TO HOW WE WORK, HOW WE WORK AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION, HOW WE WORK AT THE BOARD LEVEL.

SO THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A GREAT DEAL OF TIME FOR HIM TO GET UP TO SPEED WITH THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US, THE CRITICAL ISSUES OF MARIJUANA, SELECTING A NEW MANAGER AND A CRITICAL BUDGET YEAR.

I HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR STRENGTH IN THAT AREA BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN HANGING OUT AT THE TOWNSHIP, SO THAT IS WHY I AM SUPPORTING YOU.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT.

OKAY. TRUSTEE TREZISE.

I WOULD AGREE WITH WITH THE NOMINATION OF MR. MCCURTIS I HAD THE PLEASURE OF SERVING ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION WITH HIM FOR THE BETTER PART OF A YEAR.

I'VE ALSO SERVED WITH HIM ON THE ZBA.

[00:25:03]

HE IS AWARE OF WHAT'S BEFORE US.

HE HAS DONE HIS HOMEWORK.

HE IS RESPECTFUL, HE LISTENS, AND HE ALSO EXPRESSES HIS OPINION AND VOTES ACCORDINGLY.

SO I THINK HE WOULD BE A GREAT ADDITION.

I AGREE WITH CLERK GUTHRIE THAT HIRING A NEW MANAGER IS A SERIOUS STEP FOR THIS BOARD, AND A VERY IMPORTANT STEP, BUT AN INDIVIDUAL TRUSTEE IS ONE OF SEVEN.

AND SO I BELIEVE HE HAS THE TEMPERAMENT.

I THINK HE HAS THE SKILL LEVEL.

AND I WOULD FOR THAT REASON, I WOULD SUPPORT HIM AS ANY TRUSTEE.

OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? CLERK GUTHRIE I'LL ADD TO THAT.

I WILL SAY THAT IT WAS TRUSTEE WILSON MYSELF AND AND TRUSTEE SUNDLAND WHO WAS ON THE REVIEW COMMITTEE, AND IT WAS MR. MCCURTIS'S APPLICATION THAT STOOD OUT ABOVE ALL THE OTHER APPLICANTS FOR ALL THREE OF US ON THE REVIEW COMMITTEE. ALL THREE OF US AGREED RIGHT AWAY.

IT WAS THE FIRST ONE EACH ONE OF US PICKED IN THE REVIEW COMMITTEE TO COME BACK AND DO AN INTERVIEW.

SO. I DID LIKE MR. I DID LIKE YOUR RESPONSE IN REGARDS TO BEING HERE FOR 23 YEARS AN OKEMOS RESIDENT FOR 23 YEARS.

I JUST WASN'T A BIG FAN OF THE RESPONSE ABOUT THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER RESPONSE THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.

I DO SUPPORT THE I WILL SUPPORT THE REST OF THE BOARD AND AND THE IN THE SELECTION.

AND I DO VALUE YOUR TIME THAT YOU'VE GIVEN TO THIS TOWNSHIP FOR CERTAIN.

ANYONE ELSE? WELL, TRUSTEE SUNDLAND.

YEAH, IT'S IT'S ALWAYS A DIFFICULT DECISION WHEN YOU HAVE THREE APPLICANTS THAT ARE SO QUALIFIED.

BUT I DO THINK THAT GIVEN THIS POSITION IS ONLY GOING TO BE THERE FOR FIVE MONTHS.

I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY NEED SOMEBODY THAT CAN KIND OF EASE INTO IT AND HAS SOME PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE.

SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME.

THANK YOU. I'LL SIMPLY ADD THAT I AGREE.

WE HAD THREE EXCELLENT APPLICANTS.

TO ME, MR. ROMBACH AND MR. MCCURTIS BOTH STOOD OUT AS EXCELLENT INTERVIEWS BEFORE THE BOARD.

I WILL ALSO BE SUPPORTING MR. MCCURTIS. I THINK TRUSTEE WILSON MENTIONED SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, THESE THESE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE AT THE VERY FIRST MEETING, WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT ADULT USE MARIJUANA, RIGHT.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS BEEN STEEPED IN, JUST LIKE WE HAVE FOR THE BETTER PART OF SEVERAL YEARS NOW.

AND I THINK THAT THE ABILITY TO COME IN WITH A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF THE HISTORY OF THAT AND GET UP TO SPEED QUICKLY IS VERY IMPORTANT.

AND, YOU KNOW, I SERVED ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

I DON'T THINK WE CROSSED OVER AT ANY POINT.

I THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE FILLED MY SPOT WHEN I LEFT.

BUT IT IS A DEFINITELY A VALUABLE PLACE TO GET TO KNOW THE COMMUNITY.

AND TO MR. ROMBACH, WHAT I WILL SAY IS, IF THE BOARD VOTES, AS IT SEEMS TO BE INDICATING IT WILL THIS EVENING.

THAT DOES MEAN THERE WILL BE A VACANCY ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

THERE WILL.

DOWNTOWN IN YOUR INTERVIEW AND THE DESIRE TO MAKE SOME OF THESE LAND USE DECISIONS WITH REGARD TO, YOU KNOW, BRINGING IN ADDITIONAL RESTAURANTS AND, YOU KNOW, CREATING THAT KIND OF THAT KIND OF ATMOSPHERE.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT SPOT FOR YOU TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE TOWNSHIP.

AND GET TO INFLUENCE THAT VERY THING.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT THAT, LIKE, LIKE TRUSTEE WILSON SAID, SEVERAL OF US HAVE DONE ON OUR WAY TO THE BOARD.

AND IF IT'S IF PUBLIC SERVICE IN THE TOWNSHIP IS SOMETHING YOU'RE COMMITTED TO, WHICH IT SEEMS LIKE YOU ARE, BECAUSE WHY ELSE WOULD YOU APPLY? I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND APPLYING FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION BECAUSE I THINK YOU'D BE AN EXCELLENT ADDITION TO IT.

[00:30:05]

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT WE HAVE OPENINGS ON, AND THIS IS YOUR BACKGROUND, THE DDA, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF PLACES WHERE YOUR EXPERTISE WOULD BE EXTREMELY VALUABLE.

YEAH. FOR SURE. YEAH.

AND TO THAT POINT, YOU'RE RIGHT.

I WE DID HEAR FROM MR. ATHERTON ABOUT THE VILLAGE OF OKEMOS.

DDA IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MORE PEOPLE.

YEP. AND THERE'S A BODY THAT THAT DEALS DIRECTLY WITH THAT AREA IN DOWNTOWN OKEMOS.

AND CERTAINLY WE NEED MORE VOICES INVOLVED IN ALL OF OUR COMMITTEES.

WITH THAT SAID, I THINK THAT GAVE ALL OF US AN OPPORTUNITY TO TO SPEAK.

SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS THE MOTION OF JAMES MCCURTIS TO FILL A VACANCY AS MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE FOR A TERM ENDING NOVEMBER 20TH, 2024.

MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE CANDIDATES WHO APPLIED AND INTERVIEWED, AND ALL THE CANDIDATES WHO APPLIED AND WERE NOT SELECTED TO INTERVIEW.

I THINK THIS PROCESS, WHICH WE'VE NOW GONE THROUGH SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS ONLY SERVES TO REINFORCE WHAT A COMMITTED AND DEDICATED GROUP OF RESIDENTS AND CITIZENS THAT WE HAVE.

AND WE'RE SO THANKFUL THAT THAT WE HAVE SUCH A WONDERFUL GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO SERVE.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. WITH THAT SAID, WE'LL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 12 B, WHICH IS THE APPOINTMENT OF A SUPERVISOR PRO TEM.

[12.B. Appointment of Supervisor Pro-Tem]

SO AS YOU ALL KNOW AS WHEN I WAS SERVING AS A TRUSTEE, I WAS THE APPOINTED SUPERVISOR PRO TEM FOR SUPERVISOR JACKSON, PRIOR TO HER RETIREMENT, A POSITION I THOUGHT WAS EMERITUS AT THE TIME, ABOUT NOT TO BE SO.

