City Council - January 22, 2007

A Regular Meeting of the Ferndale City Council was held Monday, January 22, 2007, at City Hall, 300 East Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. Mayor Porter called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m.

Mayor Porter led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll call showed the following members of Council present: Council Members Covey, Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon; Mayor Porter. Absent: None.

PRESENTATION Ferndale Chamber of Commerce

32. Maile Ilac Boeder, Executive Director of Ferndale Chamber of Commerce, provided information on activities of the Chamber.

33. Call to Audience

1. Thomas Gagne indicated support for the proposed Library Millage and requested Council to consider a Resolution in opposition to ban all trans fats in restaurants.

Consent Agenda

34. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Covey, to approve the Consent Agenda as submitted.

A. Approved the Minutes of the Regular Meeting held January 8, 2007 and the Special Meeting held January 10, 2007, as submitted by Deputy City Clerk.

B. Approved to purchase in the amount of $8,360.00, cameras, monitors, servers, Digital Video Recorder, and hardware and installation for security upgrade for City Hall and Police Station, to be billed to Account# 265-740, Drug Forfeiture, as submitted by Police Chief.

C. Approved the Agreements and Resolutions authorizing the Deputy City Clerk to enter into Agreements to "opt in" and conduct School District, Oakland Community College and Oakland Intermediate School District Elections for the next two years; and authorization to sign Agreements, as submitted by Deputy City Clerk.

D. Adopted the Resolution regarding securing an annual permit from Michigan Department of Transportation to work in its State right-of-way at Woodward and Eight Mile, as submitted by DPW Director.

E. Approved of the emergency repair in the amount of $8,132.00, to replace ceiling tiles at City Hall by Impressive Tile Company, to be billed to Account# 245-775, Public Improvement Fund, Repair and Maintenance, as submitted by DPW Director.

F. Approved the contract in the amount of $13,375.00, with SMART for the Specialized Services Operating Assistance Program Third-Party Contract for the period covering October 1, 2006, to September 30, 2007, and authorization for the Mayor and Deputy City Clerk to sign the Contract, as submitted by Recreation Director.

G. Approved to close the City Hall parking lot on Saturday, June 2, 2007, from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and authorize the use of the City Hall employee kitchen for the Senior Services Annual Trunk-N-Treasure Sale, as submitted by Recreation Director.

H. Approved the bills and payrolls (as certified by Assistant City Manager), to be paid subject to review by the Council Finance Committee.

AYES: Council Members Covey, Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon; Mayor Porter

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Regular Agenda

A. Appointment of Council Members to Boards and Commissions

Mayor Pro Tem

35. No action taken.

Brownfield Redevelopment Authority

36. Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilwoman Gumbleton, to appoint Councilwoman Gumbleton as Council representative to the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority.

AYES: Council Members Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Covey; Mayor Porter

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Employee Retirement System

37. Moved by Councilman Lennon, seconded by Councilman Covey, to reappoint Councilman Covey as Council representative to the Employee Retirement System.

AYES: Council Members Gumbleton, Lennon, Covey, Galloway; Mayor Porter

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Construction Board of Appeals

38. Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilwoman Gumbleton, to appoint Councilman Lennon as Council representative to the Construction Board of Appeals.

AYES: Council Members Lennon, Covey, Galloway, Gumbleton; Mayor Porter

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Ferndale Community Foundation

39. Moved by Councilman Lennon, seconded by Councilman Covey, to reappoint Councilman Covey and Councilwoman Gumbleton as Council representatives to the Ferndale Community Foundation.

AYES: Council Members Covey, Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon; Mayor Porter

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Design Michigan

40. Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilman Lennon, to appoint Councilwoman Gumbleton and Councilman Lennon as Council representatives to the Design Michigan Sub-Committee.

AYES: Council Members Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Covey; Mayor Porter

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

B. Appointments to the Board of Review

41. Moved by Councilman Lennon, seconded by Councilman Covey, to reappoint Jean Davis, 1531 Pinecrest, and Robert Weeks, 769 W. Maplehurst and appoint Linda Cooke, 1055 Earl Blvd. as members of Board of Review; and appoint Charles Page, 341 W. Oakridge, and William Brown, 695 Livernois, as alternate members to the Board of Review for terms ending December 31, 2008.

AYES: Council Members Gumbleton, Lennon, Covey, Galloway; Mayor Porter

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

C. Appointment to Board of Zoning Appeals

42. Moved by Councilwoman Gumbleton, seconded by Councilman Covey, to reappoint Judy Palmer, 285 W. Hazelhurst, to the Board of Zoning Appeals for a three-year term ending December 31, 2009.

AYES: Council Members Lennon, Covey, Galloway, Gumbleton; Mayor Porter

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilman Lennon, to appoint Melanie Piana, 600 Farmdale, to the Board of Zoning Appeals for a three-year term ending December 31, 2009.

AYES: Council Members Covey, Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon; Mayor Porter

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

D. Appointment to the Tree and Green Space Advisory Committee

43. Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilman Lennon, to appoint Steve Turner, 2244 Mahan, to the Tree and Green Space Advisory Committee for a three-year term expiring December 31, 2009.

