1 00:00:21,980 --> 00:00:23,240 I'm 2 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:45,200 sorry, we don't have a court tonight, so councilmember Lamb here, councilmember Comforoning here, President Pro Temfort, here. 3 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:58,280 Councilmember Dandelita, here, Councilmember Mosher, here, and Councilmember Papacek, here, and President 4 00:00:58,900 --> 00:00:59,460 Rod. 5 00:00:59,660 --> 00:00:59,880 Here. 6 00:01:01,300 --> 00:01:01,960 Thank you. 7 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:02,460 We have a core. 8 00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:03,300 Thank you. 9 00:01:03,660 --> 00:01:08,620 The purpose of this special meeting is of the Lake Waring Village Council is to discuss issues associated 10 00:01:08,620 --> 00:01:12,360 with the dissolution petitions as requested by Councilmembers Lamb and Dandelita. 11 00:01:12,780 --> 00:01:17,780 Item number four, call to the public if anybody wishes to speak on a non-agenda item. 12 00:01:18,140 --> 00:01:22,040 Each person will like wishing to address the village council should be afford an opportunity to do so. 13 00:01:22,180 --> 00:01:24,960 If you wish to speak, please rise or raise your hand in a case. 14 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:29,200 You wish to speak and when recognized, give your name and address your comments to the chair. 15 00:01:29,540 --> 00:01:31,900 So is there anyone on any non-agenda item? 16 00:01:33,740 --> 00:01:35,100 Seeing that, I'll close call to the public. 17 00:01:35,320 --> 00:01:36,680 Item number five, other items. 18 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:42,180 A, discuss issues associated with dissolution petitions, Mr. Perry. 19 00:01:43,700 --> 00:01:51,360 Your other members of Council, first I would note for you that we will be taking minutes from the recording of this meeting. 20 00:01:52,020 --> 00:01:58,160 So please make sure to talk into your microphone so that it can be picked up. 21 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:06,020 Council members, Lamb, and Dandelidas requested a special meeting to discuss issues associated 22 00:02:06,020 --> 00:02:10,180 with the dissolution or disincorporation petition. 23 00:02:10,900 --> 00:02:15,520 The Council members requested that the village attorney be president this meeting and 24 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:16,800 our attorney is present. 25 00:02:17,900 --> 00:02:26,920 I provide a council with the minutes from the July 22nd, special meeting during which Council 26 00:02:26,920 --> 00:02:40,860 consider the disincorporation petition and at this time President Brut, if it's okay, we'll turn it over to the council members who have requested the meeting. 27 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:42,700 Thank you. 28 00:02:42,700 --> 00:02:44,120 This is the end of this. 29 00:02:45,140 --> 00:02:51,880 At the July 22nd meeting, special meeting, Council voted unanimously to take no action 30 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:55,740 around the petition to disincorporate the village. 31 00:02:56,800 --> 00:03:02,480 By taking no action, I know my expectation was that this was going to go to ballot in November. 32 00:03:03,820 --> 00:03:06,980 And I suspect that was all of our expectation. 33 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:17,040 In the last week, I've been approached by residents who have expressed concern that there 34 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:25,020 were things going on that may, I guess, prevent that from going to ballot in November. 35 00:03:25,540 --> 00:03:32,300 So I felt along with Councilman Lam that we needed to get that out in front of us and 36 00:03:32,300 --> 00:03:39,340 understand what the issues might be and what do we do to take care of those so that we 37 00:03:39,340 --> 00:03:46,720 meet our expectation of having this on the ballot in November. One of the things that we, 38 00:03:47,180 --> 00:03:53,440 the motion was to take no action. And what I guess in retrospect, what concerns me about that 39 00:03:53,440 --> 00:04:00,540 motion is that by taking no action, we counsel weren't doing anything to make sure that that was going 40 00:04:00,540 --> 00:04:07,360 ballot. So, I feel a second motion would be beneficial, and I'd like to make that motion 41 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:11,900 if I could. And that motion would be to direct the village council member. 