Town of Blooming Grove Board Meeting Minutes – March 23, 2010

Chair Johnson called the meeting to order at 6:30pm. Board members in attendance were Chair Johnson, Supervisor Berg, Supervisor Linzmeier and Supervisor Young. Supervisor McLaughlin was absent. Also in attendance were Clerk/Treasurer/Administrator Mike Wolf, Fire Chief Glenn Linzmeier, Public Works Supervisor Rick Konkel, Public Works Worker Cory Buske, and residents Deborah Sellers, Dean Larson, Don Klinger, Jill Haglund and John Jaworski.

The pledge of allegiance was recited. Chair Johnson asked if the meeting notice had been properly posted, and Mike Wolf stated it had been. The Closed Session item was moved to the end of the agenda to accommodate those who were here for open session items.

2a. Public Hearing to Amend Town Ordinance 4.01 to Allow for a Snow Emergency: Chair Johnson made a motion to open the Public Hearing for amending Town Ordinance 4.01 to allow for snow emergency parking restrictions. Supervisor Linzmeier seconded the motion and it passed 4-0.

Deborah Sellers expressed concern about having more restrictions on parking that might encourage others to park in her driveway.

Dean Larson suggested there should be stricter parking restrictions, including no parking on either side of the street. He went on to say that if the snow emergency was going to be implemented, the threshold for inches of snow be reduced below eight.

Dwight Johnson stated he would prefer no parking be allowed anywhere on town streets.

Rick Konkel stated that eight inches of snow was a valid threshold for a snow emergency, as that would help him effectively plow snow in large storms, but still allow people to park on town streets the majority of the winter.

Chair Johnson closed the Public Hearing.

 

2b. Amendment to Town Ordinance 4.01 to Allow for Snow Emergency: Supervisor Berg made a motion to defer this item until Supervisor McLaughlin could be in attendance. Supervisor Young seconded the motion and it passed 3-0, with Chair Johnson abstaining.

2c. Road Projects in 2010: Chair Johnson made a motion to approve the road projects as presented by staff: pulverize and overlay of Powers Avenue from Thurber to St. Paul (with TRIP funds); pulverize and overlay of Jenness Avenue from Carncross to Kuehling; and chip seal on Sprecher Road from AB to town boundary south of BB (Madison will be asked to partner with us, so as to continue the project all the way to BB). Supervisor Young seconded the motion and it passed 4-0.

2d. Purchase of New Plow Truck: Rick Konkel explained the 1994 plow truck was falling apart and needed to be replaced. He and Mike Wolf both recommend the purchase of a new plow truck, with the understanding that it should last the remainder of the town's existence.

Chief Linzmeier and Supervisor Berg expressed their concern about the need to buy new, and recommended looking into other alternatives including retrofitting the old fire department tender, or purchasing a used vehicle. Mike Wolf and Rick Konkel will investigate these options. Supervisor Berg made a motion to postpone this agenda item until Supervisor McLaughlin was present. Supervisor Young seconded the motion and it passed 4-0.

2e. Town Resolution 2010-03 regarding State Shared Revenue: Chair Johnson made a motion to approve Town Resolution 2010-03 as presented, which asks the state to change the state shared revenue formula to be more equitable to all municipalities in the state. Supervisor Young seconded the motion and it passed 4-0.

2f. Approval of $150,000 Loan for New Tender: Chair Johnson made a motion to approve the resolution for the $150,000.00 loan for the new tender as presented. Supervisor Young seconded the motion and it passed 4-0.

2g. Changes to Personnel Manual: Supervisor Berg made a motion to defer this item until Supervisor McLaughlin was present. After some discussion Supervisor Berg withdrew his motion.

Supervisor Berg made a motion to approve the change to Page 5 of the Personnel Manual, to require timecards to be turned in by 9:00am Monday. Supervisor Young seconded the motion and it passed 4-0.

Supervisor Young made a motion to approve the change to Page 8 of the Personnel Manual, to eliminate the verbiage box that dealt with Fire Department policies and procedures. Supervisor Linzmeier seconded the motion and it passed 3-1, with Supervisor Berg voting against.

Supervisor Berg made a motion to approve the change to Page 11 of the Personnel Manual, to allow for non-firefighters to take vacation in ¼ hour increments, but at no less than 2 hours at one time. Supervisor Young seconded the motion and it passed 4-0.

Supervisor Young made a motion to approve the change to Page 15 of the Personnel Manual, to more specifically identify in-laws as daughter-in-law, son-in-law, father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law. Supervisor Linzmeier seconded the motion and it passed 3-1, with Supervisor Berg voting against.

Chair Johnson made a motion to approve the change to Page 18 of the Personnel Manual, which acknowledges that employees who are eligible for retirement benefits are also eligible for health insurance and dental insurance. Supervisor Young seconded the motion and it passed 4-0.

Supervisor Berg made a motion to approve the new Sexual and Other Unlawful Harassment Policy in the Personnel Manual as presented. Supervisor Linzmeier seconded the motion and it passed 3-0, with Supervisor Berg abstaining.

Chair Johnson made a motion to approve the change to Page 33 of the Personnel Manual, to eliminate the Personnel Committee's role in evaluating employees (beyond the Clerk/Treasurer/

Administrator). Supervisor Linzmeier seconded the motion and it passed 3-1, with Supervisor Berg voting against.

2h. Drawing on Unallocated Reserves to Pay Off Two Loans: Chair Johnson and Supervisor Berg expressed their opposition to the plan that was presented by Mike Wolf. No action was taken.

3a. Minutes of February 23, 2010 Town Board Meeting: Supervisor Young made a motion to approve the minutes of the February 23, 2010 Town Board Meeting as presented. Chair Johnson seconded the motion and it passed 3-0, with Supervisor Berg abstaining.

3b. Vouchers: Supervisor Young made a motion to approve the vouchers as presented. Chair Johnson seconded the motion and it passed 4-0.

3c. Property Tax Refunds: Chair Johnson made a motion to approve the property tax refunds as presented. Supervisor Young seconded the motion and it passed 4-0.

4. Public Comment: Deborah Sellers asked the Board to consider having a meeting or two in the towns' parks.

Chief Linzmeier reported that it has become official: the Blooming Grove Fire Department was awarded a $1,000,000 grant from FEMA, on behalf of themselves and 21 other fire departments in Dane County . Board members thanked Chief Linzmeier for his efforts to secure this grant.

2i. Closed Session regarding EMS Services in 2011 and Beyond: Chair Johnson made a motion to go into Closed Session, pursuant to section 19.85(1)(g) of Wisconsin Statutes in order to discuss potential opportunities for the future delivery of emergency services. Supervisor Linzmeier seconded the motion. A voice-vote was taken: Supervisor Berg – aye; Supervisor Linzmeier – aye; Chair Johnson – aye; Supervisor Young – aye.

2j. Open Session: Chair Johnson made a motion to come out of Closed Session. Supervisor Young seconded the motion and it passed 4-0.

2k. EMS Services in 2011 and Beyond: No action taken.

5. Adjournment: Supervisor Young made a motion to adjourn the meeting. It was seconded by Chair Johnson and passed 4-0 at 8:51pm.

Minutes written by Michael J. Wolf, Clerk/Treasurer/Administrator