AYES: Council Members Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Covey; Mayor Porter

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

E. Consideration of bid for preventive roof maintenance

44. Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilman Galloway, that the bid of $32,000.00, from Pro Inc. Roofing and Sheet Metal to provide preventive roof-maintenance services for five years be approved and that the expense be charged to the Public Improvement Fund, Contractual, Account# 245-818.

AYES: Council Members Gumbleton, Lennon, Covey, Galloway; Mayor Porter

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

F. Consideration of Amendment to Chapter 7, Business Registration and Licenses Generally, Article VI, Business Registration, of the Ferndale Code of Ordinances

45. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Covey, to approve Ordinance No. 1019, an ordinance amending Chapter 7, Business Registration and Licenses Generally, Article VI, Business Registration, Section 7-113, of the Ferndale Code of Ordinances, which will change the Year 2007 Business Registration expiration date to February 28, 2007.

AYES: Council Members Lennon, Covey, Galloway, Gumbleton; Mayor Porter

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

G. Consideration of Library Agreements

46. 4) Employee Leasing Services Agreement

Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilwoman Gumbleton, to table the Employee Leasing Services Agreement between the City and the Library Board definitely to the next Regular Council Meeting.

AYES: Council Members Covey, Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon; Mayor Porter

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

2) Property Transfer Agreement

3) Fiscal Agency Agreement

Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilman Lennon, to approve the Property Transfer Agreement and Fiscal Agency Agreement and authorize the Mayor and, if necessary, the City Clerk to enter into those Agreements.

AYES: Council Members Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Covey; Mayor Porter

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

1) Building Lease Agreement

Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilman Lennon, to table the Building Lease Agreement between the City and the Library Board definitely to the February 26, 2007 Regular Council Meeting.

AYES: Council Members Lennon, Covey; Mayor Porter

NAYS: Council Members Gumbleton and Galloway

MOTION CARRIED

H. Consideration of Library Ballot Language Resolution

47. Moved by Councilman Galloway, seconded by Councilwoman Gumbleton, to approve the Resolution to approve the Library Ballot Language for the next regularly scheduled election in May.

AYES: Council Members Lennon, Covey, Galloway, Gumbleton; Mayor Porter

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

I. Discussion and Consideration of City Manager’s Contract

Councilman Lennon left Council Chambers at 8:47 p.m.

Councilman Lennon returned to Council Chambers at 8:50 p.m.

48. Moved by Councilman Covey, seconded by Councilman Galloway, to approve and accept the Employment Agreement as presented at this Council Meeting between the City of Ferndale and Robert Bruner, Jr.

AYES: Council Members Covey, Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon; Mayor Porter

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Call to Council

49. Police Chief Kitchen welcomed City Manager Robert Bruner.

50. Fire Chief Schmidt commented about Bird Flu.

51. Deputy City Clerk Szalma welcomed City Manager Robert Bruner.

52. Moved by Councilman Lennon, seconded by Councilman Covey, to adopt the Resolution authorizing the Deputy City Clerk to make travel arrangements for the March, 2007 National League of Cities Conference in Washington, D.C.

AYES: Council Members Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Covey; Mayor Porter

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

53. Assistant City Manager Hubanks announced that the Audit of the Financial Statement had been completed and received and it was requested by Council to have a presentation by the auditing firm at the next Regular Council Meeting. She provided information regarding office supplies that was discussed during Councilman Lennon’s Call to Council at the December 27, 2006 Council Meeting. Assistant City Manager Hubanks also provided information regarding a revised job description and inquired if Council wanted it on a future Civil Service Board Agenda.

54. City Attorney Christ welcomed City Manager Robert Bruner. He announced that the Ordinance Committee had met recently and that proposed Ordinances would be before Council in the near future.

55. Councilman Lennon inquired on the file regarding the purchase of bricks for the Veterans Memorial. He also commented on a letter that the members of Council had received. Councilman Lennon wished Dorothy Webb "Happy 90th Birthday" on January 25, 2007. He requested that an Appointment to the Civil Service Board be placed on the next Agenda.

56. Councilwoman Gumbleton announced the Ferndale Education Foundation would have their annual fundraiser on February 2, 2007, at the Venetian Club in Madison Heights, at 6:00 p.m. She wished for Council to have a goal setting and strategic planning session prior to having budget sessions.

57. Councilman Galloway welcomed City Manager Robert Bruner.

58. Councilman Covey requested that a Resolution celebrating Dorothy Webb’s 90th Birthday be placed on the next Regular Council Meeting Agenda. He commented on the protestors at Nine Mile and Woodward regarding the War in Iraq. Councilman Covey thanked City Employees that worked in the aftermath of the recent ice storms. He announced that the Blues Festival would be held January 26 through February 3, 2007, and enumerated the various venues.

59. Mayor Porter commented on the upcoming Blues Festival. He also commented on the damage from the ice storm throughout the metropolitan area.

Mayor Porter adjourned the meeting at 9:17 p.m.

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Robert G. Porter, Mayor

ATTEST:

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Sharon Szalma, Deputy City Clerk