City of Kentwood - Kentwood, Michigan

APPROVED MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE KENTWOOD CITY COMMISSION
HELD DECEMBER 20, 2011
Commission Chambers

Mayor Richard L. Root called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.

Reverend Dave Poolman of Princeton Christian Reformed Church gave the invocation.

Commissioner Brown led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Roll Call: Present: Commissioners: Michael W. Brown, Robert Coughlin, Richard Clanton, Frank Cummings, Raymond VerWys and Mayor Richard L. Root.

Motion by Coughlin, supported by Clanton, to excuse Commissioner Brinks with prior notification.

                                                                                    Motion Carried.

Staff Present: Finance Director Tom Chase, Economic Development Planner Lisa Golder, Deputy Administrator Rich Houtteman, City Clerk Dan Kasunic, Engineering & Inspections Director Steve Kepley, Fire Chief Brent Looman, Police Chief Rick Mattice, Assistant Finance Director Lorna Nenciarini, Fire Department Administrative Assistant Nancy Shane, City Attorney Jeffrey Sluggett, Public Works Director Ron Woods and Recreation Director Charlie Ziesemer.

Twelve (12) citizens and members of the news media attended the meeting.

Motion by Coughlin, supported by VerWys, to approve the agenda.

                                                                                    Motion Carried.

ACKNOWLEDGE VISITORS AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS:

Resident Dave DeBruyn asked why no action as yet been taken regarding removal from office of a commissioner with a felony conviction.

CONSENT AGENDA:

Motion by Clanton, supported by Coughlin, to approve the Consent Agenda as follows:

Receive and file minutes of the Service Committee Meeting held on December 6, 2011.
Receive and file minutes of the Finance Committee Meeting held on December 6, 2011.
Authorize the Mayor to enter into a contract with Young’s Environmental Clean-up, Inc. for the cleaning and lining of 39 sewer laterals at a not-to-exceed cost of $261,300.00 (including a 10% contingency) with funds from the Sewer Fund.
Resolution 93–11 to set a January 17, 2012 public hearing date to consider the establishment of an Industrial Development District and to approve an Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate in the City of Kentwood for Universal Sign, Inc. located at 5001 Falconview Avenue, SE; under Act 198.
Receive and file Audit Report-(1) Memo to Finance Committee re: Financial Statements-Year Ended June 30, 2011; (2) Financial Statements-Year Ended June 30, 2011; and (3) Audit Committee letter.
Approve donation of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus to: Ironwood Dept. of Safety, Vermontville Fire Dept., Cheboygan Dept. of Public Safety, lake Superior State University, Grattan Township Fire Dept., Courtland Township Fire Dept., Haring Township Fire Dept., and Clear Lake Fire Dept.
Authorize the purchase of three, 3/4 ton pickup trucks at a cost of up to $70,410 (including a $500 per vehicle allowance for lights and decals), with funds from the FY 2012 DPW Equipment Fund Budget.
Authorize the purchase of a one ton Silverado pickup truck in the amount of $26,740.11; the purchase of $5,450.73 in add-on equipment; and a $500 contingency for shipping charges; for a total cost of $32,690.84 with funds from a $6,000.00 contribution from the Tri-Com HazMat Association; an estimated auction return of $5,000.00 from the old equipment; and the remainder from the FY 2012 Fire Equipment Fund.
Approve the Community Development Block Grant allocation for the 2012-2013 Fiscal Year to be used to supplement four sidewalk and trail projects approved in 2011-2012. Also, authorize the Mayor to enter into engineering and construction agreements with OMM Engineering in an amount not to exceed $74,770.00 for the 28^th Street & East Beltline side-walks and for East/West Trail Phase IV and with Moore & Bruggink in an amount not to exceed $16,800.00 for the Walma Connector.
Resolution 94–11 to adjust the FY 2011-2012 Non-General budgets.
Resolution 95–11 to confirm Fifth Third Bank as a Pension Plan Discretionary Trustee.
Payables for the City totaling $1,770,274.43.

Roll Call Vote: Yeas: All.    Nays: None.    Absent: Brinks.

                                                                                    Motion Carried.
                                                                                    Resolutions Adopted.

Motion by Coughlin, supported by Clanton, to approve the minutes of the December 6, 2011 City Commission Meeting.

                                                                                    Motion Carried.

COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS:

PETITION/CHARGES WITH RESPECT TO COMMISSIONER VERWYS’S ELIGIBILITY FOR ELECTIVE OFFICE IN THE CITY OF KENTWOOD.
City Attorney Sluggett reviewed the procedure and notice of hearing pertaining to the charges against Commissioner VerWys.

Motion by Cummings, supported by Coughlin, to (a) schedule a hearing to consider whether Commissioner VerWys is eligible to continue to serve as an elected City of Kentwood official or ought to be removed based on the charges articulated in this petition, which charges are adopted by the Commission. (b) Set the hearing for January 3, 2012 at the City Hall at 7:00 P.M. or as soon thereafter as the hearing may be opened. (c) Require and direct Commissioner VerWys to submit a signed criminal history affidavit, in the form previously sent out by the City Clerk’s office, to the City Clerk pursuant to Section 4.7 of the City Charter and that this be completed no later than 5:00 p.m. on January 2, 2012. (d) Directs and authorizes the City Clerk to send a notice to Commissioner VerWys of the hearing and charges.

Roll Call Vote: Yeas: All.   Nays: None.    Absent: Brinks.
                                                                                    Motion Carried.
                                                                                    VerWys recused himself.

RESOLUTIONS:

ADOPT RESOLUTION 96–11 TO AMEND THE CONSUMERS ENERGY STANDARD STREETLIGHTING CONTRACT.
Motion by Clanton, supported by Cummings, to adopt Resolution 96–11 to amend the Consumers Energy Standard Streetlighting Contract to install eight (8) street lights in the Clear Pointe #2 sub-division.

Roll Call Vote: Yeas: All.    Nays: None.   Absent: Brinks.

                                                                                    Resolution Adopted.

RESOLUTION 97–11 TO ESTABLISH CITY COMMISSION MEETING DATES IN THE 2012 CALENDAR YEAR.
Motion by Clanton, supported by Cummings, to adopt Resolution 97–11 to establish City Commission Meeting dates in the 2012 calendar year.

Roll Call Vote: Yeas: All.    Nays: None.   Absent: Brinks.

                                                                                    Resolution Adopted.

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS:

CONFIRM APPOINTMENTS OF VARIOUS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
Commissioner VerWys requested the appointees for the Pension Board be removed from the confirmation list and then asked that a representative from the Fire Department speak to this topic. Fire Union President Hollinrake spoke on the union behalf to have representation on the Deferred Compensation Board. The Commission and Finance Director Chase agreed to discuss this and bring back to the Commission for confirmation at a later time.
Motion by Cummings, supported by Brown, to confirm the appointments of various Boards and Commissions with the removal of the Deferred Compensation Board to be confirmed in January.

                                                                                    Motion Carried.

COMMENTS OF COMMISSIONERS AND MAYOR:

Commissioner Coughlin-Had Park & Recreation Director Ziesemer inform the Commission of a Grant for North-East Park.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 P.M.

Dan Kasunic                                                                           Richard L. Root
City Clerk                                                                               Mayor

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