Village of Constantine
Regular Council Meeting
June 7, 2010
7:30 PM

President Weiss called the regular Monday, June 7, 2010 meeting of the Constantine Village Council to order at 7:30PM at the Village Hall.

ROLL CALL
Present at Roll Call: Trustees Robert Brewer, Mark Brown, Willie Harder, Cindy LaFluer, Gary Mathers and Sarah Moore, and President Patricia Weiss. Other elected officials present: Treasurer Donna Strawser and Clerk Ruth Strawser. Village employees present: Manager Mark Honeysett and Administrative Assistant Diana Lammott. The pledge of allegiance followed Roll Call.

Approval of Agenda

Motion by Brown, Seconded by Harder, to approve the agenda as amended. Motion passed by Roll Call 7 – 0. Voting YES: Brewer, Brown, Harder, LaFluer, Mathers, Moore and Weiss.

Amended: move VIII. New Business, A. St. Joseph County Transportation Authority, to immediately following agenda approval.

St. Joseph County Transportation Authority

Steven Yorks, SJC Transportation Authority Director, outlined the reasons county residents should support renewal of the Transportation Authority’s existing millage.

Minutes
Motion by Mathers, Seconded by Moore, to approve the Regular May 17, 2010 meeting as corrected. Motion passed by Roll Call 7 – 0. Voting YES: Brewer, Brown, Harder, LaFluer, Mathers, Moore and Weiss.

Correction: Motion by LaFluer, Seconded by Harder, to approve the abridged version of the Regular May 3, 2010 meeting minutes as corrected for newsletter printing. Motion passed by Roll Call 7 – 0. Voting YES: -insert-Brewer, Brown, Harder, LaFluer, Mathers, Moore and Weiss.

Newsletter Minutes

Motion by Brewer, Seconded by Moore, to approve the abridged version of the Regular

May 17, 2010 meeting minutes as corrected for newsletter printing. Motion passed by Roll Call 7 – 0. Voting YES: Brewer, Brown, Harder, LaFluer, Mathers, Moore and Weiss.

Correction: Motion by LaFluer, Seconded by Harder, to approve the abridged version of the Regular May 3, 2010 meeting minutes as corrected for newsletter printing. Motion passed by Roll Call 7 – 0. Voting YES: -insert-Brewer, Brown, Harder, LaFluer, Mathers, Moore and Weiss.

Audience Participation
In response to questions from Treasurer Strawser, Manager Honeysett said that bids would not be sought for the Sixth Street Paving Project until the end of June, that he had not received the written report for sewer line camera work from Clean Earth.

Diana Lammott invited everyone to the grand opening of the Wednesday Farmer’s Market, June 9 th from 3:00-7:00PM. MMPA will distribute free ice cream and milk while the Downtown Brainstormers will sell MMPA butter for $3.00/lb.

Safe Routes to School Update

Manager Honeysett said Constantine Schools Superintendent Frisbie will host a Safe Routes to School Committee formation meeting at the school on Wednesday, June 9 th at 4:00PM. Manager Honeysett, President Weiss, Trustee Moore and members of the DPW and Police Department plan to attend.

Bandholtz Memorial
Some Council members praised Manager Honeysett’s letter to the Michigan Historical Commission re: relocating the Bandholtz memorial (stone). Manager Honeysett promised to inform the Council as soon as the commission responds.

MEDC Signature Building Initiative Grant Keith McGrew was present to respond to questions from the Council regarding his request that the Village apply for a Small Business Initiative Grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation on his behalf to purchase the building at 197 South Washington Street for the purpose of opening an insurance and retirement planning business. Rachel Mullins, SBI Grant recipient, thanked the Council for the opportunity to open an ice cream/coffee shop at the 130 East Water Street, saying she would otherwise have been able to realize her dream of being a business owner; she hopes to be open for business July 1, 2010. Discussion ensued. Main points expressed:

