Council Minutes

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

MILFORD CIVIC CENTER

 

President Nader called the meeting to order in the Milford Civic Center at 7:30 p.m. President Nader led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

PRESENT

 

President Thomas Nader; Councilmembers Michael Glagola, Elizabeth Heer, Richard Kostin, James Kovach, Theresa Rusas, Kevin Ziegler

 

ALSO PRESENT

 

Arthur Shufflebarger, Village Manager; Thomas Connelly, Legal Counsel; Thomas Motley, BRA Chairperson & DDA Boardmember; Phyllis Motley, Water Boardmember, Wayne Walli, Police Chief

 

APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA

 

CM-06-105-08 Heer moved, Rusas seconded, to approve the consent agenda of June 2, 2008 as presented. Motion CARRIED

 

General	$39,221.94
Major Street Fund	1,424.57
Local Street Fund	240.00
Police Fund	9,898.22
Parking Fund	10.00
Downtown Development Authority Fund	2,472.14
Senior Citizens Fund	1,521.80
Water/Wastewater Fund	22,014.89
Escrow Fund	5,159.68
Total	$81,963.24

 

APPROVE REGULAR AGENDA

 

CM-06-106-08 Heer moved, Rusas seconded, to approve the June 2, 2008 regular agenda as presented. Motion CARRIED

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

CM-06-107-08 Heer moved, Rusas seconded, to approve vacation of lease with HCMA for the site identified (on file in Village office) in the attached aerial to accommodate a site up to five acres for a future Milford Township Fire Department location. Approval is valid for a period of up to five years at which time if a project is not yet begun, approval is revoked.

 

DISCUSSION

 

Shufflebarger stated that this request to approve the proposed location of a new fire hall was a conceptual approval at this point.

 

Rusas asked if Council approved this vacation based on a conceptual idea, would they be able to revoke the approval if they did not like the final plan.

 

Connelly said they could make a motion subject to Council granting final approval when the Fire Department returned to Council.

 

Rusas asked if Huron Clinton MetroParks Association had approved this location yet.

 

Shufflebarger said no, they were waiting for Council approval.

 

Heer asked why the approval was requested for a 5-year time period.

 

Shufflebarger said that was his idea. He said he was thinking of election time frames, in case the millage did not pass during this election, the Township would have another opportunity to put it before the voters.

 

Nader asked why they needed a five-acre parcel.

 

Shufflebarger said the request did not ask for five acres, but that was the acreage approved by Council for two other sites.

 

Kovach asked if HCMA would not sell the parcel west of Pet Supplies Plus to the Township.

 

Shufflebarger said no, they were willing to sell the property, but at commercial prices.

 

Kovach said we are still talking about giving away parkland and he would continue to vote no. He said he did not feel we had enough information in front of us tonight either.

 

Ziegler agreed.

 

Rusas said when it was discussed before; the Township did not want to pay commercial prices for any properties. She asked if this parcel is being sold for commercial prices. She said if that is the case, we have other commercial property they could buy.

 

Shufflebarger said this piece is not considered commercial. He said he did not know what the property would be sold for.

 

Nader said that it looked like this piece was approximately 8,000 to 10,000 feet into the Township, his suggested the traffic light that would be put up for the fire station might be able to be tied into the crossing for the bike path. He asked if this piece of property would interfere with future expansion of the WWTP.

 

Shufflebarger said it could, but we had proposed purchasing another piece of property southeast of the plant. He said that piece was not being considered here tonight.

 

Rusas said she did not have a problem with the fire hall being built in this general location, but the request tonight was for a parcel up to five acres. She said she would like to see a more exact drawing of where and how big the piece is.

 

Nader asked if the circle on the drawing in front of them tonight was a five acre parcel.

 

Shufflebarger said he did not think so, he said it was an attempt to identify the general location.

 

Council asked for more information with the intention to bring this back to the table after they receive the following information:

1. A drawing showing the exact parcel dimensions;

2. A template of how the proposed building would fit on the parcel;

3. Is the Township paying commercial rates, or are they getting the property for less.

 

Yes – Nader

No – Ziegler, Glagola, Kovach, Rusas, Heer Absent – Kostin Motion FAILS

 

Adopt Ord. Amendment 129 to Sec. 38-184 (h)

 

CM-06-108-08 Heer moved, Rusas seconded, to adopt Ordinance Amendment 231-129 to amend Art. VI, Storm Sewers, Sec. 38-184, (h). Motion CARRIED

 

DISCUSSION

 

Council asked if this amendment would affect properties that are having problems now.

 

Shufflebarger said yes, this would allow them to drain into the storm sewers, if accessible, or to install dry wells.

 

CALL TO THE PUBLIC

 

Nader asked if there was anyone who wished to address Council on an item that was not on the agenda.

 

Police Chief Walli reported to Council that the two gas stations at the intersection of S. Milford and GM Roads were having gas wars. He said traffic has been backed up and our police officers were directing traffic in an effort to keep it flowing.

 

Nader said it bothered him to have 2 officers and 2 command officers directing traffic. He said we have two lanes for traffic so cars not wanting to stop for gas can go around.

 

Walli said the officers are now familiar with the routine and they are not using 4 officers. He said the gas stations were now using their own employees to direct the cars on site. He said even though there are 2 lanes in the Village, sometimes people are trying to decide which station to pull into. He said traffic is backed up past the start of the 2 lanes.

 

Jerry Aubry, 425 S. Main asked why we are not charging the owners for the extra police patrol.

 

Walli said there has been no overtime, and the officers were able to leave if they were called away for something else. He said the business owners were paying for the officers’ services in their taxes, much like when an officer is called to unlock someone’s vehicle.

 

Rusas said if overtime is needed, we should bill the owners.

 

There was no further input from the Public.

 

MANAGER’S REPORT

 

 COUNCILMEMBER REMARKS

 

Ziegler said the Power House was having an open house during the first concert, June 5th.

 

ADJOURN

 

The meeting was adjourned at 7:58 p.m.

Ann Collins, CMC Milford Village Clerk