AND SO IT IS NOT LOST ON ME THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE PREPARED, SHOULD WE EVER HAVE THE NEED FOR A SUPERVISOR PRO TEM TO STEP IN, SHOULD I EVER FALL ILL OR BECOME ABSENT, WHICH I DO NOT HAVE ANY INTENTION OF DOING.

BUT AGAIN, YOU NEVER KNOW, RIGHT? AND SO TO THAT END WE HAVE TRADITIONALLY APPOINTED FOLKS FOR THE TERM OF A YEAR.

MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPOINT SOMEONE THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR, OR IN THIS CASE, THROUGH THE END OF THE TERM, IN CASE ONE OF US NOT CHOOSES, THERE IS NOT ELECTED.

AND SO TO THAT END, I AM THIS EVENING NOMINATING TRUSTEE PETER TREZISE TO SERVE AS SUPERVISOR PRO TEM FOR THE TOWNSHIP BOARD IN ANY MEETING WHERE I AM ABSENT.

AND ALSO GIVING HIM THE AUTHORITY, THE STATUTORY AUTHORITY OF TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR, WHEN I DELEGATE AS SUCH IN WRITING AHEAD OF TIME.

AND SO FOR THAT, I HAVE LEFT A MOTION IN FRONT OF US, SHOULD ANYONE CHOOSE TO MAKE IT, CLERK GUTHRIE.

I MOVE THAT THE BOARD APPOINT THROUGH NOVEMBER 21ST, 2024 TRUSTEE PETER TREZISE TO ACT AS SUPERVISOR PRO TEM AT ANY MEETING OF THE TOWNSHIP BOARD, WHEREIN THE SUPERVISOR IS ABSENT AND MAY ACT WITH THE STATUTORY AUTHORITY OF TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR WHEN SPECIFICALLY DELEGATED THAT AUTHORITY BY THE SUPERVISOR IN WRITING.

SUPPORT. MOVED BY CLERK GUTHRIE SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE WILSON.

I SUPPOSE IT'S WORTH ASKING BEFORE YOU WANT TO DO THAT.

DO YOU ACCEPT THIS NOMINATION? I WILL HAPPILY FILL THE JOB AS LONG AS YOU DON'T GET SICK.

IT'S NOT MY INTENTION, HONESTLY.

THE MORE LIKELY SCENARIO IS THAT ONE OF MY CHILDREN GETS SICK.

THAT'S TRUE. I AM FORCED TO BE WITH THEM.

WELL, AS YOU KNOW, I'VE RUN ENOUGH MEETINGS THAT THAT I CAN GET THROUGH A MEETING IF WE HAVE TO.

YES, INDEED. SO.

VERY WELL. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS ON THIS? SEEING NONE.

WE'LL HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE, PLEASE.

MOTION CARRIES SIX ZERO.

FABULOUS. WE ARE COVERED.

CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS [APPLAUSE].

ALL RIGHT. AGENDA ITEM 12 C IS NEXT.

[12.C. Resolution Recognizing Pride Month]

SO FOR THIS, I WILL SIMPLY SAY THAT WE HAVE RECOGNIZED PRIDE MONTH IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP EACH AND EVERY YEAR THAT I'VE BEEN INVOLVED, SO LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER AND LONG BEFORE THAT, AS I UNDERSTAND IT AND THAT THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING TO DO TO ENSURE

[00:35:04]

I WAS VERY PLEASED LAST YEAR TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN OUR INAUGURAL PRIDE EVENT WHICH OCCURS NOT IN PRIDE MONTH, OF COURSE, SINCE WE HAVE LOTS OF EVENTS GOING ON IN JUNE, AS TRUSTEE TREZISE POINTED OUT.

BUT IN AUGUST AND WE'RE VERY THRILLED TO BE BRINGING THAT EVENT BACK ON, I BELIEVE AUGUST 10TH IS THE DATE THAT WE I THINK WE'VE SET ASIDE FOR THAT.

AND IF I'VE GOTTEN THAT WRONG, I'M SURE DIRECTOR WISINSKI WILL BE HERE TEXTING ME IN A FEW MINUTES TELLING ME HOW WRONG I'VE BEEN.

AND SO FOR THAT, I'VE BROUGHT FORWARD A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING JUNE [INAUDIBLE] JUNE 2024 AS PRIDE MONTH IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, TRUSTEE WILSON. I MOVE TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING JUNE 2024 AS PRIDE MONTH IN MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP.

SUPPORT. SUPPORTED BY TREASURER DESCHAINE.

FURTHER COMMENTS? CLERK GUTHRIE. MAY I ADD A WHEREAS TO THIS CAN I ADD.

YEAH. YOU CAN YOU CAN MOVE TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION, SIR, IN SEPTEMBER.

ON SEPTEMBER 19TH, 2017, THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP BOARD MADE AN OFFICIAL PLEDGE OF SUPPORT T HAT TO STAND AGAINST HATE AND DISCRIMINATION AND AFFIRM THAT MICHIGAN IS A WELCOMING STATE FOR ALL.

AND I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE THAT OFFICIAL PLEDGE OF SUPPORT FROM THAT CURRENT, THAT BOARD IN 2017.

IS IT IN THE RESOLUTION? IT'S NOT IT IS NOT OKAY THAT THAT DATE IS NOT IN THE RESOLUTION.

SO THE RESOLUTION READS WHEREAS MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP IS A WELCOMING PLACE WHERE PEOPLE, FAMILIES AND INSTITUTIONS THRIVE IN THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALL PERSONS ARE CELEBRATED AND VALUED. BUT THEN IT FURTHER BUT IT GOES ON TO FURTHER ACTUALLY TAKE A PLEDGE TO STAND AGAINST HATE AND DISCRIMINATION AND AFFIRM THAT MICHIGAN IS A WELCOMING STATE FOR ALL.

OKAY, SO ARE YOU LOOKING TO ADD A WHEREAS OR A THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, ADD A WHEREAS OKAY, POSSIBLY JUST AFTER THE DECEMBER 2016 WHEREAS.

WHICH IS THE SECOND PAGE.

TOP AT THE SECOND PAGE. SO IT'S IN THE RESOLUTION.

YES. RIGHT. SO TO ADD THAT IN TO ADD THIS OKAY.

SO I THINK JUST FOR THE SAKE OF CLARITY FOR STAFF AND FOR THE MINUTES I WOULD LIKE YOU TO MAKE A MOTION AND TELL US WHERE YOU WANT TO PUT IT AND WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY. OH, GOSH.

BOY. SO IT'S A MOVE TO AMEND THE MOTION.

MOVE TO AMEND THE MOTION TO ADD AFTER THE DECEMBER 6TH, 2016 W HEREAS AN ADDITIONAL WHEREAS OKAY.

THAT STATES. ALL RIGHT.

SO THAT'S PART THAT PART'S EASY.

THAT STATES WHEREAS AT A REGULAR MEETING OF THE TOWNSHIP BOARD ON SEPTEMBER 19TH, 2017, THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP BOARD OFFICIALLY PLEDGED SUPPORT TO STAND AGAINST HATE AND DISCRIMINATION AND AFFIRM THAT MICHIGAN SHOULD BE A WELCOMING STATE FOR ALL.

IS THAT GOOD? SEMICOLON AND.

AND SEMICOLON AND.

ALL RIGHT. A MOTION HAS BEEN MADE TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION.

DO WE HAVE A SUPPORT? I'LL SUPPORT. SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE TREZISE.

ANY COMMENTS ON THE MOTION TO AMEND? OKAY. SEEING NONE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO AMEND, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION TO AMEND CARRIES.

ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MAIN MOTION OF THE RESOLUTION, AS AMENDED? SEEING NONE, I'LL SIMPLY SAY THANK YOU FOR CATCHING SOMETHING THAT I MISSED IN MY TRYING TO CATALOG ALL THE VARIOUS THINGS THE TOWNSHIP BOARD HAS DONE OVER THE YEARS TO SUPPORT THE LGBT COMMUNITY.

I HAPPEN TO HAVE THE RESOLUTIONS AT MY FINGERTIPS IN THE OFFICE, YOU KNOW.

THAT'S HELPFUL. THAT IS HELPFUL.

COULD YOU. SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON, COULD YOU REPEAT WHO MADE THE ORIGINAL MOTION AND SUPPORT? IT WAS MOVED BY TRUSTEE WILSON AND SUPPORTED BY TREASURER DESCHAINE.

THANK YOU. THE MAIN MOTION.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION AS AMENDED, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NEXT UP ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 12 D, A RESOLUTION IN RECOGNITION OF THE CELEBRATION OF JUNETEENTH.

[12.D. Resolution in Recognition and Celebration of Juneteenth]

RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF JUNETEENTH TO OUR COMMUNITY AND CELEBRATING IT AS WE DO AT BOTH THE STATE AND FEDERAL

[00:40:03]

ALSO, WE HELD OUR FIRST ANNUAL JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS OBVIOUSLY A SUCCESS SINCE WE HAVE BROUGHT IT BACK AGAIN T O BE ANOTHER EVENT THIS YEAR FOR THE JUNETEENTH OVER LAKE LANSING, WHICH, AS WE'VE POINTED OUT, IS COMING UP IN 11 DAYS ON JUNE 15TH OVER AT LAKE LANSING PARK.

SO BEFORE US THIS EVENING IS A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AND RECOGNITION AND CELEBRATION OF JUNETEENTH.

DO WE HAVE ANY MOTIONS ON THIS? TRUSTEE TRUSTEE TREZISE.

THANK YOU. I MOVE TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AND RECOGNITION AND CELEBRATION OF JUNETEENTH.

SUPPORT. MOVED BY TRUSTEE TREZISE SUPPORTED BY TRUSTEE WILSON ANY COMMENTS TRUSTEE TREZISE.

NO, I THINK IT'S ENTITLED.

I MEAN IT'S TIME THAT THIS AND SHOULD BE CONTINUING FOREVER.

AND SO RECOGNIZING THIS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS IS THE LEAST WE CAN DO.

AND HAVING A CELEBRATION FOR ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS AND THOSE IN THE AREA IS APPROPRIATE.

AND IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT DAY IN THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY.

TRUSTEE WILSON I'LL JUST SAY DITTO.

ANYONE ELSE? ANY COMMENTS TO MAKE? SEEING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE RESOLUTION, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE RESOLUTION PASSES.

ALL RIGHT. ITEM 12 E IS WE'VE HAD A LOT OF MEMORIAL AND RESOLUTIONS THIS TIME AROUND.

[12.E. Resolution Supporting National Flag Day]

THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN ALSO PASSED FOR MANY YEARS.

AND CELEBRATES OUR DEDICATION TO FLAG DAY, AS WELL AS OUR RECOGNITION AND PARTICIPATION IN THE FLAGS OVER MERIDIAN PROGRAM THAT'S ORGANIZED ANNUALLY BY THE KIWANIS OF HASLETT OKEMOS WHICH I BELIEVE TREASURER DESCHAINE IS PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

AND SO BEFORE US THIS EVENING AS A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION SUPPORTING NATIONAL FLAG DAY 2024 TREASURER DESCHAINE.

I MOVE TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION SUPPORTING NATIONAL FLAG DAY 2024.

SUPPORT. SUPPORTED BY CLERK GUTHRIE.

ANY COMMENTS ON THE RESOLUTION? TREASURER DESCHAINE I'LL JUST SAY IN TERMS OF FLAGS OVER MERIDIAN, MANY CLUBS HAVE TRIED THIS.

MANY WILL GET 100 OR 200 SUBSCRIBERS.

WE HAVE NEARLY A THOUSAND EVERY YEAR.

ONE OF THEM TO BE TO SPONSOR THE YOUTH SPORTS PAVILION AT THE NEW MARKETPLACE ON THE GREEN.

SO IT'S IT'S GREAT, OUR OUR RESIDENTS GET THEIR FLAGS AND THE KIWANIS ENHANCES THE TOWNSHIP FACILITIES LIKE THAT ONE.

CLERK GUTHRIE.

NO, I DID THINK I THOUGHT I WOULD SEE THEM UP THOUGH, THROUGH JULY FOR SOME REASON.

I THOUGHT MAYBE THEY'LL LEAVE THEM UP THEY'RE SO BEAUTIFUL.

ONE TIME LEFT THEM UP FROM WORLD DAY UNTIL JULY 4TH.

BUT THAT'S KIND OF WEARS OUT THE FLAGS.

VERY APPROPRIATE CONTRIBUTION.

YEAH. I'LL SIMPLY ADD THAT I AM ONE OF THE NEWER RECIPIENTS OF FLAGS OVER MERIDIAN.

AND I FAILED TO TELL MY CHILDREN THAT IT WAS COMING.

AND SO THEY WERE OVER THE MOON, THAT THERE WAS A GIANT FLAG IN OUR FRONT YARD ALL OF A SUDDEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING.

SO THANK YOU TO THE KIWANIS FOR OF HASLETT OKEMOS FOR BRINGING THAT TO MY HOUSEHOLD.

PERHAPS PHIL WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PLUG FOR THE PROGRAM, SEE IF WE CAN GET 2000 FLAGS OUT THERE.

WELL, ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADD A FLAG FOR FLAGS OF MERIDIAN CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE OF THE KIWANIS CLUB OF HASLETT OKEMOS AND EASY TO FIND IN THE FLAG SUBSCRIPTION LINK RIGHT ON THERE.

AND YOU CAN LINK YOU CAN LINK ON THAT AND HAVE A FLAG FOR THE NEXT FLAG HOLIDAY.

THE COST IS $40 PER YEAR, AND YOU GET A FLAG UP IN FRONT OF YOUR HOME FOR SIX FLAG HOLIDAYS.

ALL RIGHT.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE RESOLUTION SUPPORTING NATIONAL FLAG DAY, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALL RIGHT.

THAT BRINGS US TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS AGENDA ITEM 13 A LISTENING SESSION PLANNING.

[13.A. Listening Session Planning]

SO IN 2023, AS A MATTER OF CONTEXT, I SUPPOSE.

MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP BOARD HELD SIX LISTENING SESSIONS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

THIS WAS BETWEEN SEPTEMBER AND NOVEMBER OF 2023.

AND WE TOOK THOSE ON THE ROAD.

[00:45:01]

BUT WE PACKED THE ROOM.

THERE WERE OVER 3 OR 400 RESIDENTS WE ESTIMATE THAT ATTENDED THESE EVENTS.

AND WE GOT A LOT OF GOOD FEEDBACK OUT OF THEM.

AND SO AS SUCH, THE BOARD HAS SAW FIT TO SCHEDULE THREE MORE.

AND WE HAVE THOSE THREE COMING UP IN VERY SHORT ORDER.

AS TREASURER DESCHAINE ALLUDED TO IN HIS COMMENTS EARLIER THIS EVENING, OUR FIRST ONE IS JUNE 11TH HERE IN THIS ROOM FROM 6 TO 7:30.

WE ALSO HAVE THEM ON JUNE 25TH AND 27TH FROM 6 TO 7:30 IN THIS ROOM.

AND MAILINGS HAVE GONE OUT TO ALL TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS.

AND INVITING THEM TO ATTEND ONE OF THESE THREE SESSIONS.

AND SO AS SUCH, I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO TAKE A MOMENT BEFORE THAT TO DISCUSS WHO'S GOING TO BE MODERATING THOSE SINCE WE HAD MODERATORS IN THE PAST.

