Town of Blooming Grove Board Meeting Minutes – January 24, 2006

Chair Johnson called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM. Board members in attendance were Chair Johnson, Supervisor Berg, Supervisor Linzmeier, and Supervisor Stube. Supervisor Young was absent.

Others in attendance were: Clerk/Treasurer/Administrator Mike Wolf, Fire Chief Glenn Linzmeier, Fire Fighter Patrick Edge, and Dane County Supervisor Dave de Felice.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Chair Johnson asked if the meeting notice had been properly posted, and Mike Wolf said that it had been.

The agenda was reviewed, and the approval of vouchers was delayed so as to allow supervisors to more thoroughly review them.

2a. January 10, 2006 Board Meeting Minutes: Supervisor Berg made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Supervisor Linzmeier seconded the motion, and it passed 4-0.

2c. Property Tax Refunds: Supervisor Linzmeier made a motion to approve the property tax refunds as presented. Supervisor Berg seconded the motion, and it passed 4-0.

4a. Rezone of 316 Memphis Avenue : Supervisor Berg made a motion to approve the recommendation of the rezone of 316 Memphis Avenue from R-3 to R-3A, to accommodate current usage of that property. Chair Johnson seconded the motion, and it passed 4-0.

4b. Public Hearing on No Smoking Ordinance: Chair Johnson opened the Public Hearing on the proposed Town Ordinance which would prohibit smoking in enclosed Town-owned buildings. Supervisor Linzmeier pointed out that this would bring us in line with the majority of other businesses and municipalities. Supervisor Stube asked about whether this does, or should, apply to the entire premises – or just inside the buildings. Supervisor Berg suggested that the ordinance stay as written, and only be applicable to the inside of the buildings. Chief Linzmeier said this is a good step forward in creating a safe work environment for all employees and visitors to our facilities. Chair Johnson closed the Public Hearing.

4c. Board Action on No Smoking Ordinance: Supervisor Berg made a motion to approve Ordinance Number 8.03, to establish a No Smoking Policy specific to the prohibition of smoking in all Town-owned enclosed buildings effective February 1, 2006. Supervisor Linzmeier seconded the motion, and it passed 4-0.

4d. Change in Personnel Manual to Reflect No Smoking Ordinance: Mike Wolf explained that the Personnel Manual should be updated to be consistent with the ordinance that was just passed. Supervisor Linzmeier made a motion to approve of the revised “No Smoking Policy” in the Employee Personnel Manual as presented. Supervisor Berg seconded the motion, and it passed 4-0.

2b. Vouchers: Supervisor Berg made a motion to approve the vouchers as presented. Supervisor Stube seconded the motion, and it passed 4-0.

4e. Town Position on Size of Dane County Board: Supervisor Berg stated that he had asked this to be on the agenda for discussion. He explained he had read a lot about this issue, and that there were good points on both sides. One of Supervisor Berg's concerns was that if the number of supervisors decreased, the chances of money and special interests being more influential could increase. Supervisor Stube said she is in favor of the reduction of the number of supervisors, because she felt they would be more effective at governing. Supervisor Linzmeier said she was also in favor of reducing the number, and one of the reasons was that too many incumbents were running unopposed this spring (about 2/3). Chair Johnson also spoke in favor of reducing the size of the Board, with a concern about how the redistricting would be done.

Dane County Board Supervisor Dave de Felice thanked the Board for considering this issue. He said that besides the other reasons already stated, there was another reason. That is, more and more people are being asked to do more with less; while meanwhile the County Board has this huge number of people, which is simply not an efficient way to conduct government business.

Chair Johnson made a motion to support the reduction in size of the Dane County Board. Supervisor Linzmeier seconded the motion, and it passed 4-0. Mike Wolf was asked to communicate this decision to the Dane County Board and news outlets.

3. Public Comment: Supervisor Berg reported that he attended the Blooming Grove – Maple Bluff – Town of Burke EMS District Board meeting the previous night. Several issues were discussed pertaining to the EMS agreement currently in place, including it's end date. Reading it, the EMS District Board believes the earliest any municipality could exit would be January 1, 2010. Mike Wolf said this issue will be placed on one of the Town Board meeting agendas in February, so it can be more thoroughly discussed.

Adjournment – Supervisor Berg made a motion to adjourn. Supervisor Stube seconded, and the motion passed 4-0 at 8:35 PM.

Respectfully Submitted, Mike Wolf, Clerk/Treasurer/Administrator