Bloomfield Twp Happenings - Marcia Robovitsky

18/03/2023

MY REVIEW/OPINION of Bloomfield Township's meeting:
3/16/23 WATER/SEWER study session: a "dog and pony show"?

Many people attended and spoke during public comment. Also, some spoke/shouted out of turn (probably frustrated) because the issues were not well understood by many nor fully explained by the Board except to say something about "having many previous meetings about this.." The meeting finally ended at 9:45 pm I would say MOST people never knew about any of the previous "meetings".

HISTORY:
The Board of Trustees last year approved changing how w/s RATES were going to be determined. They added size of the PIPE/Meter to determine rates. The bigger the pipe, the higher the rate. Also, at that time, they did decide to wait on whether or not to also charge a fee for the secondary water meters for this fiscal year 2023-2024. So, fast forward, it is NOW time to decide on that FEE. Thus the study session, in part.

ISSUE #1
Before the actual study session on 3/16/23 the Township mailed (to ONLY those having secondary meters) a postcard notice informing them of the meeting. Why not informing ALL RESIDENTS ? I will guess that the Township had heard from many residents about the idea of charging a fee for the
secondary meter and was somehow suggesting "grandfathering" those with
existing secondary meters from the fee and only charging any NEW secondary meter installations. MANY people spoke at public comment about the ridiculous idea of charging a FEE for that secondary meter and asked for the "grandfathering" of their meter from the fee. HOWEVER, it is a BAD idea PERIOD. PAY FOR WATER USAGE.... not for meter size or number of.... but for USAGE. At next month April meeting, the Board will decide on FEE issue for secondary meters. Will it just be FEE? or perhaps "grandfathering?" or NO FEE even for any potential NEW installs? TBD.

ISSUES #3 AND #3
Two other issues at the Study Session that the Water/Sewer department head was seeking input about was about HOW SHOULD he set the RATES to pay for the "Emergency" repairs and secondly, the "Costs" for the water meter replacement program. Should he figure in the approximately $4 MILLION cost for "emergencies" and $3 MILLION cost for the first year meter replacement contract in the RATES??? or could he budget those costs by USING MONEY FROM the Water/Sewer FUND BALANCE ? by the way, there is $20 MILLION in RESERVE FUNDS already collected from the w/s users.

Again, OMG. Should he even need to ask? If there is $20 MILLION dollars sitting in a bank earning practically no interest, OF COURSE USE THAT MONEY! A third choice was to get BONDS to pay for those costs? STUPID to pay fees for that to happen and also add additional interest fees for 20 years. While the Board could not vote at a Study Session, it appears that at the April 2023 meeting they will vote to use Reserve Funds and NOT use those figures in rate settings.

But, a Board member wants information about costs for bonding. OMG.
Why? because there is another up to $6 million in the already approved contract to be completed in the future two years.
FYI: Subtract the $7 million from the existing $20 million and there will still be $13 MILLION in Reserve Funds. Use the MONEY IN THE BANK.

QUESTION:
Last September 12, 2022 the Board approved $300,000 for the Water Meter replacement program and the contract for 2022-2023. That money was already in the budget. However, at the 3/16/23 Study Session I heard nothing about how or IF that $300,000 was spent in fiscal year 2022-2023 to that approved contractor. Was the $300,000 spent and how?

QUESTION: how much money is REALLY needed in 2023-2024 to perform work by this company? How many meters/lead inspections/cellular end hook ups. etc. can they possibly get to in the fiscal year? All 18,000 homes? That company should be able to project that figure to the Board of how many can be replaced so that a reasonable dollar amount for RESERVE money is requested at the April 2023 meeting on Water/Sewer Rates/Budget.

MORE HISTORY.... very GOOD... recommend taking the time to review the AUDIO/VIDEO where the Board and the Dept. Head discussed approving the Meter Replacement contract back in September of 2022.

