December 12, 2022, City Council Meeting

Introduction:

Though public comments can sometimes irritate the city council, there is value to both the council and the public in hearing them. While they can’t eliminate public comments entirely without violating the Open Meetings Act, your city council has decided not to acknowledge public comments during a city council meeting unless the person submitting the comments also appears at the meeting (in-person or electronically) to personally read them, but this is a rule that they occasionally adhere to (or not). Mayor Eric Haven has also cut people off for exceeding the city council’s arbitrary three-minute time limit (it’s arbitrary because no time limits are required by the Open Meetings Act), another rule that they occasionally adhere to (or not).

If your public comments were submitted to the council but not read, or if you tried to make public comments but your comments were cut short by the mayor, please email them to clarkstonsunshine@gmail.com and I will include them in my informal meeting summaries either under public comments or under the specific agenda item that you want to speak to.

Links to the video recording and the council packet can be found at the bottom of this post. Please note any errors or omissions in the comments. Anything noted between brackets was inserted by Clarkston Sunshine.

Agenda Item #1, Call to Order:

[Independence Television joined the meeting in progress. The city manager did not record the meeting from GoToMeeting. There is no recording of this agenda item.]

Agenda Item #2, Pledge of Allegiance:

[Independence Television joined the meeting in progress. The city manager did not record the meeting from GoToMeeting. There is no recording of this agenda item.]

Agenda Item #3, Motion: Approval of Agenda:

[Independence Television joined the meeting in progress. The city manager did not record the meeting from GoToMeeting. There is no recording of this agenda item.]

[Item #3 on the standard agenda is usually the roll call. The Independence Television video shows that Mark Lamphier, Gary Casey, Bruce Fuller, Eric Haven, Sue Wylie, Laura Rodgers, and Amanda (Wakefield) Forte were present.]

Agenda Item #4, Public Comments (Video time mark 0:00:00):

[Independence Television joined the meeting in progress, beginning with the fifth paragraph of Chet Pardee’s public comments. The city manager did not record the meeting from GoToMeeting. This agenda item was joined in the middle of Chet Pardee’s public comments, which are included in full because I was provided with an advance copy.]

Chet Pardee:

Good evening:

How extensive is the Washington lot sink hole? Is it clear what caused it? What is the expected cost to repair?

The city is halfway through its fiscal year and no proposals for street or sidewalk repairs have been brought to council. Are any street or sidewalk repairs expected to occur in the current fiscal year? The East Washington sewer repair is in the current budget.  When is it planned?

When will the council representatives be appointed to the finance committee to replace Al Avery and Joe Luginski? Is the finance committee activity for the 2023-24 budget year expected to begin in February? Will the finance committee decide if a millage proposal will be on the ballot in November? If so, when is the decision expected to be made? Based on the June 6, 2022, decision, June was too late. Does the usual May budget completion need to be moved up?

Greg [Coté, city treasurer], if the GO [general obligation] bonds were replaced with millage, how much revenue per year would be provided? (2007 GO retired June 2022 and 2012 GO to retire June 2024.)

Is HRC [Hubbell, Roth & Clark] working on the city’s priorities and cost estimates for sidewalk and street repairs? What was the last estimate of the number of sidewalk sections needing repair? What was the estimated cost?  What is the plan for the west Miller Road sidewalk replacement since MDOT [Michigan Department of Transportation] declined the grant request? 

What is the latest estimate of the cost to repair the seven Main Street paver aprons and what is the expected grant decision timing?

The above questions are critical to determining what capital projects should be included in the 2023-24 budget.

Thank you.

[There was a whispered conversation between Fuller and city attorney Tom Ryan during Mr. Pardee’s public comments across the council table in which Ryan mentioned “recycled paper.”]

Haven thanked Pardee and said that as he knows, all these questions will be answered in due course, and the budget committee will meet in the first quarter in anticipation of our fiscal year in July. So, all these things will be answered in due course as Pardee knows, and Haven appreciates Pardee bringing them all to their attention, so thank you for that.

Haven asked if anyone else had public comment.

No other public comments.

Public comments closed.

