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PAGE 2 ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS OF MICHIGAN August 12, 2021

SUMPTER
SUMPTER

Forgotten Harvest effort aids township families

The first Sumpter Township enough to serve 245 individuals. ” gency food providers. The group
Forgotten Harvest food distribu- She said that Forgotten also grows fresh food at
tion was successful, but officials Harvest personnel had prepared A third food distribution is set Forgotten Harvest Farms, which
hope that more community resi- 180 boxes of food for distribution for 2:30 until 4:30 Aug. 23 is distributed to those in need.
dents will take advantage of the on July 26, and that they were Food from the organization helps
program. hoping to reach more people in at the Sumpter Community Center. those who are food-insecure and
During the July 27 meeting of need in the township. struggling to cover the cost of
the board of trustees, Township A third food distribution is set basic necessities and bridge the
Finance Director Deputy for 2:30 until 4:30 Aug. 23 at the fighting hunger and waste for retrieve surplus food from gro- income gap.
Supervisor Michelle Cole report- Sumpter Community Center, more than three decades, accord- cery stores, markets, restaurants, The mission of the organiza-
ed that the effort was able to dis- 25501 Sumpter Road. ing to the organization website. caterers and others and then tion is to relieve hunger and pre-
tribute food to 85 households, or Forgotten Harvest has been Volunteers from the organization deliver it, free-of-charge, to emer- vent the waste of nutritious food.
Pay scale for elected officials adjusted by trustees

Sumpter Township officials scales in the township. Township The salaries of trustees Don approval. The increase was also part-time hourly wage in the town-
took one step closer to returning to Supervisor Tim Bowman's pay was LaPorte, Peggy Morgan, Matthew approved by Deputy Supervisor ship is now at $21.08, which at 20
“normal” following the pandemic set at $38,000, the same amount Oddy and Tim Rush were set at Michelle Cole who also serves as hours would be about $21,000 a
with the reinstatement of the for- paid to former Supervisor John $22,000 each. the financial director for the town- year, explained Oddy in a later
mer pay scale for elected officials Morgan, according to officials. The The increases to the salaries of ship. interview.
during an in-person meeting last annual salaries of Township Clerk the officials, all who serve in part- Trustees said the pay scale is “This is just a way to bring
month. Esther Hurst and Township time positions, was the first more in line with current stan- everyone up to scale,” he said.
During the July 27 meeting, Treasurer Vincent Warren were increase since 2002, more than 19 dards and the current hourly Approval was unanimous by the
members of the board approved set at $30,000 each, increased from years, according to Bowman who wages paid to part-time employees trustees with Hurst and LaPorte
four resolutions adjusting pay $19,019. presented the resolutions for in the township. The lowest paid excused from the meeting.

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Sumpter Township Regular Board Meeting
Sumpter Township Tuesday, June 22, 2021, 6:00 p.m.
Regular Board Meeting 23480 Sumpter Rd., Belleville, MI 48111 Minutes
Tuesday, June 8, 2021, 6:00 p.m.
23480 Sumpter Rd., Belleville, MI 48111 NOTICE:
Minutes To mitigate the spread of COVID-19, protect the public health, and provide essential protections to Sumpter Township resi-
dents; this Board of Trustees’ meeting was conducted virtually in compliancewith State of Michigan Governor’s Executive
NOTICE: Order(s) and MDHHS directive(s) regarding remote public meetings.
To mitigate the spread of COVID-19, protect the public health, and provide essential protections to SumpterTownshipresidents; Meeting called to order by Supervisor T. Bowman at 7:22 pm. Roll call: Supervisor T. Bowman (Wayne Cty, Sumpter Twp,
this Board ofTrustees’meeting was conducted virtually in compliancewith State of Michigan Governor’s Executive Order(s) and MI), Clerk E. Hurst (Wayne Cty, Sumpter Twp, MI), Treasurer V. Warren (Wayne Cty, Sumpter Twp, MI), Trustees: Oddy
MDHHS directive(s) regarding remote public meetings. (Wayne Cty, Sumpter Twp, MI), Rush (Wayne Cty, Sumpter Twp, MI), LaPorte (Wayne Cty, Sumpter Twp, MI) and Morgan
(Wayne Cty, Sumpter Twp, MI). Also showing present: Attorney Young, Deputy Clerk Burdick, Deputy Supervisor O’Connell,
Meeting called to order by Supervisor T. Bowman at 6:09 pm. Roll call: Supervisor T. Bowman (Wayne Cty, Sumpter Twp, MI), Safety Director/ Chief of Police Luke and 10 attendees.
