City of Hastings

County of Barry, State of Michigan

CITY COUNCIL MINUTES

January 11, 2010

1. Regular meeting called to order at 7:00 PM.

The oath of office was administered to Members Depue, Jasperse, McNabb-Stange, and Wood, elected at the election last November, by City Clerk Emery.

2. Present at roll call were: Bowers, Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

Staff and City Appointees present were: Mansfield, Emery, Sarver, Caris, Hart, Holzwarth, and Fekkes.

3. Pledge to the Flag.

4. Approval of the agenda.

Motion by Wood, with support by McNabb-Stange, to approve the agenda as presented.

All ayes. Motion carried.

5. Mayor's Address: Mayor May discussed a brief history of Hastings being founded in 1836, the village incorporating in 1855, and the county courthouse being built in 1893. He connected the City’s history with its present motto: “We treasure the old, progress with the new.” He discussed the three aims of original founders and their modern manifestations: (1) responsible government represented today in the City’s cooperation with the county and townships; (2) generous citizens represented today in a new library building with donations; (3) visionary business people represented today in an active downtown with significant, successful DDA support. He listed goals for this year including new electric service at Tyden Park, Fish Hatchery Park ponds improvements and geese control, a “Park Party”, hospital activity at the former Via Tech building, Bob King Park improvements. Finally, the Mayor repeated the overriding intention to be the best we can be within our means.

6. Adopt Robert’s Rules of Order.

Motion by McNabb-Stange, with support by Tossava, to adopt Robert’s Rules of Order.

Ayes: Bowers, Campbell, Depue, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

Nays: Jasperse.

Absent: None.

Motion carried.

7. Elect Mayor Pro-Tem.

Motion by Jasperse, with support by Wood, to re-elect Member Don Tubbs as Mayor Pro-Tem.

Ayes: Bowers, Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Wood, and May.

Nays: None.

Abstain: Tubbs.

Absent: None.

Motion carried.

8. Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of December 28, 2009.

Motion by Wood, with support by McNabb-Stange, to approve the minutes as presented.

All ayes. Motion carried.

9. Proclamations:

Mayor May read and presented Mike Callton and Tom Evans with a proclamation recognizing mentoring. Evans appreciated the recognition and thanked Hastings citizens for participation as volunteers and contributors. Mike Callton recalled his own experience as Big Brother and impact in life of the child.

10. Public Hearings: (None).

11. Formal presentations and requests:

A. Consider 2010 calendar of regular meetings as the second and fourth Mondays of each month except:

Tuesday December 28 in place of Monday December 27 (Christmas Holiday)

Motion by Wood, with support by Bowers, to adopt the 2010 calendar of regular meetings as presented.

Ayes: Bowers, Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

Nays: None.

Absent: None.

Motion carried.

B. Request from Jim Carr, Supervisor for Rutland Charter Township, to proceed with discussion of extending public services to the township from the City.

Motion by Bowers, with support by McNabb-Stange, to approve request to authorize discussion.

Ayes: Bowers, Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

Nays: None.

Absent: None.

Motion carried.

12. Recommendations from other Boards: (None).

13. Ordinances:

First reading of Ordinance No. 453 to regulate abandoned signs in the City.

Ordinance was read.

Campbell asked about the need for this ordinance. Mansfield responded.

14. Resolutions:

Consider Resolution 2010-01 approving depositories for City funds.

Motion by Tubbs, with support by Tossava, to adopt Resolution 2010-01 as presented.

Ayes: Bowers, Campbell, Depue, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

Nays: None.

Abstain: Jasperse.

Absent: None.

Motion carried.

15. Consider elected officials salaries as recommended by the Mayor:

Mayor $ 7,800 per year

Mayor Pro-tem $ 2,500 per year

Council Members $ 2,300 per year

Board of Review $115 per meeting

Motion by Wood, with support by Tubbs, to approve elected officials salaries as recommended.

Ayes: Bowers, Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

Nays: None.

Absent: None.

Motion carried.

16. Appointments:

A. Mayor’s 2010 recommendations for appointment with consent of Council

Motion by Tubbs, with support by Wood, to appoint Jeff Mansfield as City Manager and approve and authorize the Mayor and Clerk to sign the City Manager’s Employment Agreement as presented.

Ayes: Bowers, Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

Nays: None.

Absent: None.

Motion carried.

Motion by Wood, with support by McNabb-Stange, to appoint Stephanie Fekkes and Law Weathers Richardson PLC as City Attorney and approve the City Attorney’s retainer and hourly rate expiring January 10, 2011.

Ayes: Bowers, Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

Nays: None.

Absent: None.

Motion carried.

