MINUTES OF BOARD MEETING
TRUSTEES OF BARTON HILLS VILLAGE
October 9, 2023
The regular meeting of the Board of Trustees was called to order by President Protem Conlin at 6:00 PM at Walter Esch Hall.
ROLL CALL Present: Trustees Al-Awar, Conlin, Darden, Hensinger, Popp, and Smith. Absent: Trustees Haitam, Holmes, and Perry.
Others attending: ZA Capozza, Supt. Hnatow, BHMC President David, and one resident.
MINUTES Minutes of the September 11, 2023 Trustees meeting were approved as printed. (Popp/Al-Awar/P)
PUBLIC COMMENT None.
FINANCE (Smith) The Cash Disbursements for September 2023 were approved as printed (Aux. Book IV G(8)). (Smith/Popp/P)
-Lauren Reeves was hired as assistant treasurer and will start in the next week or two.
-The FY22-23 audit is complete and copies will be delivered in the next week or two. It will be presented to the Trustees at the November meeting.
STANDING REPORTS
Zoning Administrator (Capozza) An update on current projects was provided.
-Trustee Darden will communicate with the homeowner at 485 Barton North about the shed that was placed in the front of their house. Will report back to the Trustees.
Planning Commission (Hensinger) The Commission will meet on October 10 to review an application to construct landscape/retaining walls at 525 Hillspur Rd and to discuss steep slopes.
Superintendent (Hnatow) Report topics were: contract work for the employee housing water lines and guardrails, road patching, and water billing.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Roads/Vehicles (Al-Awar) In the spring, the stop sign at Barton North and Underdown will be moved farther towards the road and a line will be painted by the stop sign to indicate vehicles to stop.
Security (Holmes) No report.
Water (Popp for Perry) Written report provided. The committee’s recommendation to increase the water rate from $5.99 to $7.99 was sent back for additional review.
-Several board members expressed dismay over the length of time it is taking to proceed with the planned water line repairs.
-The committee joined in with Ann Arbor Township in appealing against Mid Michigan Materials. The Township filed a motion for a temporary restraining order, requesting that the Court prohibit Mid Michigan Materials from mining in violation of the Township Zoning Ordinance, its Conditional Use Permit, and the Development Agreement between the Township and Mid Michigan Materials.
Community Activities (Smith) The Village Halloween event will be on October 28. This year’s additional offerings are a haunted house and trunk or treat.
Environment (Hensinger) Waiting for a reply from the Department of Natural Resources on the deer permit application.
-Information was published in a recent Barton Bulletin about deer alert and Lyme disease.
-Oak wilt has been identified in Bird Park. Information was published in a recent Barton Bulletin on how to identify oak wilt and how to possibly mitigate it.
Climate Resilience (Popp) Working to schedule a meeting with the Fire Chief to visit and discuss fire risk in the Village.
-Beginning collaboration with the Ann Arbor climate resilience specialist Bryce Frohlich, who is interested in connecting with the Village.
Human Resources (Conlin) Gathering quotes for employee life insurance.
Long Range Planning (Darden) No report.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS MDOT M-14 (Smith) Based upon an email exchange with Ann Arbor City’s Assistant Administrator John Fournier, MDOT has not approached the City with a request to endorse the PEL study’s recommendation to close Barton Drive and build a dual roundabout. AATWP’s Board of Trustees will discuss this topic at their November meeting.
NEW BUSINESS Trustee Popp discussed MDOT’s proposed project to build a six to eight foot tall steel fence along the railroad on West Huron River Dr. There is a petition that was created by a local group that can be viewed/signed online at Change.org.
There being no further business or objections, the meeting was adjourned at 7:08 PM.
Lacey R. Krecko, Deputy Clerk
Approved 11.13.2023