42 00:04:13,700 --> 00:04:22,960 So, the purpose of the special meeting tonight is simply to discuss the issues. There was 43 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:29,040 nothing on the agenda to take any action tonight. And the charter requires that if there's 44 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:33,920 action to be taken by the Council, it has to be in the agenda. 45 00:04:35,340 --> 00:04:35,600 Thank you. 46 00:04:36,820 --> 00:04:37,260 George. 47 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:40,380 Okay. 48 00:04:40,460 --> 00:04:43,300 Well, let me tell you what my motion was going to be, okay? 49 00:04:43,500 --> 00:04:44,740 Since I can't make a motion. 50 00:04:45,780 --> 00:04:55,320 I wanted to make a motion to direct the village manager and the village attorney to take whatever action necessary to ensure the disincorporation question is placed on the November ballot. 51 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:59,140 at the Council's Direction at their July 22nd meeting. 52 00:04:59,840 --> 00:05:04,680 I feel that that was the step that we missed when we made a motion to take no action. 53 00:05:05,220 --> 00:05:10,560 I think there should have been a subsequent motion that directed action on behalf of the 54 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:14,520 Village Manager and the Attorney to make this happen from our expectation. 55 00:05:15,240 --> 00:05:17,520 That was the motion that I was prepared to make tonight. 56 00:05:18,300 --> 00:05:20,580 Here on our fight could respond to that. 57 00:05:20,580 --> 00:05:24,280 Can I get my turn into a heavy-athlete question 58 00:05:24,280 --> 00:05:25,720 and then I would like to finish the question? 59 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:28,140 I will let you speak up, I'm sorry. 60 00:05:29,300 --> 00:05:35,380 So the council did vote to take no action on the side. 61 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:40,820 Under state statute, and the attorney 62 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:47,100 can add additional information if he wishes to do so. 63 00:05:47,100 --> 00:06:06,000 It was everyone's understanding that by the council taking no action, the council was not in any way preventing the petition ballot question from going on the ballot. 64 00:06:06,940 --> 00:06:14,180 The village is not the only determinant as to whether or not something goes on the ballot. 65 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:21,200 There are certain authority and functions of the township clerk, 66 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:27,380 and there are certain authority and functions by the county elections division 67 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:31,700 in determining whether an item gets on the ballot. 68 00:06:31,700 --> 00:06:41,320 I can only tell you that village administration, the village attorney, has not taken any 69 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:48,160 action contrary to the Council's direction that we take no position on this matter. 70 00:06:49,470 --> 00:06:51,240 Take no action on that. 71 00:06:52,100 --> 00:06:55,420 And we have been following that direction. 72 00:06:56,020 --> 00:07:07,440 There are other actors involved in this process legally, and those processes are outside the control of the village. 73 00:07:09,670 --> 00:07:10,050 Mr. Lam. 74 00:07:10,650 --> 00:07:11,270 Thank you. 75 00:07:11,530 --> 00:07:12,870 So I'm going to go back to the beginning. 76 00:07:13,090 --> 00:07:17,130 So the reason not to refute your statement, Mr. McLeard. 77 00:07:19,390 --> 00:07:26,690 The reason I brought this to your attention, and I provided all of you with the timeline of the complaints and conversations that I've had with 78 00:07:26,690 --> 00:07:28,650 citizens in the county elections officials. 79 00:07:30,020 --> 00:07:59,140 And the reason why we are here, I request, we'd be here tonight, because on July 30th, approximately 8.30 a.m., during a telephone inquiry to the open county elections division, I was told by a fellow I believe his name was, I'm not going to name this name, but it was the young man who works there with the supervisor in the office that we can produce names. Should you want them later, but I've intentionally left all names off of here, except for the petitioners, Mr. Rewards name. 80 00:08:00,020 --> 00:08:07,560 So during that telephone conversation, I was explicitly told that I was told that the proposal 81 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:12,320 was not expected to appear on the November ballot because the attorney's representing 82 00:08:12,320 --> 00:08:16,860 the governmental entities, and they specifically mentioned the village, the township, 83 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:22,780 and the county, had met and concluded that the statutory petition breach seizures did 84 00:08:22,780 --> 00:08:25,380 not apply due to a specific legal theory. 