LINKS: 9/12/22 MINUTES of meeting:
that includes LINKS to audio/video of meeting
and also includes the LINK to the details in the "board packet" of that meeting
https://bloomfieldtwpmi.documents-on-demand.com/?l=0d43a2a4190944e59d3b642c85ae3983&r=EBB14D6E37647C381C172E81917FE164&d=c55ff307cc44ed11a392000c29a59557

AND
Public Comment from 9/12/22 BEFORE the vote then to have a $8 million dollar meter replacement contract.... Comes right after the Pledge. Need to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUGD966uHFU

In an attempt to better serve you, this page will allow you to view the agendas, packets and minutes for Bloomfield Township's boards and commissions. Due to the size of some of the documents, upload times will vary. We appreciate your patience.

09/02/2023

Bloomfield Township, MI
Mon./Tues/ Wed. Meetings.
Feb. 13,14,15, 2023

Please take the time to view the links. View the Agenda for the night/ draft copy of minutes from past meetings/and details about all the agenda items for the present night.
KNOW what is happening. It’s your money/community.

Monday, February 13. Board of Trustees @ 7 pm
https://bloomfieldtwpmi.documents-on-demand.com/Document/0c90848d-bba8-ed11-a3a7-000c29a59557/0c90848d-bba8-ed11-a3a7-000c29a59557

AND

Tuesday, February 14. Zoning Board of Appeals @ 7pm
https://bloomfieldtwpmi.documents-on-demand.com/Document/2bafcfd0-b7a8-ed11-a3a7-000c29a59557/2bafcfd0-b7a8-ed11-a3a7-000c29a59557

The below two were from previous agendas and are NOW BACK ON THIS AGENDA along with 12 NEW variance requests:
K. Tarabin, 2406 Heronwood Dr., 19-05-351-036)
D. Markus, 6750 Oakhills Dr., 19-33-126-011)

AND

Wednesday, February 15. Design Review Board @ 2pm
The Township posts this agenda and packet 18 hours before the meeting….although they most likely know the agenda/information now.

05/02/2023

Very Interesting: free to use. Try it out!
CrimeMapping.com

04/02/2023

Do you live in a subdivision? Are there DEED restrictions? If so, has your subdivision taken the LEGAL action needed to protect those Deed restrictions? (PS: This is a state of Michigan issue)

As to the DEED restrictions and the legal action needed before March 31, 2024 please google: Michigan Marketable Title Act.

UHOA (United Homeowners Association) in Bloomfield Township recently had a meeting and discussed this issue and even gave a name of a lawyer that possibly could help with this issue. Is your subdivision a member of UHOA?

The township website has a link with UHOA membership (don't know if updated): https://bloomfieldtwp.org/Living-in-Bloomfield/Homeowners-Associations.aspx

Or contact the Bloomfield Township, MI UHOA for information @ https://united-homeowners.org/

27/01/2023

Hi All,
The Township FAILED TO MENTION in their 1/26/23 E-NEWS that there are some very important meetings Monday Jan. 30 and Tuesday Jan. 31. WHY?
Because, in my opinion, they want those meetings to occur without any input from the citizens. Knowing about these meetings may NOT get anyone to attend, but I want you to know about them. PUBLIC COMMENT is three minutes maximum. On Monday, that comes after the budget presentation. On Tuesday, Public Comment is Agenda # 1, before hearing/learning anything.

1.MONDAY: JAN. 30 @ 7:00 PM. Board of Trustees STUDY SESSION BUDGET

PLEASE VIEW THE BOARD PACKET WITH THE SECOND DRAFT OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET HERE: missing key information:
https://bloomfieldtwpmi.documents-on-demand.com/Document/eb09dce6-aa9d-ed11-a3a5-000c29a59557/eb09dce6-aa9d-ed11-a3a5-000c29a59557

2. TUESDAY: JAN. 31 @ 7:30 AM… MORNING MEETING of the Retired Employees’ Health Care Benefits Trust (REHCBT)

REHCBT Board Packet is a JOKE: missing key information
https://bloomfieldtwpmi.documents-on-demand.com/Document/2f8ba0c1-aa9d-ed11-a3a5-000c29a59557/2f8ba0c1-aa9d-ed11-a3a5-000c29a59557