WHAT AGENDA TOPICS WE MIGHT WISH TO BRING UP BEFORE THE QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD? AND WHO FROM STAFF MIGHT BE HERE SO WE DON'T NEED TO TROUBLE ANYONE ELSE WITH COMING TO THESE WHO MAY NOT BE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.

SO I PRESENTED IN THE PACKET IN OUR MEMORANDUM.

THE PROPOSED MODERATORS AGENDA TOPICS AND SUGGESTED STAFF, WHICH ARE MERELY TO GET THE JUICES FLOWING AND HAVE GREAT DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING THEY'D LIKE TO DISCUSS ABOUT THAT? CLERK GUTHRIE. THANK YOU.

SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON.

SO WITH WHAT I'M READING HERE, THESE LISTENING SESSION AGENDA TOPICS.

THIS IS SIMILAR BUT NOT SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID BEFORE.

IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE. IT'S PRETTY SIMILAR BECAUSE I DON'T SEE I DON'T SEE A TREASURE UPDATE WITH TAXES.

I DON'T SEE ELECTION UPDATE WITH THE CLERK.

AND WE CAN WE CAN CERTAINLY ADD THOSE.

OKAY. YEAH. I JUST WAS PRESENTING A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS.

BUT SO I RAISE IT BECAUSE I'M WONDERING IF IF THE INTENT IS TO BE DIFFERENT THAN THE PREVIOUS LISTENING SESSIONS. SO WE'RE MORE FOCUSED ON THIS IS THESE ARE THE SORT OF THINGS WE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS THAT THE OTHER LISTENING SESSIONS.

AND SO THAT IS WHY WE'RE FOCUSING ON THESE LISTENING SESSIONS, ON THESE TOPICS FOR THESE UPCOMING LISTENING SESSIONS.

OR SHOULD I BE PREPARED TO TALK ABOUT ELECTIONS AT ALL? I MEAN, I PRESUME THAT YOU'RE PREPARED TO TALK ABOUT ELECTIONS.

YES, I AM, I COULD TALK YOUR EAR OFF.

THAT'S ITEM SIX.

THAT'S WHY HE DIDN'T PUT IT ON HERE.

YEAH. SO, I GUESS TO GIVE SOME CONTEXT TO THE AGENDA TOPICS THAT I PUT FORWARD OBVIOUSLY THE COMMUNITY SENIOR CENTER PROJECT IS ONE THAT'S A RELATIVELY NEW IDEA THAT WE'LL BE BRINGING OUT TO BRING FORWARD.

I PUT THAT TOWARD THE TOP SO THAT WE BECAUSE WE HAD IT ON THE AGENDA FOR THE LAST ONES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE AGENDA.

AND WE OFTEN WERE RUNNING OUT OF TIME BECAUSE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ROADS AND POLICE SO MUCH.

YEAH. WHICH DON'T GET ME WRONG, HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT ROADS AND POLICE.

YOU WERE VERY POPULAR.

YOU WERE BUT I THOUGHT THAT IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO PUT THE COMMUNITY CENTER UP TOWARD THE TOP SO WE COULD HAVE THAT PITCH OR, YOU KNOW, HAVE THAT DISCUSSION EARLIER.

IT WAS NOT MY INTENT. I MERELY FORGOT TO INCLUDE THE ELECTION UPDATE IN THE TREASURER'S UPDATE.

BUT I LEAVE IT TO YOU TWO IF YOU'D LIKE TO ADD TO THAT.

YOU KNOW, I LIKE THE AGENDA YOU GOT HERE.

WE'LL BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THOSE TOPICS, AND WE CAN HAVE HANDOUTS AS WE DID LAST TIME FOR PEOPLE BUT I THINK THESE FOUR TOPICS COMMUNITY CENTER, SENIOR CENTER, IDEA, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ESPECIALLY THE FOUR CORNERS OF OKEMOS POLICE UPDATE AND LOCAL ROADS. I'VE BEEN OUT KNOCKING ON DOORS FOR A MONTH AND A MONTH NOW AS THE CANDIDATE FOR THE UPCOMING ELECTION, AND THESE ARE THE FOUR THINGS I'M HEARING AT THE DOORS WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE HASLETT FOUR CORNERS.

THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT THIS IDEA OF A SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTER IS.

THEY'RE EXCITED TO KNOW WE'VE GOT OUR POLICE STAFFING UP TO 39 OFFICERS AGAIN.

AND MANY CASES, THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE ROADS THAT ARE BEEN DONE OR WANT TO KNOW WHEN THEIR ROAD IS NEXT.

SO I THINK THESE FOUR TOPICS, IN TERMS OF THE CORE OF WHAT WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT WOULD BE GOOD.

AND WE REALLY RECALL THESE LISTENING SESSIONS.

LET'S MAKE SURE THERE'S LOTS OF TIME LEFT FOR US TO LISTEN AND NOT JUST PROSELYTIZE TO THEM ABOUT WHAT A GREAT TOWNSHIP WE ARE.

WE ARE A GREAT TOWNSHIP, BUT WE ALSO WE ALSO WANT TO HEAR FROM THEM WAYS THEY WOULD LIKE TO GET THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND THEIR CONCERNS.

TRUSTEE WILSON I THINK BECAUSE WE WANT TO LEAVE PLENTY OF TIME AT THE END OR DURING THE CONVERSATION FOR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.

WE WANT TO KEEP IT TO AN HOUR.

SO WE HAVE A TENDENCY TO RUN LONG ON THESE.

[00:50:02]

NO, ACTUALLY IT'S A TINY FRACTION THAT COMES TO US.

AND IF YOU DO A BRIEF ELECTION UPDATE, YOU KNOW, JUST TALKING ABOUT VERY BRIEF MAKE SURE YOU GET ON THE ABSENTEE BALLOT LIST IF YOU WANT TO BE.

THE ONE THING THAT I WOULD SUGGEST IS THAT THE HOT TOPICS THAT PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR ABOUT ARE ROADS AND POLICE.

SO I WOULD PUT THOSE AT THE TOP AND I WOULD MOVE COMMUNITY CENTER IS GOING TO RAISE A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

AND I KNOW AS CHAIR OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE THAT THE TASK FORCE THAT'S WORKING ON THAT.

SO I WOULD MOVE THAT DOWN TO MAYBE THE THIRD ITEM BECAUSE I WILL HAVE MAPS I'LL HAVE DRAWINGS THAT WE CAN PUT UP ON A SCREEN. I ALSO WILL HAVE THE INTERIOR SHOTS THAT WE CAN HAND OUT SO THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE WHAT OUR CONCEPT IS OF TAKING THE OLD YONKERS BUILDING AND CREATING A NEW COMMUNITY CENTER THAT INCORPORATES THE SENIOR CENTER.

IT'S A REALLY EXCITING, NOT SO CHEAP OPPORTUNITY THAT WE'D REALLY LIKE TO BRING TO THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE HAVE NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE THAT. SO I JUST MOVE IT DOWN A LITTLE.

THANK YOU. HOW DO WE FEEL ABOUT THAT? CLERK GUTHRIE. YEAH, I I'M GOOD WITH THAT.

AND I WOULD DEFINITELY NOT SPLIT THE POLICE UPDATE IN THE LOCAL ROAD UPDATE.

I WOULD NOT SEPARATE THOSE TWO.

I WOULD KEEP THOSE TWO TOGETHER WHEREVER THEY ARE IN THIS LINEUP.

YEP. OKAY.

ANY OTHER MALCONTENTS WITH THAT, WITH THAT PLAN? NO. OKAY, SO THEN WE'LL MOVE COMMUNITY SENIOR CENTER DOWN TO NUMBER FOUR.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NUMBER FIVE.

POLICE UPDATE NUMBER TWO, LOCAL ROADS NUMBER THREE.

