MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE GEORGETOWN CHARTER TOWNSHIP BOARD HELD JANUARY 10, 2005, 7:30 p.m.

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Chairperson Bill Holland.

 

Prayer for guidance by Del South.

 

Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

 

Roll Call

Present:            William Holland, Daniel Carlton, R. J. Poel, Del South, Dale Mohr

Richard VanderKlok, Stanley Sterk

Absent: none

 

#050110-01 - Approval of minutes of regular board meeting held on December 20, 2004

 

Moved by Richard VanderKlok, seconded by Dale Mohr, to approve the Minutes of December 20, 2004, as submitted.

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

#050110-02 - Agenda for January 10, 2005

 

Moved by R. J. Poel, seconded by Dale Mohr, to approve the agenda for January 10, 2004, as presented.

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

Moved by R. J. Poel, seconded by Dale Mohr, to approve amending the agenda to add one item to appoint two people to the E.D.C. Committee.

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

#050110-03 - Communications, letters and reports: Received for information, to be filed:

 

A.     Letter to clerk from Charter Communications re: change of office location.

B.     Memo from City of Grandville re: biosolids applications notifications.

C.     Letter to clerk from Charter Communication re: digital cable package increase.

D.     Code Enforcement Officer Monthly Report for December 2004

E.      Memo from Secretary of State re: Release of voting equipment for Nov. 2nd election.

F.      Library Report for November 2004

G.     Fire Department Monthly Report for December 2004

 

#050110-04 - Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance No. 2005-01, Michigan Motor

Motor Vehicle Code and Uniform Traffic Code

 

Moved by Daniel Carlton, seconded by Del South, to read for the second time and adopt Ordinance No. 2005-01, Michigan Motor Vehicle Code and Uniform Traffic Code, as follows:

 

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 54 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF GEORGETOWN, MICHIGAN, TO ADOPT THE MICHIGAN VEHICLE CODE AND UNIFORM TRAFFIC CODE BY REFERENCE

            THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF GEORGETOWN ORDAINS:

Section 1.         Amendment.  That Chapter 54 of the Code of Ordinances, Charter Township of Georgetown, Michigan, is hereby amended to read as follows in its entirety:

ARTICLE I. TRAFFIC CODE

Sec. 54-1.  Michigan Vehicle Code adopted.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Michigan Charter Township Act, 1947 PA 359; MCLA 42.23; MSA 5.26(23), the Michigan Vehicle Code, Act No. 300 of the Public Acts of Michigan of 1949, as amended, MCL 257.1, et seq., is adopted by reference, as if fully set forth herein.

Sec. 54-2.  References in code.

                References in the Michigan Vehicle Code to “local authorities” shall mean the Charter Township of Georgetown, Ottawa County, Michigan.

Sec. 54-3.  Enforcement; sanctions.

                (a)           The Michigan Vehicle Code may be enforced by any police officer or other employee of the township authorized to enforce criminal ordinances or authorized to issue civil infractions.

                (b)           The penalties provided by the Michigan Vehicle Code are adopted by reference, provided, however, that the township may not enforce any provision of the Michigan Vehicle Code for which the maximum period of imprisonment is greater than 93 days.

                (c)           When any person is found guilty of a misdemeanor or responsible for a civil infraction pursuant to this section, the judge or magistrate shall summarily determine and tax the costs of the action which shall include all expenses, direct and indirect, to which the township has been put in connection with the violation or infraction up to the entry of judgment.

Sec. 54-4.  Uniform Traffic Code Adopted.

                The Uniform Traffic Code for Cities, Townships, and Villages as promulgated by the Director of the Michigan Department of State Police pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328 and made effective October 30, 2002 is adopted by reference, as if fully set forth herein.

Sec. 54-5.  References in code.

                References in the Uniform Traffic Code to “governmental unit” or “municipality” shall mean the Charter Township of Georgetown, Ottawa County, Michigan.

Sec. 54-6.  Enforcement; sanctions.

                (a)           The Uniform Traffic Code may be enforced by any police officer or other employee of the township authorized to enforce criminal ordinances or authorized to issue civil infractions.

                (b)           The penalties provided by the Uniform Traffic Code are adopted by reference, provided, however, that the township may not enforce any provision of the Uniform Traffic Code for which the maximum period of imprisonment is greater than 93 days.

                (c)           When any person is found guilty of a misdemeanor or responsible for a civil infraction pursuant to this section, the judge or magistrate shall summarily determine and tax the costs of the action which shall include all expenses, direct and indirect, to which the township has been put in connection with the violation or infraction up to the entry of judgment.

Section 2.        Pending Proceedings.  All proceedings pending and all rights and liabilities existing at the time this ordinance takes effect are saved and may be consummated or continued according to the law in force when they were commenced.  No prosecution initiated prior to the effective date of this ordinance or initiated after the effective date of this ordinance for an offense committed prior to the effective date shall be affected by this ordinance.

Section 3.        Publication.  The Township Clerk shall publish a summary of this ordinance in the manner provided by law and shall at the same time publish a supplementary notice setting forth the purpose of the Michigan Vehicle Code and Uniform Traffic Code and the fact that a complete copy of the Michigan Vehicle Code and Uniform Traffic Code are available at the office of the Township Clerk for inspection by the public at all times.

Section 4.        Effective Date.  This ordinance shall take effect upon its publication as required by state law.  (To be published after adoption and effective 30 days after publication.)

Note:               The Township Attorney recommended that the Township adopt the MMVC and

UTC each year.  The Township currently enforces the MMVC (which is readopted annually to include all revisions).  With the new ordinance, this will continue; however, the Township will have the ability to enforce the recently amended version of the UTC (which previously largely duplicated the MMVC, but now has been amended such that only its unique supplemental provisions remain).  The attorney said that the ordinance HAS to be readopted each year and it could not contain wording to include amendments each year without readopting it.