3. TUESDAY: JAN. 31 @ 8:00 AM… MORNING MEETING of the Financial Sustainability Committee (FSC) as a JOINT Board of Trustees meeting

FSC Board Packet is another JOKE: missing key information
https://bloomfieldtwpmi.documents-on-demand.com/Document/2f8ba0c1-aa9d-ed11-a3a5-000c29a59557/2f8ba0c1-aa9d-ed11-a3a5-000c29a59557

Some documents found starting page 66/80 at this LINK: https://bloomfieldtwpmi.documents-on-demand.com/?l=9e2609ae82804c37a75d7bca4d504e9d&r=EFC20EEEF9BE6C70D33E9252DC2F1DD7&d=127242c13d98ed11a3a4000c29a59557
(edited)

Links to watch the meetings LIVE:

https://bloomfieldtwp.org/Services/Cable-and-Community-Relations/Watch-BCTV-Live.aspx

Comcast Cable TV channel 15
AT&T Cable TV channel 99

17/01/2023

Bloomfield Township / a BUDGET study session scheduled @ 7 pm Monday 1/30/23 (excluding Water/Sewer - see more in my post) and two Tuesday MORNING meetings the next day. Note the 8 AM meeting also includes the full Board of Trustees. A good link for information is: https://bloomfieldtwp.org/Government/Finance.aspx Also look for the BOARD PACKETS that aren't posted until the Thursday before the meetings.

Board of Trustees is scheduled to hold a Study Session regarding the 2023-2024 Budget on Monday, January 30, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.

The Retired Employees’ Healthcare Benefits Trust is scheduled to hold its quarterly meeting on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 at 7:30 a.m.

The Board of Trustees and Financial Sustainability Committee is scheduled to hold a joint Study Session on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 at 8:00 a.m.

At the BUDGET Study Session meeting they will NOT be talking about WATER/SEWER budget as the township intentionally removed this item several years ago and calls that W/S Department an "Enterprise Fund" and the citizens (and other grants, etc.) must fund the entire department.

This is separate money (bills) collected from the citizens versus the money already due and paid in property taxes. How much does the township ask for this department? $30,695,000.
Bloomfield Township census reported 17,062 households and between 42,000 - 44,000 people.

Most citizens have been complaining about the RATES and the way the Township has handled this W/S department for years.

See the April 11, 2022 Board of Trustees Board Packet pages 129-234 about how they determined the RATES and see pages 235-249 to see the W/S budget and approvals. (New Rates and Budget will most likely be in a new report/agenda in April of 2023.)
https://bloomfieldtwpmi.documents-on-demand.com/document/16eec947-8fb6-ec11-a371-000c29a59557/Board%20of%20Trustees%20Packet%20April%2011,%202022.PDF

10/01/2023

I posted about LONGEVITY pay that is given once a year in a Nov/Dec payroll in Bloomfield Township.
(scroll through the posts to find that)
Not all employees get that contract perk. However, 117 employees do and the total this 2022 year was for $734,601.50 according to a FOIA response.

6 employees received over $10,000 (top was $12,113,.64)
16 employees received a sum between $8000 and 10,000
21 employees received a sum between $7000 and $8000
45 employees received a sum between $5000 and $7000
28 employees received a sum between $3000 and $5000
01 employee had the smallest sum at $2485.61

NO employee NAMES were given (as should be).
This Longevity PERK is in the 6 year contracts signed in March 2020.

Water/Sewer employees were included as they have contracts, too.
W/S, however, is not included in the Annual Budget as they are now considered an "Enterprise Fund" and need to generate the money needed which was $30,690,000. Yes...millions. No money comes from property taxes. (April 11, 2022 Board of Trustees Board Packet)

06/01/2023

Hi All,
Happy New Year! Time for all to become more ACTIVE in paying attention to Township happenings…..

