Board of Trustees - Special Meeting

and have us start with the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the standy for all. May I please ask for a roll call? Present. Present.

Present. Thank you. Lovely to have everybody here for our final meeting of the year. Um, okay. I'm before I ask for a an approval of the agenda, I need to add an item. So, adding 9.21, a resolution authorizing compensation and benefit modifications for the non-UN employees for the period of January 1st, 2026 through December 31st, 2029. May I get a motion for the uh amended agenda? Madam Chair, I move to approve the agenda as amended. Support. Okay. Any discussion? All in favor?

I opposed. All right. The agenda is is modified as presented. I'm going to go ahead and open it up for public comment. Any person may come forward at this time to address the board. Anyone who wishes to speak is requested, but not required to state his or her name and address for the record. Seeing none, we'll go ahead and move on to the approval of the minutes. May I have a motion for 4.1? Madam Chair, a motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held on November 12th, 2025. Okay. All in favor? I opposed.

All right. Minutes are approved. May ask for a motion for 4.2. Okay. All in favor? I opposed. I want to go back to the public comment for one minute. There was a public comment that was submitted um for online um and maybe received that prior to the um to the meeting tonight and it was just somebody who was in favor of the moratorum for the data center. So want to make sure that we do that and that public comment will be in the minutes. All right. Um, moving over to consent agenda. May I have a motion for our consent agenda, please?

Madam Chair, I move to consent agenda 7.1 to 71. Second. Okay. Any discussion? All in favor? I opposed. All right. That agenda is approved. Uh, moving on to 9.1.

Madam Chair, I move to receive and file the 2025 historic district commission annual report. Okay, discussion on this. I do want to mention that the three electeds along with Commissioner Sanders went to tour the African-American Cultural and Historical Museum last week and it was very nice uh to be able to actually go inside and have a tour and have lunch and talk about that with the new director they had. Uh we also um have been working with the historical society to move the archives uh organize them and get them over to the Bentley UFM uh archive center which is also exciting. Uh so I want to make sure that we highlight some of those things that were also in the report. Um all right so uh if it's all good to file and receive uh all in favor

opposed. All right, we'll receive and file those. May I have a motion for 9.2, please? Madam Chair, move to adopt a resolution to amend the fiscal year 2025 general fund building fund and water sewer fund budget resolution 25-35. Any discussion on this? We do have our director of finance here if anyone has any questions. Okay, may I ask for a roll call? Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Thank you. That is approved. And we'll move on to a motion for 9.3. Please move to approve the amended chart meeting scheduled for 2026. Second. Okay. Any discussion? Um, please note that the January and last October meeting on the schedule is going to be over at the 701 building. All in favor? I post that. Yeah, Madam Chair, I just want to note that both of the January meetings will be Oh, I'm sorry. Yes.

At the senior center and Thank you. All right. And one is due to the election and one is due to the work going on in here. Yes. Or one for the October one is the election and then January is the work that's being done in the building. Yes. All right. Um may I have a motion for 9.4 please. Madam chair I move to authorize the supervisor and clerk to enter lease extension with farms for Pittsfield Charter Township Farm.

Yeah. Madam chair. I would just like to note that uh we do have Nathan Mala here. He is a familyowned business and they have been farming with Township for many many years before I even got here. So, and they've always really did a good job and and we appreciate the part partnership. And I just have to say that I like knowing that some of our are being wonder.

Thank you so much. We really do. It's great. Thank you. All right. I think All in favor? I opposed. All right, that passes as well. Thank you. All right. Have a motion 49.5. Madam Chair, I move to authorize the supervisor and clerk to enter into a purchase of service agreement with Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority from January 1st, 2026 through December 31st, 2026 at a cost not to exceed $683,525 subject to township attorney approval. Discussion on this one.

Yes, please. a couple. Before I go into that, I just want to say for the record, I very much very much value public transport. I very much value public transport. So my comments are not in spite of that. But because of our role here, I feel we also have responsibility for all of our citizens. So balancing those two things when there's an initial pass when they put back in August 12% yearoveryear this was the third third year in a row where they had a double digit increase for us and our residents. So with that, you know, we asked for some clarification, we asked for some clarity about what was behind that ask. We've had some very productive conversations and in the course of those conversations, they found the formula how they were coming to the number of the initial ask and they ask down to 6% year-over-year ask. Now that said, that 6% year-over-year ask is still higher than what they have in their own adopted budget. And budget their board approved they said it was a 4.1% increase for all the we are we are a purchase of service agreement that purchase of service agreement they represented to their board. So they're still asking to pay which is 50% more than what they represent their board and their board. So we've had some good conversations about that. productive and given the benefit of more time I think that we get there through either further negotiation get down to that 4.1% or we have greater clarity about what is making up that gap but because we don't

