[4:41] I would like to call to order the

[4:43] Charter Township of Chesterfield Special

[4:45] Township Board Meeting for Monday,

[4:47] December 22nd, 2025 at 5:30 to order.

[4:51] Could we all please stand and recite the

[4:55] Pledge of Allegiance?

[4:58] I pledge algiance to the flag of the

[5:00] United States of America and to the

[5:03] republic for which it stands. One nation

[5:06] under God, indivisible, with liberty and

[5:09] justice for all.

[5:14] » Clerk Barry, would you call the role?

[5:17] » Supervisor Ken

[5:18] » Here.

[5:20] » Supervisor Kirsten

[5:21] » Here.

[5:23] » Here.

[5:24] » Treasure Elliot

[5:25] » Here.

[5:25] » Trusty Anderson

[5:26] » Here. Trusty Joseph

[5:28] » Here.

[5:28] » Trusty Hornberger

[5:29] » Here.

[5:29] » Trusty Vossberg here.

[5:31] » Clerk Barry is here.

[5:33] » Item four.

[5:42] » Item four, approval of agenda. Uh,

[5:44] supervisor would like to make a motion

[5:45] to approve the agenda with the addition

[5:48] of approving the language to now include

[5:51] not only GLEC or GLLC UAW but to include

[5:56] the Michigan Association of Public

[5:59] Employees Technical Unit in the

[6:02] discussion.

[6:07] Motion by supervisor Kirsten supported

[6:09] by trustee Joseph

[6:13] to approve the agenda with the addition

[6:16] of MAPE tech

[6:17] » For discussion or

[6:20] » Same it'd be the same with the other

[6:22] ratification tenative agreement

[6:24] » Just before we open the discussion just

[6:26] for

[6:28] » Point of clarity the uh the requested

[6:31] addition is would be to the um agenda

[6:34] item 6A A

[6:37] » That is correct.

[6:38] » Thank you.

[6:42] » Discussion.

[6:47] Trustee Vosford.

[6:56] » Thank you, Mr. Supervisor. I am

[6:58] wondering if we can add an action item

[7:01] to a special agenda.

[7:06] could we and if we could just look at

[7:08] our rules to clarify

[7:11] » Here's the board rules right here.

[7:16] So I believe if all members are present,

[7:21] » You can

[7:24] » Oh, I'm sorry. Thank you,

[7:26] » Trusty Arber.

[7:27] » If all members of the public body are

[7:29] present, you can add an item.

[7:38] » Yeah. Um, I I um I don't know uh our

[7:43] board rules. Again, if our board rules

[7:45] stipulate something, um I would I would

[7:48] request that we suspend that board rule.

[7:51] Um the nature of the timeliness of this

[7:55] contract is uh pretty consequential for

[7:58] our uh township employees. we have a

[8:03] pretty pretty um comprehensive change to

[8:07] their insurance uh with the adoption of

[8:10] public act 152. These are very very

[8:13] time-sensitive and would um require

[8:16] board approval by the end of the year.

[8:18] So if it is a if it is a uh board rule,

[8:22] I would ask that we simply suspend that

[8:25] board rule. Uh and if it is uh later

[8:28] determined to be some somehow in

[8:31] conflict with the Open Meetings Act,

[8:34] which is not a board rule, uh I would

[8:37] suggest that um we consult with our

[8:39] attorney and make sure that we're on

[8:42] solid legal ground tomorrow. And uh if

[8:46] it is advised uh by legal counsel that

[8:49] we um have complications with the open

[8:52] meetings act, I would ask that um we

[8:55] just come back before the end of the

[8:57] year. uh because the the um the hard

[9:01] work that's been done by our unions and

[9:04] our HR team to try to make these um

[9:09] changes which are very comprehensive and

[9:12] costly potentially if they're not

[9:14] ratified by the end of the year um to to

[9:17] do that uh because of some board rule

[9:20] would be a mistake. So again, um if it's

[9:22] a board rule, I'd ask that we suspend

[9:24] it. And if it is, uh an open meetings

[9:26] act concern that we hear from our

[9:29] township attorney and advise us and if

[9:33] necessary uh conduct a special meeting

[9:36] by the end of the year. Thank you.

