VBT Board votes 5-2 for renovations to private dance studio

At its regular meeting Feb. 19, the Van Buren Township Board of Trustees approved, on a 5-2 vote, spending $162,000 to upgrade the private dance studio at township hall and the area around it.
It wasn’t easy getting to this vote and approval. Two weeks earlier the contract for the project was put off for two weeks because of questions board members had.
Then, at the Feb. 19 work/study session at 4 p.m. before the 7 p.m. regular meeting, board members said they didn’t get their questions answered and Supervisor Kevin McNamara agreed to take the contract off the meeting agenda at 7 p.m. for another two weeks.
But, at the regular meeting the item was still on the agenda and one of the board members that had opposed the construction, now was in favor, so it was kept on the agenda and the vote passed.
At the work/study session Supervisor McNamara said to the board, “Whatever you decide, I’m OK.”
He explained that $40,000 was spent on architectural engineering on this line item. $65,000 was targeted for the dance studio and $55,000 to enlarge the foyer so the parents of the dance studio students would have a better waiting area and not have to sit on the floor in the hallway, the way they do now.
He said these needs were pointed out by a space needs study. He said the work in the foyer would change the location of the Recreation Center counter so there is a better view of the door.
When there were questions about the $7,500 being spent for the Jitterbug Elite dance studio new built-in trophy case, McNamara said he had no problem with removing that or the $2,400 bench for the parents. But, when it got to the final vote the trophy case and bench were still a part of the project.
Voting no against the project at the regular meeting were Trustees Paul White and Reggie Miller.
Trustee White was troubled by the unwritten agreement, just discovered, that allowed dance class owner Jennifer Valinski to keep 80% of the business income, while 20% went to the township. McNamara said that would be changed to 60-40, but White wanted to see that in a signed contract. It was learned Valinski had given the township about $1,700 a year for the past 16 years. Later he pointed out changing the percentage will mean a hefty hike in payment for the studio and she might not agree.
Trustee Miller was concerned about the procedure. She said after the Feb. 4 work/study session, McNamara said the project was dead and wouldn’t be coming back, so she submitted no questions because she thought it was no longer coming to the board.
McNamara had said three board members told him they were against it so he thought it had no support. Later, in discussions, Clerk Leon Wright and Trustee Kevin Martin, who the supervisor referred to as being against bringing the item back, both publicly stated that they did not tell him they were against it.
“I don’t know where in creation you thought we were against it,” Clerk Wright said to McNamara. “You didn’t hear me say that.
“I’m not going to talk about it any more,” McNamara said.
McNamara brought it back to the work/study session and then, after getting consensus to take it off the regular agenda that night, left it on the agenda, which led to the vote.
Public Services Director Matthew Best, who presented the details to the board, at first told of building a “fancy floor” for the dance business, along with mirrors on the walls and bars for the students. He said the waiting area for the parents of the students needed to be enlarged so they wouldn’t have to sit on the floor.
Valinski told the board she has a very small storage area so this new storage area planned for her would be a great help. She complained about the floor being uneven and dangerous for students and that she still wouldn’t have enough room.
Best said the built-in trophy case would allow her to display the dance trophies in a better way, since now they are in a display case near the door to her studio, which takes up space. He said the fabric on the studio wall that looks like glass tears around the edges and mirrors will be an improvement.
At the Feb. 19 work/study session, he shifted his presentation away from how nice it will make the dance studio to this work being essential to starting renovations of the township hall which is more than 20 years old. The foyer by the door to the recreation department was needed as a new entry to the renovated recreation area which could possibly be enlarged in the future.
In the half hour between the Feb. 19 work/study session and the regular meeting, Best took a group of people down the hall from the meeting room to the dance studio area to show them the situation. Included in the group were Trustees Frazier, Martin, and White. He showed them the walls that needed to be moved and the floor that needed replacement.
When the Independent asked Recreation Director Jennifer Wright about her recreation department storage room that is being eliminated by the wall movement, she said she will be able to store her items offsite in a township warehouse.
Trustee Frazier explained her change from being against the project to being for it.
