Village of Constantine
Special Council Meeting
March 29, 2010
Village Hall 7:30 P.M.

President Pro-Tem Mathers called the Special March 29, 2010 meeting of the Constantine Village Council to order at 7:30PM at the Village Hall.

ROLL CALL
Present at Roll Call: Trustees Mark Brown, Robert Brewer, Willie Harder, Cindy LaFluer, Gary Mathers and Sarah Moore. Absent: President Patricia Weiss. Also present: Manager Honeysett, Treasurer Strawser and Clerk Strawser. The pledge of allegiance followed.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Brown, Seconded by Harder, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion passed by affirmation 6 – 0. (Absent: Weiss.)

BUDGET OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
Trustees discussed the pros and cons of a budget oversight committee. While many praised the manager for his budgetary acumen, the majority felt that more timely understanding and oversight would benefit the Council and Village. The committee will be dissolved if found unnecessary.

Motion by Brown, Seconded by LaFluer, that the Village Council appoint a three-person Budget Oversight Committee to review budget activity during the 2010-2011 fiscal year. The Oversight Committee shall conduct at least two open meetings; once during the latter half of October 2010, and again during the latter half of January 2011 (and more often as the committee chair deems necessary) to review budget activity. The committee shall prepare a report for the Constantine Village Council and include in that report any recommendation(s) with regard to the necessity and feasibility of budget adjustments. Motion passed by Roll Call 5 – 1. Voting YES: Brewer, Brown, LaFluer, Mathers and Moore. Voting NO: Harder. (Absent: Weiss.)

President Pro-Tem Mathers said he had talked with several trustees regarding accepting appointment to the Budget Oversight Committee and asked that Trustee LaFluer chair the committee based on her business knowledge and interest.

Motion by Mathers, Seconded by Brewer, to appoint Trustee LaFluer (chairperson), Brown and Mathers to the Budget Oversight Committee. Motion passed by Roll Call 6 – 0. Voting YES: Brewer, Brown, Harder, LaFluer, Mathers and Moore. (Absent: Weiss.)

2009-2010 BUDGET ADJUSTMENT REQUESTS
Manager Honeysett said that the 2009-2010 Budget had been a non-balanced budget at its adoption, but the higher than usual year-end budget adjustments were in large part caused by water infiltration/sewer repair and Fire Department spending due in part to increased fire/rescue calls (the Fire Department had already adjusted its budget in response). He said spending still came in below budget levels and thanked the bookkeeper for her dedication and oversight.

Motion by Brewer, Seconded by Moore, to make the requested 2009-2010 Budget Adjustments as presented. Motion passed by Roll Call 6 – 0. Voting YES: Brewer, Brown, Harder, LaFluer, Mathers and Moore. (Absent: Weiss.)

BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS
2009-2010 BUDGET

• $41,110 General Fund Balance to 101 336 980 000 Fire Department New Equipment for New Equipment (uniforms). $39,823 will be reimbursed during 2010-2011 Budget Year from FEMA Grant ($39,051) and Constantine & Florence Townships ($782).
• $18,050 General Fund Balance to 101 336 980 000 Fire Department New Equipment for New Equipment (SCBAs). $15,025 will be reimbursed during 2010-2011 Budget Year from DNR Grant ($9,025), Fire Dept. Memorial Fund ($3,000), and Townships of Constantine and Florence ($3,000).
• $7,000 General Fund Balance to 101 336 706 100 Fire Department Salaries.
• $9,700 General Fund Balance to 101 336 939 000 Fire Department Vehicle Maintenance.
• $12,200 General Fund Balance to 101 956 000 Miscellaneous Expenses. $7,500 will be recovered during 2010-2011 Budget Year Tax Collection for cost to demolish home on Osborn.
  $4,750 General Fund Balance to 301 758 000 Police Dept. Uniforms.

• $11,900 General Fund Balance to 101 440 943 000 to General Fund Building and Grounds Equipment Rental.

• $15,000 General Fund Balance to 101 440 708 100 General Fund Building and Grounds Salary.

• $2,500 Local Street Fund Balance to Local Street Route Maintenance 203 463 710 111. Street Labor.

• $7,000 Local Street Fund Balance Snow Removal 203 463 780 000 to Local Street Route Maintenance for Materials.

• $6,000 Local Street Fund Balance 203 463 943 000 to Local Street Route Maintenance for Equipment Rental.

• $5,285 Local Street Fund Balance 203 473 943 000 to Local Street Winter Maintenance for Equipment Rental.

• $1,819 Equipment Fund Balance 932 714 100 to Equipment Fund for Sick/Vacation Time.

• $7,000 Water Fund Balance 591 714 000 to Water Fund for Sick/Vacation Time.
• $2,010 Water Fund Balance 591 922 000 to Water Fund for New Meters.
• $48,474 Sewer Operation Fund Balance 527 811 000 to Sewer Fund for Sewer Lining. Fund to be reimbursed from Dell Lawsuit account.

• Authorize 30% Reduction in the Equipment Rental Rate for the General Fund Building and Grounds Account 101 440 943 000 for the Budget Year 2009-2010.

MICHIGAN NATURAL RESOURCES TURST FUND GRANT RESOLUTION
Manager Honeysett said that the previously approved MNRFT Grant application required passé by formal resolution.

Motion by Harder, Seconded by Moore, to adopt Resolution No. 10-01 (Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant Application resolution seeking LifeTrail 7 Station Grant Funding for Riverview Park from 2010 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund) as presented. Motion passed by Roll Call 4 – 2. Voting YES: Brown, Harder, Mathers and Moore. Voting NO: Brewer and LaFluer. (Absent: Weiss).

Resolution No. 10-01

WHEREAS, the Village of Constantine has identified, in its Parks and Recreation Plan the work toward stated improvements for parks and recreational facilities, and

WHEREAS, the Village desires to improve Riverview Park and is seeking funding assistance from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in the form of a development grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, and

WHEREAS, the Village does designate Village Manager, Mark Honeysett, as the primary contact person authorized to sign any documents related to this project, and

WHEREAS, the village acknowledges that it will be required to provide a minimum of 25 percent match for all grant funds received through the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Constantine Village Council hereby agrees to undertake the stated project improvements to Riverview Park if awarded by the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant.

Adjourned meeting at 8:11PM.

Ruth Strawser
Village Clerk

Manager Honeysett provided a printed Employee Overtime and Comp Time report as previously requested; it was not discussed.