Approved - Alpine Township Board Meeting Minutes

January 18, 2016 Page 4 of 4

MINUTES

ALPINE TOWNSHIP BOARD

REGULAR MEETING

JANUARY 18, 2016

2016-01 CALL TO ORDER AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA

The Alpine Township Board held a regular meeting on Monday, January 18, 2016 at the Alpine Township Hall, 5255 Alpine Avenue, Comstock Park, Michigan, 49321 with due notice. Supervisor Arends called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Present were Supervisor Alex Arends, Clerk Jean Wahlfield, Treasurer Jim Townsend, and Trustees Ron Cordes, Jim May, William Schweitzer, and Mike Wahlfield.

A motion was offered by May, with support from Cordes, to approve the Consent Agenda and to approve the Regular Agenda as presented. There was no further discussion and the motion carried 7-0.

2016-02 CONSIDERATION OF VOUCHERS/BILLS

A motion was offered by May, with support from Schweitzer, to approve the payment of checks and invoices from December 22, 2015 through January 18, 2016 including the final payment to Myles Excavating. Motion carried 7-0.

2016-03 PUBLIC COMMENT

Chris Becker informed the Board that he is running for Kent County Prosecuting Attorney as William Forsyth is retiring. Becker spoke of his qualifications and handed out information pertaining to his experience.

2016-04 COMMISSION REPORTS

Planning Commission: Cordes – Will meet on Thursday this week.

Zoning Board of Appeals: Schweitzer – No December meeting

Historical Committee: Schweitzer – No December meeting

Sewer & Water: Arends – Meeting coming up; did not attend the Plainfield Utilities meeting.

Parks & Recreation: Jim May – Held a special meeting for the new 5 year Parks & Rec Master Plan, new suggestions were received.

Public Services Committee: Arends – Did not meet

2016-05 K.C. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS FOR YEAR 2016-2017; CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION #16-01 – AUTHORIZE ACCEPTANCE, CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION #16-02 – ASSIGN CDBG FUNDS, CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION #16-03 – REALLOCATE

The Supervisor reviewed the memo from Planning Director Sue Becker dated January 15, 2016 entitled “Community Block Grant Funds”. Resolution #16-01 authorizes the acceptance of the 2016-2017 CDBG funds. Resolution #16-02 would assign $1,000 to Arbor Circle Corporation’s North County Teen Parenting Services, with a maximum of $17,525 to Hope Network Paratransit Bus Service and any remainder monies would go towards the construction of sidewalks and non-motorized trail projects within the Township. Resolution #16-03 would allow the Township to reallocate the unused $4,153 from program year 2013-2014 to Kent County for the Housing Rehabilitation Program and to reallocate $2,029 from the 2015-2016 program year for the construction of sidewalks. The Board discussed the resolution and CDBG program.

A motion was offered by May, with support from Mike Wahlfield to approve Resolution #16-01 to authorize the acceptance of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, to approve Resolution #16-02 to allocate 2016-2017 CDBG monies, and to approve Resolution #16-03 to reallocate previous CDBG funds in the amount of $4,153.00 to the Housing Rehabilitation Program in Kent County and $2,029.00 from program year 2014-2015 for the construction of sidewalks and/or non-motorized trails. Motion carried 7-0.

2016-06 CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION #16-04 AND AGREEMENT #16-01 NKSA FEES FOR QLF

The Utility Use and Development Agreement was forwarded to NKSA Attorney Jim Scales for review. Scales made many changes and Township Attorney Jeff Sluggett is currently reviewing the final draft changes.

A motion was made by May, with support from Townsend to table Resolution #16-04 and Agreement #16-01 until the February 2016 meeting. Motion carried 7-0.

2016-07 APPROVE TOWNSHIP CALENDAR

The Township Board did not select the final holiday for 2016 calendar at the December 2015 meeting. Originally Tuesday, July 5, 2016 was discussed and not used as that day is the last day to register to vote for the August 2016 election and is also a payroll day. The new date recommended is Monday, October 10, 2016 which is Columbus Day.