Agenda Item #5, Sheriff Report for November 2022 (Video time mark 0:01:15; page 3/63 of the council packet):

Haven said that the Sheriff’s report is in their packet, and Haven said he would share his copy with those on council who do not have it. Again, Haven doesn’t know that there’s anything noteworthy in it. Feel free to peruse that and see if there’s anything there that you’d like to question or have comments. Now, we certainly can get responses from the Sheriff’s department if you have any questions about that.

[Whispered conversation between Ryan and Forte.]

Jonathan Smith (city manager) said that this would be a good time to introduce John. John is taking over for Sergeant Yon, who has moved on. Haven said hi, John. John said hi, nice to meet you. Haven asked if he is Sergeant John? John said Sergeant John Ashley. He’s been with the Sheriff’s Department for 28 years. He started on Tuesday at Independence, so he had to take care of the parade all week; welcome to Independence. He lives over in White Lake, so he’s been around this community for quite a while. Haven said wonderful, and we look forward to working with you. Sergeant Ashley said yes, he looks forward to being here. Haven said so you will be here instead of Sergeant Yon. Sergeant Ashley said yes, we sold him on eBay. (Laughter.) They moved a bunch of us around, so Sergeant Ashley got this spot here and is really looking forward to it. Haven asked if Sergeant Ashley was involved in the parade, and Sergeant Ashley said yes, he helped set it all up. Haven said it’s all about fun in this community. Sergeant Ashley said yes, exactly. Haven said welcome, Sergeant Ashley. Sergeant Ashley said thank you. Haven said he appreciated Sergeant Ashley being there. Sergeant Ashley said yes, and if anybody has any questions, here or on my phone, they are welcome to call him, not a problem. Haven said excellent.

Smith said that Sergeant Ashley was really helpful for the Christmas Market as well, and we also have a new fire marshal, Bruce Harben (spelling?) our fire marshal has moved on and Greg Bryant (spelling?) is the new fire marshal, so at some point, we’ll have him come in and you can meet Greg as well.

Haven said all right. He just wanted to say something relative to our parade and our Christmas Market in the park. This has to be noted, for sure. He thinks those of you who participated and experienced it were really pleased and excited about all of it. Haven said he would just like to read a brief statement and to thank Laura [Rodgers] who’s here and all the others.

(Reading from a statement, interspersed with comments): Great Christmas Market. It was a delightful evening in Clarkston for families. The parade was brilliant, and the Depot Park was beautiful. Many thanks to Team Rush who put on the parade, the lights parade, Laura Rodgers and Amy Wilson who masterminded the Christmas Market in the park. The parade participants are Clarkston DPW [Department of Public Works] which worked hard and they’re responsible for the overhead lights that Haven understands are going to remain on through the skating season out there. Smith said in the park, yes. Haven said that will be a lot of fun to see that there. And then the vendors and generous donors who gave Clarkston a night to remember. So, thank you all. Haven said he was going to pass this on to Rodgers and she can pass it along to others if she would like to do that.

Haven told Rodgers thank you very much and he asked her if she wanted to make any comments. Rodgers said she would and wanted to give a huge shoutout to Smith and Jimi [Turner, DPW supervisor] and Carson [Danis, DPW laborer]. She did not realize what they do behind the scenes for some of these things that look seemingly simple. They worked their butts off on Thursday, Friday, Saturday to get that place looking the way it was and she cannot say enough about them, and they kept, Turner is so patient, like she wouldn’t even be patient with herself, and he was. So, he really deserves, all three of them, deserve just a huge thanks. And it did turn out very well. The vendors did, all of them said that they did very well. Some did very, very well, some did well, you know. She got wonderful comments from parents, and just observing the evening, there were no kids fighting. It was amazing. And no parents, there was one time that the line for Santa was all the way down that pathway, and parents weren’t yelling, and one mom said to her, she just mentioned this, that you know, it was so nice not to have to pull out a dollar for everything the kids wanted to do. So, the s’mores were free, the games were free, really truly you could have a whole evening without spending a dime if you wanted to and a very festive evening. And then to have the parade, to just be able to go up there and watch the parade. We weren’t sure what was going to happen after the parade, whether people were going to come back down, and standing down there watching just everyone come back down was just so wonderful. So, it was a great (unintelligible). Haven said all the kids are on the good list. Rodgers said they were on the good list. (Laughter.) Rodgers said she wanted to give a shout out to the Santa and Mrs. Claus. Santa is a dear friend of hers, and she got to know Mrs. Claus very well this time on Saturday, and she was a real sweetheart. All and all, Rodgers thinks everyone had a great time. Haven said Rodgers should do it again. (Rodgers made an unintelligible comment.)

