VBT board rejects German volunteer for 2020 in 4-3 vote

After a lengthy discussion on whether it would be wise to bring a volunteer from Germany to help the Senior Department this year, the Van Buren Township Board of Trustees voted 4-3 to suspend the program for 2020 because of COVID-19.
The proposal to bring a selected volunteer to VBT Senior Center, as had been done for 10 years, was put on the agenda by Supervisor Kevin McNamara during the Zoom meeting of the township board on June 2.
He said last year they decided not to do it this year because the township decided it couldn’t give the volunteer a car as in the past when it provided a car, insurance, and gas.
Supervisor McNamara said a young man wants to come and he will take the COVID-19 test and provide his own car and pay for the insurance. He said they still have time to bring someone over.
Treasurer Sharry Budd said her concern is that he would have to be quarantined for 14 days and where would he stay? Also, he could get the disease on the airplane and someone would have to be responsible for him.
Treasurer Budd said while she supports the volunteer for the seniors, “This is not the year to bring someone from a foreign country. Maybe, next year.” She noted the senior center was closed now.
Senior Director Lynette Jordan, who said they have the opportunity to have a bright young man arrive in August or September, with the approval of the board and the lifting of international travel restrictions.
She said she has a place for him to quarantine for 14 days and a place for him to recover if he gets COVID-19. His housing will be with her and her husband.
“He will purchase a car and insurance,” she said, adding the seniors are excited to bring the program back. She said the volunteer gets $275 a month for a 40-hour per week position.
She said the front desk is run by volunteers, but she can’t guarantee any would come back because of the virus.
“We want him to be the liaison between the senior center and the homebound unable to get out and may not come back because of fear of getting the virus,” she said.
She said the volunteer knows three languages, is a good student, and did a short internship with the police on drugs and safety. He is age 18 and plays the piano. He could teach German and French.
Jordan said the Senior Endowment Committee has been unable to meet, but members show an interest in donating to the program. Every year they have donated to the program if funds are needed.
“Overall, I understand the concerns,” Jordan said “I face-timed with him and met his family online. We are fortunate to have him. Trust me in my judgment and let it go forward. If they don’t lift the international travel, he can’t come.”
Trustee Reggie Miller said this is for a $275 monthly stipend, but with the travel ban the township doesn’t know when he’d come.
“He would like to come in late August or September or when the travel ban is lifted,” Jordan said. “If he was here in September, he’d be here through August next year.”
“We’re not questioning your judgment, it’s the risks,” Trustee Miller said. “A liaison to shut-ins? How would that work?”
Jordan said he would take them food from the pantry and get connected through Zoom, teaching seniors technology.
“I do have the funds,” Jordan said, noting it would be $3,300 for the year and she has that in her budget right now. “The possibility of this young man giving COVID at homes, is the same as any other person.”
Miller said with him coming over here and going to 100 residents there is a risk. Other volunteers are already here, she said. Also, this is additional liability for the township and is a difficult situation.
“COVID is not gone. Is it worth the risk?” Miller asked.
Clerk Leon Wright said he is the risk manager for the township and this has a bad risk assessment.
“To bring anyone over from overseas now to deal with seniors?” Clerk Wright asked. “It would be a liability.”
He suggested finding someone from the University of Michigan or Eastern Michigan University who would be just as smart and could do the same thing.
“Why do we have to look abroad?” Wright asked. “It’s a question I’ve always asked … to do the same thing our young men can do?”
Trustee Kevin Martin said this volunteer has an impressive resume, but he has to agree with Treasurer Budd on the risk of COVID or the car.
“In the past, we have given them a car to drive,” said Wright. “The MMRMA encouraged us not to do that,” he said, referring to the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority.
Trustee Paul White said he is in agreement with the program. He said the volunteer couldn’t get here until Sept. 1 and he should pass a COVID test or be sent home.
He said seniors enjoyed talking to the German volunteer. He said they won’t get any U.S. citizen to work for $275 a month.
“We have a young man willing to take the risk… I don’t think we should cower, fear what might be,” said Trustee Sherry Frazier. “He’s not coming until September. He knows the risk … a good resource for our seniors … We could all get COVID, too.”
McNamara made the motion to approve the program for this year, with Trustee Frazier seconding the motion. The vote was three yes and four no, with the motion failing.
Voting yes were White, McNamara, and Frazier. Voting no were Miller, Martin, Budd, and Wright.
Miller suggested Jordan come back to this the first of the year.
“It’s a great program,” she said. “It’s just the time.”
In other business at the one-hour-and-23-minute meeting, the board:
• Discussed the governor’s latest move and heard McNamara announce that employees will return to work on June 8 and open the township hall doors to the public on June 15. All events through July 5 are still canceled. Employees will use hand sanitizer, stay back six feet, and use face shields and plastic shields that are in place at the office front desks;
• Approved the first reading of Ordinance 6-2-20 (1) to rezone 3.29 acres at 1043 Savage Rd. from M-1 (Light Industrial) to R-1B (Single Family Residential), as requested by owners Charles and Patricia Reavis. Their land had split zoning and this will put it all into the present use. This rezoning is part of a series of rezonings done by the township without charge to property owners in that area. The residential zoning enables sale of the property and obtaining a mortgage;
• Approved a Fireworks Display Permit by Michigan Fireworks Club to set off fireworks on July 3 from a barge in Belleville Lake near the Belleville Yacht Club, 831 E. Huron River Dr. Rain date is July 4. The permit was requested by Joshua Edwards of the BYC, who is Fireworks Club president. The club put on a fireworks display last year in this same format;
• Approved a 10-year ground least agreement with The Habitat Company LLC (Harbour Club Apartments), at the northeast corner of Beckley and Denton roads at a total lease cost of $10 over the ten years of the lease. The township will renovate the present tennis courts to create four pickleball courts and a parking lot at an estimated cost of $185,000, and use this as part of its park system. It is expected to be complete by the end of August. The courts will be maintained by VBT and the grass and parking lot maintained by Harbour Club. McNamara said in the future the Iron Belle Trail will run past this site and this is a nice addition to the community;
• Announced it was providing framed certificates, signed by board members, for the three students receiving $5,000 college scholarships from the Belleville Rotary Club: Joseph Budd, Haley Bellingham, and Collin Attard. Treasurer Budd said Joseph is her grandson and Haley is the daughter of her Deputy Treasurer Sean Bellingham and both are going to EMU in the fall;
• Heard McNamara announce that Trustee Miller got another grant for $5,000 and it had to be spent quickly so they sent it to food closets at the United Methodist Church, Trinity Episcopal Church, Van Buren Public Schools, and Owen Intermediate PTO. She thanked Enbridge for the grant; and
• Heard Clerk Wright tell of his numerous friends and relatives with COVID-19, including a first-cousin he was very close to who just died. He also told his thoughts on race relations and the nationwide demonstrations for justice.