Motion by Jasperse, with support by McNabb-Stange, to approve the Mayor’s appointments to various Boards and Commissions as presented, the appointment of Mayor Robert May for a 1-year term expiring December 31, 2010 as Legislative Director, and to approve the appointment of Barry/Eaton Health Department for a 1-year term expiring December 31, 2010 as Health Officer.

Ayes: Bowers, Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

Nays: None.

Absent: None.

Motion carried.

B. City Manager’s 2010 appointments with the advice and consent of Council.

City Clerk/Treasurer/Director of Finance/FOIA Coordinator

.................................................................................... Thomas Emery

Deputy City Manager/Police Chief/Emergency Management Coordinator

......................................................................................... Jerry Sarver

Fire Chief/Fire Marshall/ADA Coordinator...................................... Roger Caris

Director of Public Services................................................. Timothy Girrbach

City Assessor............................................................... Jackie Timmerman

Community Development Director................................................ John Hart

Zoning Administrator………………………………………………………………….Jeff Mansfield

Mansfield discussed retirement and proposed rehire of Girrbach.

Motion by Wood, with support by Tossava, to approve the City Manager’s 2010 appointments except DPS director.

Ayes: Bowers, Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

Nays: None.

Absent: None.

Motion carried.

Member Wood asked Mansfield to describe the terms and conditions of Girrbach’s employment regarding benefits. Mansfield responded.

Motion by Wood, with support by Jasperse, to appoint Girrbach to DPS position.

Ayes: Bowers, Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

Nays: None.

Absent: None.

Motion carried.

17. Bids, Contracts, Agreements, Abandonments, and Sales:

A. Consider Lease Agreement expiring December 31, 2010 for rental property at 1013 West Green Street.

Member Tubbs indicated his opposition to an increase in rent.

Motion by Campbell, with support by Tossava, to approve and authorize the Mayor and Clerk to sign the Lease Agreement expiring December 31, 2010 of rental property at 1013 West Green Street as presented.

Ayes: Bowers, Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, and Wood.

Nays: Tubbs and May.

Absent: None.

Motion carried.

B. Consider award of bid to Bell Equipment for a Vacuum Sweeper in the amount of $189,000.00 and a trade in quote of $20,000.00 for the existing sweeper as recommended.

Motion by Wood, with support by Tossava, to award bid and accept trade in as recommended.

Ayes: Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, Tossava, Tubbs, Wood, and May.

Nays: Bowers and McNabb-Stange.

Absent: None.

Motion carried.

McNabb-Stange asked about receiving only one qualified bid. Mansfield responded.

18. Consent items without individual discussion:

A. Invoices.

B. Minutes of the Barry County Board of Commissioners meeting of December 22, 2009.

C. Information from Community Action regarding Walk for Warmth.

D. MML Legislative Link dated January 5, 2010.

E. Minutes of the Planning Commission meeting of January 4, 2010.

F. Minutes of the Hastings City/Barry County Airport Commission meeting of December 23, 2009.

G. Zoning Bard of Appeals Year in Review for 2009.

H. Planning Commission Year in Review for 2009.

Motion by Wood, with support by Tubbs, to receive and place on file Items 18.A. through 18.H. inclusive.

All ayes. Motion carried.

19. City Manager's Report:

A. Mansfield gave the Director of Public Services monthly report.

B. Fire Chief Caris gave his 2009 annual and December monthly report.

C. Library Administrator Evelyn Holzwarth gave her 2009 annual and December monthly report.

D. Consider Budget Calendar for FY 2010/2011. Consider setting workshop meeting to discuss Council goals for 2010/2011 on January 25, 2010 at 6:00 PM.

Motion by Wood, with support by Tubbs, to adopt the calendar and set workshop for January 25, 2010 at 6:00 PM as presented.

Ayes: Bowers, Campbell, Depue, Jasperse, McNabb-Stange, Tossava, Tubbs,

Wood, and May.

Nays: None.

Absent: None.

Motion carried.

20. City Attorney's Report: (None).

21. Legislative Director’s Report:

Tubbs and May attended GVMC today regarding potential Constitutional Convention. A speaker proposed changes to the number and status of legislators. They also attended the MAM board meeting.

22. Open Public Discussion from the Floor:

Jim Brown: spoke about the successful Ball Drop, appreciates continuing discussion of sharing services with townships, encourages snow removal downtown, appreciates Roger Caris work in fire department and with Birch, and gave sprawl definition and lauded attempts to avoid it by joint planning.

May presented thank you card from Dave McIntyre.

23. Mayor and Council comment:

Wood: requested access to City email and files remotely.

McNabb-Stange: spoke about minors and others standing outside library smoking.

Campbell: asked about ZBA activity in 2009.

24. Adjourn.

Moved by Campbell, with support by McNabb-Stange, to adjourn the meeting at 8:57 PM.

25. Read and Approved:

________________________ _______________________

Robert L. May, Mayor Thomas E. Emery, City Clerk