Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m.

A jam packed last meeting of the Board of Trustees for 2012. 
Tonight, Monday, December 10  @ 7 PM or view on cable...or computer...

THE BOARD PACKET is 114 pages long.  
I highly recommend you read some of the details to agenda items that may concern you.  
A series of clicks:  Board of Trustees/Board Packet/2012/Dec. 10
 http://www.minutesondemand.com/mod/index.html?client=bloomfieldtwpmi

Here are some agenda items that should concern many....with MY comments/opinion added....

Agenda #4  Issuance of Bonds... another 20 year debt associated with water/sewer.  The township changed how we get our water....to save money... I'm not sure that is what happened or is happening.  Look at your bill.

Agenda #5  Minutes on Demand/website. Many past months and years of agendas and board packets are now missing with this new format on the township website.

Agenda #8 PUBLIC HEARING...final review for the restaurant MEX with hours to 2 AM weekends....adjacent to residential.  The hours can be set/adjusted by the township leadership....will they permit alcohol to be consumed until legal closing hours like bars at this restaurant?  Or, will they say...close the restaurant down at midnight?  Share your thoughts at the Public Hearing.

Agenda #10  2007 Master Plan Update...  what about Bloomfield Park?  Definite changes to the township role there.  What will the costs/benefits be to the township in the future.  Did you read Downtown Publications monthly Dec. 2012 issue about a possible use for Bloomfield Park?

Agenda #12  Second year that Township EXEMPTS  township employees from paying 20% of their health care per MI Public Act 152.  Township can do this for another 4 years thanks to Dave Payne's final 6 year contract to the employees before "retiring".  Exempting is OPTIONAL by the trustees.  They can begin implementing Public Act 152 now.   If employees don't pay..you do.

The following was copied from the Municipal Employees' Retirement System (MERS).  I am including it here for reference as to what PA 152 (or Senate Bill 7) states.

Governor Signs Health Care Bill New law requires health care contributions by public employees

Oct. 4, 2011 - Governor Snyder signed Senate Bill 7 into law on Sept. 24, 2011, legislation that requires the following for public active employees:

• An annual employer payment limit of $5,500 for single employee, $11,000 for an employee and spouse and $15,000 for a family
• Annual adjustments in the payment limit based upon the medical care component of the US consumer price index

OR, by a majority vote of its governing body, a public employer could adopt the following:

• Health insurance coverage with an employer payment limit of no more than 80% and an employee contribution of at least 20%.

The new law, Public Act (PA) 152 of 2011, does not affect current retirees. Current collective bargaining agreements would remain in effect until they expire, but any agreement executed on or after Sept. 15, 2011 must comply with the new limits. A local unit of government could exempt itself from the requirements of the legislation, but to do so would require a 2/3 vote of its governing body and also the approval of the chief executive of the entity. Failure to comply could result in a reduction in economic vitality incentive program (revenue sharing) payments.
The legislation has an effective date of Jan. 1, 2012.

Agenda #16  Clerk's 2011 Annual Report.  Some other departmental 2011 annual reports have not been submitted.  Why?  I think the township taxpayer should have an archived report from all the departments every year.