[9:39] » Thank you, Trusty

[9:41] Foster.

[9:44] » Thank you. That it's my intent that we

[9:46] be able to do all of them. I just want

[9:48] to make sure we did it in in the right

[9:50] thing. And um Trusty Hornberger has an

[9:53] item that might help us as well.

[9:56] » I'll just give you some background. So

[9:57] this the uh this point of uh discussion

[10:00] that was going on really was never a

[10:02] point of discussion until it was brought

[10:04] up last week when the special meeting

[10:06] was um uh discussed. Uh did did talk

[10:11] with Mr. Sbert. I did not. He asked,

[10:13] "Did you need to come here to appear

[10:15] tonight?" and I said, "No, it's going to

[10:17] be pretty straightforward." Um,

[10:18] obviously, um, there's always angles

[10:21] that certain people play. And, um,

[10:24] again, Trusty Joseph, to your point,

[10:26] we've, uh, we spent a lot of time, a lot

[10:27] of effort to resolve these labor

[10:30] agreements. Um, the particular process

[10:34] um to uh, any offense that may occur

[10:38] tonight is the remedy is exactly that.

[10:41] We can come back later on and fix it. Um

[10:44] but the key point here is to get these

[10:46] agreements resolved for our employees so

[10:49] there isn't a detrimental um financial

[10:52] impact to them moving forward. So again

[10:54] um the notice was posted. We're simply

[10:58] including it. Um and uh I think that

[11:01] we're on solid legal ground after

[11:04] discussion with Mr. Sbert that uh the

[11:06] impact is relatively minor.

[11:09] any uh trustee or did you want to chime

[11:13] in?

[11:13] » It's

[11:19] Thank you. Further discussion.

[11:26] » Um yeah, just um I'm just a quick Google

[11:29] search for me. Um

[11:33] there is there is some concern about the

[11:35] scope of the meeting and regarding u

[11:38] voting discussion or deliberation

[11:41] um not to occur on topics not listed in

[11:44] the notice. So uh that could be that

[11:47] could be problematic for us. So, um I

[11:49] would simply ask that we um we we get

[11:54] confirmation from our attorney um and

[11:57] and make sure that we are um not

[12:00] violating this. This is a this is a uh

[12:03] close session item. And so, um if if we

[12:06] need to redo it, then we need to redo

[12:08] it.

[12:11] » Do you want to withdraw the support just

[12:13] come back another day?

[12:17] No.

[12:18] I I'd uh I'd offer continued support. Um

[12:22] I I think that we are okay. Um if it if

[12:25] it's determined after consultation with

[12:27] our attorney that we're not, uh we can

[12:29] simply um

[12:32] » Come back.

[12:34] I'm satisfied with that.

[12:36] Any further discussion?

[12:40] Any further discussion? And I have a

[12:42] motion by Supervisor Kirsten, supported

[12:43] by Trustee Joseph, to approve the agenda

[12:46] as presented with the addition of the

[12:48] additional labor group MAPE

[12:53] or MAP MAPE tech to the discussions for

[12:57] 6A.

[13:00] Clerk Barry, would you call the role?

[13:10] I have a motion by supervisor Kirstson,

[13:12] supported by trustee Joseph again to

[13:14] approve the agenda as presented with the

[13:16] addition. If you would please cast your

[13:18] Karen, is this up on?

[13:20] » It's not.

[13:21] » It's not.

[13:22] » Clerk Barry, would you please call the

[13:24] role?

[13:25] » Supervisor Kirsten.

[13:27] » I.

[13:27] » Trusty Joseph,

[13:28] » I.

[13:28] » Trusty Anderson.

[13:29] » Hi.

[13:30] » Trusty Hornberger.

[13:31] » Hi.

[13:31] » Trusty Bossberg.

