(Publisher’s note: This story was updated with the agenda item for the local emergency order after the newsletter went out Wednesday.)
The Chelsea City Council unanimously adopted a resolution declaring a local state of emergency in the city through June 30, 2021, at its regular meeting on March 15.
This will allow elected officials and appointed boards and commissions to continue conducting Zoom meetings and safeguard public safety during the COVID pandemic.
Because the city’s meeting spaces are relatively small, and with the proper social distancing guidelines in place, the Council Chambers would not accommodate large numbers of participants and other interested people who might like to attend the meetings.
In other business, the Chelsea Parks and Recreation Commission will have a new member at its April meeting when Shawn Personke joins the group following her unanimous approval by the City Council on Monday, March 15.
Two spots on the Parks Commission opened up when long-time members Jon Van Hoek and Sara Wedell chose not to seek re-appointment. Following the 30-day posting period for the two positions, Personke was the lone applicant.
The 32-year resident of Chelsea said on her application she’s like to help make the city a better place to live, work, play, visit and raise a family. She said that she and her husband travel a lot and visit a number of parks during their trips.
Personke was appointed for a term ending March 1, 2025.
In other parks news, the draft plan was placed on the agenda for discussion only. The 2021-2025 draft document allows the city to access grant funding through various State of Michigan recreation grants programs.
Next steps in the plan adoption process include a virtual open house (due to COVID restrictions) for public comment and a formal public hearing at a future City Council meeting prior to its final adoption.
In other business, the City Council unanimously adopted a resolution requested by Western Washtenaw Recycling Authority to charge $53 a year per dwelling from 2021-2025 for operating and maintenance recycling fees. The fees will be placed on the winter property tax bill.
There will be improvements made to the Flanders and Wood Street intersection with work beginning April 19 and running through about May 28. Slusarski Excavation and Paving of Adrian was the low bidder at a cost of about $47,200.
The City Council also approved a 4-hour training session from the Michigan Department of Civil Rights for civil rights training for up to 50 people at a cost of $1,000.
Included in the group for the training are city staff, the City Council, the city manager, office staff, and employees from the utilities and department of public works and the police department.
Additional free training opportunities for residents will be discussed at a future City Council meeting.
The City Council also unanimously agreed to set a work session of April 12 at 7 p.m. to discuss policy improvements.
According to the agenda item summary of these policy improvements: “At a recent council meeting, there was an action item on the agenda to direct the police on pending court and investigatory matters. The agenda raised numerous legal, ethical, policy and practical implications that have not been but should be fully discussed.”
Council is expected to review the issues and develop best practices and policies to guide City Council in the future.
One or more work sessions were suggested to identify and discuss those issues, which include “the importance of establishing prospective policies, the necessity of seeking legal opinions in advance of seeking a vote when legal issues and considerations have been identified, and the interaction and role of Council and the police department.”
Legal advice will be necessary and legal counsel should be present to help identify the outstanding issues and provide subsequent legal research and guidance.
