I would like to call to order the
Charter Township of Chesterfield Special
Township Board Meeting for Monday,
December 22nd, 2025 at 5:30 to order.
Could we all please stand and recite the
Pledge of Allegiance?
I pledge algiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands. One nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all.
» Clerk Barry, would you call the role?
» Supervisor Ken
» Here.
» Supervisor Kirsten
» Here.
» Treasure Elliot
» Here.
» Trusty Anderson
» Here. Trusty Joseph
» Here.
» Trusty Hornberger
» Here.
» Trusty Vossberg here.
» Clerk Barry is here.
» Item four.
» Item four, approval of agenda. Uh,
supervisor would like to make a motion
to approve the agenda with the addition
of approving the language to now include
not only GLEC or GLLC UAW but to include
the Michigan Association of Public
Employees Technical Unit in the
discussion.
Motion by supervisor Kirsten supported
by trustee Joseph
to approve the agenda with the addition
of MAPE tech
» For discussion or
» Same it'd be the same with the other
ratification tenative agreement
» Just before we open the discussion just
for
» Point of clarity the uh the requested
addition is would be to the um agenda
item 6A A
» That is correct.
» Thank you.
» Discussion.
Trustee Vosford.
» Thank you, Mr. Supervisor. I am
wondering if we can add an action item
to a special agenda.
could we and if we could just look at
our rules to clarify
» Here's the board rules right here.
So I believe if all members are present,
» You can
» Oh, I'm sorry. Thank you,
» Trusty Arber.
» If all members of the public body are
present, you can add an item.
» Yeah. Um, I I um I don't know uh our
board rules. Again, if our board rules
stipulate something, um I would I would
request that we suspend that board rule.
Um the nature of the timeliness of this
contract is uh pretty consequential for
our uh township employees. we have a
pretty pretty um comprehensive change to
their insurance uh with the adoption of
public act 152. These are very very
time-sensitive and would um require
board approval by the end of the year.
So if it is a if it is a uh board rule,
I would ask that we simply suspend that
board rule. Uh and if it is uh later
determined to be some somehow in
conflict with the Open Meetings Act,
which is not a board rule, uh I would
suggest that um we consult with our
attorney and make sure that we're on
solid legal ground tomorrow. And uh if
it is advised uh by legal counsel that
we um have complications with the open
meetings act, I would ask that um we
just come back before the end of the
year. uh because the the um the hard
work that's been done by our unions and
our HR team to try to make these um
changes which are very comprehensive and
costly potentially if they're not
ratified by the end of the year um to to
do that uh because of some board rule
would be a mistake. So again, um if it's
a board rule, I'd ask that we suspend
it. And if it is, uh an open meetings
act concern that we hear from our
township attorney and advise us and if
necessary uh conduct a special meeting
by the end of the year. Thank you.
» Thank you, Trusty
Foster.
» Thank you. That it's my intent that we
be able to do all of them. I just want
to make sure we did it in in the right
thing. And um Trusty Hornberger has an
item that might help us as well.
» I'll just give you some background. So
this the uh this point of uh discussion
that was going on really was never a
point of discussion until it was brought
up last week when the special meeting
was um uh discussed. Uh did did talk
with Mr. Sbert. I did not. He asked,
"Did you need to come here to appear
tonight?" and I said, "No, it's going to
be pretty straightforward." Um,
obviously, um, there's always angles
that certain people play. And, um,
again, Trusty Joseph, to your point,
we've, uh, we spent a lot of time, a lot
of effort to resolve these labor
agreements. Um, the particular process
um to uh, any offense that may occur
tonight is the remedy is exactly that.
We can come back later on and fix it. Um
but the key point here is to get these
agreements resolved for our employees so
there isn't a detrimental um financial
impact to them moving forward. So again
um the notice was posted. We're simply
including it. Um and uh I think that
we're on solid legal ground after
discussion with Mr. Sbert that uh the
impact is relatively minor.
any uh trustee or did you want to chime
in?
» It's
Thank you. Further discussion.
» Um yeah, just um I'm just a quick Google
search for me. Um
there is there is some concern about the
scope of the meeting and regarding u
voting discussion or deliberation
um not to occur on topics not listed in
the notice. So uh that could be that
could be problematic for us. So, um I
would simply ask that we um we we get
confirmation from our attorney um and
and make sure that we are um not
violating this. This is a this is a uh
close session item. And so, um if if we
need to redo it, then we need to redo
it.
» Do you want to withdraw the support just
come back another day?
No.