[13:32] » Hi.

[13:32] » Treasure Elliot.

[13:33] » Hi.

[13:34] » Clerk Barry. I

[13:36] » Item pass.

[13:45] » Item passes.

[13:47] Um, with that being said, we item five

[13:51] is the agenda. Item six. I will take a

[13:54] motion to enter into close session.

[13:56] » Motion to enter into close session.

[13:59] » Motion by clerk Barry, supported by

[14:02] Trustee Joseph

[14:03] » Anderson.

[14:04] Anderson,

[14:09] » State the reason.

[14:12] Uh

[14:13] item A would be to enter into close

[14:15] session of the board to discuss labor

[14:18] relations strategy for union groups GLC

[14:22] and UAW pursu including MAPE MAP

[14:27] technical unit pursuant to section 8 C

[14:31] of the opens meeting open meeting act.

[14:34] Clerk Barry would you call the role?

[14:39] » Clerk Barry I. Trusty Anderson.

[14:41] » Hi.

[14:42] » Trusty Joseph.

[14:43] » Hi.

[14:43] » Trusty Hornberger.

[14:44] » Hi.

[14:45] » Trusty Vossberg.

[14:46] » Hi.

[14:47] » Treasure Elliot.

[14:48] » Hi.

[14:48] » Supervisor Kirsten.

[14:50] » I

[14:54] close session at 5:41.

[44:38] Supervisor Crystal, make a motion to

[44:40] return to open session. Is there any

[44:43] support?

[44:45] » Trusty Vossberg. Clerk Barry, would you

[44:47] call the role?

[44:51] » Supervisor Kirsten.

[44:52] » Hi.

[44:53] » Trusty Vosberg. Hi.

[44:54] » Trusty Anderson.

[44:55] » Hi. Trusty Joseph.

[44:56] » Hi.

[44:56] » Trusty Hornberger.

[44:58] » Hi.

[44:59] » Uh, Treasure Elliott.

[45:00] » Hi.

[45:01] » Clerk Barry. I

[45:07] » We're back in open session. Um, as a

[45:09] result of the close session, there are

[45:11] three motions that the supervisor would

[45:13] like to make. Um, motion number one,

[45:18] um, supervisor would like to make a

[45:19] motion to approve a tenative agreement

[45:21] with the MAPE technical bargaining unit.

[45:24] Is there any support?

[45:27] » Motion by Supervisor Kirsten, supported

[45:30] by Trustee Joseph. Discussion.

[45:34] » Clerk Barry, would you call the role?

[45:38] » Supervisor Kirsten.

[45:39] » Hi.

[45:39] » Trusty Joseph.

[45:40] » Hi.

[45:41] » Trusty Anderson.

[45:41] » Hi.

[45:42] » Trusty Hornberger.

[45:43] » Hi.

[45:44] » Trusty Vosberg.

[45:45] » Hi.

[45:45] » Treasure Elliot.

[45:46] » Hi.

[45:46] » Clerk Bearing.

[45:50] » Second.

[45:52] Second motion would be Supervisor

[45:55] Kirsten will make a motion to approve

[45:56] the tenative agreement labor agreement

[45:58] with the UAW union and representatives.

[46:03] Is there any support?

[46:05] » Trusty Anderson. Supervisor Kirsten

[46:07] makes a motion with Trusty Anderson

[46:09] support discussion.

[46:12] » Clerk Barry, would you call the role?

[46:16] » Supervisor Kirsten. Hi.

[46:18] » Trusty Anderson. Hi.

[46:19] » Trusty Joseph.

[46:20] » Hi.

[46:20] » Trusty Hornberger.

[46:21] » Hi. Trusty Bossberg. Hi,

[46:23] » Treasure Elliott.

[46:24] » Hi,

[46:24] » Clerk Barry. I

[46:28] » And the last one, uh, Supervisor K will

[46:30] make a motion to approve a tenative

[46:32] agreement with the GEC

[46:35] union.

[46:38] Is there any support?

