Board of Trustees - Regular Meeting

12 to order at 6:30. We'll go ahead and start with the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the standy.

May I please have a roll call?

Present. Thank you. We do have a quorum and I'm going to go ahead before I ask for an approval of the agenda. We do have a couple of changes. So, um we're going to be adding 9.13 which is something you have at your seats. It's uh to authorize the supervisor and clerk to sign an agreement with DT Energy Company for the relocation of electronic services in the public safety facility improvement project for an amount not to exceed $42,45256 subject to township attorney approval. And then we'll be pulling item 9.9. And may I have a motion to approve the amended agenda?

Madam Chair, I move to Approve the agenda as stated. Okay. Any discussion? All in favor? I opposed.

All right. Agenda is approved as amended. I will go ahead and call for public comment one. 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. Is there anyone like to speak? All right. Welcome to everyone. Uh, all right. So, we will go on to a the approval of the minutes. May I have a motion for 4.1 to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held on October 22nd, 2025? Okay. Any discussion? All in favor? I opposed.

All right. Minutes are approved. May I have a motion for 4.2, please? Madam Chair, I motion to approve the minutes of the special meeting held on October 29th, 2025. Second. Okay. Any discussion? All in favor? I opposed. All right. Those minutes are approved as well. Uh we do not have any public hearing presentations or proclamations, no communications. Um may I have a motion for the approval of the consent agenda, please. Madam Chair, I move to approve the consent agenda 7.1 through 7.11. Second. Okay. Any discussion? All in favor? I opposed.

All right. The consent agenda is approved. Uh moving on to 8.1. Um in your packet is the um Carpenter Road walking safety audit feedback. They have a motion to file and receive. We have a move to file and receive the Carpenter walking safety a second.

Hey, just just a little update on this. You know, we um we took time to walk the corridor Carpenter Road. I think we talked about this before. That's a corridor where we've lost a couple of lives this year and over the years it's been a safety issue. Um we did have an independent safety audit done and those results are going to be forthcoming, but this is the actual residents and organizations and our staff led by um Deputy and the community development team as we on a rainy day went out there and walked it uh and it was um it was quite eye opening and the report shows you a lot of detail within it and then People's Express was kind enough to um help us drive drive us back to the Monta Park. So we started at Montavala Park went up Ellsworth and went down to the Packard Road intersection there and walked as a group and really talked through the issues of what other people would be um challenged with walking up that corridor. So you have any questions on that um study, let us know. But everybody's good with it. We'll go ahead and uh ask for or say uh all in favor of filing receive it. I

opposed. All right. Go ahead and file and receive. All right. Moving on to 8.2. Uh we have an update.

Yes. Um had an election of course on November 4th and it was proposal for intermediate school district about 6,268 ballots that were cast. By all accounts, it was a very slow election. We had about 21% voter turnout. It was slightly higher than the last proposals in May. There is that and the numbers that I have presented are just numbers to show people how many people registered who voted abently precinct district. So, you know what? So, it is somewhat confusing, but if you want to see what the precincts are, you can go on the first page and get our precinct and it see how it all turned out. You can also get these election results on the election results website. This is where we pull our numbers from. They are unofficial results, but they probably certified by now, but at the time that I prepared it was still unofficial. Um and the proposal cast had 65,000 ballots cast and they had a 22%

voter turnout overall for the whole county which is higher than that. Okay. Thank you. All right. Um I have a motion to receive and file. file the November 4, 2025 special election. Second. All right. All in favor? I opposed. All right. We're going to go ahead and file that. Moving on to new business. Uh 9.1, please.

2025. Give us any updates on that. Treasure. It's page. 2025 tax season began in July and proceeded to stat investment outlook for now most of our seeds are maturity and 262 the same safety.

All right. All in favor of filing receiving? I opposed. All right. Those are filed and received. Thank you. May I please have a motion for 9.2? for 2026. I appreciate the vigor. There we go. Um, all right. Any discussion on this? I think that the dates out. So, all right. All in favor? I opposed.

All right. The schedule that there is a meeting or perhaps on the schedule that does not Just so you know, it does occur at our community centered.