Trustees: Oddy (Wayne Cty, Sumpter Twp, MI), Rush (Wayne Cty, Sumpter Twp, MI), LaPorte (Wayne Cty, Sumpter Twp, MI)
and Morgan (Wayne Cty, Sumpter Twp, MI). Clerk E. Hurst excused, with full respect and deepest condolences, Treasurer vacant. 3. Agenda: Motion by Oddy, supported by Rush to approve the Agenda with the following edits;
Also showingpresent:DeputyClerkBurdick,DeputySupervisorO’Connell,DeputyTreasurerClark,SafetyDirector/ Chief of Police Remove in entirety: New Business, Item B.
Luke and 7 attendees. Strike: New Business, Item F.
“and to tentatively award a construction contract to
***Supervisor Bowman called for a moment of silence with respect, prayers and condolences to his family, due for the passing Hennessey Engineers for drinking water system improve-
of our Sumpter Township Treasurer, Mr. James C. Clark. ments and”
Roll call vote: Yes: Supervisor T. Bowman, Clerk E. Hurst, Treasurer V. Warren; Trustees: Oddy, Rush, LaPorte and Morgan. Nay:
3. Agenda: Motion by Morgan, supported by Oddy to approve the agenda. None. Motion carried.
Roll call vote: Yes: Supervisor T. Bowman, Trustees: Oddy, Rush, LaPorte and Morgan. Nay: None. Motion carried.
4. Public Comments on Agenda Items Only: No Comments.
4. Public Comments on Agenda Items Only: No comments were received.
5. Minutes:
5. Minutes: Motion by Rush, supported by Oddy to approve the following Meeting & Commission Minutes;
Motion by Rush, supported by Oddy to approve the Regular Board Meeting Minutes of May 25, 2021.Roll call vote: Yes: Supervisor • Special Board Meeting Minutes of June 16, 2021.
T. Bowman, Trustees: Oddy, Rush, LaPorte and Morgan. Nay: None. Motion carried. • Regular Board Meeting Minutes of June 8, 2021.
• HR Committee Meeting Minutes of June 7, 2021.
6. Warrants: • Planning Commission Minutes of May 13, 2021.
Motion by Morgan, supported by Rush to approve warrants totaling: $82,547.18. Roll call vote: Yes: Supervisor T. Bowman, • Planning Commission Minutes of March 11, 2021.
Trustees: Oddy, Rush, LaPorte and Morgan. Nay: None. Motion carried. • Planning Commission Minutes of February 11, 2021.
Roll call vote: Yes: Supervisor T. Bowman, Clerk E. Hurst, Treasurer V. Warren; Trustees: Oddy, Rush, LaPorte and Morgan. Nay:
7. Supervisor’s Report – Bowman: None. Motion carried.
• A big Thank You to Sumpter’s own BooyaQ BBQ, with sponsorship from Hogz Backyard BBQ, Shiggin’Aint Easy
BBQ and Sumpter Ace Hardware for providing boxed lunches to our firefighters this past Saturday. Cooking was 6. Warrants:
done by Jeff and Terresa Georgic of BooyaQ and Buddy Hammett. I stopped by the Fire Department and it was a Motion by Morgan, supported by LaPorte to approve the warrants total of $126,634.93. Roll call vote:Yes: Supervisor T. Bowman,
wonderful sight to see. I have it on excellent authority that the food was delicious. Clerk E. Hurst, Treasurer V. Warren; Trustees: Oddy, Rush, LaPorte andMorgan. Nay: None. Motion carried
• I would like to take the time to read a letter from Supervisor McNamara that was sent tome. We are proud of our
SumpterTownshipfirefighters andare honoredto be ofmutualaid to our neighbors. I appreciate Supervisor McNamara 7. Parks & Recreation/Chambers Report - Rush:
and Fire Chief McInally taking the time to acknowledge the assistance. • Trustee Rush reported that unfortunately, due to the virus effects over the past year, there has been minor activ-
• I’d like to call upon my Deputy to provide some pivotal information pertaining to the Township’s DPW ity, at best, to report. There’s been difficulty in conducting meeting forthe lack of quorum, which is 9.
in regards to the retirement of the Water Superintendent. DeputyO’Connelladvisedoftheimmediatetemporaryneed • The balance of the parks’ signs were received and an email will be forthcoming, once again,soliciting volunteers
tosecuretheS2Certificationstandards to ensure compliance of the Sumpter Township Water & Wastewater Operations to support the effort. Thanks to Supervisor Bowman and his “excavator” for his support!
by the Board approving the direct reporting of the current consenting S2 License Holder, Michael Petrowski, to the Motion by Morgan, supported by Oddy to approve the Parks & Recreation/Chambers Report. Rollcall vote: Yes: Supervisor
Township Supervisor, including Water Operations & Utility Billing. Supervisor Bowman requested an approval T. Bowman, Clerk E. Hurst, Treasurer V. Warren; Trustees: Oddy, Rush, LaPorte and Morgan. Nay: None. Motion carried
motion.