Water and sewer bills high now? Consider the below information for possible future billing RATE figures….
Water and sewer RATES will go into effect on April 1, 2023.
The new way done for RATES in 2022 with PIPE SIZE figured in is still in play but may be different.
Don’t know the status of the secondary meters in the billing.

The PRELIMINARY BUDGET for 2023-2024 will be on a Jan. 30,2023 agenda.
However, the Water and Sewer budget is AGAIN not included.
That department is considered an ENTERPRISE FUND and all money must come from customers and other revenue, but NOT property taxes/general fund.

So, below some PROJECTS and info that will most likely affect your RATES for water/sewer this coming April.

From minutes of March 14, 2022
MOTION by Brook and SUPPORT by Murray to ADOPT the Water & Sewer Rate Calculation for the Coming Year Using the 2A Method and in Subsequent Years, the 2B Method - Vote 7-0 in favor

My notes: you can find the board packet documents/minutes/videos on the township website
There were 3 study sessions on this water and sewer RATE issue:
March 22, 2021
Sept. 22, 2021
Feb. 14, 2022

Following the last Study Session… there was ALSO a 7 pm …Regular…. Board of Trustees meeting
On that Feb. 14, 2022 meeting I believe they continued the discussion.

THEN… on March 14, 2022 Board of Trustees meeting the VOTE was on the agenda as item #6. But, at the meeting they changed it to item #7 so that is where you would find the minutes about this topic… 3/14/22/. Item #7


FOUND IN THE BOARD PACKET FOR THE JAN. 9, 2023 Board of Trustees meeting
Link: https://bloomfieldtwpmi.documents-on-demand.com/Document/379f6b22-398d-ed11-a3a2-000c29a59557/379f6b22-398d-ed11-a3a2-000c29a59557

Reading the DRAFT minutes of the B of T from a PREVIOUS meetings ending on Dec12 ,2022
p.11/106. From Dec. 12, 2022 meeting
Note: Someone remind ME or someone else to check the proposed preliminary budget to see what they
list as REVENUE (for this new lease)

Page11/106 Item 8. Consideration of Verizon Cell Tower Lease Agreement
Treasurer Brian Kepes reviewed Verizon’s lease agreement to utilize the Township’s two-hundred-foot cell tower built on its’ campus in 1992. The agreement will commence on January 1, 2023 and have a term of seven years. The total annual rental will be $78,000.00 and be subject to a four percent increase after the first year of the lease. Verizon will also be paying a $130,000.00 capital cost contribution upon ex*****on of the
lease and be installing eleven new 4-inch fiber conduits, five of which will be provided tothe Township.

FROM THE BOARD PACKET FOR THIS COMING MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2023. BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING

P19/106 Item 4…. Other costs for this Porter Lane were done in fall 2021 and those costs are not listed here
except for another previous DTE cost of $31,749.59 in connection with the replacement of sanitary sewer and water mains.
Then… needing to put the DTE poles back in the correct location… below is the new bill for that.
Note where the township plans to take the money from to pay DTE.

"Recommendation
The EESD is recommending that the Board of Trustees approve the attached DTE Energy Company Accounts Receivable Agreement, authorize Township Supervisor Dani Walsh to execute the agreement and direct Accounting to prepare a check in the amount of $16,161.58 to DTE Energy Company for the work to be scheduled by DTE Energy Company. The funds for this work by DTE Energy Company will be paid for out of the Sanitary Sewer Capital Improvement Fund, since this work is needed as part of the replacement of the sanitary sewer”.

p.29. Item 5. Listed as: Consider Preliminary Approval for 2023-2024 Capital Improvement Project

Note: the agenda does not mention water and sewer and Multiple projects
Note where the money will be coming from to do these projects.

"The funding for these projects will have to be accounted for within the water and sewer rates or another funding mechanism prior to actual construction”

Reading more of those minutes:
"$3,564,000 - Total 2023-2024 Projected Engineering and Construction Costs for Capital Improvement Projects”

But then goes on to say another at $473,000 and approving HRC to do engineering and design work for those projects with NO amount owed to them for that work.

