After a long discussion at the work/study session on Dec. 3 and a brief discussion at the regular meeting on Dec. 4, the Van Buren Township Board of Trustees approved spending $109,611 to upgrade technology in the board room and in the cable center down the hall.
Ally McCracken, director of Government Access Cable, said the upgrade to professional broadcasting equipment was discussed during the township budget talks.
She said they got bids from three vendors and did a cost breakdown of major pieces from suppliers to compare costs.
“TEL System was the only vendor to provide complete industry solution,” she said, adding, an analysis concluded that the township is not overpaying for products and services.
She said the TEL (Thalner Electronic Labs) System, which was established in 1965, has contracts with the University of Michigan and has done work for Michigan State, Wayne State University, Cobo Center, Belleville High School, Michigan House and Senate chambers, and the cities of Romulus, Monroe, Westland, and Wyandotte.
The VBT upgrades include new cameras, improved board microphones, 12 speakers throughout the room, a wireless microphone, document camera built into the podium, and two 80” monitors mounted on articulating mounts on the walls. Also, there will be 49” and 43” television sets in the control room.
At the work/study session on Dec. 3, Trustee Sherry Frazier chastised TEL account manager Matthew Bizer for not having a power point presentation to show the details of the equipment, being that he represents a technology firm.
She said at least he could put up templates on the wall to show the size of the 80” monitors. At the work/study, Bizer said the monitors would be on opposite walls in the board room, but at the regular meeting, two big pieces of blue paper, representing the monitors, were stuck on the same, north side, of the boardroom, without explanation.
At the regular meeting, McCracken presented a brief power point showing details of some of the equipment.
McCracken first estimated that all the equipment would be in place by February, but then said she has been informed that the Building and Grounds Department would be doing work in the board room, as well, with painting, carpeting, and other upgrades, which may delay her equipment installation.
Supervisor Kevin McNamara said these two projects are from the CIP+1 projects to be paid for with the surplus funds from the 2017 budget.
McCracken said much of the equipment is still in place since the beginning of the building in 1997 when they first started cable coverage of meetings.
Trustee Frazier asked if the used equipment could be sold to Sumpter Township and McCracken said it is working now, but is at the end of its life.
“We could give it to Sumpter Township, give it to the high school. We don’t know,” said Supervisor McNamara.
“I wouldn’t want it,” McCracken said. “Its lifespan is four to five years and the last equipment was replaced in 2008.”
Bizer said the new equipment would have a one-year parts and labor warranty. He said he is located in Ann Arbor and, “We’re very close by” and could come for service quickly during regular business hours.
In other business at the one-hour-and-ten-minute meeting, the board:
• Held a moment of silence in memory of President George H.W. Bush, who passed away the previous Friday;
• Approved the first reading of an ordinance to prohibit marijuana establishments in all areas of the Charter Township of Van Buren. The second reading and approval is planned for Dec. 18 meeting. The board wants to wait until it finds out what the state rules are for marijuana businesses before it makes a final decision on allowing businesses in the township. That could take a year;
• Approved the selection of Eaton Corporation to provide a new, uninterruptable power supply for VBT Public Safety and IT departments at a cost of $27,880;
• Approved purchase of a new 2018 Pearce fire engine from Spartan Fire Engine at a reduced price of $367,899 because it has been used as a demonstration model across the country. It is a sister vehicle to another fire engine recently purchased, but 18” longer. Prices are expected to go up the first of the year because of tariffs. It was originally planned to be purchased in 2019, but buying it now will save about $16,000. Fire Chief Amy Brow said this fire engine will complete the fleet and, hopefully, no other vehicle purchases will be necessary for 10 years;
• Approved a Public Participation Plan, prepared by intern Grace Stamper, for use in the planning and development process. Stamper is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a degree in Urban Studies. She was praised by board members for her work;
• Held another discussion on the Supervisor’s purchase of seven, embroidered winter coats for the township board. Trustee Paul White said he was willing to pay for his since he didn’t think it was proper for taxpayers to pay for personal clothing for him, but Supervisor McNamara refused his offer. McNamara re-read a prepared statement he had presented at the work/study session the day before, explaining his action to provide a “uniform” for board members so the public would know who to go to for help at public events. “You have a right to vote no,” said Clerk Leon Wright to Trustee White, referring to the voucher list that contained the $601.80 for the coats. “Vote no and move on,” he said. White voted no and the voucher list passed on a 6-1 vote; and
• Heard Trustee White compliment Clerk Wright for his handling of the Nov. 6 election which had no problems. He said several people mentioned to him that the election went very well.
After the work/study meeting on Dec. 3, the board went into closed-door session to consider the purchase or lease of real property.
Snow Emergencies
At the Dec. 3 work/study session of the VBT Board of Trustees, Supervisor McNamara and Public Safety Director Greg Laurain explained the police department’s policy of towing vehicles during declared snow emergencies.
Under state law, the supervisor of the township can declare a snow emergency after five inches or more (or less) has fallen and emergency vehicles are unable to access township roads. The police have the right to tow vehicles to clear the way.
Director Laurain said the revised policy is part of the police department’s accreditation procedure. He said under the policy the supervisor can declare a snow emergency and residents have eight hours to get their vehicles off the streets.
Laurain said officers would knock on doors to talk to vehicle owners before towing offending vehicles. He said the snow emergency would be announced on the township website and channels 2, 4, and 7.
At one point, the board considered a township ordinance for snow emergencies, but this policy uses state law and no local ordinance is needed.