Smith said that he thinks it’s the new normal, the new standard that they will have to follow every year. It was such a huge success, and Smith thanked Rodgers for all of her efforts in putting it together. Rodgers said she had a ball. It was really fun. Smith said yes. Rodgers said the weather was perfect, so that worked in our favor too.

Agenda Item #6, City Manager Report (Video time mark 0:06:41; page 4/63 of the council packet):

Haven said that the next thing on the agenda is the city manager’s report. Haven said he would read in case some of you don’t have this here.

(Haven read from the city manager’s report regarding a grant application involving the dam and selection of a new city clerk to replace Jennifer Speagle.)

Haven asked if Smith wanted to comment on either item.

Smith said he thinks the grant application is pretty much self-explanatory. This is going to take some time. This grant application process, it’s a long time. They had a meeting today with Bob and Tara Roth. Ed [Adler] couldn’t make it, but it was a good discussion. The Water Resource Commission [WRC] was present, and they kind of made it very clear, just be prepared, this is a long process, a long road we’re going down, so just be prepared, it’s going to take some time. They’ve talked about an interim plan whereby WRC will take control but not ownership in the interim because Bob [Roth] made it very clear that they want to shed the risk of the dam, and so they’ll work with WRC to see if there’s a way they can get this as quickly as possible, this agreement for them to operate the dam. Not own it, but operate it, and then going forward, ultimately, they’ll own it and operate it, but they want to shed the risk immediately. In fact, they said the deadline was December 31^st to do that. So, that’s not going to happen, but we’ll get this going as quickly as we can.

Haven said they will hear Water Resource or WRC a lot in the years to come. Smith agreed. Haven said Water Resource Commission. This is the county. Smith said yes. Haven said the county is the one who stepped up and said they would be willing to own it once all the provisions and construction is done and so on, alternative plans for control of the dam. Haven said that’s number one; he didn’t mean to interrupt. Smith said no, that’s fine.

Smith said that the second item is the city clerk position. He’s pleased to announce that he has selected a candidate. These numbers are real outdated now, but he ended up interviewing, or ended up reviewing, a total of 130 resumes. He subscribed to Indeed, which is a placement service, and they try to match you up with people that they think will meet your criteria. Well some of them were way below Smith’s criteria. Way, way below, but nonetheless, he reviewed a total of 130 resumes. Of those, 31 he actually accepted, temporarily, to look at them further. Of those 31, he actually interviewed twelve online, because you can do like a Zoom interview. So, he did twelve of those, and then he boiled that down to five that he wanted to interview in person, so he interviewed them here in the office and Smith is accepting the one that he thinks is just a perfect fit for us. It was a tough choice. They had more candidates than Smith had thought would fit. Very little clerk experience. That’s like a needle in the haystack. Smith didn’t really think, especially at our salary levels, that he was going to attract a resume from an existing clerk, which typically, you demand, kind of twice the salary levels that we can offer. But the person that we are selecting has clerk experience. She used to work at Independence Township until 2017, and she has election experience, quite a bit of election experience, and kind of clerk-related experience, so Smith thought she was a good fit and she was such a great person to interview. She’s just a perfect fit for our little office. You know, we have this very small little team, and it’s very important that they fit into the team, and so Smith was looking for the right personality, not just, qualifications are very important, but Smith needed to find the right personality as well and Karen [DeLorge] met all of those, checked all of those boxes.

So, Smith is pleased to announce that Karen DeLorge will be our next city clerk. He just notified her today, and he notified the other candidates today. So, as you know, the city manager has the authority to hire, but he’ll read them the section of the charter that talks about this.

