VERGENNES TOWNSHIP BOARD

Regular Meeting Minutes

February 17, 2003

 

The regular meeting of the Vergennes Township Board was called to order by Tim Wittenbach at 7:00 p.m. in the Vergennes Township Hall.

 

Members Present:            Tim Wittenbach            -            Supervisor

                                    Mari Stone               -            Clerk

                                    Al Baird                -            Trustee

                                    Jean Hoffman                       -            Treasurer

Members Absent Vern Nauta               -            Trustee

 

Motion by Baird, second by Stone, to add discussion of the current ZBA requests to the Agenda.  Motion approved.  Minutes of January 20, 2003 and Treasurers Report were accepted as presented.  Payments of invoices approved as presented with a motion by Hoffman, seconded by Baird.

 

Unfinished Business:

 

1.            Receptionist 90 Day Review – Wittenbach and Stone had met with Janine Mork to review the job description.  They noted that all items were fine, and that she has learned the job quickly.  Motion by Wittenbach, seconded by Hoffman, to approve a 50 cent raise bringing the receptionist pay rate to $9.00 an hour.

           

2.            National Fire Code Information – Brian Kimble, Lowell Fire Department  Kimble explained that when the Fire Department inspects businesses they would like to have a common code to follow. Our adoption of the National Fire Code would allow them to actually enforce the code and not just make recommendations as they can only do at the present time.  If we don’t adopt, authority reverts to PA 207, Life Safety Codes of Michigan.  The national code renews itself every three years, and the fire officials would review the changes and make recommendations to us as needed.  Questions regarding the enforcement – Kimble will follow up with Chief Martin and report back next month.    Other procedures – run ad in paper of notice of intent to adopt. 

 

New Business:

 

  1. Request for Support – Lowell Senior Neighbors, Marsha Roth  Asking for support of the program.  Budget cuts have hurt the center, which provides noon meals to 125 seniors a week in-house, and 200 to the homes of seniors unable to make it out.  There are 35 of our residents currently using the center’s services, which also include health screening and social activities.  As much as the board would like to use General Fund dollars, it was felt that an unwise precedent could be made, and it was preferred to use CDBG funding if possible.  The board will discuss the issue further at meetings in the near future.

 

2.         Road Commission 2003 Projects Work Order.   The graveling, ditching and minor construction projects will include 3 mile Rd. (from Murray Lake to Parnell Ave.), Downes (from Biggs to Fallasburg Park Dr.),  Downes (from Parnell east to Township Line) Finn (between Murray Lake and Alden Nash), and 4 Mile (east of Parnell).   Motion by Baird, second by Stone, to approve the township share in the amount of $71,500.00 for the above projects.  Motion approved.

 

3.            Planning Commission Recommendations.  Discussion regarding the proposed amendments to the Special Use process.  Planning Commission had recommended adoption.  Board felt that the 15 day advance notice to come to the board was not necessary, and agreed to reduce the time to 5 days.  Motion by Stone, seconded by Baird to adopt Ordinance 2003-2, amending the Special Use section, changing the wording on the timeline for submission of application to the Board to 5 days prior to a scheduled Board meeting.

           

Roll call vote:   Hoffman, Stone, Baird, Wittenbach:  yes.   Nauta: absent.

Motion approved.

 

4.         North Kent Transit Service Contract Amendment.  Request to amend by Community Development from $3,000 to $4,000 for fiscal year ending July 1, 2003.  Stone explained that the usage has not exceeded the allocated amount as yet.  Will wait to re-visit as the numbers go up.

 

5.         Special Use Permit, Wireless Communications Tower – Dean Alger.  Alger explained his project.  Discussion was held regarding the need for service in the area.  It was agreed that there is a “dead zone” in the township.  It was also noted that if we had a tower that provides locating for all providers, it would be to our advantage because we could limit further towers.  The proposed tower would be able to address these issues.  Alger has a few items to address in his application – he agreed to make haste and have the items ready for Planning Commission packets by the end of the week.  Motion by Baird, seconded by Stone, to have a complete application sent to the Planning Commission for their March 3rd meeting, and to have them hold the Public Hearing at the same meeting.  Motion approved.

 

6.         Board Input on ZBA Requests – The Township owns property adjacent to the two properties requesting variances on February 18.  Comments regarding the property on Covered Bridge Road concerned the need to apply FR District standards and maintain road access to the township owned property on the river.  There were no concerns regarding the Methodist Church request.

 

Citizens Comments:

 

There was a general discussion regarding the Special Use process.  Al Baird expressed his concern that the Planning Commission review of Special Uses takes too much time and is unnecessary.  He thought that the amendments adopted tonight were supposed to have expedited the process.  Vandersloot explained that where the ordinance says the Planning Commission reviews, that’s were it needs to go first.  Not all Special Uses refer to the Planning Commission, so the Board can deal directly with the application in those cases.

 

 

 

Meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                        Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

                                                                        __________________________

                                                                        Mari Stone, Clerk