Mount Clemens commission approves grant-writer contract and housing separation, adopts budget; inspection and HR contracts fail
May 20, 2024 | Mount Clemens, Macomb County, Michigan
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The Mount Clemens City Commission on May legislative business approved a one-year contract with a grant writer, adopted the city udget and millage rates for 2016
nd took formal steps separating the Mount Clemens Housing Commission from the city, while rejecting contracts for building inspection services and HR consulting.
The commission voted to contract with Davis Kirksey Associates for grant-writing assistance under a one-year retainer. City Manager (Speaker 14) explained the Downtown Development Authority would share in costs under an MOU and that the contract as approved included an upfront retainer payment; the total annual cost was set at $22,750 with reporting back to the commission. Stephen Saff Jr. (Speaker 6), speaking for the DDA, said the DDA and city developed a list of priority projects and would provide direction to the contractor.
On the professional services agreement to provide building official and trade inspection services (proposed with Safe Built/LSL), commissioners pressed staff on cost projections, whether the change would save money long term and how billing minimums and renewal clauses would work. Jeremy Letusic of Safe Built (Speaker 7) confirmed the contract includes a one-hour minimum and explained hourly billing; after debate the motion to enter the contract failed on the roll call.
A separate proposal to hire Quad West Associates for HR consulting services, not to exceed $11,000 over approximately 22 weeks, drew questions about necessity, duration and the message it would send to staff. City Manager (Speaker 14) said the engagement would provide outside expertise to review HR processes and identify regulatory exposures; the motion failed on a roll call vote.
The commission approved a severance agreement allowing the Mount Clemens Housing Commission to become a separate, independent employer with protections for existing employees through September 30, 2016, to allow anticipated retirements and to reduce disruption to staffing.
The 2016
nd 2017 fiscal year budget appropriations resolution and proposed millage rates (total citywide 22.1274 mills; DDA district 1.6132 mills) were adopted as presented after public hearing and discussion. The city manager outlined road condition findings from a recent PASER study and said an estimated $37 million would be needed to bring all streets to good condition.
On utilities, a motion to revise residential water and sewer rates failed for lack of a second; the commission did approve revised wholesale water rates effective July 1, 2016, after staff presented a rate study and explained that differences among wholesale customers reflect consumption trends and shared transmission costs.
Other approved items included a license agreement with Macomb County to create a drop-off/pull-in lane on South Main Street (with a city revocation clause), a temporary relocation of Voting Precinct No. 1 for two elections to ML King Academy, and approval of invoices as presented.
The meeting concluded after a city manager report that also noted the successful refunding of 2003 parking improvement project bonds, producing projected savings of approximately $219,000 over the remaining seven years.
What happens next: For items where the commission adopted agreements, staff will finalize contract documents and implement the reporting schedules discussed; for the items that failed, staff and commissioners indicated they would continue discussions and could revisit alternatives or termination options.
nd took formal steps separating the Mount Clemens Housing Commission from the city, while rejecting contracts for building inspection services and HR consulting.
The commission voted to contract with Davis Kirksey Associates for grant-writing assistance under a one-year retainer. City Manager (Speaker 14) explained the Downtown Development Authority would share in costs under an MOU and that the contract as approved included an upfront retainer payment; the total annual cost was set at $22,750 with reporting back to the commission. Stephen Saff Jr. (Speaker 6), speaking for the DDA, said the DDA and city developed a list of priority projects and would provide direction to the contractor.
On the professional services agreement to provide building official and trade inspection services (proposed with Safe Built/LSL), commissioners pressed staff on cost projections, whether the change would save money long term and how billing minimums and renewal clauses would work. Jeremy Letusic of Safe Built (Speaker 7) confirmed the contract includes a one-hour minimum and explained hourly billing; after debate the motion to enter the contract failed on the roll call.
A separate proposal to hire Quad West Associates for HR consulting services, not to exceed $11,000 over approximately 22 weeks, drew questions about necessity, duration and the message it would send to staff. City Manager (Speaker 14) said the engagement would provide outside expertise to review HR processes and identify regulatory exposures; the motion failed on a roll call vote.
The commission approved a severance agreement allowing the Mount Clemens Housing Commission to become a separate, independent employer with protections for existing employees through September 30, 2016, to allow anticipated retirements and to reduce disruption to staffing.
The 2016
nd 2017 fiscal year budget appropriations resolution and proposed millage rates (total citywide 22.1274 mills; DDA district 1.6132 mills) were adopted as presented after public hearing and discussion. The city manager outlined road condition findings from a recent PASER study and said an estimated $37 million would be needed to bring all streets to good condition.
On utilities, a motion to revise residential water and sewer rates failed for lack of a second; the commission did approve revised wholesale water rates effective July 1, 2016, after staff presented a rate study and explained that differences among wholesale customers reflect consumption trends and shared transmission costs.
Other approved items included a license agreement with Macomb County to create a drop-off/pull-in lane on South Main Street (with a city revocation clause), a temporary relocation of Voting Precinct No. 1 for two elections to ML King Academy, and approval of invoices as presented.
The meeting concluded after a city manager report that also noted the successful refunding of 2003 parking improvement project bonds, producing projected savings of approximately $219,000 over the remaining seven years.
What happens next: For items where the commission adopted agreements, staff will finalize contract documents and implement the reporting schedules discussed; for the items that failed, staff and commissioners indicated they would continue discussions and could revisit alternatives or termination options.
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