A search of Hubbell Roth Clark (HRC) in the Payroll and Vouchers MIGHT be a staggering multi million dollar figure annually.
Have not done the figures for 2022 …yet.

CONTINUE READING THE Jan. 9, 2023 BOARD PACKET TO SEE THE PAYROLL AND VOUCHER NUMBERS FOR 2 PAYROLLS
DEC. 26,2022
JAN. 9, 2023

PUBLIC COMMENT IS ONLY AGENDA #1. I honestly believe that comment should be allowed on ALL ITEMS>
Marcia

PS: I post on NextDoor…. 2 special “political for Bl. Twp. Issues only" groups within the site by INVITATION. I am inviting YOU TO JOIN and participate/ or just read at these links:

https://nextdoor.com/g/p7mb283na/ has 698 members currently
https://nextdoor.com/g/geioyf49n/ has 280 members currently
Both have local residents as founders of the group and act as the administrator and monitor the site (and I find them very fair).
Bloomfield Township ONLY ….please...

Connect to neighbors with Nextdoor Groups

12/12/2022

Bloomfield Township PUBLIC meetings this week:
Monday, Dec. 12: Board of Trustees @ 7 pm
Tuesday, Dec. 13: Wabeek Lake Board @ 10:30 am
Tuesday, Dec. 13: Zoning Board of Appeals @ 7 pm
Thursday, Dec. 15: Board of Trustees Study Session about
HOW THEY WILL SPEND ARPA $4million funds

08/12/2022

Bloomfield Township contracts to the employees are (and have been) unsustainable (in my opinion) and the management needs to continue to be creative to generate more and more revenue.

It appears that the Bloomfield Township employees that are eligible for "longevity" payments per contracts received the $$$$$. Payroll and Vouchers in the Board Packet for the December 12, 2022 meeting show a total amount for wages, federal and state taxes to be $1,975,752.81 versus the total amount for wages that was paid for the previous pay period to be a total for wages, federal and state taxes to be $886,120.41

The six year contracts signed in March 2020 continue to 2026.
FYI: just wages: w/longevity pay:$1,257,315.28 vs $640,343.80
A lot of money in just "wages" for a two week period for them to work for a community of approx. 42,000 people.

The FINANCE section of the township website has lots of information.

09/10/2022

Board of Trustees meeting MONDAY, Oct. 10 @ 7 pm
Two public hearings about lot splits
amendment to Maple Theater liquor license….. that was WRONG to give in 2012…and still wrong…my opinion
agenda item to raise pay for election workers
payroll/vouchers
* found $43,750 to actuary company Milliman for I believe 2 reports: Defined Benefit Pension and the OPEB health trust. Those new reports are found under FINANCE on the township website
* Also saw a $164,695.40 payment to GFL...the garbage company ..to pay for those people that HAVE NOT paid their bills. The township MUST pay GFL per contract.
* $40,716.00 to Birmingham Lawn for "safety path brush trimming". Is that deducted from Safety Path millage money? Why do I always see VERY high weeds/grass near safety paths...if this work is actually performed? Does anyone in township check the work? I think many homeowners actually cut the grass/weeds near the path crossing their property.
* VOTE NO on safety path millage. (5 yr)
* Didn't add up all the expenses the Senior Center pays for UTILITIES which is VERY high. The facility is closed a lot and the wages are high… more money will not help….major change needed
* VOTE NO on the senior services millage. (10 yr)
* $6130.86 to Maxi Auto Supply (just one source for Twp) all items listed as misc. parts... This vendor is on almost all payroll/vouchers list See the other vendors dealing with truck/auto /motor pool parts/repairs/ etc.
* Charter Township of Bloomfield
Board List 10/10/2022
From Payment Date: 9/27/2022 - To Payment Date: 10/10/2022
$51,296,624.02 THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.... view the payroll and vouchers item every two weeks... see where YOUR money is going.
I do wish ALL OF YOU will go to this website OFTEN: https://betterbloomfieldtownship.com/
I support that link …..
Also:
Please go to NextDoor and JOIN (free) the two groups that deal with Bl. Twp. politics.
https://nextdoor.com/g/p7mb283na/. 667 people already joined
https://nextdoor.com/g/geioyf49n/. 255 people already joined
SIMILAR… but posts/conversations/comments vary between the two. I belong to both. I post at both.
Every now and then I’ll post to this FACEBOOK page.
Marcia