85 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:33,060 Okay, that legal theory is the same legal theory that I've been presented to me previously in these chambers. 86 00:08:34,860 --> 00:08:37,800 Okay, this really rocked my boat. 87 00:08:38,800 --> 00:08:55,320 Okay, whatever reasons this was, you know, the director of elections staff telling me that we were the village attorney was specifically involved in trying to talk them into not putting it on the belt. 88 00:08:57,280 --> 00:09:04,860 So that's quite serious because I can go on and on, but it's seven votes we had in our 89 00:09:04,860 --> 00:09:12,100 meeting prior to our vote, the village attorney advised the council that if we had 90 00:09:12,100 --> 00:09:17,580 the motion to take no action, that the disincorporation question would be placed on a November 91 00:09:17,580 --> 00:09:21,900 ballot pursuant to the procedures in 7,4,8,8. 92 00:09:21,900 --> 00:09:25,660 At that point we had a boat and it was unanimous, seven, agreed. 93 00:09:26,560 --> 00:09:33,960 So I think it's clear that the intention of the village council was that the administration's staff would do their best to promote that happening. 94 00:09:35,140 --> 00:09:45,140 And so I'm here tonight asking why the citizens are calling me and why the elections people are making or saying these things to me. 95 00:09:45,580 --> 00:09:48,180 And that's the only reason I'm here. 96 00:09:48,180 --> 00:09:51,740 So are you going to address that anyway you see fifth, please? 97 00:09:53,300 --> 00:10:02,900 Council Member Lam, so the direction from council was what was in the motion to take no action on the petition and to receive them file the petition. 98 00:10:05,720 --> 00:10:12,040 If you are posing a question to the village attorney as to whether or not the village attorney 99 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:17,420 to divulge anything from our closed session to other entities. 100 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:20,860 The attorney can answer that question for you. 101 00:10:22,500 --> 00:10:27,960 If you like, okay, did you meet with the county? 102 00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:29,300 I sent you asked me. 103 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:31,760 Did you meet with the township? 104 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:34,440 Then the county attorneys discuss the ballot reports. 105 00:10:35,420 --> 00:10:38,320 So the process that happened, I'm glad we're having this meeting. 106 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:39,220 Good evening, everyone. 107 00:10:39,380 --> 00:10:39,840 Tony Chub. 108 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:50,820 So, as the City Manager reference, there are three different players and get it inputting this on the ballot. 109 00:10:51,300 --> 00:10:52,740 The first step was the village. 110 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:56,880 We know the action that we took on July 22nd. 111 00:10:57,160 --> 00:11:00,160 The next step is the ballot to be certified. 112 00:11:00,380 --> 00:11:05,620 That's done by the township clerk in the final is the review by the county election commission. 113 00:11:05,620 --> 00:11:24,420 And so, when we decided not to take action, it's imperative to explain to the other parties exactly what position we were taking so that they knew their next steps, and it was at the request of Council for the Township that a meeting was set up between myself. 114 00:11:25,620 --> 00:11:31,540 Councilful Board of the Township being Dan Kelly and his associate, Brittany, I can't remember 115 00:11:31,540 --> 00:11:37,080 her last name, Joe Rosell, the elections director and Brandon Buck from the Corporate 116 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:42,540 Council Office at the County, and so we did have that meeting subsequent where I advise 117 00:11:42,540 --> 00:11:48,940 them solely that we did have the meeting, we took no action, and they discussed what they 118 00:11:48,940 --> 00:11:50,500 would be doing going forward. 