Taylor City Council Meeting - February 18, 2025: Police Union Agreement, Budget Setting, and Public Concerns
Taylor City Council Meeting - February 18, 2025
This meeting was held on February 18, 2025, beginning at 11:30 AM (closed session) and reconvening publicly at 7:20 PM. The council voted unanimously to enter closed session for collective bargaining with the Taylor Police Officers Association, later approved a tentative agreement, and addressed a wide range of routine business, public comments, and open business items including road repairs, park parking, and senior center activities.
Closed Session
- The council voted 6-0 (all present) to enter closed session to discuss collective bargaining with the Taylor Police Officers Association.
Consent Calendar
- All items on the consent agenda were approved unanimously via a single motion, including routine approvals and actions.
Regular Agenda Items
- Item 8.1: Approved the purchase of VMware hypervisor licensing from CDW for $48,149 (IT contractual services).
- Item 8.2: Approved AS400 programming support from Data National for up to $25,000 (200 hours).
- Item 8.3: Approved renewal of Police One Academy training and grant module from Lexipol LLC for $7,247.
- Item 8.4: Approved Precision Electric low bid for three replacement wall-mounted vehicle drop shore lines for $5,425.
- Item 8.5: Approved Metro Airport Truck for repairs to Squad 1 for $5,000.
- Item 8.6: Received and filed a 0% interest deferred loan for emergency sewer replacement (Project 2025-01, Polly Sewer and Drain, $10,000, CDBG funds).
- Item 8.7: Approved Smiley Tire Company as sole source for tire purchases for $2,177 (corrected from contradictory language – removed “lowest qualified bidder”).
- Item 8.8: Approved lease agreement between the city and Maggie Sweetshop.
- Item 8.9: Approved lease agreement between the city and Massage by Nancy.
- Item 8.10: Approved a municipal and community credit contract from SMART for the period July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025, in the amount of $182,867.
- Item 8.11: Amended City Council Resolution 6.302-24 (senior services SMART transportation) to add National Trails, not to exceed $19,000.
- Item 8.12: Approved Bianco Tours travel services for seniors for up to $5,800, funded by a significant donation from a former senior center attendee.
- Item 8.13: Approved Gross Electric low bid for 4,000 Type B LED tubes for $13,636.
- Item 8.14: Approved purchase order for Detroit SALT in the amount of $130,000 (operating supplies salt). Discussion noted that recent storms required the full contract amount but space was available.
- Item 8.15: Approved equipment blades low bid for underblades for DPW salt trucks for $10,400.
- Item 8.16: Approved State of Michigan MS4 MPDES permit 2025 annual fee of $5,000.
- Item 8.17: Approved setting the public hearing for the city’s fiscal year 2025-2026 proposed budget and property tax millage rate for April 29, 2025, at 6:00 PM.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Charles Blackwell: Stated that the city needs to hire a forensic auditing company to audit the city’s finances to ensure proper handling of taxpayers’ funds by the Treasurer. The mayor responded that the city undergoes an annual audit and received glowing reviews.
- Robert Morrow (66 44 Party Road, Taylor): Requested relief for parking on Party Road near the Taylor North Central Little League field, citing congestion from games, especially on weekends. He noted that a petition for parking permits submitted in 2023 has not been answered. He also asked for improved lighting in the parking lot. He mentioned that trash pickup on Mondays is sometimes blocked by game parking.
- Eric Hall (955 Taylor Holland Road, Taylor North Board Commissioner): Responded that the board moved 98% of weekend games to Heritage Park in 2024, and that trash pickup issues are being addressed. He argued that parking on the street is necessary given the limited lot size.
Discussion Items
- Tentative Agreement with Taylor Police Officers Association: After the closed session, the council approved a motion to ratify the tentative agreement. The union president, Craig McDermott, stated the agreement primarily addresses pay to address hiring and retention challenges post-COVID.
- Announcements: The mayor offered condolences to the Pizzo family and thanked DPW drivers for their work during recent storms. Upcoming events: Mother-Son Date Night (Heritage Hall, $35/pair), Stand-up Comedy Show (Lakes of Taylor, $40/person, doors at 6 PM), DJ Skate (TSX, $10 admission, $5 skate rental), and Boys & Girls Triple A State Hockey Championships (February 24 – March 16, free admission).
- Open Business – Councilwoman Brandana: Asked about the list of roads scheduled for pothole repair. The administration explained that residents can report potholes via customer service or the iCare link. She also noted that lighted street signs at Goddard and Beach Daly are out; the administration indicated some signs may be under county or MDOT responsibility.
- Open Business – Councilwoman (unidentified): Raised a resident’s issue about a house on Mayfair where the owner died, and the new owner missed inspection notices, resulting in fines and court. The administration advised that the court would consider the circumstances and suggested contacting the building department for more details.
- Open Business – Council discussion on parking: Council members acknowledged the efforts of Taylor North Little League to reduce weekend games at the neighborhood park but urged continued cooperation to minimize impacts on residents.
Key Outcomes
- Closed Session: Approved unanimously (6-0) to discuss collective bargaining.
- Tentative Agreement with Police Union: Approved by voice vote (all in favor).
- All 17 regular agenda items: Approved unanimously.
- Budget Hearing Set: Public hearing on the FY 2025-2026 proposed budget and millage rate scheduled for April 29, 2025, at 6:00 PM.
- City Council Vacancy: No nominations were made to fill the vacant council seat (per Charter Section 4.5).
- Meeting Adjourned: At 7:55 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Motion support. Motion by Councilwoman Witton supported by Councilwoman Brandana. A roll call vote is necessary. Mrs. Daniels, yes. Mr. Johnson. Yes. Mrs. Brandana. Yes. Miss Winton? Yes. Ms. Rowless? Yes. And Mr. Geis. Yes. We have six votes to go into closed door session. Um that is to discuss collective bargaining with the Taylor Police Officers Association. For those that are here, once the uh closed door session concludes, we will resume our regularly scheduled council meeting. So why would we do a couple of things required by the Roman class on the five seconds? I'm not only getting three. I thought yeah, we did a few minutes. Oh, because that's all right. Um that's just the whole thing. I know and I will say that's really all this. So tomorrow you know it's kind of like the little button. Um if you want to put an question. I don't always like it. So it's basically not because whatever you get finding uh version of the area of focus. So the two are very free from those curve and very long and then pull that up for the table that have like line and rules then. Yeah, so we are like the uh fight line to the different words, so we can see how yeah, we'll wait for the Camus. Okay, so we got it out. Yeah, okay. Yeah, we've already yeah, we already tried to uh all brand. So we do like time five percent of that kind of speed or something. So we got three six thousand well this time delivered. Okay, so that was in the all the four times entire. Now we need to get a little more on the gap that's not putting the road on state that you sit. Uh I think we're allowed to print us for 15%. And we have a money that rooms on the minus all I think it's doable. I think we should find it. I'll get the drone when you get the drone and we'll see if we can uh I would recommend that you see what I think on the very lots of how it will do, yeah. Okay, I think for ten percent. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, it might be more realistic. I would rather be a whole project. I don't know if the web is rather side like about the last year.
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