[46:41] » Trusty Vossberg.

[46:45] Motion by Supervisor Kirsten, supported

[46:47] by Trusty Vossber. Discussion.

[46:50] Clerk Barry, would you call the role?

[46:52] » Supervisor Kirsten.

[46:53] » Hi.

[46:54] » Trusty Bossberg.

[46:55] » Hi.

[46:55] » Trusty Anderson.

[46:56] » Trusty Joseph.

[46:57] » Hi.

[46:58] » Trusty Hornberger.

[46:59] » Hi.

[47:00] » Treasure Elliot.

[47:01] » Clerk Barry. No.

[47:05] » Uh, thank you. Public comments.

[47:09] » There are no public comments. Uh, board

[47:11] comments. Three minutes.

[47:16] Trusty Anderson, you want to start?

[47:18] » Thank you.

[47:24] Trust Trusty Hornberger,

[47:26] Trusty Joseph.

[47:29] Thank you. Um, as uh Trusty Anderson,

[47:32] I'd like to uh wish everyone a merry

[47:34] Christmas and uh healthy and happy new

[47:37] year. I'd like to thank my fellow board

[47:39] members and in particular the um trustee

[47:43] group. We um sometimes have to play

[47:46] catch-up. Our roles are classified as

[47:50] part-time. Um we do a lot of um

[47:54] contributions to the various QBS

[47:57] committees and um looking at everything

[48:01] from our insurance to our waist hauler.

[48:05] Um we have thankfully uh formed

[48:09] committees. uh supervisors appointed us

[48:12] to uh various committees to deal with uh

[48:15] pending litigation in the township um

[48:19] and uh a number of other um committee

[48:23] assignments. uh we are compensated for

[48:26] those and I think uh as as uh we've

[48:29] discussed previous years the amount of

[48:32] work that goes into these um committee

[48:35] assignments aren't aren't just the time

[48:37] that we actually meet um in the township

[48:41] uh whether it be with our attorneys or

[48:43] interviewing uh vendors. It also

[48:46] involves a very comprehensive review of

[48:50] the documents so that when you come into

[48:52] a committee assignment um you've

[48:55] educated yourself and uh you you have

[48:58] understanding and the knowledge of being

[49:01] able to ask intelligent questions and um

[49:05] determine you know what what is the best

[49:07] course of action uh when when the matter

[49:10] comes before the board uh for a vote or

[49:13] informing a recommendation ation from an

[49:16] advisory committee. So, u these are

[49:18] vital assignments and um I'm I'm proud

[49:23] to uh serve on the number of committees

[49:25] that I've been appointed to. I've I've

[49:27] turned some down just because I don't I

[49:30] don't want to slight the uh the township

[49:32] and if you are unable to commit to the

[49:35] time to not only meet but review

[49:38] documents and prepare and educate

[49:39] yourself, um you should take a pass. Um,

[49:43] Trusty Hornberger, um, you don't say a

[49:45] lot at these board meetings, but you do

[49:47] a lot of work, uh, behind the scenes and

[49:50] on the committees that I've, uh, have

[49:52] the privilege of serving you, serving on

[49:54] with you. Um, I appreciate the level of,

[49:57] um, preparedness that goes into your

[50:00] committee assignments. Um, it's

[50:03] disappointing. It's disappointing to to

[50:05] to get nitpicked by your fellow board

[50:09] members and um the pettiness that goes

[50:13] um it [clears throat] and unfortunately

[50:15] it no matter what we try to do it or

[50:19] seems like we try to do it just

[50:20] permeates this this board and um there's

[50:23] a pettiness that that goes with that.

[50:25] It's disappointing and hopefully that'll

[50:28] subside at some point in the future. Um,

[50:31] but it won't dissuade me from

[50:33] volunteering and um taking on these

[50:37] these tough assignments. The um the $150

[50:41] that you get for for for that for that

[50:44] um for that meeting. Um I know if you're

[50:48] anything

[50:50] like Trusty Anderson and I that really

[50:52] works out. you'd be better off getting a

[50:54] part-time job at Panera or Home Depot or

[50:58] the hourly rate is is just not there.

