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January 2, 2015
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MINUTES OF REGULAR ROMULUS CITY COUNCIL MEETING
December 8, 2014
Romulus City Hall Council Chambers, 11111 Wayne Rd. Romulus, MI 48174
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Pro Tem, John Barden.
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call
Present:
Kathleen Abdo, John Barden, Linda Choate, Sylvia Makowski, Celeste Roscoe,
William Wadsworth.
Excused: Harry Crout.
Administrative Officials in Attendance:
LeRoy D. Burcroff, Mayor
Ellen L. Craig-Bragg, City Clerk
1.
Moved by Makowski, seconded by Roscoe to accept the agenda as amended.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Choate, Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried
Unanimously
.
14-502 2A.
Moved by Wadsworth, seconded by Makowski to approve the minutes of the reg-
ular meeting of the Romulus City Council held on December 1, 2014.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
-
Abdo, Barden, Choate, Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried
Unanimously
.
14-503 2B.
Moved by Abdo, seconded by Wadsworth to approve the minutes of the special
meetings of the Romulus City Council held on December 1 2014, 6:00 p.m. closed session,
Attorney opinion; 6:45 p.m. study session, Drafted ordinance language pertaining to temporary
uses, special events, peddlers, solicitors, and transient merchants.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
-
Abdo, Barden, Choate, Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried
Unanimously
.
14-504 2C.
Moved by Roscoe, seconded by Choate to approve the minutes of the special coun-
cil meeting of the Romulus City Council held on December 3, 2014.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
-
Barden, Choate, Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth
Nays
- None.
Abstain
- Abdo.
Motion Carried.
3. Petitioner:
None.
4. Chairperson's Report:
4.
Moved by Choate, seconded by Roscoe to accept the chairperson's report.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Choate, Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried
Unanimously
.
5. Mayor's Report:
Mayor Burcroff announced that R.O.C. (Romulus Outreach Center) will have a Christmas con-
cert on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014 at 5:00 p.m.- to be held at the Community United Methodist
Church. (free-will offering). For more information, contact Pastor Cindy Gibbs, 941-0736. Fire
Chief, David Allison, spoke about the Good Fellows donations from the Romulus Elementary
School second graders, Romulus House Restaurant, and Julie Allison's Annual Good Fellows
Tea.
14-505 5A.
Moved by Abdo seconded by Makowski to adopt a resolution recognizing
Romulus House Restaurant for their support of the Good Fellows Organization.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Choate, Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
14-506 5B.
Moved by Wadsworth, seconded by Roscoe to adopt a resolution recognizing Julie
Allison for her support of the Good Fellows Organization.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Abdo,
Barden, Choate, Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried
Unanimously
.
14-507 5C.
Moved by Wadsworth, seconded by Roscoe to adopt a memorial resolution for the
family of Vincent Bartolo.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Choate, Makowski, Roscoe,
Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
14-508 5D.
Moved by Makowski, seconded by Choate to adopt a resolution recognizing
Joe Watt as the labor and trades City of Romulus Employee of the Month for October, 2014.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Choate, Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
14-509 5E.
Moved by Choate, seconded by Wadsworth to adopt a resolution recognizing Rose
Swidan as the administrative, clerical City of Romulus Employee of the Month for October,
2014.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Choate, Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
6. Clerk's Report:
City Clerk, Ellen Craig-Bragg, announced that the Wayne County Board of
Canvassers will conduct a recount of the votes cast at the November 4, 2014 General Election
for candidates who sought the office of school board member of Romulus Community Schools.
The recount will commence at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 9, 2014.
14-510 6A1.
Moved by Makowski, seconded by Roscoe to approve second reading and final
adoption of an ordinance amending Part II, Chapter 2, Article V, Division 3, Acquisition and
Disposition of City-owned Property, Sections 2-325, 2-326, and 2-327, 2-330 and 2-331 of the
Romulus Code of Ordinances.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Choate, Makowski,
Roscoe, Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
14-511 6A2.
Moved by Wadsworth, seconded by Roscoe to approve first reading of an ordi-
nance to amend Chapter 46, Peddlers and Solicitors, Article IV, Divisions 1 and 2, Sections 46-
139 and 46-176 and Article V Transient Merchants, Divisions 1 and 2 Sections 46-203, 46-234,
and 46-236 of the Romulus Code of Ordinances.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Choate,
Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
14-512 6A3.
Moved by Roscoe, seconded by Abdo to approve first reading of an ordinance
amending Part II, Chapter 26, Food and Food Handlers, Article 1, Section 26-3 of the Romulus
Code of Ordinances.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Choate, Makowski, Roscoe,
Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
14-513 6A4.
Moved by Makowski, seconded by Choate to introduce the first reading of an
amendment to Part II, Chapter 52, Streets, Sidewalks, and other Public Places, Article II,
Section 52-84 of the Romulus Code of Ordinances.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Abdo, Barden,
Choate, Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
14-514 6A5.