have that based on my kind of fiduciary responsibility I'm personical our kind journey here as a township where we have a fund balance that is at a year. We have some critical steps that we have. We have labor contently say that I value not only public transportation but the partnership that has shown over the last engaging with us in this conversation and I'm hopeful that 2026 that we can continue that partnership at the same side of the table look at the same data and best figure out what is not only good services for our very financially responsible thank you

thank you I do appreciate that is like speak about that as well I would just like to mention that you know I understand what trusteeback is saying and I do agree that the math is not but we are at a critical juncture and we do have to get the contract signed and I can tell you that uh supervisory has worked so very hard on this has been she's been laser focused at trying to get these costs down and we have had and of course with uh the deputy supervisor also has a lot of success in bringing the cost down and trying to move uh services out of a um to allow us to provide all the services that we need to provide township. So I while I understand and I do still think that the costs are too high, I am today voting yes, but I feel like um the supervisor will continue to work diligently on trying to get the corrected for the following. Thank you. Any more discussion on that? I would like to add and and as said, we have we started these conversations back in the spring asking for numbers and asking for information and we have been trying and you know made a big step making sure that we did bring the cost down. We actually have a two-year contract um now with People's Express to sort of offset some of that getting better service and widespread service. It's difficult to make the decision um because we don't have the numbers. We don't have the information and that is going to be our 2026 sort of laser focus to try to figure out what makes sense

and because transit is I believe important here in Pittsfield Township. So, we're not giving up ghost at all. We're really getting in there. But I am going to vote yes. Um we are getting to the point where will expire at the end of this year and there are people that depend on this service and at this point I it's it's too much to take that away but I I am dedicating and saying out loud that we will be working as a team as we did this year to figure out uh how to move forward with transportation in the best way financially responsible but then also making sure that we're providing the service that we need to provide in the future for where transit needs to go in township. Yes, please.

I just did deep deep and went through a very detailed process at the end of the day as important as this is important. Next month to justify any

I do have one more please go ahead this is for not saying this I apologize for this but the work that you know that you put in supervisor I just want to supervisor and the team did a tremendous amount of work here and I just want to publicly say thank you for that work.

Thank you all. Yes, the team has made a big difference. We were able to really come at this from different angles and really look at it. So I and find solutions and I think and I I honestly you know we did bring the the cost down 6% um through this endeavor. We have also found a new partner that is I I believe um from our first discussions is going to be a great partner and expand transit. So I think it's a a lost cause, but I think there's still work to do. But I said I think at this point I don't want to not provide services for this year. All right. Um all in favor I opposed.

All right. Motion passes. Thank you. I appreciate the conversation discussion and just want to say I just appreciate the whole the whole year and having this team that we can agree disagree and know in the best conscience of the township. So, thank you. All right. I will go ahead and ask for a motion for what number are we on? Are we on 9.6?

All right. Madam Chair, move to adopt a resolution authorizing contribution of the adult use marijuana distribution from the state of Michigan. Resolution 25-34. Any discussion on this one? Ask for roll, please. Yes. Yes. Yes. All right. Resolution adopted. May I please ask for a motion for 9.7? Madam Chair. No, I'm gonna take it.

I love the eagerness. Madam Chair, I move to authorize the supervisor and clerk to into an agreement with my brother's keeper as a recipient of the okay the adult use marijuana distributions from the state of Michigan subject to township attorney approval second any discussion on this one all right in favor

I opposed all right that's authorized may I please ask for a motion for 98 m to authorize the supervisor and clerk to enter into an agreement with and for appraisal services for a cost not to exceed $11,000 uh not including any post appraisal work subject to the township attorney approval. Second any discussion on this one? All in favor? Opposed? All right, that is approved. May I please have a motion for 9.9?

Madam Chair, I move to adopt resolution to establish 202 resolution number 25-30. We do have our assessor here tonight if anyone has any questions or like any more detail on it. I think it's self-explanatory as well, but yes.

Oh, the resolution.

Oh, I see what you're saying. It should be established for 2026. Madam Chair, I would like to make a friendly amendment just the 2025 uh to 2026. Thank you. All right. Thank you for that. A roll call

yes resolution adopted as amended. Thank you. May I please ask for a motion for Madam Chair, move to authorize the police department sponsor of applicants by certified Michigan Policemies through 2030 at a cost not to exceed 37,227 per applicant subject to the township attorney approval. Okay, any discussion on this one? We do have our director of public safety, Patrick Gray, here for probably the next four items, I believe, as well. We kind of like to pile them on for you here, but Dr. How many applicants do we have in the queue right now?

We have one that is going in January. We have one currently in an academy February. That one was on our previous January applicant part of this approval and we are still planning to post in January in January for additional hires and we have three positions to fill. Okay, thank you. I know I'm so sorry. We expecting four positions next year.

Correct. We do have one retire one retirement. Um so there's four total of four and 26. So moving along. All in favor? I opposed.