[51:01] But it's not it's not something that we

[51:03] do for money. Um it's it's something we

[51:07] do for the love of the township. So I'd

[51:09] really appreciate it if the um the

[51:12] pettiness and the monitoring um uh by

[51:16] our some of our elected board members

[51:19] just stopped. Um it's it's it's petty.

[51:22] It's small. Um, it's unfortunately

[51:25] expected. Um, but it needs to stop. And,

[51:28] um, thanks again for all your hard work

[51:30] and, um, the the hard work that's done

[51:33] by my fellow trustees. I appreciate you

[51:35] very much. Uh, merry Christmas to all of

[51:38] our um, township uh, employees. they've

[51:42] uh taken on a tremendous amount of

[51:46] uh negotiations in the formation of

[51:48] these contracts that we've u nearly

[51:51] ratified with all units. Uh they had to

[51:53] step up and um play a part in trying to

[51:56] get some of our health insurance and I

[51:59] think uh contracts have reflected an

[52:01] attempt by the board to offset some of

[52:03] those costs. But um it is still um

[52:07] significant change for a lot of them and

[52:09] I appreciate them very much. they do the

[52:11] heavy lifting here. Um there are some um

[52:16] parameters within their contracts that

[52:18] require sort of a tightening of their

[52:20] time and making sure that they are

[52:23] putting in a full day's work for a full

[52:25] day's pay. Um, I would encourage our

[52:28] elected officials to set the tone for

[52:30] that uh change in culture and um if our

[52:34] employees are clocking in in the morning

[52:37] um to have your boss, you know, show up

[52:40] maybe a day or two after you punch in is

[52:42] probably a little disheartening. So, uh

[52:44] I would encourage our elected officials

[52:47] to make sure that uh we're setting good

[52:49] examples uh for the sacrifice that's um

[52:53] being made by our employees. Uh, merry

[52:55] Christmas everybody and thank you

[52:58] » Trusty eos

[53:03] treasure Elliot

[53:08] clerk.

[53:10] Um, just a couple things here. This job

[53:13] is challenging challenging every day.

[53:15] I'll continue to be up to it. I

[53:16] appreciate every employee that I work

[53:18] with daily. Um, as was uh said tonight,

[53:22] some difficult decisions have to be made

[53:24] uh in regards to the labor agreements. I

[53:27] think we made them. I think we made them

[53:28] in the best uh interest of the township

[53:30] along with the partners uh in our labor

[53:33] groups and we'll continue to do that

[53:35] moving forward. Um I want to welcome I

[53:37] think Sarah, our HR director, has done a

[53:39] great job obviously coming in late this

[53:41] year getting up to speed and uh trying

[53:44] to end uh uh close out a lot of these

[53:47] labor agreements by the end of the year.

[53:48] We weren't successful on all of them,

[53:49] but we'll keep working on it. Um, I do

[53:52] want to say we had the loss of a

[53:54] longtime township employee, Walter

[53:56] Wilhelm. He retired as a captain of the

[53:58] fire department. Uh, Walt passed away

[54:00] last week. Um, there isn't anybody more

[54:03] dedicated to the Chesterfield Fire

[54:05] Department than Walt Wilham was. Um, he

[54:08] was he was a great firefighter and he

[54:11] was a great ambassador for the township

[54:14] uh in the fire service. So, he will be

[54:16] greatly missed. he was enjoying his

[54:17] retirement. Uh sympathies to his

[54:19] families. Um I wish everyone a merry

[54:21] Christmas to all and please be safe and

[54:24] enjoy your families uh into next year.

[54:27] With that being said, um

[54:31] I will make a motion to adjourn at 6:21.

[54:35] Is there any support?

[54:38] » Trustee

[54:40] Vosberg.

[54:42] All those in favor? Poss.

Special Township Board - 22 Dec 2025

Transcript