Smith read from the City Charter, Chapter V, “Administrative Officers,” Section 5.1(c):

All administrative officers of the City, except the City Manager and the City Attorney shall be appointed by the Council after consultation with the City Manager. Such officers may be discharged for cause by the Council after consultation with the City Manager. Such officers shall have their compensation fixed by the Council.

So, Smith will need to come back to the next meeting, if that’s December 26^th or January 9^th, he will come back to the next meeting and introduce them to DeLorge, and we will get her sworn in. Smith would like to get training started. As Smith thinks they know, Speagle and her new boss, Jose Aliaga, have agreed to lend Smith Speagle for training. So, Smith is definitely going to take advantage of that offer and have Speagle come back to train DeLorge. So, Smith has to see what those dates might be but he assumes it would be in early January. So, Smith would like to get DeLorge up to speed as quickly as possible. We’re really hurting right now without a clerk.

So, that’s where Smith stands. He will have a, he will send out an email with DeLorge’s resume so they can see it. He doesn’t think that just looking at the piece of paper it’s going to give them the sense that wow, this person is off the chart crazy good. It’s more the interview process and discussion with her that really convinced Smith that DeLorge is the right person for the job.

Haven said it’s with the approval of council. He thinks that’s what Smith indicates. Smith agreed. Haven said they will get to meet her next time. It’s so important that you build a team you need. The clerk is really an official position of the city. Ryan said administrative officer. Haven agreed, so it’s not simply an administrative assistant or something. Smith agreed. Haven said so this is a formal clerk position. Smith agreed. Haven said so, we look forward to meeting her then.

Casey asked Smith if DeLorge had accepted a salary, has Smith offered one. Smith said yes, she has accepted the salary. Speagle was making $35,000 a year when she left. Smith has offered her to start at $30,000 and then when the 60 or 90 day, he can’t remember which it is, he will have to check with Greg [Coté, treasurer], probation period is up, then she would bump up to the $35,000. Smith said he knows that people might say why didn’t you start her in lower and work up over time, but Smith can’t afford to do that. He needs somebody now, and he needs some loyalty from that person, so even at $35,000 that’s kind of a very low salary for a seasoned and experienced person. So, that’s his plan. Starting at $30,000, after 60-90 days, bump them to $35,000, consistent with what Speagle was doing.

Wylie asked Smith to repeat DeLorge’s last name again. Smith repeated DeLorge’s name and spelled it for Wylie. Smith said he hasn’t asked her for the actual pronunciation. He doesn’t know if the “e” on the end is silent or what, if it’s DeLorg; he’ll find that out.

Forte asked when she would be starting. Smith said he’s targeting January 1^st. With all the holidays coming up, it’s going to be quickly. Now, if Speagle says she’s got some time next week, DeLorge said that she would be happy to come in, but they’ll just see what Speagle has available.

Haven said thank you. He asked if there were any other questions.

No additional questions.

Agenda Item #7 – Motion: Acceptance of the Consent Agenda as Presented (Video time mark 0:16:13):

• • 10-24-2022 Draft Minutes (page 5/63 of the council packet)
  • 11-14-2022 Draft Minutes (page 7/63 of the council packet)
  • 11-28-2022 Draft Minutes (page 9/63 of the council packet)
  • 11-23-2022 Revenue & Expenditure Report for the Period Ending 10-31-2022 (page 11/63 of the council packet)
  • 12-12-2022 Treasurer’s Report (page 20/63 of the council packet)
  • 12-07-2022 Check Disbursement Report, 11-01-2022 – 11-30-2022 (page 21/63 of the council packet)
  • Carlisle/Wortman, November invoices (page 31/63 of the council packet)
  • Thomas J. Ryan, P.C., November invoices (page 33/63 of the council packet)

Haven said that the next item on the agenda is the consent agenda. He said he would accept a motion to accept the consent agenda, and he’ll explain that.

Motion to accept the consent agenda as presented by Wylie; second Rodgers.

Smith asked for confirmation that it was Wylie and Rodgers; Haven confirmed that it was.

