Board of Trustees Minutes
September 26, 2006

Supervisor Reaume called the meeting to order at 7:34 p.m., following the dedication of the new Plymouth Township Hall.

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Richard Reaume, Supervisor
Ron Edwards, Treasurer
Marilyn Massengill, Clerk
Kay Arnold, Trustee
Charles Curmi, Trustee
Robert Doroshewitz, Trustee
Steven Mann, Trustee

ABSENT: None

OTHERS PRESENT:

Mark Lewis, Chief Building Official
Randy Maycock, Fire Chief
Timothy Cronin, Township Attorney
Michael Bailey, Dietrich Bailey & Associates
Joe Bridgman, Deputy Clerk
Alice Geletzke, Recording Secretary
22 Members of the Public

Fire Chief Randy Maycock, representing Plymouth Township, and State Representative John Stewart each presented Firefighter Donald McDurmon with a proclamation recognizing his retirement and thanking him for 27 years of distinguished service with the Plymouth Community Fire Department.

D. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

    Regular Meeting - Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Mrs. Massengill amended the agenda by adding under Closed Session an item to Consider Material Exempt From Discussion or Disclosure by State or Federal Statute. She then moved to approve the agenda for the Board of Trustees Regular Meeting of September 26, 2006, as amended. Seconded by Ms. Arnold.

Ayes all.

E. CONSENT AGENDA

    E.1 Approval of Minutes

          Regular Meeting - Tuesday, September 12, 2006

    E.2 Approval of Township Bills

     E.3 Approval of Easements – N/A

     E.4 Communications-Resolutions-Reports

           A. Communications

               Thank you note to the Plymouth Community Fire
               Department from the MOMS Club of Livonia S/Plymouth
               Thank you letter to Deanna Foerster from Kim Allard

           B. Resolutions – N/A
 
           C. Reports

               August, 2006, Building Department
               August, 2006, Fire Department
               July, 2006, Police Department
               August, 2006, Police Department
               August, 2006, Department of Public Works

Mrs. Massengill moved to approve the consent agenda for the Board of Trustees Regular Meeting of September 26, 2006, as presented. Seconded by Ms. Arnold.

Ayes all.

F. PUBLIC COMMENT AND QUESTIONS

Tony Hall of Neopost, Inc., requested an opportunity for his company to submit a proposal for the mailing equipment purchase listed on the agenda.

G. PUBLIC HEARING

     G.1 Request from Karmann Manufacturing, LLC for an Industrial
           Facilities Exemption on building improvements and new
           machinery, equipment, furniture and fixtures to be purchased
           and installed within the facility located at 15111 Keel Street
           Resolution No. 06-09-26-27

Tim Olind, Sr. Vice President and COO of Karmann Manufacturing addressed the Board and answered questions.

There was a question regarding whether the potential $16 million special tooling costs will be exempt under Michigan law. Also, a final lease needs to be presented for review.

Attorney Cronin recommended that the public hearing could be held and the matter postponed for review and clarification of the questions.

Glen Shaw of Wayne County Appraisal Company agreed to assist them in determining what is taxable and what is non-taxable.

Mr. Reaume opened the public hearing at 8;00 p.m. There being no public comment, the hearing was closed at 8:01 p.m.

Mrs. Massengill moved to postpone the request from Karmann Manufacturing, LLC, for a 10-year Industrial Facilities Exemption covering the cost of building improvements, and personal property to a leased facility located at 15111 Keel Street until the October 10, 2006, regular Board of Trustees Meeting. Seconded by Ms. Arnold.

Ayes all.

     G.2 Request from Automotive Components Holdings, LLC (ACH)
           for an Industrial Facilities Exemption on new machinery,
           equipment, furniture and fixtures to be purchased and installed
           within the facility located at 14425 Sheldon Road
           Resolution No. 06-09-26-28

Della DiPietro, Director of Public Affairs for ACH, and Craig Sigworth, Chief Tax Officer, addressed the Board and answered questions. They have had word from Ford Motor Company that they have until the end of 2008 to sell or close all the ACH facilities. They are continuing plans to invest in the Sheldon Road plant in order to make it as attractive as possible to potential buyers. They hope for a 12-year abatement, which could be transferred to a new owner, but would accept a 2-year abatement.

Mr. Curmi questioned whether ACH would withdraw their suit before the Michigan Tax Tribunal on property previously abated or pay for the Township legal fees.

Ms. DiPietro indicated ACH is pursuing what they consider appropriate assessments for all of their facilities. They’re negotiating right now what the value of the marketplace feels these properties to be. They see these as two separate issues.

Mr. Edwards indicated they’re looking for a 70% reduction for the previous abatement, taking $100,000 taxes out of the Township. If they’re successful, everyone else will be looking to do the same thing.

Glenn Shaw of Wayne County Appraisal Company reviewed the new proposal of ACH.

The Board also agreed to look at amending the tax abatement contract.

Mr. Reaume opened the public hearing at 8:25 p.m. There being no public comment, the hearing was closed at 8:26 p.m.

Mr. Curmi moved to postpone the request from Automotive Components Holdings (ACH), LLC, for a twelve-year Industrial Facilities Exemption at 14425 Sheldon Road to the Board of Trustees Regular Meeting of October 10, 2006, and directed the Supervisor and Assessor to review the proposed tax abatement contract and engage in negotiations concerning the tax tribunal case with ACH. Seconded by Ms. Arnold.

