TOWN OF WASHINGTON
TOWN BOARD MEETING
Monday, February 19th, 2007
6:30 p.m.
Rutledge Room in the Community Center
A. ROLL CALL: Chairman Dutton Morehouse called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. In addition to Morehouse, present were Supervisors James VanRamshsorst, Joel Gunnlaugsson, Ronald Overdahl and Elizabeth Holmes.
B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
C. OPENING PRAYER: Dutton Morehouse gave the opening prayer.
D. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Chairman Morehouse reminded the procedure for public comment. Supervisor Overdahl addressed the agenda item J. 7, requesting the item occur as discussion only to allow more time to gather information. Morehouse declined the request.
E. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes of the Regular Town Board Meeting, Monday January 15, 2007, were approved by unanimous consent.
F. APPROVAL OF BILLS: The bills for the Town and the committees were approved by unanimous consent.
G. DEPARTMENT ACTIVITY REPORTS:
1. Chairman’s Report
2. Public Works
3. Police
4. Rescue Squad
5. Fire Department
6. Landfill
7. Airport
8. Financial Report
Gunnlaugsson asked to pull report G6; all other department reports were accepted by unanimous consent. Gunnlaugsson stated there should be funds available at the Landfill for the staff to make change for refuse user fees. Morehouse stated that would need to be on a future agenda. The Landfill report was accepted as presented.
H. COMMUNICATIONS:
1. Door County RPC—Notice of Public Hearings
2. Robb Carr—Letter regarding possible sale of Krueger property
3. Door County—Letter regarding comments by Leonard Lampereur, Chairman of the Town of Union
4. Wis. DNR—Appraisal Transmittal, Shepardson and Gunnlaugsson property
5. Charles Hansen—Letter regarding condition of Bay Point Road
6. H.Bruce McClaren—Letter regarding Friends of Washington Island payment toward Library renovation
7. Kerber Rose—Letter regarding external peer review
8. Door County—Building permits issued
9. Jerry L. Mann—Letter regarding resignation from Recreation Center Committee
Evelyn Kirchner asked to speak on an item not the agenda. She will speak later during “Public Comment”. Morehouse stated that, regarding H.5. the Town crew supervisor stated the road will be graded and regraveled after the frost is out of the ground. Liz Holmes asked to pull H9, feeling there are issues that need to be addressed to prevent following resignations. Morehouse stated he felt that a resolution will be forthcoming. The Communications were accepted by unanimous consent.
I. OLD BUSINESS:
1. “No Parking” signs at Trinity Church—Morehouse stated there was a request from Trinity to table the item; it will be postponed to no later than April. Motion: Overdahl moved and Holmes seconded to table the request. Motion carried.
2. Community Center/Gym doors—Motion: To postpone this action indefinitely. Motion made by Overdahl and seconded by VanRamshorst; motion carried. Due to the cost of meeting all the requirements for the doors, it was determined to postpone new doors; it was suggested by Holmes that other bids be taken.
J. NEW BUSINESS:
1. Resolution of recognition and appreciation of John Davies for portraits of “Island Treasures”. Motion: Overdahl moved to accept the Resolution (attached); Holmes seconded. Motion carried. Morehouse read a letter from John Davies into the record and gave a history of the portraits he created for the Island. John thanked the Board, and the Board stated their appreciation for his talented contribution.
2. Review bids for removal of trees, brush, and other debris from Airport property; award contract to winning bidder. Morehouse opened the bids; Hanlin $115,720.00; LaPlante $82,948.00; Tom Jordan $80,478.00. All bids were with credit from timber and LaPlante’s required use of Town vehicles. Morehouse pointed out the low bid was TBJ, Tom Jordan’s, and included insurance and bonding available “this week”. Motion: Overdahl made a motion to accept the low bid, TBJ, pending the delivery of a performance bond; Holmes seconded the motion. Motion carried. Morehouse told Tom Jordan to have the performance bond in within one week and to begin as soon as possible.