Moved by Wadsworth seconded by Roscoe to approve the first reading of amend-
ments to the Zoning Ordinance: Section 7.03, Business Districts; Table 17.02, Site Plan Review
Requirements; Section 17.03, Administrative Review; Section 17.03, ARC Plan Approval;
Section 19.03, Outdoor Display of Goods for Sale at Retail; Section 22.03, Temporary Building
and Uses; Section 24.19, Definitions, Special Event.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Abdo, Barden,
Choate, Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
14-515 6A6.
Moved by Abdo seconded by Makowski to schedule a study session for Monday,
Dec. 22, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. to discuss the proposed update to the City of Romulus Recreation
Master Plan. The meeting will be held in the City Hall Council Chambers.
Roll Call Vote:
Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Choate, Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried
Unanimously
.
14-516 6A7.
Moved by Makowski seconded by Roscoe to concur with the Property Disposition
Committee's recommendation for the City not to acquire any of the properties included on the
Wayne County Treasurer's Second Offering of Foreclosed Properties to Communities for
December, 2014.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Choate, Makowski, Roscoe,
Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
6A8.
Deleted from agenda.
6B. Treasurer's Report:
Treasurer, Stacy Paige, announced that in order to claim personal
property taxes for 2014, the taxes must be paid to the treasurer's office by December 31, 2014
(for federal income tax purposes).
7. Public Comment: None.
8. Unfinished Business
9. New Business
Councilman Wadsworth announced that a resident on Castle Drive in
Romulus gave a large monetary donation to the Romulus Animal Shelter because they were so
pleased with how their animal was treated by the shelter staff. Councilwoman Abdo sent out a
thank you to a man who purchased hot chocolate and delivered it to the Romulus Honors
Society students who were standing out in the cold during the Good Fellows paper sale.
10. Communication:
Councilwoman Makowski announced the coat and mitten drive being
held at the Romulus Library. She shared statistics of the various uses of the library; a very pop-
ular use is Ancestry.com.
14-517 10A.
Moved by Choate, seconded by Abdo to adopt a resolution recognizing the sec-
ond grade students at Romulus Elementary School for their generous donation to the Good
Fellows Organization.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Choate, Makowski, Roscoe,
Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
14-518 11.
Moved by Choate, seconded by Makowski to approve Warrant 14-23 in the amount
of $496,564.76.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Choate, Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
12.
Moved by Wadsworth, seconded by Roscoe to adjourn the regular meeting of the Romulus
City Council.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes
- Abdo, Barden, Choate, Makowski, Roscoe, Wadsworth.
Nays
- None.
Motion Carried Unanimously
.
I, Ellen L. Craig-Bragg, Clerk for the City of Romulus, Michigan do hereby certify the forego-
ing to be a true copy of the minutes of the regular meeting of the Romulus City Council held
on December 8, 2014.
Publish:
January 2, 2015.
CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CANTON
INVITATION TO BID
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Charter Township of Canton, 1150 Canton Center S, Canton, Michigan will accept
sealed bids at the Office of the Clerk up to 3:00 p.m. Thursday, January 15, 2015 for the following:
INDOOR CYCLING EQUIPMENT
Bids may be picked up at the Finance and Budget Department, on our website at www.canton-mi.org, or you may contact Mike
Sheppard at: 734/394-5225. All bids must be submitted in a sealed envelope clearly marked with the proposal name, company
name, address and telephone number and date and time of bid opening. The Township reserves the right to accept or reject any
or all proposals. The Township does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability
in employment or the provision of services.
TERRY G. BENNETT, CLERK
Publish 1/2/2015
EC010215-1044 2.5 x 2.043
P
LYMOUTH
Library to host jazz
singer during festival
Foundation awards $15,000 in
grants to support local groups
This year, the Plymouth District
Library will be an active member of the
line up of attractions at the Plymouth Ice
Festival.
Library Director Carol Souchock said
she is looking forward to the event and the
participation the library has planned as
an event partner this year.
She said a host of library activities will
take place during the Ice Festival week-
end, Jan. 9-11 that will appeal to all ages.
“Many of us who grew up in southeast
Michigan, have fond memories of the ice
festival in Plymouth, she said. “We look
forward to having the library be a part of
thosememories.”
The librarywill warmup crowds with a
free concert by jazz vocalist Cynthia Kaay
Bennett at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Kaay
Bennett will be accompanied by Kevin
Korecki on piano and Will Kinsey on
Drums.
Souchock said that Kaay Bennett is a
native of Ohio who performs jazz stan-
dards, country and blues regularly
throughout southeast Michigan and north-
west Ohio. Her first two jazz CDs, Wish I
Knew and That's the Sprit have been
played on more than 50 radio stations in
the U.S., Canada and Europe. Her third
release, Dreams of You, highlights what
Richard Bourcier, Jazz critic of
JazzReview.com terms as “…warm and
classy. Bennett is able to scat in fine fash-
ion and she swings out in style”.