AYES: Curmi, Arnold, Doroshewitz, Edwards, Massengill, Mann
NAYS: Reaume
Motion carried.

H. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT – N/A

I. UNFINISHED BUSINESS – N/A

J. NEW BUSINESS

    J.1 Purchase new Pitney Bowes Mailing System
         New system required by the Postal Service

Mrs. Massengill explained the need for timely replacement of the current electronic postage system in order to comply with the Post Office Meter Migration to a digital meter by January 1, 2007. The current system was purchased in 2001 just prior to announcement by the post office of their meter migration to the digital system.

Mr. Curmi asked why sealed bids were not taken.

Mr. Edwards indicated this was not necessary when buying through the state purchasing system.

Mrs. Massengill cited negative reports she’d received from users of the Neopost system as a basis for recommending the Pitney Bowes system.

Carol Hamilton of Pitney Bowes addressed the Board and answered questions.

Tony Hall of Neopost Equipment listed users of their equipment, including City of Livonia, Quicken Loans, and Eastern Michigan University.

Mr. Curmi also suggested other possibilities such as outsourcing or sharing a system with another community.

Mr. Curmi moved to postpone purchase of a new digital mailing system to seek additional bids or pricing, and to research alternatives such as outsourcing. Seconded by Mr. Mann.

AYES: Curmi, Mann, Arnold, Doroshewitz, Edwards, Reaume
NAYS: Massengill
Motion carried.

     J.2 ACH – Sheldon Road Tax Appeal

Glen Shaw of Wayne County Appraisal Co. indicated that a meeting has been arranged for Thursday of this week in Plymouth Township with the seven communities affected by the ACH tax appeal for discussion of the possibility of pooling their resources to jointly pay for attorney and appraiser fees. He also suggested looking into the possibility of the state making available funds for the local governmental units.

     J.3 2006 Sanitary Sewer Repair Program

Michael Bailey of Dietrich Bailey Associates addressed the Board and answered questions.

Ms. Arnold moved to award the bid for the 2006 Sanitary Sewer Repair Program to Sunset Excavating, Inc., in the amount of $75,690.00, and authorize the Clerk and Supervisor to execute the contract for same Seconded by Mr. Mann.

Ayes all.

     J.4 2006 Millage Rate Request

Mr. Edwards indicated the recommendation is for 4.00 mills, the same rate as last year. The rate must be forwarded to Wayne County by October 1. The budget will be completed shortly.

Ms. Arnold moved to approve the 2006 Tax Rate Request of 4.00 mills for the Charter Township of Plymouth, and authorize the Supervisor and Clerk to sign same. Seconded by Mr. Edwards.

Ayes all.

K. SUPERVISOR COMMENTS

Mr. Reaume updated Board members on upcoming bills regarding removing franchise fees, the SOS proposal not making the upcoming ballot, and the Henry Ford Health Systems judgment which removes them from the tax rolls if indigent patients are served.

L. TRUSTEE COMMENTS

Mr. Edwards updated Mr. Doroshewitz on progress on the dispatch contract with the City of Plymouth.

Mr. Curmi asked for police presence in the area of Beck and Five Mile Roads to deal with trash trucks turning left on red lights. He has received several complaints.

Mr. Edwards thanked Mrs. Massengill and Rebecca Armstrong for obtaining the table decorations for the Township Hall dedication, Ann DeGhetto for putting together the programs and slide show, and members of the office staff who volunteered their time to give tours of the building.

Ms. Arnold expressed her pride that the building and fire station are finally completed and occupied.

M. PUBLIC COMMENT

Kathleen McIntyre, Governmental Affairs Manager of Ford Motor Company for southeastern Michigan, expressed her appreciation of the difficulty of the ACH situation. She noted the objective is to insure that the Sheldon Road plant at the end of two years is a viable plant that’s been sold with a good book of business.

N. CLOSED SESSION

At 9:50 p.m., it was moved by Mrs. Massengill and seconded by Ms. Arnold that a closed session be called for the purpose of

RE: IAFF Contract Negotiations Update
To Consider Material Exempt From Discussion or Disclosure by State or Federal Statute.

This is a permissible purpose under the Michigan's Open Meeting Act, Public Act No. 267, Article 15.268, Section 8, Paragraph (c) and (f).

Ayes all on a roll call vote.

At 11:38 p.m., it was moved by Mrs. Massengill and seconded by Mr. Doroshewitz to return to open session

Ayes all on a roll call vote.

O. ADJOURN

Moved by Mrs. Massengill, supported by Mr. Doroshewitz, to adjourn the meeting.

Ayes all.

Meeting adjourned at 11:39 p.m.



Marilyn Massengill, Clerk
Charter Township of Plymouth


The Charter Township of Plymouth will provide necessary reasonable aids and services, such as signers for the hearing impaired and audio tapes of printed materials being considered at the meeting, to individuals with disabilities at the meeting/hearing upon two weeks notice to the Charter Township of Plymouth. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the Charter Township of Plymouth by writing or calling the Human Resource Office, Charter Township of Plymouth, 9955 N. Haggerty Road, Plymouth, Michigan, 48170, (734) 453-3202, TDD users: 1-800-649-3777 (Michigan Relay Service)-

 

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Charter Township of Plymouth
9955 N. Haggerty Road
Plymouth, Michigan  48170
(734) 453-3840

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