Village of Bancroft 108 Warren Street P.O. Box 97 Bancroft MI 48414 Phone: 989-634-5375 Fax: 989-634-5911 E-Mail: villageofbancroft@invisalink.net Regular Council Meeting Wednesday, May 15, 2015 at 7:00p.m. Meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. Council Present: Bible, Goodrich, A. Miller, R. Miller, Post, Sedlock, Cole, Johnson. Employees: Buckelew, LePage, Attorney, Thomas Bridges Absent: Dagen. Guests: Sean Dolehanty, Cynthia VanWoert, Brian Barnum, Mr.& Mrs. Vaughn, Mr. & Mrs. Hall. List attached. Additions to Agenda New Business: 9. Mi Deal – State of Mi 10. Garage Sales 11. Computer issues 12. Councilmen, Bibles council pay reinstated 13. Hall rental procedures Motion A. Miller Support Goodrich Accept the additions to agenda, moving #1 to #6 and #6 to #1 on agenda. (#1 MML Training, #6 Resignation of James Dagen). All Yeas MC Motion R. Miller Support Bible Accept the minutes of April 8, 2015 as presented. All Yeas MC Motion Post Support A. Miller Accept the bills as presented. RCV All Yeas MC Motion Post Support Bible Accept the Treasurers report pending audit by auditors. All Yeas MC DPW report given. Police report given. Police Chief reports some larceny in the Village, keep your cars and homes locked. Also, the modem in the Police car needs repair and the car itself needs repair. Public Comments Sean Dolehanty wants to see the Police report. Says he is tired of being harassed for the mess in his yard. He wanted to have a yard sale last weekend but the Clerk & Treasurer were not available to give him a permit. He obtained a permit for this weekend (May 15-17). He is going through some personal problems and is trying to get rid of a lot of things. He just needs some time to get it done. Donna Hall wants to know at what height grass has to be before the Village has it mowed. Police Chief says the Ordinance does not state a height restriction. May 13, 2015 minutes continued Pg 2 Mr. Vaugn complaining of mess next door to him and dogs coming onto his property. Brian Barnum is interested in the vacant Council seat. He has lived in the Village since 1970. He also states that he will donate 1 day a year to the Village for whatever they need. Communications CN railroad bill of $3,956.00 for maintenance on 2 crossings. President suggests communicating with CN about the maintenance that the Village DPW does on their right of way. Councilwomen, Miller reminds President that when CN realized that they were not charging Village for said maintenance they did not retroact the billing. New Business 1. James Dagen on April 23, 2015 sent an e-mail to Shana Post before the ERC meeting stating that he was resigning from the Village Council. President states that the Clerk has not received anything in writing therefore we have nothing to accept. It has to be in writing to the Clerk or the Council. Attorney Bridges agrees. 2. DPW reports that the Village has 1 new and 3 used pit meters and suggests selling them. Motion Goodrich Support A. Miller Have DPW sell the new pit meter for no less than $325.00 and the used for no less than $300.00. All Yeas MC 3. President’s complaint against D.P.W. (copy attached to original minutes) It was submitted to the ERC. They were short a member, so it was brought in front of Council. President asked DPW if he wanted a closed session, he said “No”. Complaint includes failure to follow directions, using public funds and equipment for private property/personal use. Issues are the Pothole at Lansing Rd. & Windmill Point entry, grading with Village equipment at Windmill Point, failure to follow Village President instructions, for instance maintaining and grading lots behind community hall. Councilmen, Miller suggests creating a “Task Instruction Sheet.” Then DPW knows exactly what he can and cannot do. But, reminds Council this could come back on them at a later date. Mr. Bridges states that Municipalities cannot improve private property with public funds. The Villages insurance only covers you on Village properties as a government function. Village has Governmental Immunity but it is being dwindled down by legislators. As far as the Windmill Point issue, it is a transition area between public and private. It sounds like a governmental function. Attorney asked about the plowing on Labadie’s property. Council has to determine if it benefits the Village. DPW told Attorney we have no right of way to salt barn, so he plows private property to get to salt. President addresses the issue of snow plowing Lansing Rd. It is not in the Village, it is a County Rd. DPW says it is in the Village Limits. President says the County maintains it and wants DPW to stop snowplowing it. May 13, 2015 minutes continued Pg 3 Discussion was held on the issues. James Dagens wife hand delivers a copy of his resignation to Council. DPW states we are arguing about a little asphalt while we have an Attorney present. What is he costing the Village? Councilmen Miller says it sounds like a misunderstanding between the DPW and the President. Miller says the previous DPW did it for years so