Township Board Minutes

MINUTES OF THE CASCADE CHARTER TOWNSHIP
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
7:00 P.M.

Article 1. Supervisor Julien called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Present: Supervisor Julien, Clerk Goodyke, Treasurer Carpenter, Trustees Beahan, Koessel, Fox and Goldberg.
Absent: None
Also Present: Chief Sigg, Planning Director Petersen, and Deputy Clerk Biegalle.

Article 2. Supervisor Julien led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

Article 3. The Agenda was revised to include the following:
" Article 6d. 3,4 & 5 relating to Education Requests.
" Article 10. Re-ordered many of items to accommodate the new item Case 066-2007 which is the discussion with the representatives of Pondera Advisors regarding the interview process of the applicants for the Township Managers position.
Motion was made by Trustee Koessel and supported by Trustee Goldberg to approve the revised agenda as stated. Motion carried unanimously.

Article 4. Closed Session
a. Woods/Campbell Lawsuit Update
Motion to go into closed session was made by Trustee Beahan and supported by Treasurer Carpenter. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion to reconvene into regular session was made by Clerk Goodyke and supported by Trustee Fox. Motion carried unanimously.

Article 5. Unfinished Business
057-2007 Consider Approval of Settlement Agreement Regarding Woods/Campbell Lawsuit.
Motion was made by Trustee Fox and supported by Trustee Koessel to approve the Settlement Agreement of $17,500 regarding the Woods/Campbell Lawsuit. Motion carried unanimously.

Article 6. Approval of Consent Agenda
a. Receive and File Various Meeting Minutes
1. Board of Zoning Appeals Minutes for May 1, 2007.
2. Planning Commission Minutes for June 18, 2007.
b. Receive and File Various Reports
1. Fire Department Month End Report for July, 2007.
2. Kent County Sheriff Department East Precinct Quarterly Report April - June, 2007.
3. Treasurers Department Analysis of Invested Funds as of June, 2007
4. Treasurers Department Bank Balances for June 2007.
c. Receive and File Communications
1. Letter from Home & Building Association re: Real Estate Signs
2. Letter from the Kent County Road Commission re: Invitation to attend the Township Meeting Program.
d. Education Requests
1. Steve Peterson - State Planning Conference - October 17-20, 2007 - Acme, Michigan.
2. Doug Poolman - Fire Investigation Class - September 10-21, 2007 - Lansing, Michigan.
3. Janet Sanders/Jeff Miller - MAA Assessors Continuing Education Registration - September 05-07, 2007- Novi, Michigan
4. Mary Carpenter - MMTA Conference - October 14 -17, 2007 - Kalamazoo, Michigan.
5. Lance Korhorn - Firefighter I and II Class Reimbursement.
Motion was made by Treasurer Carpenter and supported by Trustee Koessel to approve the Consent Agenda. Motion carried unanimously.

Article 7. Financial Actions
a. Consider Approval of Public Utilities Financial Reports for July, 2007.
Motion was made by Trustee Goldberg and supported by Treasurer Carpenter to
Approve the Public Utilities Financial Reports for July, 2007. Motion carried unanimously.
b. Consider Approval of General/Special Funds Reports for July, 2007.
Motion was made by Trustee Goldberg and supported by Clerk Goodyke to approve the General/Special Funds Reports for July, 2007. Motion carried unanimously.

Article 8. Public Actions
a. Public Hearing - Proposed Changes to the Open Burning Ordinance.
Motion was made by Treasurer Carpenter and supported by Trustee Koessel to convene into Public Hearing. Motion carried unanimously.
Fire Chief Sigg reviewed the changes proposed as follows:
" Explanation of recreational fires and approved fire pits and rings
" Duration of time allowed to burn - from 3 to 5 hours
" Items not allowed to be burned - garbage, plastics, chemically treated lumber, etc…
" Prohibition on burning construction material
" Penalties
Trustee Goldberg suggested the change of the wording within the Definition Section to read "approved fire pit…." instead of "manufactured fire pit…". The board agreed with Trustee Goldberg and asked the wording be changed.
One letter was received from Mrs. Tillie Milanowski regarding the limitations of the size of the lot. No comments from the public body.
Motion was made by Trustee Goldberg and supported by Trustee Fox to reconvene into regular session. Motion carried unanimously.