119 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:56,020 OK, so that's fine. 120 00:11:56,020 --> 00:11:57,960 I'll accept your remarks. 121 00:11:59,260 --> 00:12:01,860 Basically, superseater is the clerk certifies it, 122 00:12:01,860 --> 00:12:05,220 then we act on it, and then it goes to be placed on the ballot. 123 00:12:05,980 --> 00:12:08,280 So then recently, I know that we are contacted 124 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:12,000 by the township attorney and said the township attorney 125 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:16,400 had no intention of not advising the township 126 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:17,960 and he believed that the township would not 127 00:12:17,960 --> 00:12:20,340 take any action with regard to the petition. 128 00:12:20,340 --> 00:12:25,840 I don't know if I can rely on a letter from the Township Attorney to speak with the Township, 129 00:12:26,020 --> 00:12:29,940 but I believe that in the past we could rely on the Township Attorney. 130 00:12:30,860 --> 00:12:36,360 So I still am a bit concerned about the fact that the election officials were saying that they 131 00:12:36,360 --> 00:12:44,720 had a causal reason to me only a legal theory, not a state law or a statute or a specific 132 00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:51,160 citation, but only a legal theory that I was told was not a hundred percent. So that would 133 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:57,040 be a legal question, and I would consider discussing that to be a court challenge. And so 134 00:12:57,040 --> 00:13:02,000 since we haven't had any court challenges, I'm not understanding why this isn't going on the 135 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:08,300 ballot. Are you aware of any discussions that you had with the Township Attorney, or with 136 00:13:08,300 --> 00:13:13,380 the county attorney that would lead you to believe that there is someone who is proposing 137 00:13:13,380 --> 00:13:17,580 to not place this ballot on the November ballot? 138 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:23,380 Yeah, I mean, to the contrary, in the meeting, or subsequent to the meeting, we did receive 139 00:13:23,380 --> 00:13:29,340 that email from Dan Kelly advising that the Township Board intended to do nothing, and so 140 00:13:29,340 --> 00:13:31,320 then that gets it through the second step. 141 00:13:31,320 --> 00:13:36,560 But at the meeting, there was Joe Rosal, I do believe he is on the election commission as 142 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:45,960 the a signee of the clerk, along with the Chief Probate Judge and the Treasurer. 143 00:13:46,240 --> 00:13:51,880 And the Treasurer, I don't know the Chief Probate Judge, because I don't know the Treasurer. 144 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:59,080 Obviously it's a group of three, and so I have no reason to believe that they would not 145 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:03,620 voting in the affirmative to move this on to the ballot as part of the ballot certification. 146 00:14:04,740 --> 00:14:05,020 Thank you. 147 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:07,160 I think the people are happy to hear that. 148 00:14:07,700 --> 00:14:09,840 And also I concur with George to do. 149 00:14:09,980 --> 00:14:11,920 Have we made sufficient affirmative? 150 00:14:13,780 --> 00:14:19,900 Notice to the county that it is the desire of the village of Lake Orient and that it be placed on the ballot? 151 00:14:20,380 --> 00:14:20,800 Absolutely. 152 00:14:21,780 --> 00:14:27,220 The action that you took is the statutory action to allow for it being placed on the ballot 153 00:14:27,220 --> 00:14:32,700 and they were advised up that immediately subsequent to your action. 154 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:38,600 But just to be clear, because I want to make sure I understand the question, 155 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:41,180 our direction 156 00:14:41,180 --> 00:14:49,400 was to take no action, not to advocate for or against the simply to take no action. 157 00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:56,360 Our understanding is no action by the council was to move it along in the process to be placed 158 00:14:56,360 --> 00:14:57,620 the ballot. 