AND WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO ENCOURAGE CHIEF GRILLO AND DEPUTY MANAGER OPSOMMER IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE GIVING PRESENTATIONS ON THOSE TWO TOPICS TO REMAIN BRIEF.

WE'LL KEEP THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REVITALIZATION RELATIVELY BRIEF.

I CAN KNOCK THAT OUT PRETTY QUICKLY.

I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT VILLAGE OF OKEMOS, AND I WILL HAVE A VERY FEW ANSWERS, UNFORTUNATELY, BUT I'M TRYING TO GET SOME ADDITIONAL TIME FOR ROADS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THAT IS A BIG TOPIC.

SO I THINK WE CAN SHAVE A MINUTE OR TWO OFF OF EACH OF OURS TO GIVE DEPUTY MANAGER OPSOMMER A COUPLE MORE MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT ROADS.

I DO THINK IT IS WORTH EXPRESSING THAT PITH IS STILL APPRECIATED.

YES, NOT JUST FROM YOU ALL.

THAT IS ALWAYS MY MO.

UNDERSTOOD. TREASURER DESCHAINE.

QUESTION ABOUT THE HOUR LIMIT.

ARE YOU SUGGESTING AN HOUR PRESENTATION AND A HALF AN HOUR FOR QUESTIONS, OR THAT WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP IT TO AN HOUR? NO, NO, IT'S AN HOUR AND A HALF.

OKAY, SO I THOUGHT SO.

WE GIVE A FULL HALF AN HOUR UNSCHEDULED TIME FOR QUESTIONS.

YES, I AGREE.

AND QUESTIONS MAY COME IN THE COURSE OF THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE.

SO I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD DISCOURAGE PEOPLE IF THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT ROADS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT ROADS AT THAT POINT.

BUT MORE OF A BALANCE OF US TALKING AND US LISTENING.

AGREED. YEAH, I THINK I THINK, YOU KNOW, SORT OF WE'LL TAKE A FEW QUESTIONS ON EACH TOPIC AS THE, AS THEY GO ON, AND THEN WE'LL ENCOURAGE PEOPLE THAT WILL COME BACK TO QUESTIONS AT THE END, JUST SO WE CAN GET THROUGH ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE ON THAT.

WE MIGHT WANT TO PUT SOME TIME LIMITS NOW BY TOPIC.

SURE. IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MOVING ON.

NOT THE RIGID, BUT A GOAL OF NO MORE THAN 10 MINUTES ON THIS OR 15 MINUTES ON THAT.

AND YEAH, I THINK ROLL WITH IT.

IF WE'RE KEEPING IT TO AN HOUR, THEN IT'S ABOUT 15 MINUTES PER PER TOPIC.

YOU GOT TO GIVE DEBORAH AND PHIL AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO YOU.

I'LL BE 30 SECONDS.

OH YEAH. YEAH, I CAN BE 30, BUT I WILL BE TOO.

COME ON NOW. WHEN WE GET WE GET INTRODUCED, WE'LL PRESENT.

I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT FLYER.

OKAY. YEAH, THAT SOUNDS WELL.

WE HAVE MODERATORS FOR THESE, EACH OF THESE SESSIONS.

SO IT'LL BE UP TO A MODERATOR TO KEEP US TO THOSE TIME LIMITS.

YEAH. I PROMISE WE'LL PASS THE GAVEL AROUND.

DOES EVERYONE COMFORTABLE WITH THE MODERATORS AS PRESENTED HERE? THAT'S FINE. SURE. YES.

OKAY. AND, MR. MCCURTIS, IF YOU'D LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A MODERATOR TO ONE OF THOSE THREE DATES, YOU LET US KNOW AND WE'LL WE'LL DO THAT.

YOU KNOW, YOU'LL BE IN ONE CASE.

YOU WON'T HAVE EVEN ATTENDED A MEETING YET.

SO IF YOU'RE WELCOME TO JUST LISTEN ALSO BUT IT'S UP TO YOU IF YOU'D LIKE TO JOIN.

AND THEN IS THERE ANYONE ELSE FROM THE STAFF THAT WE'D LIKE TO BE PRESENT OR THAT PERHAPS INTERIM MANAGER SHOULD, MAY SUGGESTS, MIGHT WANT TO BE.

[00:55:06]

BUT I CAN CERTAINLY HANDLE THAT THAT PORTION GIVEN THAT WE WORK SO CLOSELY TOGETHER.

OKAY, GREAT.

DIRECTOR SCHMITT WILL YOU BE HAVING A STAFF MEMBER ATTEND TO TAKE NOTES FROM THIS, OR WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO TAKE MEETING NOTES AS AS THE CLERK? WAS NOT PLANNING ON ON HAVING STAFF MEMBER TAKING NOTES.

SO. OKAY. I WILL DEFER TO THE CLERK ON THAT.

OKAY. THANK YOU. I WILL SAY THAT WE DID HEAR FROM A NUMBER OF RESIDENTS WHO WERE LOOKING FOR BASICALLY A SUMMARY OR A RECAP OF THE LISTENING SESSIONS LAST TIME AROUND, AND WE DID PUBLISH THAT. I THINK IT'S ON THE WEBSITE.

YEAH. THE SUMMARY AND SO SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT WE'LL PROBABLY WANT TO DO AGAIN.

IF IT'S IN THIS SPACE, CAN WE RECORD IT? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

I MEAN, I THINK THE QUESTION YOU RUN INTO THERE IS, ARE YOU GOING TO GET THE CANDOR FROM THE PUBLIC? I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT BROADCASTING.

I'M RECORDING IT SO THAT DEB HAS SOME THINGS TO WORK FROM FOR THE MINUTES.

OH, THAT'S NOT THAT'S NOT GOING TO HELP.

I PROBABLY WOULDN'T GO BACK AND LISTEN TO THEM.

I DID TAKE NOTES DURING THE LAST ONE, AND I GAVE THEM ALL TO THE FORMER TOWNSHIP MANAGER.

OKAY, WHEN THE SUMMARY WAS WRITTEN.

SO AND I'M HAPPY TO DO SO AGAIN.

YEAH. IF WE IF YOU CAN PROVIDE US WITH WITH SOLID NOTES, WE CAN CERTAINLY GET A I'LL WORK WITH COMMUNICATIONS AND WE'LL GET A GOOD READOUT.

OKAY. THE MEETING'S PREPARED IN A TIMELY FASHION.

FABULOUS. OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

CAN I MAKE A SUGGESTION THAT WE HAVE THESE MONITORS TAKEN OFF THE PODIUM FOR THAT MEETING? THEY JUST KIND OF GET IN THE WAY OF OPEN.

IT'S LIKE WE HAVE INFORMATION THEY DON'T HAVE.

YEAH. LET'S TAKE THESE OFF AND JUST HAVE A NICE OPEN.

WE WON'T NEED THESE MONITORS.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO DISPLAY INFORMATION.

YOU MIGHT NEED THE MICROPHONES IF IT CAN'T BE DONE, I THINK THEY CAN BE FLATTENED A BIT SO THAT THEY'RE LESS IN THE WAY.

BUT I HEAR THAT.

I HEAR THE CONCERN FOR SURE.

YEAH, IT JUST PUTS A BARRIER BETWEEN US.

WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE UNDERSTOOD ANYTHING ELSE TO DISCUSS ON THIS.

NO, WE'RE ALL EXCITED ABOUT IT.

I'M EXCITED. CAN WE GET AN AGENDA PREPARED FOR THIS FOR THAT? ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU.

I HAVE ONE OTHER THING. I'M SO SORRY.

COULD WE PLEASE HAVE THE AIR FIXED IN THIS ROOM TO BE COOLER? RIGHT. WE GET A BUNCH OF PEOPLE IN HERE.

YOU NEVER KNOW. YEAH, IT'S STUFFY REAL QUICK.

AND. THANK YOU.

YES. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.

THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS ALL TOGETHER AS WELL.