Transparency, Fiscal Responsibility and Citizen Involvement

22/08/2022

8/22/22 Board of Trustees 7 PM
Public Comment/link to full agenda and details at end of letter

AN ABSOLUTE NO VOTE SHOULD HAPPEN with this agenda item #3 :
Consider Award of the Contract for the Spongy Moth Tree "Survey Request" for Proposals (aka the GYPSY MOTH)

WHY? Because at the Feb. 14, 2022 Board meeting the motion/direction was to APPROVE "Working with Oakland County to Develop a Comprehensive Program to Mitigate the Effects of Lymantria Dispar.”

However, this AGENDA item is to hire/pay another firm almost $20,000 to do a SURVEY for the Township. Bloomfield Township has probably spent more than one MILLION dollars over the last 3-4 DECADES dealing with this PEST and SURVEYS with another company that was finally ended by Board decision.

MORE INFORMATION:
The very expensive Gypsy Moth Contract was FINALLY ENDED at the Oct. 25, 2021 Board of Trustees meeting.

THIS was the MOTION made at the Oct. 25, 2021 Board of Trustees meeting:
MOTION by Kepes and SUPPORT by Barnett to Provide Notice to Terminate the Contract with the National Gypsy Moth Management Group and for the Township’s Engineering & Environmental Services Department to Deliver a Management Plan to the Board of Trustees by the First Meeting in February 2022.
Vote was 6-0. Michael Schostak. ABSENT

The First Meeting in 2022/Feb
Mandate to EESD was…TO DELIVER A MANAGEMENT PLAN
Reading the minutes, that didn’t happen.
Here are the WRITTEN minutes from 2/14/22 leading to the motion:
Engineering & Environmental Services Director Olivia Olsztyn-Budry discussed how Oakland County is developing a county wide lymantria dispar management program in partnership with Michigan State University. The program is still in development and will consist of providing a lymantria dispar hotline, public education, site visits, and aerial spraying. Communities receiving grants will be required to provide matching funds.
Board members discussed site visit costs, public education, potential responses to high tree infestation and defoliation, as well as the importance of communities working collectively to mitigate the effects of lymantria dispar.
THEN
THIS was the MOTION made at the Feb. 14, 2022 Board of Trustees:
MOTION by Barnett and SUPPORT by Schostak to APPROVE Working with Oakland County to Develop a Comprehensive Program to Mitigate the Effects of Lymantria Dispar.

NOW, on tonight’s agenda is NOT a Plan that is working with Oakland County and other communities.
ALSO, the letter from EESD to the Supervisor and printed in the BOARD PACKET for 8/22/22 meeting IS FAULTY.

THE FIRST PARAGRAPH OF THE LETTER:
"Background
On October 21, 2021 the Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees elected to cancel the contract with National Gypsy Moth Management Group (NGMMG) and directed the Engineering & Environmental Services Department (EESD) to develop a Spongy Moth fall survey program."
Wrong Date (25) and NOT what the MOTION directed them to do.

SECOND PARAGRAPH of the letter:
The EESD developed a request for Proposals (RFP) for a Spongy Moth Tree Survey.

WHY? For 3-4 DECADES the insect has been identified as to locations in the township. The Township has the data.

THIRD PARAGRAPH of the letter:
The author of this letter says this:
"The DRG's (Davey Resource Group, Inc.) proposal for Bloomfield Township's Spongy Moth Management Program is highlighted through six different tasks:"

Now, the ...NOT AUTHORIZED... RFP for a TREE SURVEY became a MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.

