VBT Board approves first batch of new, amended ordinances

By changing its ordinances, Van Buren Township will save money and tighten up the rules that keep the township from being a premier community, Police Lt. Charles Bazzy told the township board at its regular meeting April 4.
The board unanimously approved the first readings of five changes in the ordinances he proposed. The second reading, and adoption, of the changes is scheduled for its April 18 meeting.
By amending the wording, the ordinances change from describing 93-day misdemeanor violations that continue in circuit court downtown with criminal penalties if not finalized at district court, to 90-day civil infractions that are settled with tickets.
The tickets can be paid within 14 days at the township hall and then they go to district court for a pretrial to be set up on the violations.
Lt. Bazzy said Township Prosecutor Angela Mannerino is at the 34th District Court each Tuesday, so she can handle the civil infractions there. Otherwise, they have to send her to downtown Detroit, at township expense, to pursue the ordinance violations.
“We are decriminalizing these,” said Supervisor Kevin McNamara. “I didn’t know it was criminal to not cut your lawn.” He said when the proposed changes were brought to him, he supported them.
Mannerino said the tickets can be paid at Treasurer Budd’s office and the township gets 100%. If they take it to court, the township gets one-third.
“The goal is not to generate revenue but to encourage compliance,” Supervisor McNamara said.
The first change is in the definitions in the dog-at-large ordinance to add cats, mammals, birds, and livestock. Lt. Bazzy said, for example, this would give the township the power to help a sheep in the south end of the township that is not being taken care of.
Lt. Bazzy said by decriminalizing the offenses, such as dog at large or high grass, there is no criminal penalty hanging over their heads.
During discussion of the new animals named in the ordinance at the April 3 work/study meeting, Treasurer Sharry Budd said she chased a pig who escaped into the night and it went on somebody’s property, “But I got it.”
She said she also has some chickens that wander, too.
When questioned, Lt. Bazzy said “at large” meant animals running freely on property of another. He said there are exemptions, such as Leader Dogs.
Trustee Reggie Miller asked if the officers can issue a warning and Lt. Bazzy replied, “We don’t have to, but it’s at the officer’s discretion.”
“I like it,” said Clerk Leon Wright. “To be a premiere community, you need rules.”
Another change is the way the township contacts people about blight ordinance violations. Lt. Bazzy said they will post the property first and then send them the violation by first-class mail instead of certified mail, the way it currently must be done.
He said certified mail can be refused, which causes delays in the process.
Also the addition to the general ordinance on embezzlement makes it possible for small amounts, such as $100 to $200, usually from local business, can be handled at district court, with larger amounts staying in the criminal system.
Lt. Bazzy said Ron Akers, director of planning and economic development, worked with him on some of the proposed changes.
Lt. Bazzy brought another batch of ordinance changes to the Environmental Commission in March and the commission recommended changes to the board on diseased or dangerous trees, plants and shrubs; animal waste; removal of snow and ice from sidewalks, walks and ramps; and trash receptacles.
Those ordinances are expected to be brought to the board for consideration soon.
In other business at the 58-minute April 4 meeting, the board:
• Approved a personal service agreement between Amy Brow and the township for the position of fire chief. Salary is $78,000;
• Approve a three-year professional services agreement with Hydro Corp., Inc., at an annual cost of $14,280, to provide inspection and other related services for enforcement of the Safe Drinking Water Act-mandated Cross Connection Control Program. Hydro Corp has providing the service here since 2008 and serve 140 communities in Michigan. Hydro Corp included recommendations from Canton, Romulus, Dearborn Heights, Livonia, and Taylor;
• Heard Supervisor McNamara read a letter from Romulus Mayor Leroy Burcoff thanking the VBT Fire Department for aiding in equipment and manpower on March 8 during the wind storm when Romulus had a large fire at its recycling facility. He also read parts of a letter from DTE expressing its gratitude for VBT’s part in setting up a warming center in Belleville. DTE said there were 80 centers across 11 counties and over 1,000 used the centers. McNamara said the Belleville center had 100 users;
• Heard Clerk Leon Wright announce the township administrative offices will be closed for Good Friday. He said on May 9 his office will again put on the student council election at Belleville High School, using regular voting machines;
• Heard Clerk Wright announce the new voting machines will be used in the next election in 2018, unless something comes up before then. These new machines will count votes at high speed which will be helpful for absentee ballots, he said. He said precinct counts will go directly to the county so a precinct chairman doesn’t have to bring back the information to the township hall;
• Heard Trustee Paul White ask where the board is in creating a travel policy because it has an impact on the budget. He also wants to look at the purchase policy. “A lot of times I see things on the prepaid list that befuddle me. It’s our residents’ tax money and any item on there is out of taxpayers’ pocket books,” he said. When Trustee Miller asked him to be specific, he mentioned a few items, including a Cusinart coffee maker for $266. Supervisor McNamara said the cost of that item was split between the Downtown Development Authority, the Water Department, and Buildings and Grounds so they would have coffee for the new office. White said when he was supervisor he paid for the coffee pot and coffee in his office himself and Supervisor McNamara said that’s what he does, too. McNamara said they need water, as well as coffee, for people doing business with the building and planning office and so he’s going to start buying water for them.
Closed-door session
On April 3, the township board went into closed session to discuss the trial and/or settlement strategy in the pending litigation of Van Buren Township vs. Amanda Jackson, Wayne County Circuit Case # 15-015063.