YES, WE APPRECIATE IT.

OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT? SEEING NONE, WE'LL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 13 B, WHICH IS LEGAL COUNSEL CONTRACT AND CONTINUING LEGAL SERVICES.

[13.B. Township Legal Services Contract]

HERE'S HERE'S INTERIM TOWNSHIP MANAGER TIM SCHMITT.

THANK YOU. SO THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST ITEMS THAT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION WHEN I TOOK THE REINS.

OUR LEGAL SERVICES CONTRACT EXPIRES ON JUNE 30TH OR JULY 1ST TECHNICALLY.

THIS GOES BACK TO 2015 ORIGINALLY.

LET ME BACK UP AND SAY ONE OTHER THING.

THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE PROSECUTORIAL SERVICES.

THAT'S DONE BY THE HARKNESS LAW FIRM.

THAT IS NOT UNDER QUESTION THIS EVENING.

SO THIS IS OUR EVERYTHING ELSE DONE BY FAHEY, SCHULTZ, BURZYCH AND RHODES.

STARTED THROUGH AN RFP PROCESS IN 2015 AND THEY'VE EXTENDED THEY'VE BEEN EXTENDED TWICE FOR THREE YEARS EACH ONE IN 2018, ONE IN 24 AND SO WE ARE AT THE END OF THAT SECOND EXTENSION.

IT WAS QUICKLY APPARENT THAT WE COULD NOT GO THROUGH A FULL RFP PROCESS IN ESSENTIALLY THE MONTH THAT WE'VE THAT HAS PASSED.

AND SO WE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH FSB ABOUT EXTENDING AGAIN.

ESSENTIALLY, THE BOARD HAS WE'RE SEEKING THE BOARD'S INPUT.

THERE'S ESSENTIALLY TWO OPTIONS HERE WE JUST DO ANOTHER THREE YEAR EXTENSION, OR WE DO A ONE YEAR EXTENSION.

AND FUNCTIONALLY, WHAT HAPPENS IS THE NEW MANAGER AND THE NEW BOARD IN JANUARY, NEED TO GET ON AN RFP PROCESS.

AND SO JUST SEEKING THE BOARD'S INPUT BEFORE WE BRING THIS BACK FOR FORMAL ADOPTION AT THE NEXT MEETING.

OKAY. TREASURER DESCHAINE, I ACTUALLY LIKE THE IDEA OF A THREE YEAR EXTENSION.

WE'VE GOTTEN GOOD LEGAL WORK FROM THEM.

THEY'RE VERY RESPONSIVE.

I THE THING I DON'T LIKE ABOUT A ONE YEAR EXTENSION IS THIS IS RIGHT ON THE FIRST THING.

THE NEW MANAGER STARTS IN JANUARY, AND THIS RFP IS RIGHT THERE.

IT'S A BIG DECISION FOR THEM.

I THINK WE'VE BEEN SATISFIED WITH FAHEY SCHULTZ WORK.

AND THE THREE YEAR EXTENSION TO ME RECOGNIZES THAT THEY ARE ONE OF THE LEADING LAW FIRMS, IF NOT THE LEADING LAW FIRM IN THE STATE IN TERMS OF DOING MUNICIPAL WORK.

YOU CAN SEE THEIR PRESENCE AT MTA MEETINGS AND MCL MEETINGS, AND THEY'RE LOCATED RIGHT HERE IN THE TOWNSHIP, SO I'LL SUPPORT EITHER ONE.

[01:00:07]

OTHERS? TRUSTEE WILSON, DO WE SEE ANY PROBLEM WITH HAVING A NEW MANAGER AND A NEW BOARD, WHICH MAY INCLUDE SOME OF US MAY NOT.

DO YOU SEE ANY PROBLEM WITH DOING THE THREE YEAR EXTENSION WHEN WE HAVE NEW DECISION MAKERS IN PLACE? I HAVE SEEN IT GO SIDEWAYS.

YES, BUT THEY ARE TO TO TREASURER DESCHAINE'S POINT, THEY ARE CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONALS AND ARE EXCELLENT AT WHAT THEY DO.

SO YEAH I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY MAJOR CONTROVERSY BECAUSE THAT'S TYPICALLY WHAT WOULD PRECIPITATE A CONFLICT IS IS SOME MAJOR CONTROVERSY.

AND THEN A NEW GROUP COMES IN WITH AN OPPOSING VIEWPOINT OF SAID CONTROVERSY.

YEAH. I'M NOT AWARE OF THAT SITUATION HERE.

I HAVE NO CONCERNS WITH THEIR WORK.

CANDIDLY, I COULD GO EITHER WAY.

AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE IN FRONT OF YOU FOR THIS CONVERSATION.

CLERK GUTHRIE. THEY HAVE BEEN OUR LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR YEARS.

ABSOLUTELY. AS FAR BACK AS I CAN LOOK IN RECORDS I'VE SEEN.

FAHEY SCHULTZ, A LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE TOWNSHIP.

I MEAN, NOW AND AGAIN, THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE, BUT THEY GO WAY BACK WITH THE TOWNSHIP.

REPRESENTING THE TOWNSHIP ON ISSUES AND ORDINANCES AND ASSISTING WITH FOIAS AND AGREEMENTS.

SO I, I MEAN, I, I KIND OF FEEL LIKE TREASURER DESCHAINE DOES AS WELL.

I DON'T, I DON'T SEE AN ISSUE WITH THREE YEAR CONTRACT, GIVEN THE LONGEVITY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FAHEY SCHULTZ LAW FIRM AND MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP AND THE EXTENT AT WHICH THE TOWNSHIP HAS BEEN SATISFIED.

AND SOMETIMES TO ABOVE SATISFACTION OF THOSE SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE US.

TRUSTEE TREZISE I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS FIRM AND EXTENDING IT THREE YEARS, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT AT SOME POINT IT DOES PAY THE TOWNSHIP T O EXPLORE OPTIONS.

WE SHOULD NOT BE AUTOMATICALLY RENEWING AND EXTENDING CONTRACTS OF THIS SIZE AND OF THIS COMPLEXITY WITHOUT TAKING A CHANCE TO LOOK AT OTHER OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

I HAVE NOTHING BUT GOOD THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THIS LAW FIRM AND THE SERVICE THEY'VE RENDERED TO THE TOWNSHIP, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT WORTH TAKING A SHOT AND SEEING IF THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE OUT THERE THAT MIGHT SERVE US BETTER.

BUT I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE NEED TO DO THIS IN THE FIRST YEAR.

SO I COULD SUPPORT A THREE YEAR EXTENSION.

I'LL ADD THAT, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN EXCEEDINGLY PLEASED WITH THE WORK OF FAHEY SCHULTZ T HROUGHOUT MY TENURE ON THE BOARD. AND, YOU KNOW, IF THIS WERE 2025, I WOULD HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO REASON NOT TO SUPPORT A THREE YEAR EXTENSION OF THE CONTRACT.

MY CONCERN WOULD BE THAT THERE WILL BE TURNOVER ON THE BOARD.

IT'S BAKED IN.

THERE WILL BE TWO NEW MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AT LEAST EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 21ST.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION IS, DO WE LOCK US? DO WE LOCK OURSELVES AND OUR SUCCESSORS INTO A THREE YEAR CONTRACT? WELL, ESSENTIALLY TWO AND A HALF YEAR CONTRACT.

OR DO WE GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THAT DECISION IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THEIR BEING ON BEING A NEW BOARD? SO AS I SAY, I CAME INTO THE I REVIEWED THE PACKET AND THE MATERIALS AND I WAS PREPARED TO COME IN AND SAY, HEY, I THINK THAT A ONE YEAR EXTENSION MAY BE MORE PRUDENT TO LET WHOEVER GETS ELECTED IN NOVEMBER HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES.

BUT THAT SAID, AS I'VE POINTED OUT, I HAVE NO ISSUE WITH FAHEY SCHULTZ.