MotionbyOddy,supportedbyRushtoapprovetheSupervisor’sreport.Rollcallvote:Yes:Supervisor 8. Receive & File:
T. Bowman, Trustees: Oddy, Rush, LaPorte and Morgan. Nay: None. Motion carried. Motion by Hurst, supported by Rush to receive and file the following Reports;
• Water & Sewer Report
8. Attorney’s Report - Young: • Planning & Zoning Report
Twp Lawsuits &Adversarial Proceeding 17% Insurance matters 2%, • Senior Report
Township Board meetings 5% Meeting with Twp Officials 7% • Treasurer’s Report
Water & Sewer 5%, Police, Fire 14% Roll call vote: Yes: Supervisor T. Bowman, Clerk E. Hurst, Treasurer V. Warren; Trustees: Oddy, Rush, LaPorte and Morgan. Nay:
Prosecutions 8% Ordinance & Blight 6% None. Motion carried.
Labor Contract/LOU 5% Employee Contract Issues 6%,
Republic 0% Planning 5% Trustee Oddy requested to allow those reporters to address the residents, if they chose. SupervisorBowman agreed.
Library 1% Parks & Recreation 2%
Storm Water Management & MDEQ 3% Board Direction 6% Treasurer Warren addressed the Meeting Attendees, advised of his department’s current transition,staff cohesiveness, Deputy
Audit/Finance 1% Misc. 6% Treasurer recruiting efforts and moving his department forward. He further stated that he expected to have a full Treasurer’s
Motion by Rush, supported by Oddy to approve theAttorney’s report. Roll call vote: Yes: Supervisor T. Bowman,Trustees: Oddy, Report at the next meeting.
Rush, LaPorte and Morgan. Nay: None. Motion carried.
12. Board Response:
9. Police Report – Chief Luke: • Trustee Rush advises that the Township is currently in peak storm season and asks that residents review the
Motion by Rush, supported by Oddy to approve the Police report. Roll call vote: Yes: Supervisor T.Bowman,Trustees: Oddy,Rush, Siren Protocol and StormReady information.
LaPorte and Morgan. Nay: None. Motion carried. • Clerk Hurst advised that, due to the recent elimination of virus restrictions &accommodations, the Board
needs to address approval to remove all signage, suspend theCOVID Response & Preparedness Plan, end all
10. Building/Ordinance Report – Bowman: remote work assignments and return to pre-COVID conditions.
Motion by Oddy, supported by Morgan to receive and file the Building/Ordinance report. Roll callvote: Yes: Supervisor T. Motion by Morgan, supported by Oddy to begin in-person public Township Meetings, suspend and remove all COVID operat-
Bowman, Trustees: Oddy, Rush, LaPorte and Morgan. Nay: None. Motion carried. ing conditions & restrictions. Roll call vote: Yes: Supervisor T. Bowman, Clerk E. Hurst, Treasurer V. Warren; Trustees: Oddy,
Rush, LaPorte and Morgan. Nay: None. Motion carried.
11. Fire Report – Chief Luke:
Motion by Rush, supported by Oddy to approve the Fire Report. Roll call vote: Yes: Supervisor T.Bowman,Trustees: Oddy, Rush, 13. New Business:
LaPorte and Morgan. Nay: None. Motion carried.
A. Motion by Oddy, supported by Hurst to approve the of the recommendation by the Sumpter Township Planning
12. Board Response: Commission for the PROPOSED AMENDMENT(S) to; Section 2.2: Definitions of the Township Zoning
• TrusteeOddywantedtoprovidehiscondolencesonceagaintotheClarkfamily.TheOddy familyhasknownJimClarkfor Ordinance; Section 5.8. - Home Businesses and Article 9:
40yearsandhehadthepleasureofworkingtogetherwithMr. Clark in 2008. Mr. Clark provided a lot of guidance Signs. Roll call vote: Yes: Supervisor T. Bowman, Clerk E. Hurst, Treasurer V. Warren;Trustees: Oddy, Rush and
when Trustee Oddy was a new member of the Planning Commission. Jim Clark will be sorely missed and Morgan. Nay: None. Motion carried. Trustee LaPorte abstained.
he hopes theClark family finds peace.
