City Council Minutes

CITY OF GRANDVILLE

REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2009

The Grandville City Council Regular Meeting of January 26, 2009 was called to order by Mayor James Buck at 7:01 pm.

The Acting Clerk called the roll. Present were Council Members Ken Gates, Randal Gelderloos, Steve Maas, Joshua Meringa, Carole Pettijohn, and Mayor James Buck. Absent: None.

Also attending: Tammy Aue, Treasurer/Finance Director; Matthew Butts, Assistant City Manager; Randy Kraker, City Attorney; Kenneth Krombeen, City Manager; Mary Meines, City Clerk; Marci Poley, Acting Clerk; and Dennis Santo, Police Chief;

Rev. Greg Brower, Zion Reformed Church, gave the invocation; and was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Motion made by Council Member Maas, supported by Council Member Pettijohn, to approve the January 26, 2009 agenda as presented. The motion was APPROVED.

Motion made by Council Member Maas, supported by Council Member Meringa, to waive the reading of the minutes of the Regular Meeting of January 12, 2009 and to approve as presented. The motion was APPROVED.

Motion made by Council Member Gates, supported by Council Member Maas, that Fiscal Year 2008-2009 bills totaling $674,777.00 as presented by the City Manager, be allowed and authorize the Treasurer to pay the same. The motion was unanimously APPROVED by roll call vote.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Mayor Buck presented a proclamation to former Kent County Commissioner Marv Hiddema recognizing his long time representation of Grandville on the county board.

Sandy Leblanc thanked Marv Hiddema on behalf of the Grandville Chamber of Commerce for his service over the years.

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

City Manager Krombeen gave a brief overview of the Michigan Department of Transportation contract relative to the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) project. Total cost of improvements is $56,600. The federal share of that amount is $45,300 with Grandville picking up the remaining 20% share of $11,300. Motion made by Council Member Gates, supported by Council Member Pettijohn to approve Resolution No. 2877, authorizing approval of Contract No. 08-5446 with the Michigan Department of Transportation and authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to sign the contract. The motion was unanimously APPROVED by roll call vote.

CONSENT AGENDA

Items presented under the Consent Agenda included:

1. Reports: CWP (December), Investment’s (December)

2. Minutes: Park and Recreation Board (November 20)

3. Appointments: Bill Dudas, Park and Recreation Board – Term Expiring 12/31/11

Dave Houtsma, Board of Review – Term Expiring 12/31/10

Scott Petersen, Local Officers Compensation Commission –

Term Expiring 12/31/13

4. Proclamation: National Ambucs Month

5. Miscellaneous Purchase Orders and Requests:

a. DPW: Water Tank Painting – Dixom Engineering - $2,800.00

Motion made by Council Member Maas, supported by Council Member Pettijohn, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented in the best interest of the City. The motion was unanimously APPROVED by roll call vote.

CITY MANAGER’S

Finance Director Aue explained there is a new GASB regulation that requires postemployment benefit liabilities to be noted in the financial statements starting June 30, 2009. The City currently receives an actuarial valuation for the pension liability annually, but needs to obtain an actuarial valuation for the retiree healthcare liability. Motion made by Council Member Pettijohn, supported by Council Member Meringa to authorize Watkins Ross to provide actuarial valuation for retiree healthcare in the amount of $4,800.00 in the best interest of the City. The motion was unanimously APPROVED by roll call vote.

The City Attorney explained that the Council Member appointment needs to be made by four votes from the Council. The Council will rank the candidates with each Council Member giving their top choice four points, second choice three points, etc. The two candidates that receive the lowest total points will be eliminated. From the remaining two candidates Council will then cast votes for their top choice.

Council Members marked and signed ballots ranking the applicants. City Attorney and the Acting Clerk tabulated the ballots. Results of the ranking were:

Buck – Blitchok, Kremers, Richards, Poll

Gates – Poll, Kremers, Richards, Blitchok

Gelderloos – Richards, Blitchok, Poll, Kremers

Maas – Blitchok, Kremers, Richards, Poll

Meringa – Richards, Blitchok, Kremers, Poll

Pettijohn – Blitchok, Poll, Kremers, Richards

Jeff Kremers and Robert Poll were eliminated in the ranking vote.

Council Members marked and signed ballots indicating their choice for the appointment.

City Council votes were:

Buck – Blitchok

Gates – Richards

Gelderloos – Richards

Maas – Blitchok

Meringa – Richards

Pettijohn – Blitchok

The votes resulted in a 3-3 tie. There was discussion regarding how to proceed. Failure of the Council to come to a decision within 30 days of the vacancy being created results in the need for a special general election. The Council decided to vote again.

Council Members marked and signed ballots indicating their top choice for the appointment.

City Council votes were:

Buck – Richards

Gates – Richards

Gelderloos – Richards

Maas – Blitchok

Meringa – Richards

Pettijohn – Blitchok

Dick Richards received the appointment. Mayor Buck extended congratulations.

COUNCIL COMMENTS

· Thank you to each of the City Council candidates

ADJOURNMENT