Thank you. Yeah, we'll be having some work here at the building. So, we'll be having some meetings off site. So, thank you. All right. May I have a motion for 9.3 committ roll call on this one? Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

All right. Resolution is passed. Um now before I ask for a motion for 9.4, I just want to um indicate that there was a typo um on that resolution or the um the actual agreement and that's at your desk. It's a small typo. So make sure everybody see that in exhibit A. There was just a title um typo on there. So uh If I could have a motion for 9.4, please. Madam Chair, I move to authorize the supervisor cler to enter into a 2year agreement with the people's express demand response public transportation service at annual cost not to exceed 215,292.4.

Okay, we do have Eveina from People's Express here. If you have any questions or any comments, um I know that she gave a very um thorough um presentation last time and I don't know if this has been passed on to the board yet, but county has also um let us know that through the senior millillage at People's Express and um JFS, the Jewish Family Services will be providing Pittsfield Township with um free rides to seniors 60 and over older. So that's also a benefit. And then also with this service, we'll be really um providing great transportation to our residents. So all right, there's no questions or discussion. I will go ahead and say all in favor. I opposed.

All right, motion passes. May I ask for a motion for 9.5, please? Madam Chair, I move to authorize the supervisor and clerk to sign contract change order with blue scope construction changes. public safety facility improvement project at a cost not to exceed $64,359 subject to township attorney approval. Second. Okay. And um yes, I I would just like to ask the director to come up and only because uh when we were uh bringing this packet together, there were questions about the cost. I just want to make sure

I didn't mess up the agenda and I was I will say that the next four items are the director too. So while you got him up here, don't go anywhere. I'm ready. Sorry. Sorry. for the um for the uh blue scope construction that one was an amount for 64,000 plus that is correct. This is this is a change order to the phase 2 contract. Um so it is a some major or minor changes I guess it depends on if you're a builder to the plans that amounted to that amount that is 645

and And that's part of that $137,000 project because this is all part of the public safety facilities. That's correct. So phase it's the it is the first phase but in order to finish they broke this into two different two different phases both how it was paid for but also the building itself. So the new building. It was a change to the floor plan to a certain degree that needed to be done and so it's an additional

question and any of the next ones we're doing too. You want to stay right there. All right. All in favor? I opposed. All right. passes and I can have a motion for 9.6 to authorize the supervisor to enter into an agreement with Casper Corporation for the installation of police fire and evidence intake lockers for the public safety facility improvement project with a cost not to exceed $137,169. Second

discussion on this one. You just want to give us a brief overview what that is.

If this piece is what you were talking about the 137, this is outfitting the police locker men and women locker room with lockers. Uh the fire men's and women's locker room at station one with lockers. Also gear storage for patrol bags and tech bags in the police equipment room. And then also a locker system. That's addition to the pass through lockers that we currently have. We're going to move those into a new area of the building. We're keeping those, but we're going to expand that by I think two lockers included here as well. So, it's it's a lot of lockers. That's what this is for.

How long do we think that um I mean, where are we at as far as timeline for this project? Are we do we have a date? Do we know? So, it's looking closer to February now. We were thinking late December or mid January and it's looking closer to February now. But for this particular item, we're going to have to move unfortunately we'll have to move the old lockers into the new locker room temporarily because there's a 16 to 18 week delay these lockers unfortunately. So, but no, we're looking at moving into the new portion of the building in February.

Okay. So, yeah. So, those you don't know the whole new and part of the police force move over to parks and w um too. the other main part of the building that's currently will be revamped and kind of misplacing people and everybody's going to be a little you know shuffle to the left but it's it's saving costs and it's um it really work everybody so that we do all in favor all in favor I opposed all right motion passes they have a motion 9.7.

Madam Chair, I move to authorize the purchase of a ready rack gear lockers from RNR Fire Truck Repair Incorporated with installation by Vansston O'Brien for the public safety improvement project with a cost not to exceed $8,648.50. Any discussion on this one?

