DAYTON TOWNSHIP
Regular Meeting Minutes
March 2, 2015
Meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. with the pledge to the flag. Members Bob Cook, Mike Mocniak, Eleanor Kilmer, Bob Steele and James Satchel were present.
Minutes from the February 2, 2015 meeting were motioned for approval by Steele and supported by Kilmer. Motion carried 5 yes. Minutes from February 9, 2015 special meeting were motioned for approval by Steele supported by Mocniak. Motion carried 5 yes.
Public Comment: RJ Gilmore expressed concern about not having received an absente ballot application for the Feb election. Mike explained the absentee application and balloting laws and also expressed concern over the number of applications and ballots that are either lost or delayed in the mail. He stated that absentee ballots will be sent out for the May election hopefully by the week of the 15th of March and encouraged everyone to send AV applications and ballots promptly so that they are received in time for the election. Richard Horsch thanked everyone who supported the veterans millage.
Commissioner: Christine Trisch reported that the future of the EDC was uncertain as a result of the failed millage and that the master plan costs for Dayton township will be considerably higher. Mike Mocniak asked her to comment on the reimbursement of election expenses to the township and she replied that she was told by the county clerk that the expenses will not be reimbursed as previously announced.
Ambulance: Glenn Fox presented the ambulance report which included the annual finance report and ambulance service statistics. Clerk Mike stated that he had been sent a copy of the ambulance service annual report and had it available for anyone who wanted to look at it.
Mayville Library: Gail Cook briefly presented that there was no new information other than a library sponsored easter egg hunt coming up later this month. She also stated that events such as preparation for the Sunflower festival increases the activity level of the library board in the spring.
Planning Commission: Doug Graham reiterated the information regarding the anticipated cost of the master plan. He stated that they were making slow progress on compiling the results of the survey. He also stated that Nathan Cobb submitted his resignation from the planning commission.
Zoning administrator/ Blight officer: Bob Cook reported issuing one zoning permit. He also stated that he had a request from a property owner that more time be given to clean up their property considering the current weather conditions.
Cemetery: Chad Hilborn was buried recently. Plotting the cemetery addition will be done once good weather returns.
Trustee: Bob Steele invited everyone to attend his recall hearing on Thursday, March 5 at 3pm.
Treasurer: Eleanor reported income of $32,200.53, and expenses of $71,641.20, for a balance on hand of $224,127.92. There is $10,218.69 in checking, $2639.54 in money market account, and a CD face value of $211,269.69. She also reported receiving a last minute revenue sharing check of $24,064 which will be added to the total finances as well as other money received before the end of the fiscal year.
Clerk: Checks in the amount of $73,864.89 have been written since the last meeting. Steele made a motion to approve the bill payments with a second by Satchel. Motion carried unanimously.
Mike reported that his research showed that the last raises on record were given to board members in 2005. Board wages were raised 22% between 2000 and 2005, averaging 4.4% per year. There have been no board raises since 2005. The total yearly cost to each resident of the recently board approved raises for supervisor, board of review, and election inspector is 65 cents. Mike stated that he did not feel that this was unreasonable considering there have been no raises for so many years and that it was only for those few positions. He also suggested revisiting the idea of having a compensation committee formed in order to have a more fair and equitable way of dealing with wages.
Mr Satchel stated that the board had called a special meeting last month to raise wages. Mr Cook stated that the reason for the meeting was to conclude the business of the abruptly adjourned meeting of Feb 2, which included addressing wages, and was not a special meeting to only address wages.
Mike made a brief presentation regarding an idea he had that would reduce garbage collection costs considerably and would involve cooperation of neighboring townships. The concept of every other week collection as well as increasing recycling efforts was discussed, and most people present seemed in favor of the concept. Mr Satchel expressed the concern that garbage may pile up and increase the amount of vermin. Mike stated that we still have a few years left on our current contract but that he thought it would be a good time to begin dialogue and maybe form a committee to investigate this concept. Mike reported that he was still working with Waste Management on getting a contract addendum that would afford some rate reduction considering the lower fuel costs. WM did give us a $60 credit on this month’s bill.
Unfinished business: Mike stated that wage resolutions were needed for all positions that were not discussed at the previous meeting, namely Clerk, Treasurer, Trustees, Deputy Treasurer, Deputy Clerk, Cemetery Records Officer, Cemetery Sexton, Zoning administrator, Blight Officer, Planning Commission members, and Zoning Board of Appeal members. Satchel motioned to keep the current compensation amounts for all these positions, supported by Steele. Motion passed by unanimous roll call vote.
There was a motion to formally set the date for the BOR organizational meeting for March 3 at 7:30 by Steele, supported by Kilmer, and was approved unanimously by roll call vote.
There was a motion by Steele, supported by Satchel to set the poverty rate at 1.5 times the federal poverty standard rate. Motion passed by unanimous roll call vote.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:38 pm.
DAYTON TOWNSHIP