Taylor City Council Meeting - April 1, 2025

The Taylor City Council met at 6:30 p.m. on April 1, 2025, and adjourned at 10:16 p.m. after a contentious meeting. A quorum was present. The meeting opened with an invocation by Pastor Philip Nisley, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the agenda, and approval of the March 18, 2025 meeting minutes. The council approved routine motions and reappointments, held a public hearing on CDBG funding, but deadlocked on a new towing contract and a vacant council seat appointment.

Routine Approvals and Reappointments

• Reappointed Nancy Muscaro Miller to the Historical Commission for a four-year term expiring April 1, 2029; she was sworn in.
• Reappointed Anthony A. Day, Larry Di Aguano, Joseph McGuckin, Tony Claypool, and Jonathan Dowling to the Construction Board of Appeals for a three-year term expiring April 1, 2028.
• Approved a personal service contract for assistant golf operations manager on a 5-1 roll call, with Councilwoman Brandana voting no.
• Approved an emergency sole-source purchase from Maverick Environmental Equipment LLC for compost site windrow turner tracks, not to exceed $6,144, funded through the equipment and repair account.
• Approved a $5,600 roof purchase and installation at the fire department smokehouse by Crown Pro Construction.
• Approved a nine-month extension of resolution 9.483-24 for $144,000 in IT contractual services on a 5-1 roll call, with Councilwoman Brandana voting no.
• Approved an increase in DocuWare renewal, not to exceed $17,917, funded through IT contractual services.
• Approved ENTA Supply annual census luxnet hosting fees, not to exceed $44,240, from the water supply systems fund.
• Approved removal of 895 feet of Penn Avenue from the Act 51 map after MDOT found the section no longer served as a public thoroughfare.
• Approved a $37,100 increase to the Taylor Chevrolet purchase agreement, funded through state forfeiture funds.
• Approved a one-year bid extension for Audio Concrete Construction for concrete panel replacement in 2025-2026; officials said the company would hold its 2023 unit prices.
• Approved Wade Trim design services for the Cooper Street Sanitary Lift Station rehabilitation, not to exceed $91,500.
• Approved International Controls and Equipment as sole source for repairs and preventive maintenance on Pine and Bird streets security gates, not to exceed $7,500.
• Approved KAB Enterprises low bid for Pavilion C addition and roof replacement at Heritage Park: $61,104, plus a 5% contingency, for a total not to exceed $64,160.
• Approved an increase to the FY2024 OPED actuarial report cost, not to exceed $20,500.
• Approved precinct location changes recommended by the city clerk, reducing the city from 23 to 15 precincts and from 11 to five voting locations: Ford Senior Center, Blair Moody, Taylor High School, West Middle School, and Taylor Sports Plex.

Public Hearing: CDBG Program Year 2025-2026

• Community Development Manager Chris Klimchalk presented the draft CDBG budget. The estimated federal allocation is $454,237, with about $35,000 in current program income, producing a proposed total budget of $504,237.
• Proposed public services funding totals about $73,000, including $12,500 each for three longstanding organizations, with Fish & Loaves named, plus senior services support for utilities at the Ford Senior Center. A $104,000 childcare proposal from Upwards Care/Boost could not be funded because public-service funding is capped at 15% of the program.
• The plan also proposes $280,000 for the housing rehabilitation program, tree planting in eligible low- and moderate-income areas, and $100,000 for administration and planning.
• One resident asked where tree planting would occur and where trees would come from. Mr. Klimchalk said plantings would be in low- and moderate-income eligible areas and would be bid under federal procurement standards.
• The 30-day public comment period begins April 2, 2025; the final allocation and budget are expected to return to council in May.

Public Comments & Testimony

• During the CDBG hearing, a resident asked about the proposed tree planting locations and the tree source.
• During the towing contract discussion, many public speakers, including Taylor residents and neighboring-city residents, criticized the incumbent Area Towing for alleged overcharges, predatory practices, and lawsuits, and urged council to approve JT Crova Towing. A few speakers supported keeping Area Towing or raised concerns about pending litigation and taxpayer-funded city tows under a new vendor.
• Roy Porter, owner of Porter's Towing, which also bid on the contract, thanked the city for running a fair RFP process.

Discussion: Towing Services Contract

• Councilwoman Witten moved to approve JT Crova Towing for city towing services for a three-year term plus one three-year extension with council approval; Councilman Johnson seconded.
• Mayor Woolley and city attorney/corporation counsel Ed Plato described a two-stage bidding process. The first RFP was challenged in court; after the judge required removal of certain provisions, the city reissued the RFP. Nine companies bid. A committee including police, fire, DPW, and the mayor selected JT Crova as the low qualified bidder. The mayor said the award was posted March 24.
• Councilwoman Brandana objected that she had not been able to verify the vendor through state records, questioned addresses, background checks, and the timeline of online posts, and said she could not vote without more information. Councilwoman Daniels said she received requested litigation documents only the day before the meeting and had procedural concerns. Both voted no, as did Councilwoman Rose.
• Councilwoman Witten and Councilman Johnson supported the motion. Witten described visiting the Dearborn Heights facility and praised security, digital dispatch, and accountability requirements, including monthly reports to the mayor, council, and police chief.
• The JT Crova motion failed on a 3-3 roll call: Witten yes, Johnson yes, Geis yes; Rose no, Daniels no, Brandana no.
• Councilman Johnson then moved to approve Area Towing as the city's towing contractor, in a procedural motion that failed 6-0; no council member voted for the incumbent.
• City Attorney Plato stated his opinion that the city currently has no legal towing contract. Councilwoman Brandana disagreed and asked that the opinion be provided in writing.

Discussion: Vacant City Council Seat

• Councilman Johnson nominated Dan Wallace to fill the vacant Taylor City Council seat under Section 4.5 of the city charter. Mr. Wallace accepted.
• The appointment failed on a 3-3 roll call: Winton, Johnson, and Geis voted yes; Rose, Daniels, and Brandana voted no. The seat remained vacant.

Other Open Business

• Eric Hall submitted an ethics complaint to the city and requested a response within 14 days.
• A representative of the Taylor Education Foundation invited council members to an April 25 event honoring John Pantalone and Lauren Rusovsky.
• A resident asked about truck activity at the former Moose Building; an official said the city inspector was looking into it.
• The Veterans Museum pancake breakfast was announced for April 26 at 8 a.m. at the Ford Senior Center.
• The mayor announced the proposed budget was sent to council; the first budget meeting is scheduled for April 14, 2025, with a public hearing and budget approval target of April 29, 2025.

Key Outcomes

• All routine motions and reappointments were approved.
• The CDBG public hearing was opened and closed; the 30-day comment period begins April 2, 2025.
• No new towing contract was approved. JT Crova received 3 yes votes; a motion to name Area Towing failed 6-0.
• The vacant council seat was not filled.