Fiduciary Report/ 2013 Preliminary Budget to discuss and more

Hi All,
Happy Thanksgiving.
Please mark your calendar if you wish to attend this meeting.

Monday, November 26, 2012 @ 7 pm is the next Board of Trustees meeting.  The agenda is copied at the end of this blog.

There was a STUDY SESSION held on Nov. 13 according to the 11/26 agenda notice.  For the record, I found no notice under Agendas, Legal Notices, Public Meetings, Home page, giving NOTICE to the public about this meeting.  Therefore, with no noticing on the township website, was this meeting legal?  Does anyone at the township CARE if it was legal?  If you read the BOARD PACKET pages 11-13  for Nov. 26, the printed minutes of the mysteriously held study session is all about  FIDUCIARY REVIEW.

Agenda item # 2 for a Class C liquor license for Eddie Merlot's Restaurant at the SE corner of Big Beaver and Woodward most likely will be approved because it is in a MX (mixed use) overlay zone.
Too bad the township ZBA  granted a variance for that three story building that required 50% of the third floor to be residential....down to  ZERO  residential.  So you have a mixed use zoning with a three story building that is non-conforming.... and if it was still B-1...and not the overlay MX.... this restaurant would not be permitted.  I have no issue with the restaurant, I have issues with the way the township uses the rules/ordinances/ zoning to get what they want for commercial development projects.

Agenda Item #3  pages 23-28 of the Board Packet will discuss updating infrastructure for the Detroit Water and Sewer connections that deal with drinking water.  This work may occur during the months of Jan.- March 2013.  Shut downs MAY ?  occur.  I'm hopeful the township will notify residents before that happens.

I have an issue with this Nov. 26 agenda Board Packet for agenda item # 4... Introduction of 2013 - 2014 Preliminary Budget  because it has no material for the public to review.  So, is Supervisor Savoie just going to say he is working on the budget for the next fiscal year, or will there be handouts to review at the meeting ....  but no time to read it and formulate any possible questions in your three minutes of public comment?

Agenda #5 : consider reading in the Board Packet on pages 29-42 the information about the 48th District Court proposed 2013 budget. 

Also included, but not an agenda item is found in the Board Packet pages 43-51 : results for the Nov. 6 general election. 

What's NOT on the AGENDA or the WEBSITE that's coming up?
1.   November 29 Property Assessment Seminar – Check back later for details!  Well, I've been checking and as of this writing, no details.  The township is closed.
2.  The Supervisor and the Trustees have some responsibilities to  APPOINT  interested citizens wishing to be on the various citizen boards:  ie: ZBA, Planning, Board of Review, etc.  This will need to be accomplished at a Dec. Board of Trustees meeting.  WHY hasn't the township ASKED for applications from interested taxpayers?  If you are interested, get to the township and fill out an application.
3.  The township DEPARTMENTS should and some do.... provide an ANNUAL REPORT.  Why are some annual reports missing for 2011?  2012 is almost over.   Missing from the WEBSITE:  Clerk's Department; Planning Department/Division;  never seen one from the Senior Services Department; What about annual reports  from the Supervisor or the Treasurer? 

Township Agendas for May 15,16 and 17.

Hi All,
Another week with township meetings.  May 15, 16 and 17.  
Tuesday:  May 15 is the LAST day to enter your name as a candidate for any of the seven elected positions at the township for the August primary.   Supervisor, Treasurer, Clerk, 4 Trustee positions.

Tuesday @ 7 pm  Zoning Board of Appeals: 
 click for agenda and meeting packet for details

There are 2 items that were postponed or tabled that are now being heard.
Thirteen items are new. 

The last item concerns signs and a new proposed restaurant on the SE corner of Woodward and Big Beaver.  This location/restaurant has not been approved for a liquor license yet, so I am surprised they are going for the sign variance approvals.  The liquor license has come up twice under different names...and no approval from those attempts.  Does the new proposed restaurant know something that the rest of us do not know? The liquor license next?  Predetermined outcome? Just asking.  The property was originally zoned O-1 and was changed to mixed use overlay.  Quite awhile ago,  the ZBA ruled that the building project that zoning/ordinance stated: .. "shall" be 50 % of the third floor to be RESIDENTIAL...ZBA ruled that the building could go to 0% residential..so there went the MIXED use of the project in my opinion.  A restaurant is not office. No residential in the building. What is the building zoned?  Is it legal?   The signage being requested is premature for the project and excessive per the ordinance. The proposed project is Eddie Merlot’s Restaurant.  First I've heard this name as the restaurant.  It is the PROCESS of the township officials that I constantly take exception to... the zoning, the ordinances, etc. are constantly being changed, altered, or conveniently reinterpreted to meet THEIR agenda...not the township citizens.

As to the other items on the ZBA agenda:  it is up to YOU to take the time to click the agenda and check the property locations and the issues before the ZBA.  Once a decision is made....the only way to change the ruling is through the courts.  If it is in your neighborhood, speak up now...for or against and remember to view the details under the "meeting packet" PDF on the web page.

Wednesday @ 2 pm   Design Review Board
A. Special Events:
1. 6869 Franklin Road – St. Owen Church
50th Anniversary Picnic Celebration

B. Signs:
1. 6602 Telegraph Road – SVS Vision – Bloomfield Plaza
Wall Sign


C. Site Plans – Liquor License Requests:
1. 6608 Telegraph Road – Bagger Dave’s – Bloomfield Plaza
Class C/Tavern Liquor License


AS USUAL...NO meeting packet or board packet to get DETAILS....just the agenda notice. The minutes from the last meeting that they are going to approve is NOT shared.  If you actually attend the meeting, the three elected officials who make up this board will NOT be speaking into a microphone and the DETAILS that may be brought to the meeting will not be shared easily with the audience.  How's that for public meeting and the quest for open and transparent?

My question:  "Bagger Dave's".   Why is this liquor license request being presented at 2 pm on a Wednesday?  So the elected three can give their blessing ahead of all the other boards that need to give approval?  What about the public?  Again...the process at the township is the argument and the failure to REALLY make projects in the township open and transparent for all.


Thursday @ 7 pm Board of Trustees Meeting
AS OF 10 PM MONDAY, NO AGENDA OR MEETING PACKET  WAS POSTED.  AM I SHOUTING.  YES. 
The agenda should appear here when the township finally posts...when?  Don't forget to read the Board Packet.  DETAILS of the agenda are important to read and review. You will need to do a series of clicks and downloading PDF files to read.   This Board of Trustees meeting should have been this Monday, May 14.  What was so important that it was cancelled and scheduled for a Thursday?  No reason given.  Depending on the agenda and when it appears on the township website, I may send out another blog.  Stay tuned.