Summary of the Michigan Vehicle Code and Uniform Traffic Code

The Michigan Vehicle Code is an act to provide for the registration, titling, sale, transfer, and regulation of certain vehicles operated upon the public highways of this state or any other place open to the general public or generally accessible to motor vehicles and distressed vehicles; to provide for the licensing of dealers; to provide for the examination, licensing, and control of operators and chauffeurs; to provide for the giving of proof of financial responsibility and security by owners and operators of vehicles; to provide for the imposition, levy, and collection of specific taxes on vehicles, and the levy and collection of sales and use taxes, license fees, and permit fees; to provide for the regulation and use of streets and highways and to provide penalties and sanctions for its violation.

The Uniform Traffic Code is an administrative rule promulgated by the Michigan Department of State Police to provide local law enforcement officers with the authority to locally enforce traffic laws; to provide for local traffic administration; to provide for the rights and duties of pedestrians; to regulate the operation of motorcycles, mopeds and toy vehicles; to provide for the rights and duties of drivers and others; to provide for the establishment and maintenance of traffic control devices; and to compel obedience to traffic regulations and provide sanctions for their violation.

 

Yeas:    Bill Holland, Daniel Carlton, R. J. Poel, Del South, Dale Mohr, Richard VanderKlok,

            Stanley Sterk

Nays:   none

 

            MOTION CARRIED.

 

#050110-05 - Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance No. 2005-03, Curfew for Minors

Ordinance

 

Moved by Del South, seconded by Richard VanderKlok, to read for the second time and adopt Ordinance No. 2005-03, Curfew for Minors Ordinance, as follows:

 

ORDINANCE NO. 2005-03

Curfew for Minors Ordinance;

 

An ordinance to regulate the hours that children under the age of 16 years of age may be in or on the public streets, highways, alleys and parks within the Charter Township of Georgetown, Ottawa County, Michigan.

 

The Charter Township of Georgetown ordains:

 

A.        Minors under 12 years of age:

 

No minor under the age of 12 years of age shall loiter, idle or congregate in or on any public street, highway, alley or park between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., unless the minor is accompanied by a parent or guardian, or some adult delegated by the parent or guardian to accompany the child.

 

B.         Minors under 16 years of age:

 

A minor under the age of 16 years of age shall not loiter, idle or congregate in or on any public street, highway, alley or park between the hours of 12 midnight and 6:00 a.m. immediately following, except where the minor is accompanied by a parent or guardian, or an adult delegated by the parent or guardian to accompany the minor, or where the minor is upon an errand or other legitimate business directed by his parent or guardian.

 

C.        Aiding or abetting violation:

 

Any person of the age of 16 years or over assisting, aiding, abetting, allowing, permitting or encouraging any minor under the age of 16 years to violate the provisions of sections A and B above, hereof is guilty of a misdemeanor.

 

The above stipulations are amended to be consistent with state law if the state law is amended.

 

Pending Proceedings.  All proceedings pending and all rights and liabilities existing at the time this ordinance takes effect are saved and may be consummated or continued according to the law in force when they were commenced.  No prosecution initiated prior to the effective date of this ordinance or initiated after the effective date of this ordinance for an offense committed prior to the effective date shall be affected by this ordinance.

 

Effective Date.  This ordinance shall become effect on the thirtieth day after publication after adoption.  This ordinance was read for the first time on December 20, 2004, published on December 28, 2004, read for the second time and adopted by the Georgetown Charter Township Board on January 10, 2005, published for the second time on                      , and effective thirty days from publication on            

 

Yeas:    Bill Holland, Daniel Carlton, R. J. Poel, Del South, Dale Mohr, Richard VanderKlok,

            Stanley Sterk

Nays:   none

 

            MOTION CARRIED.

 

#050110-06 - Authorization to Purchase Fire Truck

 

Moved by R. J. Poel, seconded by Daniel Carlton, to accept the low bid and approve the purchase of (1) one HME Silver Fox 2000 GPM Pumper Apparatus for $289,341.00.  Proposed apparatus meets all requirements of the federal, state, D.O.T., and local regulations

 

            Note:                Other bids include Great Lakes, Smeal for $331,337.00 and West Shore/E-One

                                    for $351,315.00

 

            MOTION CARRIED.

 

#050110-07 - Award Bids for 8th Ave. Water Main

 

Moved by Daniel Carlton, seconded by Dale Mohr, to award the bid for the water system improvement on 8th Ave. from Barry Street to 44th St. to Georgetown Construction for an amount of $990,451.95.

 

            Attachment:      bid sheet

Note:    The low bidder requested to be released from his bid

 

            MOTION CARRIED.

 

#050110-08 - Boards and Committee Appointments for 2005

 

Moved by Bill Holland, seconded by Daniel Carlton, to appoint Paul Brower and Mike Dolce to the E. D. C. Committee for four year terms.

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

#050110-09 – Public Comment

 

No one was present to make comments on items not on the agenda.

 

#050110-10 – Reports from Standing Committees

 

Del South said that an independent study of the Fire Department should be conducted due to the problem of continuously losing fire chiefs causing expenses, disruptions and lack of continuity.  Bill Holland stated that he intended to pursue such a study after the new fire chief is appointed.

 

#050110-11 - Monthly Bills

 

Moved by R. J. Poel, seconded by Daniel Carlton, to approve payment of bills in the amount of $1,862,570.59 and the amount of $1,511,859.82 is taxes collected for other units.

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

#050110-12 - Meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.

 

                                               

William Holland, Supervisor

 

                                               

R. J. Poel, Clerk