Sumpter Twp. Board holds first regular meeting since March 24

The Sumpter Township Board of Trustees met together with masks on for its regular meeting July 14, the first regular meeting held since March 24.
All meetings for April, May, and June were cancelled and all other meetings have been special meetings held in person, with the latest ones requiring masks.
Treasurer Ken Bednark was absent and excused, as he has been since the COVID-19 pandemic started. He said the board refused to hold remote meetings which he could attend.
All the other elected and appointed bodies in the tri-communities have held their regular and special meetings via Zoom or some other virtual program since March.
At the July 14 meeting, Finance Director Michelle Cole O’Connell said on May 5 the board approved duty pay for essential workers through May 15.
She said Chief Eric Luke advised her on July 1 of Senate Bill 6990 which was signed by the governor and would allow for reimbursement of duty and hazard pay for essential workers. In order to be able to apply these reimbursements, Supervisor John Morgan approved the pay extension through May 30.
Total duty pay for May 28 was $33,239.43 and for June 25 it was $12,065.39, she said. Total amount the township is currently seeking reimbursement for is $45,295.80, she said.
The money for reimbursement comes from the state using the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund. It will be released by the Michigan Treasury Department on a first-come, first-served basis. The $100 million was based on the understanding it would cover hazard premiums of up to $1,000 for all eligible first responders, according to information sent by a police union.
The board voted unanimously to approve the increase in hazard pay, with Bednark absent.
Trustee/Fire Fighter Don LaPorte, who is getting the hazard pay, abstained from the vote after being reminded he had to do that after the vote was taken. When asked if they had to redo the vote, Clerk Hurst said that wasn’t necessary and, “We’ll make that happen.”
In other business at the July 14 meeting, the board:
• Approved the minutes of six in-person meetings: regular meeting of March 24, budget hearing of March 24, and special meetings of April 2, May 5, June 2, and June 10;
• Approved warrants of $1,786,902.63, revenue and expenditure report net of May 31 of $1,004,741.66, and the following check runs: June 10, $134,236.52; June 24, $1,373,402.48; June 29, $56,192.02; and those through July 15;
• Received and filed the following reports, without any oral reporting: attorney, water and sewer, police, building/ordinance, fire, treasurer, and supervisor;
• Approved Wayne County Annual permits for various maintenance, various pavement restoration, and various special events;
• Extended Fire Chief Joseph Januszyk’s contract as of July 1 through March 29, 2022 with a raise to $32,500 a year and also added that he will get $25 an hour for attending all township fire department calls/runs (both fire and medical) and for the time spent for fire and medical training outside the regular work hours, with no other fringe benefits;
• Increased Board of Review members’ pay from $9 hourly to $12 hourly;
• Approved hiring C&S Construction to complete structural repairs to the northeast corner of the police department building at a cost of $6,100 and approved hiring C&S to complete structural repairs to the police department rear entrance/porch at a cost of $7,690;
• Approved extending the five-year contract signed in 2017 with Huron Township for dispatch of police and fire, along with prisoner lock-up, at an additional cost of $9,217 over three years. May 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020, has 0% increase; July 1, 2020 through April 30, 2021 has 2.5% increase; and July 1, 2021 through April 30, 2022 has a 2.5% increase. The most recent cost was $182,070;
• Approved extending the contract for Water Superintendent Ken Kunka, which expired March 23, until Aug. 1, 2022 and to give him a raise to $68,000 per year, up from the $63,003.20 agreed to in 2017. He now gets four weeks of paid vacation, up from three, and, as in the first contract, in lieu of overtime or comp time, he gets five additional days of vacation;
• Approved a private fireworks display for 9:45 p.m., July 25, at 23241 Martinsville Rd., as submitted by Travis Doren of Van Buren Township. In his email to the township, Doren said the event was for Israel Ministry World Without End. Trustee Matthew Oddy added to the motion that they had to coordinate with police and fire for this display for safety reasons. Supervisor John Morgan said they would talk to the church;
• Approved upgrades to Banotai and Graham parks with a $10,888 grant from Wayne County parks millage and an additional payment of $8,438 from the township;
• Heard Police Chief Luke complain about incorrect information by the local media about the cooling center he opened recently. He said they had a gentleman who stayed two nights and slept on a cot and they gave him money for food. Luke said in the two times they opened the community center as a cooling center and the two times they opened it as a warming center, this man was the first person who took part. Toni Clark asked why they don’t put it on the sign in front of the community center and Luke said it was on both the police and fire Facebook pages and social media. “This is how people get information in 2020,” Luke said. “Everyone has a cell phone,” agreed Clerk Esther Hurst. “Everyone should sign up for Nixle”;
• Heard Mary Ban ask about when the road markings will be put on the new surfaces of Sumpter and Willis roads. Supervisor John Morgan said they would call the county to inquire about its plans. She also wanted to know when the library branch would reopen and Deputy Supervisor Karen Armatis said they had to follow state guidelines. Ban also asked if the recordings of the meetings are on Comcast as well as the internet and Trustee Tim Rush said they are, but most people go to the internet because the majority aren’t getting good Comcast reception. Ban also said she appreciated the financial report given by Michelle Cole [O’Connell] during the workshop and was glad the community center is now open for Bible study. She said she wrote a letter to the Independent telling the many positive things about Sumpter. She said some complain about what Sumpter doesn’t have, but, “We don’t need a recreation center in the country” and if people want those amenities they should live in the city;
• Heard Ken Myers, who is running for trustee on the Democratic ticket, say, “No one had my permission for an endorsement.” He said he is running as an individual and if elected he will run as a team member but will not be influenced by anyone;
• Heard Sharon Pokerwinski say its up to Sumpter whether they want to close the beach or not. She said Van Buren Township and Belleville closed their beaches and she contacted the state about Sumpter’s beach at Banotai Park. She said she is waiting for word back from the state. “We should close the park if we close the beach,” she said; and
• Heard Peggy Morgan ask if there was any update on the Futernick lawsuit and Supervisor Morgan said she can’t ask questions and can only make comments. “Now is the time for public comments from the public,” Supervisor Morgan said. Peggy Morgan asked Trustee Don Swinson whether he would support having the Belleville-Area Independent as newspaper of record. “I’m not going to answer that,” Trustee Swinson replied. “I wasn’t here” for the votes. Peggy Morgan said he certainly read the agenda and he knew it was on the agenda. Trustee Rush called out, “Point of order,” adding this was not an inquisition. “Stick to comments, please,” Supervisor Morgan said.
During the workshop session, Robert Coutts, a candidate for 34th District Court Judge, introduced himself to the board and community. Coutts is also the manager of the Moose Lodge located in Sumpter Township.