She has been named as one of the top
500 jazz singers of all times by noted jazz
critic Scott Yanow of The Jazz Singers:
The Ultimate Guide and praised by
numerous other jazz periodicals.
The Saturday afternoon concert is free,
but Souchock has requested pre-registra-
tion at plymouthlibrary.or or (734) 453-0750
ext. 4 so that there will be adequate seat-
ing for everyone planning to attend.
On Sunday, the library will serve hot
cider and offer fun winter activities from
1-4 p.m.
There will be winter crafts from chil-
dren of all ages and a Disney sing-a-long.
There is no pre registration required for
the Sunday events and everyone is invited
to drop by and pose for a photo with the
ice sculpture and festive reading snow-
men at the library.
The library is located at 223 S. Main St.
indowntownPlymouth.
The Community Foundation of
Plymouth awarded $15,000 in grants to sup-
port youth, families, and the arts in the
Plymouth area during the fall season, the
group announced recently.
Grantswere awarded to:
Plymouth-Canton Community Literacy
Council, Inc - $2,100 Funding to train addi-
tional literacy volunteers to tutor adults in
Plymouth, Canton and surrounding areas
whose literacy skills are below a 9th grade
reading level. Many are learningEnglish as
a second language.
Michigan Philharmonic - $2,500 To sup-
port the continued growth of the Michigan
Philharmonic's youth educational pro-
grams, including: CLASSical Music
Outreach Program for 3rd and 4th grade
students, a partnership with the High
School Arts Academy in the Plymouth
Canton Community Schools, and the
MichiganPhilharmonicYouthOrchestra.
New Morning School - $3,000 Funding
for scholarships to New Morning School
Summer Science, Technology and
Engineering Camp for low income students
living in Plymouth. Expanding access for
students who, without the camps, would
experience significant summer learning
loss.
Plymouth Community YMCA - $1,500
Seed funding for a new leadership training
program for teens ages 13-14 during YMCA
2015 summer day camp.
Plymouth Fife & Drum Corps - $2,800
Funding to help cover the costs of the 2015
Summer Educational Tour to national
monuments and Revolutionary War histor-
ical sites where the fife and drum corps
youthperformand learn.
Plymouth Historical Society - $1,900
Electrical systems assessment for code
compliance and safety.
Plymouth Oratorio Society - $1,200
Funding for professional soloists for the
PlymouthOratorioSociety 29th season.
The Community Foundation of
Plymouth (CFP) is dedicated to building a
permanent endowment to enrich the quali-
ty of life in the Plymouth area. Established
in 2005, the foundation has awarded more
than $182,000 in grants and& scholarships
that have made a meaningful difference in
the lives of Plymouth residents, according
to a prepared release from the group.
Community Foundation of Plymouth is a
geographic affiliate of the Ann Arbor Area
Community Foundation and benefits from
the philanthropic and investment expert-
ise of that group, the release continued.
For more information, visit the founda-
tionwebsite at www.cfplymouth.org.
The Plante Moran audit shows that the
township submitted Other Post
Employment Benefits (OPEB) as the lega-
cy costs for the Community Fire
Department based on an actuary report
and not reported as a fund liability.
Examination of the audit reveals that
accounting practices and OPEB are nega-
tively affecting solvency as the township's
net position that dropped 63 percent from
$15.3 million in 2006 to a low $5.6 million,
a negative sum of $9.7 million. The audi-
tors' reconciliation of the township bal-
ance sheet reflecting the OPEB funds
shows the Net Position of Governmental
Activities nowequals $5,620,113.
“The most sensitive estimate affecting
the financial statements was the other
post employment benefits liability.
Management's estimate of the OPEB lia-
bility is on an actuary report. We evaluat-
ed the key factors and assumptions used
to develop the OPEB liability in determin-
ing that it is reasonable in relation the
financial statements taken as a whole,”
Olejnik and Shea said in their letter to
township officials.
It would appear from the audit report
that the township is in a negative net posi-
tion of approximately $6 million for gov-
ernmental activities.
No provision was made in the audit for
the new pension reporting standards
which could place the township in a fur-
ther negative net position without some
action.
The General Fund of the filed audit
reports an “intra-governmental service
charge” of $636,089. Other sections of the
audit indicate this money may be charged
to the users of the Water and Sewer Fund
to offset General Fund operations. Page
four of the audit, the Management's
Discussion and Analysis, states the
“remaining net position of nearly $14.5
includes $.06 restricted for drug enforce-
ment and $13.9 million may be used to
meet the Township's ongoing obligations
to its citizens and creditors,” an indication
that the townshipmay have used or is con-
sidering using Water and Sewer Fund
money tomeet ongoing obligations.
Cynthia Kaay Bennett
Audit
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