A motion was offered by Cordes, with support from Townsend to approve Monday, October 10, 2016 as a Township Holiday. Motion carried 7-0.

2016-08 APPROVAL OF ZBA APPOINTMENTS

The Supervisor made two recommendations for new members of the Zoning Board of Appeals. Greg Madura as ZBA Alternate #1 with a term expiring December 2016 and Bill Homrich as ZBA Alternate #2 with a term expiring December 2018

A motion was offered by May, with support from Schweitzer to approve Greg Madura as Alternate #1 with a term expiring in December of 2016 and Bill Homrich as Alternate #2 with a term expiring December 2018 to be new members of the Zoning Board of Appeals. Motion carried 7-0.

2016-09 APPROVE CHANGE TO EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK – VACATION TIME

The Employee Policy contains a sentence under Vacation leave that could be misinterpreted. To receive vacation benefits an employee must be full time but this is not clear in the handbook due to a sentence pertaining to prorated vacation based on hours worked. For clarification purposes, it has been recommended to add the following words “Vacation benefits are limited to full time employees”, “such”, and “Eligible” as shown in the information provided by the Supervisor.

A motion was offered by Cordes, with support from Townsend to make changes to the employee handbook under Vacation Time limiting paid vacation time to full-time employees. Motion carried 7-0.

Townsend noted that the Board could consider a sliding scale paid vacation benefit for permanent part time employees in the future.

2016-10 RECEIPT OF 2016-2020 ALPINE TOWNSHIP DRAFT RECREATION PLAN

A memo was received from Planner Becker dated January 15, 2016 named 2016-2020 Draft Recreation Plan with sections 5 and 6 attached for the Boards review. The next steps in the process to adopt the Plan were discussed and the full plan can be found on the Township website.

2016-11 FIRE DEPARTMENT

The December Run Report was received. A total of 1,064 calls were received in 2015, 79 more than the previous year.

Chad Host and Dave Klomparens will be in Lansing on Wednesday for the fireworks inspection training as the Fire Department will be conducting the inspections in the Township. Chad Host is a Certified Fire Inspector and Alpine Township will receive monies from the State for undertaking fire inspection duties locally.

The Chief gave an update regarding the audio/video project and the furniture being built.

The FEMA grant for an aerial platform apparatus truck has been resubmitted with suggested changes to help explain that Alpine does not currently have a the aerial truck. Usually these grants are awarded to departments that are looking to replace old equipment not acquire new.

Fire Fighters have been measured for new turnout gear which was approved by the Township Board

Klomparens informed the Board that Phil Brown will be retiring. He has served 40 years on the Fire Department and will be missed. The Board expressed their appreciation for Captain Phil Brown and the Fire Department will recognize him at their annual banquet.

Jeremy Kelly and Brian Stalsonburg will be attending an instructor coordinator class in February to maintain their certification.

The Chief noted that the possibility exists to hire a new fire fighter that is fully trained and is an EMT Paramedic.

Todd Verduin is working on preventative maintenance on the fire trucks.

Phil Brown made anchor points for heavy rescue (2500-6800lbs) using 1” rods, 40” tall called pickets to go along with the rope rescue equipment. Brown also made a spring cylinder system to use as a lift assist for the water port-a-tank.

2016-12 PUBLIC COMMENT

No comments were offered.

2016-13 SUPERVISOR’S REPORT AND BOARD COMMENT

The Supervisor thanked the Clerk’s Department for the organizing the post-holiday lunch held for employees at the Community Room. Those present also were able to view the displays in the Historical office.

Jim May asked the Board if what happened in Flint could happen in Alpine Township; Mike Wahlfield answered no. Trustee Wahlfield sits on the Board for the Michigan Ground Water Association and reported findings/ happenings of the Flint water situation and explained that their problems came from having lead solder connections which Alpine Township does not have.

The Clerk stated that the Board picture will be taken on February 15, 2016 before the meeting begins.

The meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm

Respectfully submitted,

______

Samantha Hanna, Jean Wahlfield, Clerk Alex Arends, Supervisor

Recording Secretary