MINUTES OF BOARD MEETING
TRUSTEES OF BARTON HILLS VILLAGE
July 11, 2022
The regular meeting of the Board of Trustees was called to order by President Benson at 6:06 PM at Walter Esch Hall plus online video/phone conference.
ROLL CALL Present: Trustees Al-Awar, Benson, Conlin, Darden, Haitam, Hensinger, Popp, and Smith. Absent: Trustee Holmes.
Others attending: ZA Capozza, Asst. Treasurer Carey, Supt. Hnatow, ZH MDarden, BHMC President David, and one resident.
MINUTES Minutes of the June 13, 2022 Trustees meeting were approved as printed. (Al-Awar/Smith/P)
PUBLIC COMMENT
–BHMC President David complemented the BHV staff for their handling of the recent road closing (West Entrance, due to closure of Foster Bridge beginning July 6, 2022). He observed the staff during this effort and noted that very little new traffic was occurring due to the bridge closure.
–One resident asked if there was an ordinance concerning non-resident runners in the Village? Board reply: these situations are considered individually and the topic is being discussed by BHV/BHMC.
FINANCE/FINANCE COMMITTEE (Haitam/Carey) The June 2022 Budget to Actual and June 2022 Cash Balances reports were acknowledged. The Cash Disbursements for June 2022 were approved as printed (Aux. Book I G(4)). (Al-Awar/Hensinger/P) Property tax invoices were mailed on July 1, 2022.
STANDING REPORTS
Zoning Administrator (Capozza) No report.
Planning Commission (Hensinger) No report.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Community Activities (Benson) The Fall picnic was discussed.
Environment (Hensinger)
–Barton Hills Country Club will be turning parking lot/exterior lights off at night
–A possible silt remediation idea (woody structure installation) for Barton Pond is being explored.
–Installing bike racks ($1500) could be done with available budgeted funds, but may encourage non-resident bike traffic.
–Barton Hills Country Club requested speed tables on Country Club Road near their facilities. There is no current funding budgeted for this.
Climate Resilience Subcommittee (Popp) Solar installation on BHV municipal buildings will not be pursued at this time due to lack of funding.
Human Resources (Smith) Joe Hnatow began work as Superintendent on July 1, 2022. He has hired a new part-time maintenance employee; two full-time, budgeted maintenance positions are currently open. The four employee houses were inspected on July 6, 2022 by an independent, licensed vendor; the report was received July 9, 2022. The Human Resources Committee will prioritize the recommendations by safety and budget considerations, and report back to the Board at the August 8, 2022 meeting.
Long Range Planning (Darden) Purchasing vendor services to inventory BHV assets and identify infrastructure capital needs was not supported. The Long Range Planning Committee will collect information/compile a spreadsheet, with input from BHV staff.
Roads (Al-Awar) Foster Bridge is expected to be closed until early October for maintenance/improvements. The BHV staff monitored traffic at the West Gate for the first few days, informing people of the Washtenaw County posted detours and providing written explanation/alternate route maps. This information will be posted on the BHV website and the staff will continue to monitor the situation.
Security (Smith for Holmes) Mr. Holmes’ written report was discussed. While security budget funding is available if additional Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Department patrolling is required for the Foster Bridge closure, this has not been needed so far.
Water (Popp)
–Barton Hills Country Club is interested in purchasing Barton Green. At this time the Water Committee does not support a sale, instead suggesting that BHV consider leasing the land to BHCC.
–BHV will move forward with additional testing of Village wells for 1,4 dioxane relative to the Gelman plume. The toxin has been detected in residential wells on the southern shore of the Huron River across from BHV.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS The proposed Charter amendments have been approved by the Governor, and will be placed on the November 8, 2022 General Election ballot for decision by the BHV registered voters.
NEW BUSINESS Trustee Haitam referenced the memo sent by the Superintendent Joseph Hnatow to the Village Board on July 10, 2022, raising the issues of 20 non-Village residents congregating and holding an organized run in violation of the Village ordinances. He engaged in a lengthy speech concerning the number of non-residents who congregate in the Village, including a large running group which has made the residents on Underdown Road “very angry”. He proposed gates at all BHV entrances; there was no support for this idea among the other Trustees. Mr. Haitam’s motion to have Superintendent Hnatow “police and stop outsiders” received no second. A motion to instruct the Superintendent Hnatow to not permit outsiders to use BHV streets for biking/running was seconded but failed. (Haitam/Al-Awar/Failed with Haitam voting yes; Al-Awar, Benson, Conlin, Darden, Hensinger, Popp and Smith voting no)
The Michigan Municipal League ballot was approved as presented. (Smith/Conlin/P)
There being no further business or objections, the meeting was adjourned at 8:07 PM.
Alicia Torres for
Janice K. Esch, Deputy Clerk Approved 8.8.22