Article 9. Public Comments
Jessica Melson of 6292 Beckhalla Drive in the Caravelle Village neighborhood addressed the board regarding the Burton St. sewer project. The primary concern was the issue of speeding down her street and the changing of open entrances.
Supervisor Julien thanked Mrs. Melson for her comments.

Article 10. New Business
058-2007 Consider Adoption of Proposed Changes to the Open Burning Ordinance.
Motion was made by Clerk Goodyke and supported by Trustee Goldberg to approve the adoption of the changes to the Open Burning Ordinance as amended. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

059-2007 Consider Request from American Cancer Society for Outdoor Gathering Permit and Overnight Event at the Cascade Library.
Planning Director Peterson reviewed the request and stated that it was a similar event that we have had at the Cascade Rec Park the last two years. They are requesting to move the event up to the area around the library. The request is mainly to accommodate a better walking area and possibly better exposure. A portion of Jacksmith will be closed off, and around that area is where they would have their events. Discussion followed.
Motion was made by Trustee Goldberg and supported by Trustee Fox to approve the request from the American Cancer Society for an Outdoor Gathering Permit and Overnight Event at the Cascade Library with the stipulation of asking the County to close the left turn lane. Motion carried unanimously.

060-2007 Update from Glenn Nevelle on Forest Hills Public School Resource Officer.
Deputy Nevelle gave an overview of the Forest Hills Public School Resource Officer program does.

061-2007 Consider Approval of Resolution for Cascade Christian Church Street Closure on Hurley Street.
Motion was made by Trustee Beahan and supported by Trustee Koessel to approve the Resolution for Cascade Christian Church Street Closure on Hurley Street. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

062-2007 Consider Approval of Amendment to Cascade Township's Agreement regarding GO!Bus.
Motion was made by Trustee Goldberg and supported by Trustee Beahan to approve the Amendment to Cascade Township's Agreement regarding GO!Bus for the fiscal year 2007-08. Motion carried unanimously.

063-2007 Consider Appointment of Chuck King to the Meadowbrooke Review Board.
Motion was made by Trustee Goldberg and supported by Trustee Fox to approve the appointment of Chuck Kin to the Meadowbrooke Review Board. Motion carried unanimously.

064-2007 Consider Appointment of Eric Richards to the Cascade Community Foundation.
Motion was made by Trustee Koessel and supported by Trustee Beahan to approve the appointment of Eric Richards to the Cascade Community Foundation. Motion carried unanimously.

065-2007 Consider Appointment of Oxana Sourine as Deputy Treasurer.
Motion was made by Treasurer Carpenter and supported by Trustee Beahan to approve the appointment of Oxana Sourine as Deputy Treasurer. Motion carried unanimously.

066-2007 Discussion with Pondera Advisors, L.L.C. regarding the Interview Process/Questions for the Township Manager Position.
Trustee Beahan was asked to excuse himself, as he is a potential candidate for the position.
Rob Elliot from Pondera Advisors, L.L.C. reviewed the proposed process/questions with the Board. Mr. Elliot also reported the Personnel Sub-Committee had met and had chosen five candidates for the initial interviews, and subsequently after those interviews, there would be potentially up to 3 candidates that would go into the final interview stage with the full Township Board. Discussion followed.

Article 11. Manager's Comments
Interim Manager Beahan presented the following: (the report was given earlier in the meeting)
" Update on the number of inspections requested by the various townships as of tonight is thirty-nine total requests for re-inspections.
" Burton St. project going very well. Ahead of schedule and de-watering going very well.

Article 12. Board Member Comments (None)

Article 13. Adjournment
Motion was made by Clerk Goodyke and supported by Trustee Fox to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously.

Meeting adjourned at 9:35 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Denise M. Biegalle
Township Deputy Clerk

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