City Council - November 10, 2008

FERNDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING

Monday, November 10, 2008

A Regular Meeting of the Ferndale City Council was held Monday, November 10, 2008 at City Hall, 300 East Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. Mayor Covey called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

Present: Mayor Covey, Council Members Baker, Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon

Absent: None

Mayor Covey asked that the agenda be amended to include, under Regular Agenda, a request from Chief Kitchen for approval of a Charitable Gaming License.

462. Moved by Lennon, seconded by Galloway, to approve the agenda as amended.

AYES: Council Members Baker, Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Mayor Covey

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

Stephanie Hall, Director of Community Relations, gave a brief update on events and achievements within the school district.

Trevor Johnson, Good Neighbors Garden, issued an invitation for new members and noted a concrete contractor is needed for work on a water collection cistern platform.

Joyce Schoen, Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration & Immigrant Rights, and Fight for Equality by any Means Necessary (BAMN), asked for Council’s support in their fight against Ferndale Public Schools’ University High School, characterizing it as segregated and complaining that Ferndale High School is not available to Detroit students. Seven other members of the group added their comments.

Tyrone Simmons made a claim of racial profiling by Ferndale police in an unspecified incident earlier in the day.

Julie Glazier, Publicity Chair for Ferndale Youth Assistance, noted sponsorship opportunities to send a student to summer camp and promoted the Bowl-a-Thon fundraiser on Sunday, November 16, at Luxury Lanes.

Ann Heler, Board President of FernCare, provided a status report on the free clinic, and promoted a three-day fundraiser at AJ’s Café, November 13 – 15, from 7:00 until 12:00.

A.J. O’Neil promoted the fundraiser by announcing ticket prices.

Mayor Covey commented in general on the national educational crisis and noted the School Board, not the Council, is the ruling body for school decisions. Councilwoman Baker thanked the students for speaking.

463. Moved by Galloway, seconded by Baker , to approve the Consent Agenda as submitted:

A. Approved the minutes of the Regular Meeting held October 27, 2008, as submitted by City Clerk.

B. Approved accounts submitted by Assessor/Treasurer to be charged as a lien against the respective properties and to be collected as special assessments with the Winter 2008 taxes in terms of the Applicable Charter Provisions.

C. Approved invoice from Rhodes Welding Co., Inc. for $4,461.18 for repairing leaf vacuum #8335, and to charge the expense to the Vehicle and Equipment Fund, Repair and Maintenance, account no. 661-775.

D. Approved invoice from Siemens for $3,385 for replacing the heat unit at the pump station and to charge the expense to the Water and Sewer Fund, Capital, account number 592-000-977.

E. Granted approval of the request of the Michigan Department of Transportation for a temporary exemption from the city’s noise ordinance while the department rehabilitates the Bermuda/Mohawk and Campbell Road bridges over I-696 during the 2009 construction season.

F. Approved the METRO Act Unilateral Agreement submitted by MCImetro and authorized the Mayor to sign the Agreement.

G. Approved the bills and payrolls as certified by City Manager to be paid subject to review by the Council Finance Committee.

AYES: Council Members Galloway, Gumbleton, Baker, Mayor Covey

NAYS: None

ABSENT FROM TABLE: Council Member Lennon

MOTION CARRIED

464. Moved by Galloway, seconded by Baker, to authorize the City Clerk to sign the Resolution for a Charitable Gaming License for Camp Casey Corporation, 228 W. Webster, Ferndale MI.

AYES: Council Members Gumbleton, Lennon, Baker, Galloway, Mayor Covey

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

465. Moved by Galloway, seconded by Gumbleton, to authorize the Police Department to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Police Officer Adam Jenzen and to fill said vacancy.

AYES: Council Members Lennon, Baker, Galloway, Gumbleton, Mayor Covey

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

466. Moved by Lennon, seconded by Baker, to accept the proposal from Sutphen Fire Apparatus of Amlin, Ohio, through their local distributor, Apollo Fire Equipment Company of Romeo, Michigan for the purchase of a new Triple Combination Top Mount Aluminum Pumper in the amount of $345,364 and authorize the Mayor and Clerk to sign the contract.

Within twenty (20) days of notification to Sutphen of being the successful bidder, prior to any work commencing on the proposed apparatus, they will, at their own expense, obtain and submit to the City of Ferndale a performance bond in the amount of 100% equal to the total purchase price.

Funds for this purchase are available in Account Number 661-000-977, Vehicle and Equipment, along with the transfer of $104,414 from the General Fund Fire Apparatus Reserve.

AYES: Council Members Baker, Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Mayor Covey

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

467. Moved by Galloway, seconded by Gumbleton, to approve the agreement by and between the Southeastern Oakland County Water Authority to oversee the city’s water-distribution system.

AYES: Council Members Galloway, Gumbleton, Lennon, Baker, Mayor Covey

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

468. Moved by Lennon, seconded by Gumbleton, to approve submittal of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program Grant application totaling $1,115,160.44, and to authorize the Mayor to sign the application for submittal by the November 14^th deadline

AYES: Council Members Gumbleton, Lennon, Baker, Galloway, Mayor Covey

NAYS: None

MOTION CARRIED

F. Woodward Avenue Action Association (WA3) – Mayor Covey asked the City Manager to draft a letter of support for the declaration of Woodward Ave. as an "All American Road".

Keith Dalton shared plans for video coverage of upcoming Ferndale events.

AJ O’Neil promoted the new dinner theater portion of AJ’s Café, opening open with the musical comedy "Birth of Baby Jesus in Ferndale" on November 30 at 2:00 p.m. and running for a total of six shows. Tickets are $25 and a portion of proceeds will go to Gleaner’s Food Bank.

469. Chief of Police Kitchen noted conditional offers of employment will be made to the first two candidates on the Police Officer eligibility list.

470. City Clerk Tallman extended thanks to the Clerk’s Office staff, precinct workers, and members of the DPW, Police and Recreation departments for their invaluable contributions to the successful conduction of the general election.

471. City Manager Bruner noted the Veteran’s Day observance at 11:00 tomorrow, GoComedy! opens Wednesday night, the annual Chamber of Commerce Gala is on Thursday, and November 15^th is America Recycles Day.

472. Councilwoman Baker shared highlights of her tour of the new water pumping station.

473. Councilwoman Gumbleton acknowledged everyone involved in the employee recognition dinner, the Clerk’s office for an excellent job on the election, encouraged the community to attend the Ferndale High School play, acknowledged Michigan Suburbs Alliance for having one of their programs being highlighted in an upcoming workshop at the NLC Conference, and with Veteran’s Day upcoming asked residents to take to heart the sacrifice people are making.

474. Councilman Lennon thanked the Clerk’s Office staff for an excellent job on the election, thanked City Manager Bruner, Finance Director/Assistant City Manager Hubanks and Executive Assistant Ahlgrim for the employees’ dinner and thanked Chief of Police Kitchen for the Auxiliary dinner.

475. Mayor Covey shared a letter from the Historical Society reporting over 2000 volunteer hours this year, reported the Youth Delegate, Molly Breen-Bondie, will be joining Council at its next meeting, thanked staff for the election, employee dinner and Auxiliary dinner.

There being no objections, Mayor Covey adjourned the meeting at 8:46 p.m.

J. Cherilynn Tallman, City Clerk