159 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:19,220 But I don't know what conversations took place. I wasn't even aware of the first meeting at the time that happened. I kind of call from our attorney after the first meeting, indicating that they had had a meeting. I was a little surprised by it, but part of the normal process. 160 00:15:20,440 --> 00:15:26,960 But just to be clear, our actions and Tony correct me if I'm wrong, our actions have been 161 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:33,980 in keeping with Council's direction, and that is that we are – we are to take no action 162 00:15:33,980 --> 00:15:38,380 contrary to allowing it to move along to be placed on the ballot. 163 00:15:40,260 --> 00:15:43,180 We only have so much control over that. 164 00:15:43,540 --> 00:15:47,100 Other people make decisions on that, but we have done nothing to the contrary. 165 00:15:47,100 --> 00:15:53,220 Yeah, and that's accurate, and what I was referencing is, yeah, so that is our role within the process 166 00:15:53,220 --> 00:16:02,860 But each level, the village, the township, and the county act wholly separately and autonomously and so 167 00:16:02,860 --> 00:16:05,360 They wouldn't accept my 168 00:16:06,100 --> 00:16:13,760 Presumably advocacy to place it on the ballot or vice versa. I mean, they make their own determinations. They use their own council. 169 00:16:13,760 --> 00:16:21,880 We have some experience in the village, so I understand your explanations I'm willing to accept them as the process as long as there is no negative advocacy 170 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:33,140 I believe that the township, I mean sorry, the village clerk had informed me prior to our last meeting that the township clerk was expecting 171 00:16:35,340 --> 00:16:38,860 Notification from her of the result of our council meeting action 172 00:16:40,020 --> 00:16:54,220 I did not receive a copy of her notifying that clerk of us taking any actions, so I took it by myself to send email to the director of elections, including our minutes of the meeting and informing them of our understanding of the process. 173 00:16:55,560 --> 00:17:04,400 I sent that on behalf of myself, not as a voice of the council, but I did use my village email in my village title. 174 00:17:06,080 --> 00:17:10,640 So that being the case, I agree with George. 175 00:17:11,860 --> 00:17:23,980 I mean, I would have felt better if the meeting, you had said to me that, yeah, we went 176 00:17:23,980 --> 00:17:27,700 up there and told them the village wanted to let it go through, as opposed to standing 177 00:17:27,700 --> 00:17:34,280 mute, that our action speaks for the action, but I understand your position and I'm not going 178 00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:37,120 holds you at fault for it. 179 00:17:37,940 --> 00:17:39,620 So thank you for explaining yourself. 180 00:17:41,260 --> 00:17:44,960 I did want to explain one more thing 181 00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:46,780 that was in your timeline. 182 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:50,460 And in your timeline, you address something 183 00:17:50,460 --> 00:17:55,740 that occurred on July 23rd, I believe. 184 00:18:00,420 --> 00:18:03,940 So I'm sorry, July 24th. 185 00:18:03,940 --> 00:18:14,360 in your timeline. You state that, petitioner Robert Rearge reported to you that during a meeting 186 00:18:14,940 --> 00:18:19,920 with township officials he was told that the village manager had contacted the township 187 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:26,320 supervisor concerning a possible discussion with attorneys about the ballot proposal. 188 00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:32,020 And I wanted to make sure that there was a clear understanding of what that communication was. 189 00:18:33,100 --> 00:18:38,160 because that is the only communication that I've had with anybody externally about the ballot 190 00:18:38,160 --> 00:18:42,700 proposal. Actually, my communication wasn't about the ballot proposal itself. 191 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:55,080 And so just to reiterate, July 22nd, the council did hold your special meeting and you 192 00:18:55,080 --> 00:19:01,660 to consider the disintegration petition that you voted to receive and file the petition and take no action. 