• The need to rehabilitate downtown buildings, especially while grant money remains available,
• Notice from the MEDC that the Village is likely to receive only one more SBI grant because of those previously given,
• Current Village debt and budget concerns,
• Revenue losses due to the closing of Rexam,
• Role of the DDA versus role of the Village in assuming SBI risks/debt,
• Decrease of debt risk over the 5-year grant period,
• Independence and success of the DDA since receiving $120,00 in TIF (tax monies),
• Repetition or niche value of provided services,
• Success of other SBI/MSHDA Grant downtown businesses

Motion by Harder, Seconded by Weiss, to authorize the Village Manager to apply for an NOI (Notice of Intent) with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to seek an SBI Grant for the building at 197 South Washington Street. Motion passed by Roll Call 4 – 3. Voting YES: Brewer, Brown, Harder and Weiss. Voting NO: LaFluer, Mathers and Moore.

White Pigeon Street / White Pigeon Road
Manager Honeysett reported that despite being given the correct street address, 9-1-1 Central Dispatch sent fire trucks to the wrong residence, saying it was the third time in as many years the Central Dispatch has made such an error. Don and Shontel King, 660 White Pigeon Road, presented medical and other concerns that such mistakes may continue to personally affect their family and presented the Council with letters from Village residents Mike and Janell Howard, Jennifer Rogers, Margaret Hockney, Kenda Cartagena and Paul Halcomb, expressing concern at the confusion of having a White Pigeon Road and White Pigeon Street within the Village. Manager Honeysett asked that a Public Hearing be set to reconsider the matter. Discussion ensued.

Motion by Mathers, Seconded by LaFluer, to set a Public hearing for the purpose of receiving comment of possibly changing the name of White Pigeon Road and/or White Pigeon Street for Monday, July 5, 2010 at 7:35PM. Motion passed by Roll Call 7 – 0. Voting YES: Brewer, Brown, Harder, LaFluer, Mathers, Moore and Weiss.

Domestic and Sexual Abuse Services
Motion by Brown, Seconded by Brewer, to authorize the Village Manager to sign the 2010-2011 DASAS (Domestic and Sexual Abuse Services) service agreement totaling $529.25. Motion passed by Roll Call 7 – 0. Voting YES: Brewer, Brown, Harder, LaFluer, Mathers, Moore and Weiss.

State Flag – East Side Elementary

Motion by Brewer, Seconded by Moore, to authorize purchase of 4’ X 6’ nylon Michigan State flag from Flags Unlimited, Inc., Tampa, Florida 33619, at a cost of $69.95. The motion passed by Roll Call 7 – 0. Voting YES: Brewer, Brown, Harder, LaFluer, Mathers, Moore and Weiss. The flag will be flown at the Village office.

Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals
Manager Honeysett said that he has received a variance request, but that due to expired terms and lack of [official] re-appointments, the Village’s Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals do not exist within legal parameters and are therefore no longer functional. The Village Manager said that because of the size of the village, the DDA could be appointed also act as the Planning Commission, albeit with some modification since not all DDA members meet the legal requirements covering serving on the Planning Commission. Trustee LaFluer volunteered to sit on the Zoning Board of Appeals. Discussion ensued. The Village will publicize, through multiple means, the need for volunteers to serve on both boards.

FOURTH OF JULY
Trustee Brown started a discussion regarding many council members expressing misunderstanding the motion adopted at the May 17, 2010 regular meeting concerning the 4 th of July parade route and time. Discussion ensued as to alternatives and anticipated difficulties should the Council decide to change the parade time this close to July. Manager Honeysett said that the route would not be as adopted in the motion, rather it would remain the same as last year. He thanked everyone for the ideas and said they would be incorporated into the 2011 4 th of July celebration. Trustee Brown announced an evening concert on July 4 th at the United Methodist Church. President Weiss said that the Congregational Church would be selling BBQ chicken, time and place to be announced.

Meeting adjourned at 9:10PM.

Ruth Strawser
Constantine Village Clerk