All right. Authorized. May I please ask for a motion for 9.11? Madam Chair, move to approve the purchase of furniture from Michigan Office Interiors for public safety facilities improvement project for cost $77,91.33 discussion on this is obviously the building next door. Um, and even though we have a blanket uh approval for a bunch of things, we're bringing things here to kind of as we go along and just kind of do the extra transparency on it. Any questions for Director Gray? All right. All in favor? I opposed. All right. Purchase is approved. May I please have a motion for 9.12?

Madam Chair, I move to approve the purchase of new appliances from Lowe's for the public safety improvement project at a cost not to exceed $19,673. Discussion. All in favor? I opposed.

All right, that's all approved as well. May I please have a motion for 9 Madam chair move the purchase of a circle gear dryer from WS company and a Mac 45B turnout washer extractor from Universal Laundry Machinery at a cost exceed 29,255 discussion. This is this are these special.

Yes. This isn't like a tank. This is really expensive. Yes. Industrial strength. It's designed to clean the PP that the firefighters wear. So there's a lot of carcinogens and other toxic toxins that end up on that gear including some bio bio stuff. depending on what kind of call they went on and so it requires special equipment to clean it so that they can continue to wear it. It's very expensive gear. And is it a much larger kind of unit because I imagine the fire is much heavier and denser.

Yes. And so that's why we can't use a typical one of those wouldn't really appropriate for this equipment anyway, but you're right. It has to be able to withstand a lot more weight. Okay. Thank you. All in favor? I may Motion for 9.14.

Madam chair, I move to approve the purchase of a John Deere Gator 4x2 from Napoleon Lawn and Leisure through my deal at a cost not to exceed $9,678. Any discussion? We do have any discussion? We have our interim parks director park director here. All right. All in favor? Opposed?

All right. Approved. May I please have a motion for 9.15? Madam Chair, I move to authorize the supervisor and clerk to approve a 2026 invasive species control and management service contract with Stantech Consulting Michigan Incorporated for cost not to exceed $50,000 subject to township attorney approval. Second, I know that um Director Wade and the park commission are definitely on top of our invasive species plan to keep things in our park getting out of control. So, an important endeavored out we're doing this right and so is it longterm range plan of this

um yeah so right now we are working on plans to kind of do like a 50,000 just move that each year. Um, we're prioritizing certain parks in the certain parts of the parks that are heavily, you know, with the invasives and we're starting to see progress. We're starting to move into other areas of the parks. Um, with this contract as well, we're also adding Woolly Park, which was not part of the last four years or five years. Um, so it's really just kind of um working on specific areas and then moving to new areas, you know, as we clean up So we're kind of what what our mill is able to hold and where our budget stands. We're trying to prioritize and be smart and use that money, you know, in the areas that we can use it.

Thank you. All right. All in favor? I opposed. All right, that passes as well. May I please have a motion for 9.16? Madam Chair, I supervis cost in discussion. We do have our manager of development here. All right. All in favor? Opposed?

All right. That passes as well. May I please have a motion for 9.17? Madam Chair, move to deny first reading of ZA 25-234 to men State Street from C2 R2 lowensity multiple family located. We do have our planner car here if we have any questions on this one. This was um came back from the planning commission um to this didn't quite fit with our master plan.

Um I would just like to state that I you know I had an opportunity to drive past it and kind of look at it and think about um their request to me didn't really make sense. It does not fit in with the master plan. It does not fit in with kind of popped like in a place of commercial area. So um yes, I am in favor of appreciate our planner and the planning commission um being diligent about following our master plan and making sure that we quality products that fit our mission here. All right. Yes,

yes, yes. Thank you. And we'll move on to asking for a motion for 9.18. Madam Chair, move to approve first reading of ordinance 342 to amend the township property maintenance code by revising chapter 6 article 4 section 6-21 attorney.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. All right. Thank you. Moving on to ask for a motion for 9.19. Madam chair, I move to approve first reading ZOA number 25-235 to amend section 40-4.20 and add section 40-1 11.50 short-term rentals of the zoning ordinance to regulate short-term rentals.

So, this has been uh long in the process. Um the plenty of public hearings and um planning commission has vetted this out. Uh I don't know if anything you want to say. I I would just like to say this orance and the previous one are both dealing with short-term rentals and that there is a memo from attorney relating to this that we need one or both of it and I think the cleaning commission did a really good job wholeheartedly attorney staff. It really is a lot of work is being put into this and the residents quite honestly ask.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. All right. Thank you. May I please ask for a motion for 920?

Madam Chair, I move to move into close session as authorized by Michigan Open Meetings Act for the following reason to MCL 15.2681C C to consult with the township attorney uh for consideration and review of tenative agreements reached in collective bargaining negotiations with two unionized employee groups. the technical professional and office workers association of Michigan and the police officer labor council and sergeants associ Yes.

Yes. All right. We'll move into close session and then we'll reconvene after. Thank you.