Haven said a consent agenda is in the packet. Haven said the audience may not have seen it. It’s online and available. Before you come to meetings, you can look at all of this. It’s just the details of the following documents that come to them premeeting, every meeting they have. There are final minutes that have been presented to them in draft form previously, and there are draft minutes for meetings that we need to review, and then a treasurer’s report for the month. So, this is all in packet form for you to review and for council to review before they come to the meeting. And we put it in a packet like this so we can discuss with one simple motion. We call it a consent agenda.

Haven said he has a motion and a second to accept their consent agenda. It is simply a motion.

Haven asked if there was any discussion about this collection of documents today.

Haven asked for a voice vote; Smith interjected and said he wanted to say one thing. This is a bit of an unusual circumstance in that we have two consent agendas combined into one because last time, in our November 28^th meeting, we didn’t have the consent agenda in the packet. So, we’ve got two treasurer’s reports and three sets of minutes in this consent agenda. Haven said that does make it a little thicker. Smith said a little thicker.

Haven said it’s the final meeting minutes for 10-24, which is the furthest one out and draft minutes for 11-14 and 11-28 which is what Smith is referring to as an extended period of time here. [Note: the 10-24 minutes are labeled “draft” in the packet.] Haven said the treasurer’s report of 11-28 and 12-12. [Note: The treasurer’s 11-28 report is not included in the packet posted on the Clarkston website. Last visited: 02-09-23.]

Haven said let’s begin the process again. We have a motion and a second to accept this consent agenda.

Haven said he believed there was no more discussion and asked for a vote.

Motion to accept the consent agenda passed by unanimous voice vote.

Agenda Item #8, Old Business (Video time mark 0:18:33):

Haven said the next item on our agenda, we have no old business, so they would move on to new business.

Agenda Item #9, New Business (Video time mark 0:18:36):

Item 9a – Motion: Approval of the 2023 Angel’s Place Race (Video time mark)

• • Motion – May 13, 2023 Angels’ Place Race (page 36/63 of the council packet)
  • Angels’ Place Race 10K Course Map (page 37/63 of the council packet)
  • Angels’ Place Race 5K Course Map (page 38/63 of the council packet)
  • Angels’ Place Race One Mile Fun Run/Walk Course Map (page 39/63 of the council packet)
  • Certificate of Liability Insurance (page 40/63 of the council packet)

Haven said we have a motion for approval of the 2023 Angels’ Place Race. Haven said he would just read this, and there’s a map and so on of the course in the packet. He thinks some of them are here to address this. He’ll just read it first and they can step forward perhaps and say what they’d like to say.

(Haven read the motion with a couple of minor embellishments.)

Haven said he would entertain a motion and a second to approve the plans for the May 13^th Angels’ Place Race through the Village of Clarkston and then he will entertain any comments. Haven asked who would like to move that they accept this, and again, this is every year for quite many years, you can tell us about that, but who would like to move.

Motion by Wylie; second Forte.

Haven asked someone named Anne [later identified as Anne Clifton] to step to the podium.

An unidentified man (later identified as Paul Maxwell) said he would start.

Paul Maxwell:

Haven asked the man to introduce himself, and the man gave his name as Paul Maxwell, founder and race organizer. Rick Clark is one of their volunteers for the race. He heads up the race operations and Clifton is one of the co-leads for registration.

This is going to be their sixteenth year here. He appreciates the great support from Smith, the council, Oakland County Sheriff, they work very closely with them. They can entertain any questions.

The biggest thing is Angels’ Place, if you don’t know about Angels’ Place, it’s group homes, eighteen homes in Oakland County. His mom helped start it, and he has a sister in one of the homes. Eventually, they would like to get a home in Clarkston, but right now, this race serves as a fundraiser but mainly an awareness of Angels’ Place. They started in 1992, and now with eighteen homes in Oakland County and a few in (unintelligible), he thinks it’s twenty-one now. But they’re all volunteers for the race. It’s been a great experience working with Smith and his team.

Haven thanked Maxwell and asked if there were any questions for Maxwell or Clark or Clifton.