Okay. All in favor? I opposed. All right. Madam Chair, authorize the supervisor to enter into an agreement with the Pittsfield Glenn communities to enforce Michigan Motor Vehicle Code and uniform traffic on their private roads and parking lots by the Pittsfield Township Police Department. Subject to township attorney approval. Second, you guys give a little background to this one?

Sure. There are several neighborhoods that are that don't have public roads. And all the new neighborhoods, my understanding, none of the new neighborhoods that are being developed right now will have public roads. They'll all be private. And so there are limitations to the amount of traffic that we can do in those zones. And so hypothetically, a resident might move into one of these neighborhoods and there's an issue with speeding in the neighborhood. Um they would contact Department of Public Safety and we would be very limited in the amount of work that we visibility and enforcement that we can do in their neighborhood. Of course, we can always drive through, but we couldn't make a traffic stop for a speeding violation or even a stop sign violation on private property without an agreement like this.

Director, how many types of agreements do we have?

Currently, this is the third and the law changed. Used to be that you could just have a letter of the community. And so we had many of those and so now we've pushed information out to the homeowner associations explaining that we can't do those enforcements in their neighborhood anymore that if they would like to enter an agreement we will be happy to do that. So I believe we have this is our third expect all in favor. All right approved and you are now off the hook. Thank you. Thank you.

Madam Chair, move to adopt a resolution to approve position elimination within the supervisor's office resolution 25-28. Is there any discussion? We do have our director of HR here questions.

I I would just like to state that like It is really awful when we have to eliminate a position and I understand the reason that we're doing it has been with the township for a very long time and I do feel like you know she's always worked really hard and so I wanted to say that you know she has been a good employee she's a good worker and uh we are going to miss her but we do hope that um she has the Absolutely. May I ask?

Yes. Yes.

Yes. Resolution is passed. May I ask for a motion for 9.11? Madam chair, I move to adopt a resolution to reaffirm the board of trustees compliance with requirements of PA 152 of 2011 resolution 25-29. I'm gonna ask um director Paul to come up and just give us we talked about this briefly. This is like the first thing we did when we were officially a board. I think that was our first meeting was to talk about the Um so just a quick explanation of what it is again would be helpful.

Sure. Absolutely. Yes. Last year director Denn was um kind enough to prepare a whole PowerPoint presentation and deliver it and we didn't want to end you with duplicating that same presentation. So I'll just give you a quick quick overview here. U PA 152 is the public publicly funded health insurance contribution act of 2011. And there are three options for the township to comply. Um the default compiance is to follow what's called the hard cap option and that's where the state treasury sets thresholds for how much a public employer can contribute towards the employees health insurance. Um so that is the one that the township has followed since the inception of the law and we're proposing recommending that we do again. Um the other two options one is you can comply with alternative method of um it's called the 80 20% premium share where the employer would pay 80% and employees would get the other 20%. And then you are permitted to on an annual basis opt out entirely meaning those limits would not apply. Uh but that kind of leads maybe into a wild wild west situation where you don't know from year to year what the parameters are and would have to be established probably a lot of back and forth. bargaining units and the board to establish you know what an opt out would look like. Um and there are important reasons not to do that. So as I said historically the township board has always gone with the hard cap so far. Uh it does have the least impact to the employees typically not across the board 100% but in most cases it is the least impact to the employees. Um we have uh two high deductible health plans currently out of the three that we offer

and 65% of our uh employees who take health insurance are already in the highest deductible plan and um we have created a situation here where there is no employee share with that particular plan. So we don't expect too many employees will be impacted. Um yes there are some in the traditional plan that we'll have to work with to consider their options to do that with employ meetings and employee communications throughout the next few weeks. Our open enrollment starts on November 20th. Um, all of our three health plans are the same as 2025. They're all still gold level plans according to the Affordable Care Act standards. Um, and I think those are those are the primary highlights. Do you have any questions? I know we went over this um quite extensively um a year ago, but you have any questions? I guess my question would be how many municipalities do you know in county if you know or I know county as a county does it. Um are there municipalities out there that you know of relative to county. I don't know, but we do do we do comparable community data collection and I know there are some within Wayne and Oakland County that do out.