I I'd uh I'd offer continued support. Um
I I think that we are okay. Um if it if
it's determined after consultation with
our attorney that we're not, uh we can
simply um
» Come back.
I'm satisfied with that.
Any further discussion?
Any further discussion? And I have a
motion by Supervisor Kirsten, supported
by Trustee Joseph, to approve the agenda
as presented with the addition of the
additional labor group MAPE
or MAP MAPE tech to the discussions for
6A.
Clerk Barry, would you call the role?
I have a motion by supervisor Kirstson,
supported by trustee Joseph again to
approve the agenda as presented with the
addition. If you would please cast your
Karen, is this up on?
» It's not.
» Clerk Barry, would you please call the
role?
» Supervisor Kirsten.
» I.
» Trusty Joseph,
» I.
» Trusty Anderson.
» Hi.
» Trusty Hornberger.
» Hi.
» Trusty Bossberg.
» Hi.
» Treasure Elliot.
» Hi.
» Clerk Barry. I
» Item pass.
» Item passes.
Um, with that being said, we item five
is the agenda. Item six. I will take a
motion to enter into close session.
» Motion to enter into close session.
» Motion by clerk Barry, supported by
Trustee Joseph
» Anderson.
Anderson,
» State the reason.
Uh
item A would be to enter into close
session of the board to discuss labor
relations strategy for union groups GLC
and UAW pursu including MAPE MAP
technical unit pursuant to section 8 C
of the opens meeting open meeting act.
Clerk Barry would you call the role?
» Clerk Barry I. Trusty Anderson.
» Hi.
» Trusty Joseph.
» Hi.
» Trusty Hornberger.
» Hi.
» Trusty Vossberg.
» Hi.
» Treasure Elliot.
» Hi.
» Supervisor Kirsten.
» I
close session at 5:41.
Supervisor Crystal, make a motion to
return to open session. Is there any
support?
» Trusty Vossberg. Clerk Barry, would you
call the role?
» Supervisor Kirsten.
» Hi.
» Trusty Vosberg. Hi.
» Trusty Anderson.
» Hi. Trusty Joseph.
» Hi.
» Trusty Hornberger.
» Hi.
» Uh, Treasure Elliott.
» Hi.
» Clerk Barry. I
» We're back in open session. Um, as a
result of the close session, there are
three motions that the supervisor would
like to make. Um, motion number one,
um, supervisor would like to make a
motion to approve a tenative agreement
with the MAPE technical bargaining unit.
Is there any support?
» Motion by Supervisor Kirsten, supported
by Trustee Joseph. Discussion.
» Clerk Barry, would you call the role?
» Supervisor Kirsten.
» Hi.
» Trusty Joseph.
» Hi.
» Trusty Anderson.
» Hi.
» Trusty Hornberger.
» Hi.
» Trusty Vosberg.
» Hi.
» Treasure Elliot.
» Hi.
» Clerk Bearing.
» Second.
Second motion would be Supervisor
Kirsten will make a motion to approve
the tenative agreement labor agreement
with the UAW union and representatives.
Is there any support?
» Trusty Anderson. Supervisor Kirsten
makes a motion with Trusty Anderson
support discussion.
» Clerk Barry, would you call the role?
» Supervisor Kirsten. Hi.
» Trusty Anderson. Hi.
» Trusty Joseph.
» Hi.
» Trusty Hornberger.
» Hi. Trusty Bossberg. Hi,
» Treasure Elliott.
» Hi,
» Clerk Barry. I
» And the last one, uh, Supervisor K will
make a motion to approve a tenative
agreement with the GEC
union.
Is there any support?
» Trusty Vossberg.
Motion by Supervisor Kirsten, supported
by Trusty Vossber. Discussion.
Clerk Barry, would you call the role?
» Supervisor Kirsten.
» Hi.
» Trusty Bossberg.
» Hi.
» Trusty Anderson.
» Trusty Joseph.
» Hi.
» Trusty Hornberger.
» Hi.
» Treasure Elliot.
» Clerk Barry. No.
» Uh, thank you. Public comments.
» There are no public comments. Uh, board
comments. Three minutes.
Trusty Anderson, you want to start?
» Thank you.
Trust Trusty Hornberger,
Trusty Joseph.
Thank you. Um, as uh Trusty Anderson,
I'd like to uh wish everyone a merry
Christmas and uh healthy and happy new
year. I'd like to thank my fellow board
members and in particular the um trustee
group. We um sometimes have to play
catch-up. Our roles are classified as
part-time. Um we do a lot of um
contributions to the various QBS
committees and um looking at everything
from our insurance to our waist hauler.