Forte said that she did this race last year, and it was super fun. It was very challenging. It’s very hilly. [Someone repeated that it’s a hilly course.] Forte said it’s the coolest experience to run down downtown. It’s all shut down. You’re feeling good at that point because it’s the beginning. (Laughter.) The hills are at the end and you’re (unintelligible) she doesn’t know, down Dixie Highway with everyone watching you, but it was a great race as a runner and it’s really great that you guys host it every year. It’s special for all of us and it’s such a great cause, obviously.

An unidentified woman said she would like to know how much the race has raised for Angels’ Place. Maxwell said over the fifteen years, over $330,000. Gross. Forte said that’s amazing.

Maxwell said it’s a great bunch of volunteers. They do plan this for about ten months. They have a lot of race day volunteers that really make it happen. Close coordination with the Oakland County Sheriff. Maxwell said he had just met with Smith, and they were talking before the meeting. Clark and Maxwell meet with the Sheriff and Independence Fire and Judy Turner, and it works great. It works well.

An unidentified woman [Clifton?] said they would like to encourage any council members to either go with, like Forte, or volunteer. If you go to the Angels’ Place website, there’s a volunteer signup link. Maxwell said he can leave a few save the date cards. (Laughter.) Smith said there’s a walk as well, right? Maxwell said right. (Laughter.) Smith said he was just pointing that out. Maxwell said (unintelligible) Mill Pond for families. Clark said they could walk around Mill Pond, a mile walk. Forte said Smith could run it, come on. Maxwell said he’s done it. Smith said yes, it’s been a few years. (Laughter.)

Haven said all right. They have a motion in front of them that’s been moved and seconded and asked for a voice vote.

Motion passed by unanimous voice vote.

Haven said congratulations.

Item 9b – Resolution: Participation in the Oakland County NoHaz Recycling Program (Video time mark 0:24:08):

• • Resolution – The North Oakland Household Hazardous Waste Consortium (page 41/63 of the council packet)
  • North Oakland County Household Hazardous Waste Interlocal Agreement Between Oakland County and City of the Village of Clarkston (page 42/63 of the council packet)
  • Exhibit A – 2023 Project NoHaz Budget (page 57/63 of the council packet)
  • Exhibit B – 2023 Estimated Costs (page 58/63 of the council packet)

Haven said the next item on their agenda is, turn the page here, a resolution to participate in the Oakland County NoHaz recycling program. To Smith, Haven said they’ve seen this before, right, it’s coming back to them? Smith said yes. Haven asked Smith to clarify a little bit because there’s more than he wants to read or anyone wants to listen to in the whereases and so on. Smith said yes.

Smith said Oakland County has offered the NoHaz recycling program for years. He doesn’t recall if the city, it must have been before his time here, participated in it, but it allows our residents to dispose of hazardous items for just $10 or $15. It depends on what level we participate at. Smith would propose we participate at least to start at the $15 level. So, then all of our residents can go to one of these events. There’s four per year, and they can go to the event, show their identification address, their driver’s license, and then for $15, they can drop off whatever hazardous waste items they have that normally can’t be put out with the trash.

Smith said that the beauty of this is, you know, push comes to shove, you know, people have some old paint cans in their basement, they want to clean it out, and it’s a pain finding a place to recycle them. So, usually what ends up happening in, and they don’t have bad intentions, but it just ends up buried in a plastic bag. So, that’s not the right way to do it. We’d prefer that it be recycled in a responsible manner, and that’s what this program does. It’s really a vote for our future and to make sure that people aren’t just dumping their used car oil in the back of the lot or their unused paint, not to say that it’s happening, but it’s just a great program.

Smith said now, you say, what’s the cost to the city. So, they have provided an estimate, he’s got that in here, but this one paragraph kind of sums it up right here (Smith read): “Be it further resolved: City residents will be charged $15 to participate and the City will be charged an estimated $85.25 per participating resident for each [2023] NoHaz event.” So, we don’t just pay a flat rate, $85, for the whole city, we just pay it on an as used basis. So, if five people take advantage of the program this year, then we would be charged five times $85. It just really depends on how many people participate. In the past, when the city did have this, they said that on an annual basis, that’s for four drop offs, there were forty people in the city. Again, that’s over four drop-offs. Forty people participated in the program.