Um that's I was just curious. I mean, I understand it from a perspective of allowing the employees and everyone for that matter to know um you know how we're going to be paying this and some efficiency and fairness almost about uh doing the hard cap which which I do like but as everyone also healthare costs are completely outrageous and um you know is a burden on our employees. I can't imagine what it's doing to other people who are uh don't have healthare through their employers or on the Obamacare and I just super worried about those people.

That's a fair point. The marketplace plans are increasingly as well and our our plans have been on the upward trajectory. Um uh and it's I understand why going in that direction. Healthare costs are just almost outrageous and but we are very fortunate to have healthare for our employees. So still very valuable benefit and following the hard cap provides a kind of a known legal accepted framework for determining the share premium share.

Thank you so much. Of course. All right. The next item I think is mine. I will go ahead and ask for a roll call for

yes. Resolution has passed. May I have a motion for 9.12? Madam Chair, I move to authorize the supervisor and clerk to enter into an agreement for employer provided insurance renewals for 2026 and authorized the director of human resources to sign the agreements on behalf of the township subject to township attorney approval. Second right up here. I don't want to give a quick recap. And

so this is an annual process. Every year we have to resign those agreements with our insurance carriers. So that is what we presented here. There are several different contracts involved. The health insurance, the dental um health savings accounts are sort of wrapped into the health insurance, flexible spending accounts and life insurance. Um just so the board is aware, we did try to obtain some quotes from other carriers on our health insurance just because of Blue Cross rates being on such a huge trajectory um and we went to um Etna and Priority Health and both companies declined to quote us. Um we do have a bad claims year in our three-year look back period and I think for that reason they didn't see us as a good risk. Another company is leaving the state of Michigan. So there just a lot of complex factors going on with health insurance right now. questions. I will go ahead and say all in favor. All right, motion passes. Thank you.

No unfinished business. I will Oh, sorry. May I have a motion for 93? I would like to I move to authorize the supervisor and clerk to sign an agreement with DTE Energy Company for the relocation [clears throat] of electric services for the public safety facility improvement project for amount not to exceed $42,4546 subject to township attorney approval. Second. Okay. Any discussion? All in favor?

I opposed. All right. Thank you. Approved. No unfinished business. Now asking for leison and trustee reports.

Okay. Summary of action commission meeting commission voted to postpone action on CSPA22-23. The second was planning commission voted to approve the resolution of denial for RC231 state. Thank you to add to that. historic discuss department. So we know that how it may not be time period accurate but far knows Sorry. Yeah. Sorry to call you.

Yeah. I did last week.

But yes, excited about bringing it back. Thank you.

I would just like to make a comment. We would like to thank the Selen High School students from government AP coming out to our board meetings and observing us. I know you're required to um and I hope it wasn't as boring as you might have expected. And if you have any questions, this lady over here, so she's like the mayor of a very small New York City. [laughter] So mayor and we're the administrators and all these people vote on you know how the money is spent and what priorities. So if you want to talk to any of us after the meeting just come right up you want to take pictures all the thank you for coming and we want you guys to be involved. So it would be perhaps beneficial for you if you so desire to contact possibly the supervisor's office um and see if there are anything that you can volunteer with because you know our community is very diverse and a part of that diversity also includes the young mindset and and we would all be interested and you should know what you guys are learning in there and So, we welcome you. Thank you for coming and as I said, if you have any questions.

And I would say also that we have a big election coming up next year and you only have to be 16 in order to be an election inspector as well. And it's gig and it's also a great learning experience and this meeting is um being recorded and it's on YouTube. So, if you want to rewatch and you know for notes or anything or for the future as well. May I add one? Go Hornets. [laughter]

All right. All right. So, I will go ahead and open it up for public comment to um any person may come forward at this time to address the board. Anyone wishes to speak um requested but not required to state his or her name and address for the record. All right. Seeing none, I will go ahead and ask for a motion to adjurnn. Madam chair, I move to adjourn. Okay. All in favor? All right. Uh, we are adjourned at 702.

[laughter]