3. Recreation Center request to approve Courtney DeJardin as a member of the Recreation Center Board. Motion: VanRamshorst made a motion to accept Ms Dejardin as a member; Holmes seconded. Motion carried.
4. Request by Washington Island Airport to impose fines for non-payment of Tie-Down fees. Louis Munao asked to address this item. He brought in a fee list from Gibraltar airport. Morehouse stated Gibraltar has services; our airport does not. His fee list was taken for consideration. Morehouse stated the item on the agenda relates to people leaving without paying even our “modest fee”. Morehouse noted the follow up involves Airport Manager Walt Nehlsen and Officer Tyler McGrane finding people through their registration number and then mailing letters. Motion: VanRamshorst made a motion to add a $10.00 fine to the tie down fee as a fine for not paying. Holmes seconded. Motion carried. Walt will add the information re the fee to the current fee sign posted at the airport.
5. Resolution authorizing the clerk-treasurer to determine the number of poll workers in future elections. Morehouse read the Resolution 2007-01 (attached) into the record. Motion: VanRamshorst made a motion to permit the determination of the poll workers for each election to be under the jurisdiction of the clerk treasurer; Gunnlaugsson seconded the motion. Motion carried.
6. Award winning bid for Library and Community Center shelves. There was one bid, $25.99 for the Community center shelves; the shelves were awarded to Paula McDonald. There were two bids for the Library shelves; Paula McDonald bid $63.99; and $74.00 bid by Valerie Fons. Morehouse asked for a motion to accept the bid from Valerie Fons; Motion: Gunnlaugsson moved to award the bid to Valerie Fons; Holmes seconded the motion. Motion carried.
7. Authorize an appropriate supervisory title for Office Tyler McGrane, WIPD. Overdahl moved to table this item. There was no second. Morehouse asked for a motion to authorize the supervisory title; VanRamshorst made the motion; Holmes asked to move that the wording be changed to “officer in charge”. VanRamshorst stated there was a motion on the floor to determine an appropriate title for McGrane; discussion could follow after approving the motion. Motion: VanRamshorst moved to have the Board approve an appropriate supervisory title for McGrane; Gunnlaugsson seconded. Motion carried. Discussion included differentiation of terms “chief” vs “officer in charge”; the process of creating a structure for the position, including definition and administration of a chief, salary level, and personnel review; and concern of affect on county funding. Holmes again brought up the use of the title “officer in charge”. Morehouse stated the importance of designating a responsible person in the department with a second officer coming on board. Morehouse stated the motion should read that “”Officer McGrane should be appointed officer in charge of the Washington Island Police Department with a performance review based on performance of the duties of the title within six months and annually thereafter”. The two individuals who proposed the original motion agreed on the amendment. Overdahl asked to have the motion re read. Motion carried.
K. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS –None.
L. PUBLIC COMMENTS, ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA—Evelyn Kirchner asked re the packets availability to Board members. She stated her packet was given to her on Friday, and that did not provide enough time for research. The Board told her they receive the packets on Friday also. Also, Ms Kirchner asked if all communications were included in the packet and who specifically “censored” the communications. She stated her concern re the meeting between the Chairman and Louis Munao of the medical committee. Morehouse stated the Town Chairman has full control of the agenda. Morehouse stated decisions are not made in private discussions; in the instance cited, Morehouse stated what occurred between him and Munao was to clarify a process that had occurred and to verify the process. Kirchner also noted the Chairman does not call for opposing votes, only votes in favor. She cited instances of the same. Munao made a comment about a contract entered into March 13th of 2006. Darlene Davies asked how the Recreation Center Board is chosen and how the funding for the Center works. Morehouse stated the Committee votes on who they want to be on the Committee, and the Town Board officially appoints those people. The original committee was appointed by Mosling.
M. UPCOMING MEETINGS—Utility District board Meeting, 6:00 p.m. Monday, March 19, 2007; Regular Town Board meeting, 6:30 p.m., Monday March 19th, 2007.
N. ADJOURNMENT: Motion: Holmes moved and VanRamshorst seconded to adjourn at 7:43 p.m.