Smith said he knows that it’s an expense, and they have to find the budget, he thinks they can find the budget. He’s proposing that it be handled through their professional contractual services budget which has sufficient funds to cover this. He thinks that it’s just absolutely the right thing to do.

Haven asked if this is a single date, or is there more than one date. Smith said four. One every quarter. Haven said it’s quarterly. Smith said they’ve already had the fourth quarter event, so the next one wouldn’t be until probably in March sometime. They kind of skip over the winter months.

Casey asked whether the location was the place across from the high school. Smith said he didn’t know.

Wylie said they do one in Pontiac at the administrative center. Smith said he thinks they move around. Wylie said that’s always a big one. Maybe it’s in March, maybe it’s in May. Smith said yes. An unidentified person said he’d gone to that one personally, yes. Wylie said that’s the one she usually goes to. (Unintelligible crosstalk from the audience.) An unidentified woman said Pontiac in the old school parking lot; she’s been there (unintelligible). An unidentified man said over in Oxford. Wylie said Oxford and Lake Orion have something. An unidentified man said he’s just been paying the township. He knows he shouldn’t speak, but he’s always thought this is a great way, when he’s had paint cans and stuff, or he broke a big TV this year, that’s probably about $200, he paid $10 and got rid of his TV and they’ll recycle it. Wylie and Smith agreed. Wylie said she has a little (unintelligible) with the neighbors, she gets everybody’s, they just kind of threw in some money and got rid of everybody’s paint. You know what happens when you get home, you find more paint. (Laughter.) And wait again for this year.

Haven asked what the notification process is. It is quarterly. How will the public know when these events are. Smith said they will send out emails and he would broadcast it out to all the residents. Haven said perhaps his weekly report. Smith said or they could do it through a tax statement, or a sewer bill, or something, or maybe there’s a few different ways we could communicate. Certainly, on our website. But yes, they would absolutely make sure it’s thoroughly communicated.

Haven said this is a resolution, and that usually means that there is money involved, which is the case here.

Haven asked who would like to move to adopt this resolution as a council.

Motion by Casey; second Forte.

Haven asked if there was any further discussion.

Casey said he thinks this is something really worthwhile to do and it’s about time.

Forte agreed and said especially the post-industrial state, like we see a lot of contaminants come out of paint and like post-manufacturing and even in Michigan and like they have PFAS [perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances] that they’ve located even in Clarkston. That’s a big contaminant that we should be thinking about in the future, how can we prevent things like that from continuing to happen, and these programs are good ways to prevent like mistakes we’ve made in the past as a society, and as a local city council, that’s something we want to get behind in protecting the charm of our little city. These are the things that we have to pay into to make that possible.

Rodgers asked if it mattered how much they bring, so if one person brings like two paint cans, it’s $84. If one person brings like Wylie was saying – Smith said a carload – (continuing), Rodgers said it still would just be $84. Smith said it’s still the same. Wylie said you would pay $15, so it’s unlikely you would go with just two paint cans. You’ll see people loaded. (Unintelligible crosstalk.) Forte mentioned renovating a house or something. (Unintelligible crosstalk between council members.)

Smith said he thinks it’s also important to note to Forte’s point about protecting the environment – (unintelligible crosstalk between city council members) – (continuing), Smith said people tend to think if you’re on city water, if you’re on the community water with Independence Township, that’s a community well. It’s not city water coming out of Detroit. Independence Township, their water comes from a community well, so people dumping chemicals in their backyards just to get rid of them hurts us all because it goes into the aquifer, and you know, some of it gets filtered out, but some of it can end up in drinking water, causing health issues down the road. So, it’s looking down the road in our future. Smith thinks it’s just an important step. It’s a cost. We hate to add to our budget, but Smith thinks it’s something whose time has come, and we need to do this.

Wylie said it’s a great time to clean your garage out. If you’ve got a bunch of old garden chemicals, if you change the oil in your car, you can get rid of all that stuff. Smith agreed.

Haven said they have a motion and a second, Casey and Forte, to adopt this resolution.

Haven asked if there was any further discussion.