PLEASE VOTE NO ON THIS AGENDA ITEM #3.
1. PLEASE DIRECT THE EESD TO WORK WITH Oakland County and Michigan State University in their Community effort.
2. Please seriously read the “contract” language. ALL that does NOT need to be performed. A yes vote will bind the township to expenses not readily seen at this time.
3. Pages and Pages of words to do this and that. We don’t need a brochure or a team of employees involved in this issue in a variety of ways. The RFP asked for multiple meetings, etc. NOT NEEDED.
4. Bloomfield Township has spent (most likely) over one million dollars by now trying to eliminate this insect. When neighboring communities fail to act, this will just continue. Direct EESD to participate in the community program.
5. It was mentioned that the parent company, The Davey Tree Expert Company, Inc., has worked for the Township by providing ground-based applications to trees affected by Spongy Moth in the past. Consider hiring them to apply applications to the known areas of infection on Township properties or right-of-ways. NO PRIVATE PROPERTY.
6. Consider TREE REMOVAL of the very infected trees.
7. This proposal is asking for a VARIANCE on the insurance. NO. Don’t start doing that. This is NOT a qualified RFP. Didn’t meet all needed.
8. Use the almost $20,000 for the solutions to apply to the trees/egg masses.
9. PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING in the CONTRACT:

FYI: (the "Client" is the Township and the contract says the Township is to give THEM the information already paid for by another so they can do this survey… OMG)

FYI: from page 20 of the Board Packet concerning this proposed contract/ agenda #3

Client Responsibilities
1. Provide DRG with imagery, maps, and data les. Our request may include the following: digital orthophotographs, available GIS data layers, other electronic or paper copies of maps for roads, pavement widths, right-of-way widths, boundaries and utilities, and an electronic le or printed list of street names and endpoints.
2. Provide DRG with all historic spongy moth survey and assessment data in suitable electronic formats.
3. Provide daily contact information and directions during the spongy moth survey project.
4. Coordinate and host a kick-o meeting and 3 project meetings.
5. Complete any other responsibilities as outlined in Section 1 of this proposal.
6. By accepting this proposal, Bloomeld Township accepts DRG’s Terms and Conditions and Limited Warranty (listed after the Authorization to Proceed page below) and agrees that, upon award, this proposal and its attachments will be made a part of the Agreement.

From page 21 of the Board Packet for this agenda item:
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
● All pricing is valid for 30 days from the date of this proposal, after which time we reserve the right to amend fees as needed.
● Hourly rates are xed for the calendar year in which your contract is executed. After that time they may be adjusted to account for annual increases in labor and overhead.
● Time and materials (T&M) estimates may uctuate and will be billed accordingly. Fixed fee contract prices will be billed as shown.
● Invoicing will be submitted monthly for work performed, unless otherwise agreed upon.
● Payment terms are net 30 days.
● If prevailing wage requirements are discovered after the date of this proposal, we reserve the right to negotiate our fees.
● The client is responsible for any permit fees, taxes, and other related expenses, unless noted as being included in our proposal.
● The client shall provide 48 hours' notice of any meetings where the consultant’s attendance is required.
● Unless otherwise stated, one round of revisions to deliverables is included in our base fee. Additional edits or revisions will be billed on a time and material (T&M) basis.
● All reports are provided only to the client unless otherwise directed.
● Davey Resource Group, Inc. reserves the right to perform a full and final review and request minor changes to Bloomeld Township’s insurance requirements and contract provisions before award

MY OPINIONS,
There are so many more bothersome agenda items at this meeting. Wonder how the Trustees will vote.
Marcia

SEE THE BOARD PACKET for 8/22/22

In an attempt to better serve you, this page will allow you to view the agendas, packets and minutes for Bloomfield Township's boards and commissions. Due to the size of some of the documents, upload times will vary. We appreciate your patience.

06/08/2022

MY OPINIONS... sent to Bl. Twp. Trustees about proposing more millages on the Nov. 2022 ballot at their 8/8/22 meeting.