THEY ARE A PREMIER, A PREMIER AND AND EXCELLENT SET OF ATTORNEYS.

AND I, YOU KNOW, FROM A PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE, I HAVE NO ISSUE WITH GIVING THEM A THREE YEAR EXTENSION.

BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT IT COULD LEAD TO A STICKY MOMENT FOR THE NEXT BOARD WHEN THEY COME IN, IF FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY WANT TO MAKE A CHANGE AND THEY'RE STUCK IN A CONTRACT. BECAUSE THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS GET INTO A LEGAL BATTLE WITH YOUR LAWYERS OVER YOUR CONTRACT.

[01:05:04]

WHICH AGAIN, I WILL SAY AGAIN, HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MY PARTICULAR MY PERSONAL BELIEF OF THE JOB THAT THEY'VE DONE, BUT IT'S SIMPLY A MATTER OF WHETHER WE TIE THE HANDS OF THE NEXT BOARD. TREASURER DESCHAINE THAT'S JUST MAYBE A COMPROMISE, A TWO YEAR EXTENSION.

SO THAT WAY WE WE DON'T LOCK THEM IN TOO LONG AND BUT WE GET LET THE NEW MANAGER AND THE NEW BOARD GET SETTLED.

AND THEN JANUARY OF 26 WE PUT THIS OUT FOR AN RFP.

EVERYONE'S GOT THEIR FOOTING BY THEN.

THE NEW BOARD WOULD MEMBERS WOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE WORK OF THE LAW FIRM, AND THEN 2026 WOULD AWARD THE CONTRACT WITH ANOTHER THREE YEAR CONTRACT, WHERE THEY COME UP IN 29, WHICH IS THE YEAR AFTER THE NEXT ELECTION.

SO IT GIVES EACH BOARD, IT GIVES EACH BOARD A YEAR TO APPRECIATE OR NOT APPRECIATE THE WORK OF FAHEY SCHULTZ BEFORE THEY RENEW IT.

CLERK GUTHRIE WOULD YOU KNOW, YOU KNEW I WAS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING.

I'M GETTING I'M GETTING A FEEL FOR IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON.

I THINK I AGREE WITH THE ONE YEAR EXTENSION AFTER LISTENING TO MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS TALK ABOUT IT BEING THE PRUDENT THING TO DO.

IT'S JUST THE PRUDENT THING TO DO.

WE'VE BEEN IN CONTRACT WITH THEM A NUMBER OF YEARS.

WE ARE VERY SATISFIED WITH THE PRODUCT AND AND THE WORK.

BUT I ALSO DO AGREE THAT IT IS THE PRUDENT THING TO ALLOW THE NEW BOARD AND THE NEW MANAGER AND FINANCIALLY SPEAKING, IT'S PRUDENT TO PUT THIS OUT TO BID.

IT'S THE RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

WOW. TRUSTEE TREZISE.

YEAH. THAT'S TRUE.

AND JUST BECAUSE WE PUT IT OUT FOR AN RFP DOESN'T MEAN WE WOULD CHANGE OUR COUNCIL.

CORRECT. IT'S JUST TO SEE IF THERE'S A DIFFERENT OPTION THAT APPEALS MORE SO THAN THE FIRM.

SO I CAN GO WITH A ONE YEAR.

I CAN APPROVE THE TWO YEAR I CAN APPROVE THE THREE.

WE NEED SOME CONTINUITY NOW.

AND SO WHATEVER THE WISH OF THE BOARD IS.

TRUSTEE SUNDLAND. ANYTHING YOU WANT ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD? I'M THINKING ONE YEAR MIGHT BE TOO SHORT TO GIVE THIS TOPIC A FULL LOOK SEE.

SO I'M I THINK I'M GOING TO GO FOR THE I'M GOING FOR THE TWO YEAR AND THEN SEE THIS IS A ELECTION YEAR.

SO I'M NOT SURE THAT OUR TIMING WAS GOOD HERE, ANYWAY.

JUST AS A INFORMATIONAL QUESTION, DO WE YOU KNOW, YOU'VE SPOKEN TO THE ATTORNEYS ABOUT A ONE YEAR AND A THREE YEAR IT SOUNDS LIKE.

DO YOU THINK THAT THEY WOULD BE OPEN AND AMENABLE TO A TWO YEAR EXTENSION IF IF OFFERED? I'M CERTAIN THEY ARE.

THEY'RE THEY'RE CONFIDENT THAT IN THEIR SERVICES AND THEY'RE CONFIDENT, CANDIDLY, THAT THEY'LL WIN THE RFP WHEN IT GOES OUT.

OKAY. THEY KIND OF THEY, THEY, THEY KNEW IT WAS COMING EVENTUALLY.

I MEAN, IT'S BEEN A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

IT'S IT'S ONLY GOOD PRACTICE TO DO IT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.

ABSOLUTELY. ON THESE LONG TERM CONTRACTS.

SO IF THE WILL OF THE BOARD IS TWO YEARS, I'M CERTAIN THAT MR. PATTERSON AND I CAN HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, SHOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM.

OKAY, WELL, I'VE SEEN ANYTHING.

IS. I SWUNG THAT OVER THERE.

I THINK THAT TWO MIGHT BE THE WILL OF THE BOARD.

ABSOLUTELY. WE WILL HAVE THIS BACK FOR FINAL ADOPTION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GREAT. OKAY.

LAST IS ITEM 13 C LAST OF OUR DISCUSSION ITEMS.

[13.C. Recommended 2025 Budget Schedule]

YES. SO THIS IS AS I'VE MENTIONED A COUPLE OF TIMES, WE'RE TRYING TO GET OUT IN FRONT OF THIS A LITTLE BIT THIS YEAR, ADD IN A COUPLE OF MEETINGS FURTHER DISCUSSION, SO THAT THERE CAN BE A LITTLE MORE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE MANAGER AND THE BOARD WITH RESPECT TO PRIORITIES.

SO AT OUR NEXT MEETING, WE'LL HAVE I WILL PRESENT TO YOU SORT OF THE INITIAL TOP LEVEL PRIORITIES FROM THE FROM THE STAFF.

AND I WOULD ASK THAT IF THE BOARD HAS SPECIFIC PRIORITIES, THEY PROVIDE THEM AT THAT TIME.

SO WE CAN START THEN WORKING WITH FINANCE DIRECTOR AND THE DEPARTMENT HEADS TO DEVELOP THE BUDGET.

[01:10:01]

DIRECTOR [INAUDIBLE] AND I WILL REVIEW, PUT EVERYTHING TOGETHER, MEET WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THROUGH JULY AND THEN BE BACK IN AUGUST FOR SORT OF A SECONDARY DISCUSSION ABOUT. OKAY, HERE'S WHAT MADE THE CUT.

HERE'S WHAT DIDN'T.

HERE'S WHERE WE STILL HAVE QUESTIONS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND THEN WE WILL MAKE FINAL CHANGES AND DISTRIBUTE THE BUDGET TO THE BOARD.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO AT LEAST BUILD IN A COUPLE OF DISCUSSIONS BEFORE THE BUDGET IS ACTUALLY DISTRIBUTED.

THAT'S JUST THE WAY I FUNCTION.

I'D PREFER TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION IN ADVANCE AS OPPOSED TO AT THE VERY END.

AND THEN THE BOARD WILL HOLD THE REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARING AND MAKE FINAL ADOPTION.

AND WE HAVE BUILT IN, AS WE ALWAYS DO, THE EXTRA POTENTIAL MEETING IF WE HAD TO AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER, IF FOR SOME REASON SOMETHING HAPPENED AND WE NEEDED IT.

AND SO THIS IS THE ROUGH SCHEDULE.

AGAIN, I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH AN EMAIL TO SORT OF FURTHER EXPLAIN THE IDEA OF THE BUDGET PRIORITIES.

GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF SORT OF WHAT WHAT I KNOW IS COMING AND WHY I KNOW IS BEING ASKED FOR.

AND SO YOU CAN GET A SENSE OF WHERE WE'RE COMING FROM AND START TO DEVELOP YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRIORITIES AS WELL.

SO WOULD WELCOME ANY FEEDBACK ON THIS.

I SUPPOSE IN THE PAST THE BOARD HAS ACTUALLY ADOPTED THIS BUDGET.

I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE WHY, BUT YOU'RE WELCOME TO TO TAKE ACTION ON THIS AT THE NEXT MEETING, WE CAN BRING IT BACK FOR ACTION, IF YOU'D LIKE.

OKAY, BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION ON THIS TOPIC? TREASURER DESCHAINE WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON IN NEXT BOARD MEETING AGENDA, SO I THINK WE SHOULD I'M GOING TO MOVE TO SUSPEND OUR RULES AND TAKE ACTION ON THIS ITEM TONIGHT.

SUPPORT. THERE'S BEEN A MOTION TO SUSPEND OUR RULES BY TREASURER DESCHAINE, SUPPORTED BY CLERK GUTHRIE TO TAKE ACTION ON ITEM 13 C THIS EVENING.

ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT TOPIC? AND THAT IS TO ADOPT THE SCHEDULE.

THIS IS TO SUSPEND THE RULES.

TO ADOPT THE SCHEDULE.

YEAH. ANY DISCUSSION ON SUSPENSION OF THE RULES? SEEING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF SUSPENSION OF THE RULES, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION TO SUSPEND OUR RULES AND TAKE ACTION THIS EVENING HAS BEEN HAS BEEN PASSED.

TREASURER DESCHAINE. I MOVE TO ADOPT THE 2025 BUDGET SCHEDULE AS PRESENTED BY INTERIM MANAGER SCHMITT AS PRESENTED ON ITEM 13 C IN TONIGHT'S PACKET.

SUPPORT MOVED BY TREASURER DESCHAINE SUPPORTED BY CLERK GUTHRIE.

DISCUSSION ON THE ITEM.

TREASURER DESCHAINE. IT'S A GOOD SCHEDULE.

IT'S THOROUGH ENOUGH.

THERE'S A LOT TO BE DONE.

AND SO THAT'S WE CAN AGREE ON THE SCHEDULE AND LET YOU AND YOUR TEAM GET TO WORK.

CLERK GUTHRIE. IF ADOPTED TONIGHT, WE'LL STAY ON TRACK.

GOOD FOR EVERYONE. WE'LL ALL KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

GOOD. OTHER COMMENTS.

AS ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO REQUESTED TO BE BROUGHT INTO THE PROCESS A LITTLE EARLIER LET ME JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR FOR HEARING THAT FEEDBACK. AND FOR INCLUDING US.

YOU KNOW, I THINK PASSING THE BUDGET, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED SEVERAL TIMES TODAY AT VARIOUS MEETINGS THAT WE'VE HAD TODAY DISCUSSING THE BUDGET IS ONE OF OUR TWO BIGGEST FUNCTIONS THAT WE DO.

RIGHT. WE HIRE THE MANAGER AND WE PASS THE BUDGETS, AND EVERYTHING ELSE IS OPTIONAL.

AND SO THIS, YOU KNOW GETTING INPUT A LITTLE EARLIER IN THE PROCESS DOESN'T LEAVE US WHERE WE'RE FORCED TO MAKE THE DECISIONS IN OCTOBER TO DEFUND THINGS THAT DIRECTORS HAVE BEEN EXPECTING AND PROMISED, AND LETS US GET OUT AHEAD OF THOSE AND BRING SOME OF OUR IDEAS TO THE DISCRETIONARY BUDGET.

AND I THINK THAT'S A WISE MOVE, AND IT ALLOWS US TO AVOID DIFFICULT, DIFFICULT, STICKY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT PULLING THINGS BACK THAT HAVE BEEN PROMISED.

AND SO FOR THAT, I'M VERY THANKFUL.

AND ALSO, IT MAKES IT SO THAT WHEN WE HAVE THE BUDGET PRESENTED TO US IN IT'S NEARING FINAL FORM IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER, WE AVOID THERE BEING MASSIVE SURPRISES ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE OR ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THERE.

AND THAT'S JUST HELPFUL TO EVERYONE.

YEAH, THAT'S THE HOPE.

I MEAN, ULTIMATELY THIS IS ALL ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SEVERAL DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE THEIR FIRST OR THEIR FIRST AND A HALF GO AROUND WITH THE BUDGET.

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF COMPLICATED, STICKY PROJECTS FLOATING OUT THERE BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY CENTER AND THE FIRE TRUCK ISSUE THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.

SO THE MORE WE CAN TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS UP FRONT AND PREPARE EVERYONE FOR WHAT RESOLUTION WE'LL KNOW AND WHAT RESOLUTION WE WON'T KNOW THE

[01:15:02]

WE JUST DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT IS.

AND SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A PLACEHOLDER THAT'S GOING TO NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

OKAY. GOT IT.

WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. WE HAVE NOT VOTED ON THIS.

WE HAVE MOVED IT. WE HAVE NOT VOTED ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE 2025 BUDGET SCHEDULE AS PRESENTED PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES.

[INAUDIBLE] ITEM 14 ON OUR AGENDA IS COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, ANY PUBLIC MEMBERS WISHING TO MAKE COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE.

WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AT 7:14.

ITEM 15 IS OTHER MATTERS AND BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS.

[15. OTHER MATTERS AND BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS]

I THANK YOU, SUPERVISOR HENDRICKSON.

I AM PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE TOWNSHIP WILL BE RECEIVING ALMOST $200,000 IN REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE STATE FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ELECTION FROM THE GRANT THAT WE THAT WE WROTE.

SO I AM PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT.

I MEAN, AND THAT WAS JUST THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY.

SO VERY NICE. YEAH.

YEP. SO THAT'S COMING BACK TO US.

ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS? I'LL ADD THAT WE DID RECEIVE SOME GOOD NEWS, ALBEIT PRELIMINARY GOOD NEWS ABOUT FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE SENIOR AND COMMUNITY CENTER THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.

WHILE NOTHING HAS BEEN PASSED AND NO DOLLARS HAVE OFFICIALLY BEEN ALLOCATED.

WE HAVE BEEN NAMED ONE OF THE 15 PROJECTS THAT CONGRESSWOMAN ELISSA SLOTKIN WILL BE GOING TO BAT FOR IN THE REQUESTED AMOUNT OF $7.5 MILLION, THOUGH NONE OF US ARE UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO GIVE US THAT MUCH.

BUT THAT PROJECT HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN HER REQUESTS FOR FEDERAL FUNDING FOR NEXT FOR THE NEXT CYCLE OF THE COMMUNITY PROJECT FUND.

WE SHOULD KNOW IN DECEMBER, WE SHOULD KNOW IN DECEMBER.

AND AS A AS A REMINDER, EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE BRING IN FROM OTHER SOURCES, WHICH INCLUDES STATE MONEY, FEDERAL MONEY, COUNTY MONEY, PHILANTHROPIC DONATIONS IS A DOLLAR LESS THAT WE HAVE TO SPEND ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SENIOR AND COMMUNITY CENTER.

SO EXCITING NEWS FROM CONGRESSWOMAN SLOTKIN'S OFFICE, AND WE THANK HER FOR INCLUSION IN THAT IN THOSE BUDGETARY REQUESTS. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SEEING NONE.

THE LAST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS ADJOURNMENT, MOTION TO ADJOURN.

SO MOVED. SUPPORT.

MOVED BY TRUSTEE WILSON SUPPORTED BY TREASURER DESCHAINE.

ANY. ALL IN FAVOR OF ADJOURNMENT SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AND THE BOARD STANDS ADJOURNED AT 7:17 P.M..

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.