City Of Albion

City Council Meeting

March 2, 2015

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Joseph Domingo opened the regular session at 7:00 p.m.

MOMENT OF SILENCE WAS OBSERVED

III.	PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

IV. ROLL CALL

Maurice Barnes (1), Lenn Reid (2), Garrett Brown (3), Cheryl Krause (5), Andrew French (6) and Mayor Joseph Domingo. William Wheaton (4) was absent.

Administration: Sheryl L. Mitchell, City Manager; Jill Domingo, City Clerk; Scott Kipp, Chief of Public Safety; Tom Mead, Finance Director; Jim Lenardson, Director of Public Works; Peggy Sindt, EDC Director; Neely Kent, EDC Office Manager; Sandra Florence, Food Hub Manager; John Tracy, Code Enforcement Officer and Cullen Harkness, City Attorney.

Krause moved, French supported to Amend the Agenda-Removing Item C (Discussion /Approval of New Sidewalk Assessment Policy and Replace with Cullen Harkness, City Attorney. (6-0, rcv)

V.	MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS' COMMENTS

Comments were received from Council Members Reid, Krause and French, City Manager Mitchell, City Attorney Harkness and Mayor Domingo.

VI.	CITIZEN'S COMMENTS (Persons addressing the City Council shall limit their comments to no more than five (5) minutes. Proper decorum is required.)

No comments were received.

VII.	PRESENTATIONS

A. Starr Commonwealth Update-Gary Tester

Gary Tester from Starr Commonwealth gave a brief update on the status of Starr.

He stated that they have hired a management company to manage the residential

programming for Starr. They currently have approximately 100 young men and

have the capacity for 225. Starr has been working with the Albion Community

School and Albion College and are engaged with the Albion Community.

They have a charter school in Harper Woods with approximately 852 students.

They have a trauma training program and train approximately 17,000 professionals

a year.

B. Albion Lions Club-Dick Lewin, Presented a $900 Check From Noisy-le-Roi/Bailly Lions Club for the Purpose of Replacing Trees Lost in the Fall Storm of 2013 to the City of Albion Tree Committee

The Albion Lions Club and the Noisy-le-Roi/Bailly Lions Club have been looking for	a project for the two clubs. Several years ago a storm went through

and took out about 1,000 trees in the Noisy-le-Roi/Bailly area. The Albion Lions

Club sent funds to help replenish these trees so when Albion was hit with a

straight line wind storm in 2013 and also lost approximately 1,000 trees, the two	clubs felt this would be a great project to “twin” the two clubs.

Dick Lewin, President of the Albion Lions Club received $900 from Noisy-le-Roi/

Bailly Lions Club for the purpose of replacing trees lost in the fall storm of 2013

to the City of Albion Tree Committee.

C. Greater Albion Chamber of Commerce-Amy DeShon, Support for Recreation and

Street Millage Renewal

Amy DeShon read aloud two proclamations supporting the Albion Recreation	Renewal Millage and the Street Renewal Millage. She encouraged all to support

the City of Albion in passing these two millages.

VIII.	CONSENT CALENDAR (VV)

A. Approval of Special Council Session Minutes – February 5, 2015

B. Approval Council Session Minutes-February 17, 2015

French moved, Krause supported, CARRIED, to Approve Consent Calendar as

presented. (6-0, vv).

IX.	ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL DISCUSSION

A.	Request Approval Resolution # 2015-12, Requesting Reallocation of MERS

Assets (RCV)

Comments were received from City Manager Mitchell, Finance Director Mead and Mayor Domingo.

French moved, Barnes supported, CARRIED, to Approve Resolution # 2015-12, Requesting Reallocation of MERS Assets as presented. (6-0, rcv)

B.	Request Approval Resolution # 2015-13, Request from the Albion Building Authority to the Albion Trust for Funding of the Food Hub Project (RCV)

Comments were received from Council Members Barnes, French, Brown and Krause; City Manager Mitchell; EDC Director Sindt and Mayor Domingo

Barnes moved, French supported, CARRIED, to Approve Resolution # 2015-13, Request from the Albion Building Authority to the Albion Trust for Funding of the Food Hub Project 2015 as presented. (6-0, rcv)

C.	Discussion-Cullen Harkness Resignation from Bodwin Law Office

City Attorney Harkness informed Council he had tendered his resignation from

Bodwin Law Firm. He stated the City has three options 1) Choose to stay with Bodwin Law Firm 2) Choose to go with Cullen Harkness’ new firm-Harkness Law Firm P.L.C. or 3) Choose an entirely new law firm.

Comments were received from Council Members Brown and Barnes.

Krause moved, French supported, To Discharge Contract with Bodwin Law Firm and Discuss Contract with Harkness Law Firm, P.L.C.

Council Member French made an amendment to the motion to read: To Discharge Contract with Bodwin Firm as of April 30, 2015 and Discuss Contract with Harkness Law Firm P.L.C.

Krause moved, French supported, CARRIED, To Discharge Contract with Bodwin Law Firm as of April 30,2015 and Discuss Contract with Harkness Law Firm P.L.C. (5-1,rcv) (Council Member Brown dissenting).

City Manager asked for a consensus of the council of how they would like to proceed with the discussion of the attorney contract.

The consensus of the council is to have an executive session at the next council meeting to discuss the city attorney contract.

D.	Request Approval of Maurice Barnes Resignation from the Council Liaison

Position with Albion Housing

Comments were received from Council Members Barnes and French.

French moved, Krause supported, CARRIED, to Approve Maurice Barnes resignation from the Council Liaison Position with Albion Housing as presented. (6-0, rcv)

E.	Future Agenda Items

Council Member French would like city attorney contract on the next agenda

Council Member Barnes would like the Liaison position with Albion Housing added to the next agenda.

City Manager Mitchell updated the council on the following items:

Services offered on Home Rehabilitation and Emergency Home Repair through the Community Action Agency

Calhoun County Maintenance Program

Library unable to participate in Story Corp

The Albion Trail is proposed to be expanded to make Albion the hub for the Iron-Belle and Great Lake-to-Lake Trails and began receiving public input at a meeting on February 26th. A Michigan DNR Trust Fund Grant application and public hearing is scheduled for the March 16th meeting.

Hired Larry Williams as New Recreation Coordinator to help get programs started

Looking for grants for recreational activities

Criminal background check policy will allow for some discretion

Plan to have an Albion week in May with week long activities

F.	Motion to Excuse Absent Council Member (s) (VV)

Krause moved, French supported, CARRIED, to excuse Council Member Wheaton. (6-0, vv)

X.	CITIZEN'S COMMENTS (Persons addressing the City Council shall limit their comments to no more than five (5) minutes. Proper decorum is required.)

Comments were received from Darvin Abney, Albion College and Zack Cribs, Albion College.

XI.	ADJOURNMENT

French moved, Barnes supported, CARRIED, to Adjourn the Regular Session. (6-0,

vv)

Mayor Domingo adjourned Regular Session at 8:05 p.m.

____________	_________________________

Date	Jill Domingo

City Clerk