193 00:19:01,660 --> 00:19:31,640 The following morning, July 23rd at 10.50 a.m., I called or in Township Supervisor Chris Barnett to inform him of Council's action on the petition and to let him know that I wanted to seek Council authorization at the next Council meeting for me and the Villager Attorney to meet with the Township Supervisor and Township Attorney to discuss an orderly choice. 194 00:19:31,640 --> 00:19:37,320 transition plan, if the ballot proposal to disincorporate passes in November. 195 00:19:39,600 --> 00:19:44,660 I expressed my concern about the apparent lack of time under state law after the election 196 00:19:44,660 --> 00:19:47,640 to adequately plan for such a transition. 197 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:53,900 I asked supervisor Barnett if the township would be willing to have such meetings if council 198 00:19:53,900 --> 00:19:55,500 authorized those meetings. 199 00:19:56,500 --> 00:19:59,720 That was my conversation with the township supervisor. 200 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:10,200 And then the following morning, I got thinking about the whole timeline further under state law 201 00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:17,000 because something just didn't make sense to me about the timing and the fact that we would just abruptly 202 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:21,400 just incorporate once the election was certified. 203 00:20:22,300 --> 00:20:30,040 So, I went through the General Law Village Act and I started highlighting all the areas 204 00:20:30,040 --> 00:20:36,400 in mapping out the deadlines for how each thing occurs. 205 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:43,620 And once I reviewed the state statute and more detail, it started to become more clear 206 00:20:43,620 --> 00:20:45,360 to me as the health things happen. 207 00:20:45,360 --> 00:20:52,040 And that, in the fact, the way I read the law. 208 00:20:52,180 --> 00:20:54,640 I would like to just point out I'd like to ask you to stop. 209 00:20:55,060 --> 00:20:56,480 The council has requested. 210 00:20:57,400 --> 00:20:58,460 You're out of order. 211 00:20:58,580 --> 00:21:00,500 He was explain or response to you. 212 00:21:00,500 --> 00:21:03,540 He's going to advocate for the advocate for the law. 213 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:05,100 I'm ordered. 214 00:21:05,840 --> 00:21:08,540 He is explaining something from court. 215 00:21:08,840 --> 00:21:10,180 He's advocating illegal position. 216 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:12,400 He is explaining something from your memo. 217 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:14,620 There's no legal position that he is explaining. 218 00:21:14,620 --> 00:21:21,340 I wanted to cancel on the public to know exactly what conversation I had and why I had that. 219 00:21:24,740 --> 00:21:40,800 So, once I read the statute in more detail, I started to become of the opinion that the village would not just incorporate immediately, 220 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:47,540 that there would be, there would be adequate time after the election for us to work out a transition 221 00:21:47,540 --> 00:21:50,200 if the ballot proposal passed. 222 00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:55,980 So I texted Chris Barnett that following morning and I told him, 223 00:21:56,020 --> 00:21:59,840 I don't believe I need to put this on the council agenda for council authorization 224 00:21:59,840 --> 00:22:02,340 to have meetings before the election. 225 00:22:03,100 --> 00:22:06,080 I think there would be adequate time after the election 226 00:22:06,080 --> 00:22:12,540 if the ballot proposal passes, to have conversations with the touch of to provide for 227 00:22:12,540 --> 00:22:20,120 providing for a proper transition from the village to the touch of. That was the extent of my 228 00:22:20,120 --> 00:22:26,000 conversations with the touch of the supervisor. I just want to make sure everybody was aware of that 229 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:29,580 because it was outlined in Council Member Lam's timeline. 230 00:22:33,120 --> 00:22:48,820 So, what, and I guess Mr. Chow may be even best answered this, what stands in the way at this point, what hurdle still remains that definitively on the ballot in November? 