“We had a work/study session with a lot of questions and I’m disappointed we didn’t get answers from the directors,” Frazier said, adding, “I’m sorry if I offended the director here. We had legitimate questions.
“However, after going outside and getting some fresh air, I thought about the contract with Cross Renovations and how they may not keep their bid in the same way as proposed now. So, I changed my mind.
“I was never against enlarging the reception area,” she said, adding it would help in moving people in and out. And, if the township puts on an addition there in the future, it certainly would be an asset.
“I certainly want to see other classes use it,” she said, naming Jazzercise, karate, and yoga.
Trustee White said he thinks the reason Frazier changed her mind was because Best told the people in the hall that the contract quote that was offered in September was likely not to be available in two more weeks.
“I think it intimidated some people … I don’t like being pushed like that … intimidating trustees,” White said. “I find it very disappointing and objectionable.”
“I certainly am not a person who intimidates easily,” Frazier said, pointing to her 40 years in real estate. “Believe me, I am not intimidated by Matt Best. Sorry, Matt.”
Trustee Miller went back over the events that led up to approval of the projects. She said she talked to the supervisor the previous week and he said he had a consensus.
“I thought it was done,” McNamara cut in.
“You told me, ‘I’m not dealing with this any more’ and on Sunday I see it on the agenda because we have two board members who insisted it be back on the agenda,” Miller said. “You said all your questions will bring forward answers and paperwork from Matt Best will be at the work study.”
She said that Presidents’ Day pushed the work/study and regular meeting to be both on one night. There was a consensus this was to be pulled from the agenda. Matt Best took people down the hall.
Miller said she wanted to consider this and vote on this in the right way. She said everything has to be rushed and people were told “we’re going to lose the contract,” which she has heard many times during her years on the board.
“I’m really disappointed in this board and the trust we built is compromised,” she said.
“I agree 100% with Trustee Miller,” White said.
“I agree with Trustee Miller that the process was not handled correctly … and I think is should move forward,” said Frazier. “I’m tired of talking about it.”
“I apologize to you,” McNamara said. “I thought it was a consensus of no … This place is falling apart and looks like crap … Whatever the board told me to do, I’ll do.
“I really don’t have a dog in this fight. I didn’t try to fool you. It was an accident … This sets the stage for what the floor and walls will look like.
“In 2022 when the fire station is paid off, the board may build a recreation building. I’m sorry things went down the way it did,” McNamara said.
In other business at the Feb. 19 regular meeting, the board:
• Approved a resolution honoring the late Congressman John D. Dingell, Jr. It will be read at the March 5 meeting and McNamara said he hopes someone from Congresswoman Debbie Dingell’s office could be present to accept it;
• Approved the application of the Belleville Yacht Club for its July 4th fireworks. “I’m jealous of how they do such a great job,” said McNamara of the BYC. “They do a wonderful job”;
• Approved the lease agreement with SMART for a 2019 Eldorado Elite 290 bus for the senior department. The township gets the new bus for seven years without charge, except for maintenance, and then is eligible to get another free bus for another seven years. They’ve been waiting for two years for the award of the bus. It should be here in eight to nine weeks, according to McNamara;
• Approved the first reading of an ordinance to establish the Construction Board of Appeals. The township already has such a board which is required by the state, but this ordinance puts in place the local regulations as to number on the board and length of terms;
• Approved the first reading of an amendment to the ordinance concerning fireworks, changing the VBT law to comply with new state law. Now violation is a civil infraction with a fine up to $1,000 and it states the new list of days fireworks are allowed. McNamara asked the clerk’s office to make the ad in the Independent bigger than usual so people will see it. It also will be on the Facebook page, Public Safety site, and Municode. Frazier asked that it be placed on the community webpage, as well, and Lt. Charles Bazzy, who presented the amendment, said that will be done;
• Approved the supervisor’s reappointments of Carol Bird and Mark Laginess to the Downtown Development Authority with terms to expire March 9, 2023;
• Approved the revised 2019 Board of Trustees meeting schedule; and
• Heard Best say 512 letters had been sent out to alert people to the lakeside informational meeting on Feb. 28.