Taylor City Council Meeting - September 19, 2023

The Taylor City Council met on September 19, 2023, beginning with an invocation, a moment of silence for the late Councilman Ira Sherman Slavin, and the Pledge of Allegiance. The meeting covered routine approvals, a failed tentative agreement with the Taylor Governmental Management Association, approval of personal service contracts, a public hearing on the CDBG annual report, and the second reading of marijuana commercial business ordinances. The council also appointed Tina Daniels to fill the vacant council seat.

Consent Calendar

• Roll call and approvals: Unanimous approval of the agenda and minutes from September 5, 2023.
• Proclamation for Taylor North Junior Baseball Team: Unanimous approval to recognize the team as U.S. Junior League World Series champions. Team members and coaches addressed the council.
• Personal service contracts for fire chief and recreation department assistant manager: Both approved unanimously.
• Risk management claim 23-08-11 TM: Approved 5-1 (Councilman Johnson dissenting).
• Rezone parcels (7.2): First reading approved to rezone parcels from 01 Office to B2 Regional Business.
• Public hearing on CAPER (7.3-7.4): Opened and closed; no public comment. Chris Klimchalk, CDBG Director, reported $183,922 in CDBG expenditures for FY2022, including $104,000 on administration, park improvements, and housing rehab.
• Various routine approvals (7.5-7.19): All approved unanimously, including:
  • Monroe Motorsports for Polaris repairs ($2,189)
  • Code official conference attendance ($600)
  • August 2023 budget performance report (received and filed)
  • August 2023 paid invoice report (received and filed)
  • AKT Peer for well abandonment ($28,150)
  • PK Contracting for pavement marking (three-year, up to $160,000/year)
  • Intergovernmental agreement for Pennsylvania Road improvements ($64,885)
  • BSA software renewal ($4,570)
  • Google Workspace licenses renewal ($93,193)
  • Multi-factor authentication software renewal ($5,740)
  • CBTS system administration block of hours ($40,000)
  • Dell laptops for police training ($5,700)
  • Haworth chairs ($43,468)
  • Employment agreement with Deruda Labs/Instawork for golf course staffing ($35,000)
  • Early voting grant application (received and filed)
• Second reading of marijuana ordinances (7.20-7.21): Both passed 4-2 (Councilmembers Winton and Rose dissenting). Public comment from Philip Nestle raised traffic safety concerns near proposed locations.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Philip Nestle (14,000 Raccoon): Expressed support for the 2,500-foot distance requirement in the marijuana ordinance but urged traffic studies at proposed locations due to safety concerns, citing a recent accident at Pennsylvania and Raccoon. He questioned whether the property at that intersection should be allowed.
• Caroline Patts (Taylor Historical Society): Announced October events including a scarecrow stroll, cemetery walk (Oct 22), Jalapalooza (Oct 27), and Halloween portraits (Oct 28).
• Paul Siddhu (Taylor taxpayer since 1993): Complained about high property tax assessments on two unfinished homes (on Vicro Road and Cape Cod). He stated the city’s contractor caused damage years ago and he has had no recourse. He asked for reassessment relief. Council members noted the property has been a long-standing issue and directed him to the Board of Review and Michigan Tax Tribunal.

Discussion Items

• Item 6.3 – Tentative Agreement with Taylor Governmental Management Association: Debate over postponing the vote until a new council member could be appointed. Councilwoman Brandana and Councilman Ramack favored postponement; Mayor Woolley argued the council had sufficient information. Vote failed 3-3 (Winton, Johnson, Geis in favor; Rose, Ramack, Brandana opposed). The mayor requested guidance for renegotiation.
• Item 7.15 – CBTS block of hours ($40,000): Discussion included concerns about ongoing IT spending and the aging AS400 system. Councilman Ramack pressed for a long-term solution. IT director explained the block is temporary pending a Plant Moran assessment to modernize systems. Approved unanimously.
• Item 7.22 – Appointment to fill vacant council seat: Councilman Ramack nominated Tina Daniels. After brief remarks from Councilwoman Brandana thanking all applicants, the vote passed 5-1 (Councilwoman Winton dissenting). Mrs. Daniels was absent (in California); she will be sworn in before the next meeting.

Key Outcomes

• Failed agreement: Tentative agreement with Taylor Governmental Management Association failed 3-3; will return to negotiations.
• Personal service contracts approved: Fire chief and recreation department assistant manager contracts approved unanimously.
• Marijuana ordinances passed: Second readings of zoning ordinance and code amendment for adult-use marijuana businesses both passed 4-2.
• Council vacancy filled: Tina Daniels appointed to the Taylor City Council (5-1).
• Public hearing held: No objections to the CAPER report; report is received and filed.
• Open business: Discussion of water bill delinquency rollover to winter taxes, railroad crossing repairs, missing code books, and DTE pole replacement; council will follow up.
• Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 8:52 PM.