Um we have thankfully uh formed
committees. uh supervisors appointed us
to uh various committees to deal with uh
pending litigation in the township um
and uh a number of other um committee
assignments. uh we are compensated for
those and I think uh as as uh we've
discussed previous years the amount of
work that goes into these um committee
assignments aren't aren't just the time
that we actually meet um in the township
uh whether it be with our attorneys or
interviewing uh vendors. It also
involves a very comprehensive review of
the documents so that when you come into
a committee assignment um you've
educated yourself and uh you you have
understanding and the knowledge of being
able to ask intelligent questions and um
determine you know what what is the best
course of action uh when when the matter
comes before the board uh for a vote or
informing a recommendation ation from an
advisory committee. So, u these are
vital assignments and um I'm I'm proud
to uh serve on the number of committees
that I've been appointed to. I've I've
turned some down just because I don't I
don't want to slight the uh the township
and if you are unable to commit to the
time to not only meet but review
documents and prepare and educate
yourself, um you should take a pass. Um,
Trusty Hornberger, um, you don't say a
lot at these board meetings, but you do
a lot of work, uh, behind the scenes and
on the committees that I've, uh, have
the privilege of serving you, serving on
with you. Um, I appreciate the level of,
um, preparedness that goes into your
committee assignments. Um, it's
disappointing. It's disappointing to to
to get nitpicked by your fellow board
members and um the pettiness that goes
um it [clears throat] and unfortunately
it no matter what we try to do it or
seems like we try to do it just
permeates this this board and um there's
a pettiness that that goes with that.
It's disappointing and hopefully that'll
subside at some point in the future. Um,
but it won't dissuade me from
volunteering and um taking on these
these tough assignments. The um the $150
that you get for for for that for that
um for that meeting. Um I know if you're
anything
like Trusty Anderson and I that really
works out. you'd be better off getting a
part-time job at Panera or Home Depot or
the hourly rate is is just not there.
But it's not it's not something that we
do for money. Um it's it's something we
do for the love of the township. So I'd
really appreciate it if the um the
pettiness and the monitoring um uh by
our some of our elected board members
just stopped. Um it's it's it's petty.
It's small. Um, it's unfortunately
expected. Um, but it needs to stop. And,
um, thanks again for all your hard work
and, um, the the hard work that's done
by my fellow trustees. I appreciate you
very much. Uh, merry Christmas to all of
our um, township uh, employees. they've
uh taken on a tremendous amount of
uh negotiations in the formation of
these contracts that we've u nearly
ratified with all units. Uh they had to
step up and um play a part in trying to
get some of our health insurance and I
think uh contracts have reflected an
attempt by the board to offset some of
those costs. But um it is still um
significant change for a lot of them and
I appreciate them very much. they do the
heavy lifting here. Um there are some um
parameters within their contracts that
require sort of a tightening of their
time and making sure that they are
putting in a full day's work for a full
day's pay. Um, I would encourage our
elected officials to set the tone for
that uh change in culture and um if our
employees are clocking in in the morning
um to have your boss, you know, show up
maybe a day or two after you punch in is
probably a little disheartening. So, uh
I would encourage our elected officials
to make sure that uh we're setting good
examples uh for the sacrifice that's um
being made by our employees. Uh, merry
Christmas everybody and thank you
» Trusty eos
treasure Elliot
clerk.
Um, just a couple things here. This job
is challenging challenging every day.
I'll continue to be up to it. I
appreciate every employee that I work
with daily. Um, as was uh said tonight,
some difficult decisions have to be made
uh in regards to the labor agreements. I
think we made them. I think we made them
in the best uh interest of the township
along with the partners uh in our labor
groups and we'll continue to do that
moving forward. Um I want to welcome I
think Sarah, our HR director, has done a
great job obviously coming in late this
year getting up to speed and uh trying
to end uh uh close out a lot of these
labor agreements by the end of the year.
We weren't successful on all of them,
but we'll keep working on it. Um, I do
want to say we had the loss of a
longtime township employee, Walter
Wilhelm. He retired as a captain of the
fire department. Uh, Walt passed away
last week. Um, there isn't anybody more
dedicated to the Chesterfield Fire
Department than Walt Wilham was. Um, he
was he was a great firefighter and he
was a great ambassador for the township
uh in the fire service. So, he will be
greatly missed. he was enjoying his
retirement. Uh sympathies to his
families. Um I wish everyone a merry
Christmas to all and please be safe and
enjoy your families uh into next year.
With that being said, um
I will make a motion to adjourn at 6:21.
Is there any support?
» Trustee
Vosberg.
All those in favor? Poss.