SPECIAL 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, Elizabeth Heer, Richard Kostin, Theresa Rusas, Kevin Ziegler
ABSENT Councilmembers Michael Glagola and James Kovach
PUBLIC HEARING
Charter Millage Proposal Language
CM-06-108-09 Heer moved, Rusas seconded, to open the public hearing at 7:31 p.m. Motion CARRIED.
Mr. Shufflebarger gave a brief overview of the need for the millage for road maintenance. He stated that the Village has invested over $6 million in road improvements since 1995, and it is necessary to maintain this large investment.
Karen Worrell, 815 Union, asked how the Village was going to get the word out on the need for this millage. Using the Village website and newsletter was suggested.
Larry Hewitt, 883 GM Road, asked if Council could raise taxes if they chose to. The response was no. He felt funding for lower priority general fund services should be put on the ballot and not high priority services such as road maintenance.
Matt Mazure, 947 Byron, asked for clarification on what was covered under road maintenance versus road improvements. He specifically asked about the deterioration of the intersection at Commerce and Summit.
Mr. Shufflebarger stated the repairs could include crack sealing, patching pot holes or sections of streets. If a match was needed for a grant for road improvements, funds could be used for this also. The plan was to do repairs that would be long lasting.
CM-06-109-07 Heer moved, Rusas seconded, to close the public hearing at 7:47 p.m. Motion CARRIED.
NEW BUSINESS
Adopt Resolution Authorizing an Amendment to Chapter 8 of the Village of Milford Charter in Order to Increase the Charter Tax Rate to Include Additional Street Millage
CM-06-110-07 Heer moved, Rusas seconded, to adopt resolution as presented with amendment,
WHEREAS, the Village of Milford, County of Oakland, State of Michigan, has adopted a Village Charter that allows amendments to be made in the manner provided by law; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the authority granted by Act 278 of the Public Acts of Michigan of 1909, as amended, the Village Charter of the Village of Milford may be amended by a process initiated by the Village Council of the Village of Milford on a two-thirds vote; and
WHEREAS, at a regular meeting of the Village Council of the Village of Milford, conducted on May 18, 2009, an amendment to the Village Charter was proposed by resolution in order to increase the Charter tax rate to include additional street millage; and
WHEREAS, the resolution proposed by the Village Council of the Village of Milford to amend the Village Charter was published as required by law and remained on the table for thirty (30) days.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF MILFORD AS FOLLOWS:
1. The Village Council of the Village of Milford, by a two-thirds vote of its members-elect, pursuant to the authority granted by Act 278 of the Public Acts of Michigan of 1909, as amended, proposes that Section 8.5 of Chapter 8 of the Charter of the Village of Milford shall be amended.
2. Section 8.5 of Chapter 8 of the Charter for the Village of Milford currently reads as follows:
Sec. 8.5. Adoption of budget; tax limit.
Not later than the second Monday in May the Council shall, by resolution, adopt the budget for the next fiscal year and shall, in such resolution, make an appropriation of the money needed for municipal purposes during the ensuing year of the Village and provide for a levy of the amount necessary to be raised by taxes upon real and personal property for municipal purposes, which levy shall not exceed four tenths (0.4) per cent on each dollar of the assessed valuation of all real and personal property subject to taxation in the Village. The levy so provided shall be known and referred to as the Charter tax rate of the Village of Milford and shall be subject to all provisions of the State law and the Michigan Constitution pertaining thereto. The Charter tax rate shall be increased by four tenths (0.4) per cent for the years 1995 through 1997 for the purpose of defraying the cost of major street improvements.
3. The Village Clerk of Milford shall forthwith transmit a copy of the proposed amendment to the Governor of the State of Michigan for her approval and to the Attorney General of the State of Michigan for his approval.
4. The proposed Charter amendment shall be, and the same is hereby ordered to be submitted to the qualified electors of this Village at a general election to be held in the Village of Milford, the 15th day of September, 2009, and the Village Clerk is hereby directed to give notice of the election and notice of registration therefore in the manner prescribed by law and to do all things and to provide all supplies necessary to submit such Charter amendment to the vote of the electors as required by law.
5. The proposed amendment shall be submitted to the electors in the following form:
IF THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE PROPERTY TAXES AUTHORIZED BY THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT IS LEVIED BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL IN THE YEAR 2010, THEN THE ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF REVENUE THAT WILL BE COLLECTED IS $135,375. SHOULD SECTION 8.5 OF THE VILLAGE OF MILFORD CHARTER BE AMENDED TO INCLUDE A NEW ADDITIONAL MILLAGE THAT WOULD INCREASE THE CHARTER TAX RATE BY .5 MILLS (WHICH IS EQUAL TO $0.50 PER $1,000 OF TAXABLE VALUE) FOR FIVE YEARS, 2010 THROUGH 2014, FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE COST OF MAJOR AND LOCAL ROAD MAINTENANCE?
[YES] [NO]
6. If the qualified electors of the Village of Milford at a general election vote in favor of the proposed Charter amendment, Section 8.5 of Chapter 8 of the Charter shall be amended to read as follows:
Section 8.5 Adoption of Budget; Tax Limit.
Not later than the second Monday in May the Council shall, by resolution, adopt the budget for the next fiscal year and shall in such resolution, make an appropriation of the money needed for municipal purposes during the ensuing year of the Village and provide for a levy of the amount necessary to be raised by taxes upon real and personal property for municipal purposes, which levy shall not exceed four tenths (0.4) per cent on each dollar of the taxable value of all real and personal property subject to taxation in the Village. The levy so provided shall be known and referred to as the Charter tax rate of the Village of Milford and shall be subject to all provisions of the State law and the Michigan Constitution pertaining thereto. The Charter tax rate shall be increased by five hundredth (0.05) per cent on each dollar of the taxable value of all real and personal property subject to taxation in the Village for the years 2010 through 2014 for the purpose of defraying the costs of major and local road maintenance.
7. The proposed amendment shall be published in full together with the existing charter provision altered and abrogated thereby as part of the notice of election.
8. The canvass and determination of the votes of said questions shall be made in accordance with the laws of the State of Michigan and the Charter of the Village of Milford.
Motion CARRIED.
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
Deborah S. Frazer, Clerk
Village of Milford | 