C. Motion by Oddy, supported by Rush to approve of the resignation with regrets of police officer Joseph Hogan,
• Trustee Rush remembers that when he first moved into Sumpter Township in 1990, Mr. Clark was the Building effective 6/25/2021. Roll call vote: Yes: Supervisor T. Bowman, Clerk
Inspector. Mr. Clark assisted with a number of recommendations in the property development and a number of major E. Hurst, Treasurer V. Warren; Trustees: Oddy, Rush, LaPorte and Morgan. Nay: None. Motioncarried
upgrades. Trustee Rush extended his condolences to the Family. What a loss to Sumpter Township. Jim Clark will be
missed. D. Motion by Morgan, supported by Oddy to approve to hire Curtis Lundsford as a paid, on-call firefighter, contin-
gent on him passing a physical and drug test. Roll call vote: Yes: Supervisor
• Supervisor Bowman shared that for the short time he knew Mr. Clark he found him to bea great man. Mr. Bowman T. Bowman, Clerk E. Hurst, Treasurer V. Warren; Trustees: Oddy, Rush, LaPorte and Morgan.Nay: None. Motion
extended his sympathy. carried
• TrusteeMorganexpressedthatshe’sknownMr.Jim&ToniClarkforalong timeandthat his passing is very sad and quite E. Motion by Rush, supported by Oddy to approve to hire Ronald Jeffries as a paid, on-call firefighter, contingent on
a shock. This township is really going to miss him and what he had to offer A very good man. Supervisor Bowman him passing a physical and drug test. Roll call vote: Yes: Supervisor
agreed. T. Bowman, Clerk E. Hurst, Treasurer V. Warren; Trustees: Oddy, Rush, LaPorte and Morgan.Nay: None. Motion
carried
13. New Business:
A. Motion by Oddy, supported by Rush to approve to accept the recommendation from the Sumpter Township Planning F. Motion by Oddy, supported by Rush to approve of Resolution # 2021-10 and to tentatively award a construction
Commission to amend a special land use permit at the regularly scheduled Planning Commissionmeeting of May 13, contract to Hennessey Engineers for drinking water system improvements and DWRF Water Main Replacement
2021 to dividethe existing 9.50 acres of land into two (2) separate parcels consisting of 5.037 acres and 4.463 acres.The Program. Roll call vote: Yes: Supervisor
subject special land use amendment is for 50425 Bemis Road., Belleville, MI 48111. Roll call vote: Yes: Supervisor T. Bowman, Clerk E. Hurst, Treasurer V. Warren; Trustees: Oddy, Rush, LaPorte and Morgan.Nay: None. Motion
T. Bowman, Trustees: Oddy, Rush, LaPorte and Morgan. Nay: None. Motion carried. carried
G. Motion by Oddy, supported by LaPorte to approve to hire PATRICK DERVISHI as a full-time police officer on
14. Announcements: the condition he passes a physical, drug screening and psychological evaluation and approval to start at the six-
• ChiefLukewantedtoalsothankyouBooyaQBBQ,theGeorgics,alongwithHogzBackyard BBQ, Shiggin’Aint Easy and month pay scale. Roll call vote: Yes: Supervisor T. Bowman, Clerk E. Hurst, Treasurer V. Warren; Trustees: Oddy,
Sumpter Ace Hardware for their 2 nd year of support. The Board Members have routinely been a support and Police Rush, LaPorte and Morgan. Nay: None. Motion carried
and Fire can’t thank them enough. And, of course, the great BBQ! We sincerely hope they know how much this is H. Motion by Morgan, supported by Oddy to approve of the HR Committee recommendation, and preparation of an
appreciatedandhowmuchtheydoforus.TrusteeRushaddsthiswasthe2 nd Annualwitheven bigger plans for next year’s employmentcontract, to appoint a fulltime FireDepartment Chief, Rick Brown, at a base salary of $58,240.00 plus
event! township benefits without medical reimbursement. Roll call vote: Yes: Supervisor T. Bowman, Clerk E. Hurst,
Treasurer V. Warren; Trustees: Oddy, Rush, LaPorte and Morgan. Nay: None. Motion carried
• Deputy Burdick, on behalf of Clerk E. Hurst thanked Zywicki’s Greenhouse for the pottedplant arrangements placed
at the Township Hall’s entrance. 14. Announcements:
• Trustee Morgan inquired on the next steps for Forgotten Harvest and Deputy O’Connelladvised that arrangements are • Trustee Morgan advised that she received an email from Forgotten Harvest referencing the program for Sumpter
in process and, once finalized, will be announced and published. Township and advised of the initial dates for the activities and that she was happy to have this for the residents.
Deputy Supervisor O’Connell advise further of the program details.
15. Open Floor: NoAttendee spoke.
15. Open Floor: Two (2) Attendees spoke.
16. Adjournment: Motion by Rush, supported by Morgan to adjourn at 6:28 pm. Motion carried. 16. Adjournment: Motion by Rush, supported by Morgan to adjourn at 8:00 pm. Motion carried.
Minutes prepared by, Minutes prepared by;
Anthony Burdick, Deputy Clerk Anthony Burdick, Deputy Clerk
Sumpter Township Sumpter Township
________________________________ _____________ ________________________________ _____________
Esther Hurst, Clerk Date Esther Hurst, Clerk Date
________________________________ _____________ ________________________________ _____________
Timothy Bowman, Supervisor Date ST0066 - 081221 2.5 x 14.254 Timothy Bowman, Supervisor Date ST0064 - 081221 2.5 x 14.306