Fuller asked if this comes up every year with a vote by the council to participate. Smith said it will. It will be an annual renewal, yes. So, this is for the 2023 calendar year.

No additional discussion.

Haven said since it’s a resolution, it requires a roll call vote, and he asked Smith to take the vote.

Rodgers, Casey, Haven, Forte, Fuller, Wylie, and Lamphier voted yes. Resolution passed.

Item 9c – Motion: Appointment of Amanda Wakefield as Council Liaison to Planning Commission (Video time mark 0:32:37):

• • Motion – Planning Commission Appointment (page 60/63 of the council packet)

Haven said speaking of Forte, the next item on the agenda to appoint Amanda Wakefield Forte to the planning commission. The requirement is that council have a liaison member on the planning commission, and Wylie has decided to step down this year. Wylie said yes, she has. Haven asked Wylie how long she’s been on there, he doesn’t want to overstate it or understate it, and Wylie said she really didn’t know how long. (Unintelligible) four years. Haven said Forte has big shoes to fill.

(Haven read the motion out loud but orally added Forte’s married name to the motion.)

Haven said he would make the motion; Wylie second.

Haven asked if there was any discussion.

Forte said she just wanted to say that she’s very excited. Wylie said she is excited. (Laughter.)

Rodgers said she’s got the whole environment thing. Haven said she does. (Unintelligible crosstalk about Forte’s background.) Haven said Forte will be a great participant in the planning commission, and we need that, you need that very important commission for our city.

Haven said it is a motion, so without any further conversation he will just ask for an all in favor say aye.

Motion passed unanimously by voice vote.

Haven congratulated Forte and said Wylie could retire now. Wylie said she’s still on council. (Laughter.)

Item 9d – Motion: Approval of the 2023 Council Meeting Dates (Video time mark 0:34:31):

• • Motion – 2023 City Council Meeting Schedule (page 61/63 of the council packet)
  • City Council Meeting Dates for 2023 (page 62/63 of the council packet)

Haven said the next item on the agenda is 9d which is a motion to approve the 2023 council meeting dates. It’s always an exciting time. (Laughter.) Haven said it’s going to happen twice a month, the second and fourth Monday of every month, including the last one in December which we’ll approve right now, OK? We’ll see if we ever have that one in December.

Haven said he would entertain a motion to adopt this calendar which Smith has given to them for these dates of the second and fourth Monday of every month in 2023. Who would like to so move?

Motion by Rodgers; second Casey.

Haven said there is a motion and second and asked if there is any discussion.

No discussion.

Haven thinks it’s by charter. He doesn’t think they can massage these dates at all, can they? (Ryan shook his head no.)

(Fuller and Wylie made unintelligible comments.)

Haven said holiday bounce it, and Smith said yes, holidays will bounce the meetings around, but that’s probably, he’s guessing, Easter? Easter Monday? He doesn’t know what the conflict is in that case. Wylie said the day after Easter.

Haven asked if there was any discussion.

No additional discussion.

The motion passed by unanimous voice vote.

Item 9e – Motion: Cancellation of the December 26^th, 2022 Council Meeting (Video time mark 0:36:09):

• • Motion – Cancel the December 26, 2022 City Council Meeting (page 63/63 of the council packet)

Haven said that’s the last – Smith said one more.

Haven said the last one is a motion to cancel the last meeting of the month, which is December 26^th, unless somebody just desperately wants to come back the day after Christmas for a council meeting.

Haven said he would entertain a motion to cancel.

Motion by Wylie; second Forte.

Haven asked if there was any discussion.

No discussion.

Motion passed unanimously by voice vote. Haven said the motion carries.

Agenda Item #10, Adjourn (Video time mark 0:36:42):

Haven said he would entertain a motion to adjourn for Christmas.

Motion by Forte; second Rodgers.

Haven asked if there was any discussion.

No discussion.

Motion to adjourn passed by unanimous voice vote.

Haven said they are adjourned and wished everyone Merry Christmas.

Resources:

• • Link to video recording:
    http://216.11.46.126/CablecastPublicSite/show/3976?site=1
  • 12-12-2022 – City Council packet