FYI: MY OPINIONS:
PLEASE READ THE BOARD PACKET REASONING for these MILLAGES. Why? Because I want you to know what the employees are saying. They want to keep DEDICATED money coming their way. If they get it, they will spend it… needed or not.
If the Trustees care, they will NOT approve these millages on 8/8/22 meeting. They should regroup and plan what is best for this township.
If you don’t care, don’t bother to read the details in the packet. If you plan on voting yes, yes in November FOR these two millages, then don’t bother to try to understand what the township is doing.
https://bloomfieldtwpmi.documents-on-demand.com/?l=9e2609ae82804c37a75d7bca4d504e9d&r=3FF79B332DBEC76FA6417882E8CF4F79&d=72c51bf23714ed11a386000c29a59557

Below is what I think….. my opinions continued:

In today’s world, available MILLAGE money should be VOTED INTO the GENERAL FUND.
Please:
RUN the government.
PAY for the employee contracts.
FINALLY PAY the underfunded retiree plans.
DECIDE what can be afforded and needed.
ELIMINATE practices/or employees not needed.
STOP special projects that are just duplications offered elsewhere at no cost.

Instead of two millages in November 2022:
ASK for
a GENERAL FUND MILLAGE.
Let the Safety Path and Senior Services millages EXPIRE.
That does NOT mean to end those programs. It means that Property Tax money will be in the General Fund and the leadership can transfer money to where and when it is needed.

IF the money is allocated to the General Fund, the Township Trustees have the authority to help direct the tax money in the budgets to where the money is needed.

It is TIME TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Please think about what the township continues to ask of its citizens. Let’s get the money where it can be used for what is needed.

This alternative motion is to put another GENERAL FUND millage on the books for TEN YEARS at the rate of 0.7811 mills. Why that number? Because the township is asking for 0.4511 mills to build more safety paths and is asking for 0.3300 for senior services.

ADD THOSE TOGETHER and you get 0.7811 mills which is estimated to get $3,960,000 in the first of the ten year commitment. MONEY TO BE SPENT WHERE NEEDED.

FYI:
The Senior Services BUDGET that was approved for April 1, 2022-2023 fiscal year raised the figures for almost ALL categories listed under EXPENDITURES.

Raised to the point of ridiculous especially since the Senior Center building (BTSS) has been mostly closed during the Covid times and still NOW with very limited hours and programs.

For instance: Senior Services BUDGET
Salaries and Wages ACTUAL 2021: $399,492.48
Estimated Salaries and Wages that ended 3/31/22: $460,000.610.0000
…..that is down from amended budget of $578,610 (but this is Aug. should know 3/31/22 figures by now.
APPROVED BUDGET fo Salaries and Wages: 2022-2023:
$685,200.00
Almost double just for wages…and benefits also get doubled.
Salaries/Wages 399,492.48 578,610 460,000 685,200 49.0% increase

PLEASE: page 36 of 97 at this below link… see the BTSS BUDGET that IN MY OPINION is ridiculous and purposely written that way in order to get people to vote for an increase on a TEN YEAR DEDICATED millage (that the Board knew they were going to ask for) for a very poorly run and very few hours open department that hasn’t produced an ANNUAL REPORT ever.

I wonder, how many NON-residents have “membership” at the BTSS while our 50 age and under citizens help PAY THE BILLS?

The BOARD of TRUSTEES approved the BTSS budget with more expenditures than revenue…needing to go into the reserve Fund Budget.

Revenue Totals: 1,394,909.63 1,297,200 1,497,450 1,487,200 (0.7%)
Expenditure Totals 1,377,560.16 1,715,821 1,474,318 1,936,308 31.3%
Fund Total: Senior Services 17,349.47 (418,621) 23,132 (449,108)
Fund Balance 2,378,144.00 1,849,540 2,401,276 1,952,168

https://bloomfieldtwp.org/Government/Finance/Budgets/Preliminary-Budget-22-23.aspx

DITTO FOR SAFETY PATHS….. we don’t NEED new ones RIGHT NOW. Don’t fund them when a new General Fund millage can take care of “needs”. Plus, there is a million or more money in the “dedicated” safety path fund right now. Use that money for a few years for repairs, etc..

Marcia

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