Tom continues to do the same. Motion Post Support Goodrich To dismiss complaint against DPW and have the ERC do a “Task Instruction Sheet.” RCV Yeas: Goodrich, A. Miller, R. Miller, Post. Nays: Bible, Johnson MC Motion Goodrich Support Post Amend the agenda to re-visit the item of James Dagen’s vacancy and see if anyone in audience has an interest in the vacant seat. RCV Yeas: Goodrich, A. Miller, R. Miller, Post Nays: Bible, Johnson MC Motion Goodrich Support Post Accept the resignation of James Dagen on May 13, 2015. All Yeas MC President read a letter from Cynthia VanWoert on interest in vacant Council seat. Motion Post Support Bible To have Brian Barnum fill the vacant Council seat. Yeas 3 Nays 3 MF Motion Goodrich Support Post Allow Brian Barnum and Cynthia VanWoert 3 minutes to present to the Council what they can do for the Village as a Council member. RCV Yeas: Bible, Goodrich, A. Miller, R. Miller, Post Nays: Johnson MC Barnum served before and has helped clean up Village after storms at no charge and without being asked. VanWoert has lived here 11 years and has been active in helping clean up her neighborhood and would like to serve her community on Council. President & Bible had questions for them. Questions were answered. Motion Bible Support Johnson Have Cynthia VanWoert fill the vacant Council seat. RCV Yeas: Bible, Johnson Nays: Goodrich, A. Miller, R. Miller, Post MF April 13, 2015 minutes continued Pg 4 Motion Post Support R. Miller Have Brian Barnum fill the vacant Council seat. RCV Yeas: Goodrich, A. Miller, R. Miller, Post Nays: Bible, Johnson MC Brian Barnum was sworn in by the Clerk. 4. President reports that Invisalink is discontinuing service as of June. New e-mail address is bancroftmichigan@gmail.com. Motion A. Miller Support Barnum Amend the agenda to add bill for Website domain for Village of Bancroft. All Yeas MC 5. Personnel Manual examples from Vernon & Morrice for ERC to review. 7. Councilwomen Post wants to know what the cap is on Attorney fees. Does the $500.00 allotted for the President, Clerk and Treasurer include Attorney fees? Council members suggest that he is done for the evening. 8. President needs to be administrator of Villages face book to keep people from posting ads. He will explore the legalities of face book comments. Discussion held. 6. If anyone on Council has an interest in any Webinar seminars the President will try to schedule a time and place for it. He would like to hold a group session instead of paying for individual sessions, to save Village money. Question was asked to Bridges if it would have to be posted. He stated that if you state that it is a conference than no. But reminds Council you cannot discuss Village business. 9. Becoming a “ Mi Deal” member discussed. It is through the County at a cost of $180.00 @ year. Will help keep the price of salt down. Can also be used on other supplies. Motion A. Miller Support Barnum Become a member of Mi Deal at a cost of $180.00 per year. All Yeas MC Motion Post Support Barnum Extend meeting. (9:30) All Yeas MC 10. Discussion held on extending the allotted time for residents to hold a garage sale. Police Chief would like a copy put in his box so that he knows who has one. Motion Barnum Support Post Extend garage sales from 3 days to 4 consecutive days. All Yeas MC Motion Post Support Barnum To table previous garage sale motion till June meeting. All Yeas MC May 13, 2015 minutes continued Pg 5 11. Discussion held on Village computer. It is extremely slow and sometimes locks up. Motion Post Support A. Miller Have Mike the computer guy clean-up office and police dept. computers for up to $120.00. All Yeas MC 12. Bible rescinded his request for Council pay being reinstated. 13. Discussion held on the procedures for renting the community hall. President stated that deposit alone does not hold the date they want to rent the hall. He needs the whole amount before he saves the date. 14. Charges for the Villages domain discussed. Motion A. Miller Support Goodrich Reimburse Shana Post $54.00 to cover the yearly charge for the Domain name for website. RCV Yeas: All MC Unfinished Business 1. Employee Compensation discussed. Barnum states that he would like a month review changes. Motion Barnum Support A. Miller Table employee Compensation changes till June meeting. RCV Yeas: Barnum, Goodrich, A. Miller, R. Miller, Post Nays: Bible, Johnson MC 2. President is working on the Freedom of Information Act. He will present it at the June meeting. 3. Post was asked to post for new members for the Village planning/zoning commissions, on the website. 4. Discussion on the water bills. The problem is with Galaxy or the Police Chief is asking for extended hours for the summer. Luke Rogers has offered to cover Lepages vacation days and/or extended hours. Motion R. Miller Support Post Table Police extended hours till June meeting. All yeas MC Adjournment 10:10 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Karen K. Cole "This institution is an equal opportunity provider" TDD Relay Service Number is 1-800-649-3777