Town of Blooming Grove Board Meeting Minutes – January 9, 2007

Chair Johnson called the meeting to order at 7:00pm. Board members in attendance were: Chair Johnson, Supervisor Berg, Supervisor Linzmeier, Supervisor Stube and Supervisor Young.

Also in attendance were Clerk/Treasurer/Administrator Mike Wolf, and Town residents Sharon White, Lois Corcoran, Marcia Dana, and Deborah Sellers.

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 no changes were made.

2a. Vacating Schohl Street : Mike Wolf explained that Sharon White asked this to be on the agenda. The Whites, and their neighbors – Lois Corcoran and Marcia Dana – would like to take over the land that was originally supposed to be Schohl Street . The Board agreed that if the adjacent landowners are willing to pay for the legal fees, that the Town would consider the vacation of this road. This issue does need to go through a process including notices and a public hearing. Mike Wolf will contact Sharon White and put her in touch with Town Attorney Chris Hughes to get things started.

2b. Condition of Property at 320 Powers Avenue : The Board, after reviewing the background material on this issue, asked that Mike Wolf move forward with doing whatever it takes to get this nuisance abated.

2c. Appointment of Ken Norton to Plan Commission: Supervisor Berg made a motion to approve the appointment of Ken Norton to the Town Plan Commission effective immediately, for the term ending April 30, 2008. Supervisor Young seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0.

2d. Joining Rock River TDML Group: After some discussion, the Board took no action -- while indicating they had no interest in joining this entity.

2e. Town Resolution 2007-01: Supervisor Berg made a motion to adopt Town Resolution 2007-01, which acknowledges the new state ethics legislation that is being proposed this year. Chair Johnson seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0.

2f. Reconsideration of Town Resolution 2006-12, which Supports the Metropolitan Planning Organization's Redesign: This resolution was adopted last year by the Board, and after some discussion the Board decided not to reconsider their decision at this time. Mike Wolf will forward any future correspondence to the Board, so they may have another opportunity for reconsideration. He will also gather information from adjoining Towns as to how they have responded to this issue.

2g. Meeting Room Cabinet: Chair Johnson made a motion to approve an additional $1500 for the meeting room cabinet, to come out of the Town's Town Hall Outlay Fund. Supervisor Berg seconded the motion. Supervisor Stube expressed her concern that this process wasn't done properly. She stated that the cabinet should not have been started until this additional allocation had been approved by the Board. Supervisor Berg and Supervisor Young agreed with the point that Supervisor Stube made, but expressed their support of the cabinet itself. Supervisor Stube made it clear that her opposition wasn't to the cabinet, but to the process. She reiterated that the Board must be diligent about how the Town's money is being spent.

Supervisor Berg made a motion to close discussion on this issue. Chair Johnson seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0.

Chair Johnson called for a vote on the original motion to approve the funding, and the vote was 4-0, with Supervisor Linzmeier abstaining.

3a. December 12, 2006 Meeting Minutes: Supervisor Berg made a motion to approve the December 12, 2006 meeting minutes as presented. Supervisor Young seconded the motion, and it passed 4-0 with Supervisor Stube abstaining.

3b. December 28, 2006 Meeting Minutes: Supervisor Young made a motion to approve the December 28, 2006 meeting minutes as presented. Supervisor Berg seconded the motion, and it passed 4-0 with Chair Johnson abstaining.

3c. Vouchers: Supervisor Berg made a motion to approve the vouchers as presented. Supervisor Stube seconded the motion, and it passed 4-0 with Supervisor Young abstaining.

3d. Tax Refunds: Chair Johnson made a motion to approve the tax refunds as presented. Supervisor Berg seconded the motion, and it passed 5-0.

4. Public Comment: Deborah Sellers asked about the progress of the sale of 5005 Allis Avenue . Mike Wolf said the notice went out over the weekend, and that the bids are due in by January 25.

Supervisor Berg reminded everyone that he will be out of state for both February Board meetings.

5. Adjournment – Supervisor Berg made a motion to adjourn. Supervisor Young seconded, and the motion passed 5-0 at 7:40pm.

Respectfully Submitted by Mike Wolf, Clerk/Treasurer/Administrator.