231 00:22:49,640 --> 00:23:00,020 So there's two steps, there's the Township Clerk certifying the ballot language and the overall 232 00:23:00,020 --> 00:23:05,940 ballot and it's all our understanding from everything that we believe you were afforded 233 00:23:05,940 --> 00:23:09,180 that email that they fully intend to do that. 234 00:23:09,460 --> 00:23:18,060 And so that's a procedural step I don't think it's a hurdle because it sounds like they are 235 00:23:18,060 --> 00:23:25,900 ballot. The final step is the county election commission has to like why certified the ballots 236 00:23:25,900 --> 00:23:31,500 and the timing on that. I asked when their meetings are because I couldn't find it on their 237 00:23:31,500 --> 00:23:36,760 website and I haven't received a response but I know that it would have to be within the next 238 00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:40,480 two weeks at the latest so that ballots could be printed. 239 00:23:42,500 --> 00:23:45,580 So how I guess what follow-up is there 240 00:23:46,900 --> 00:23:50,520 because what we don't want to have happen is get a surprise, right? 241 00:23:50,560 --> 00:23:54,340 None of us wants to find out when we go on November 3rd that hey, 242 00:23:54,440 --> 00:23:56,600 there's not a spot here to check the box, right? 243 00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:02,840 And I recognize there's timing associated with printing ballots and all that. 244 00:24:03,200 --> 00:24:07,000 So do we know what that date is and what has to happen? 245 00:24:08,020 --> 00:24:09,660 Because we don't want any surprises. 246 00:24:11,420 --> 00:24:18,060 I tell you personally, I take exception to the no action, because the no action on behalf 247 00:24:18,060 --> 00:24:25,820 of counsel was only to take no action as far as putting it on the ballot right away or 248 00:24:25,820 --> 00:24:28,120 having the disincorporation commission. 249 00:24:28,520 --> 00:24:29,740 That's really the no action. 250 00:24:30,660 --> 00:24:36,480 And I can tell you that my expectation was not that we were nobody was going to take action. 251 00:24:36,480 --> 00:24:40,480 my expectation was we were going to do what it takes to get this on ballot because that's 252 00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:45,420 what council by taking no action that's what council on it but that's all water into 253 00:24:45,420 --> 00:24:51,700 the bridge at this point. So now what do we have to do to make sure without question that 254 00:24:51,700 --> 00:24:58,020 this is going to go on the ballot November. So we can't just wait. So as soon as I figure 255 00:24:58,020 --> 00:25:05,600 out when that county election commission meeting is I'll make sure that the council is 256 00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:11,500 twice made aware, but that's when the ballots will be certified by the county and that is the final step 257 00:25:11,500 --> 00:25:16,700 to them proceed to printing. Like I said, I would think it would happen late this week or early 258 00:25:16,700 --> 00:25:24,100 next week, given timing of everything to get the ballots set and printed. And so we will know by 259 00:25:24,100 --> 00:25:31,620 it then. Understanding they act fully autonomously, right? And like I said, they're an independent 260 00:25:31,620 --> 00:25:38,680 I said they have, everyone uses their own counsel in making their determinations, but I have no reason, 261 00:25:39,640 --> 00:25:42,140 you know, not having caught through the election commission. 262 00:25:42,260 --> 00:25:45,620 I have no reason to think that they wouldn't, if they... 263 00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:49,080 But that next step is just certifying the language. 264 00:25:49,220 --> 00:25:53,400 There's no question about the legality or any of that. 265 00:25:53,420 --> 00:25:56,000 It's just a matter of signing off on the language. 266 00:25:59,880 --> 00:26:07,700 I'm sorry, the county review for the election commission is a whole list, I mean, an overall 267 00:26:07,700 --> 00:26:12,920 determination that the questions on the ballot as well as the language are legal and 268 00:26:12,920 --> 00:26:13,480 nature. 269 00:26:14,720 --> 00:26:24,320 Again, I have no basis to suspect which way the election commission would want to find it illegal 270 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:32,360 in a way. So, but we will know, and if necessary, we can have another closed session, and 271 00:26:32,360 --> 00:26:37,620 this is the town trip, you're not saying that the fact is that the town trip is already 272 00:26:37,620 --> 00:26:46,440 certified petition, so that's that you mentioned is already been done. So, based on your description 273 00:26:46,440 --> 00:26:49,580 then, the only thing we require now is for the election commission. 274 00:26:49,580 --> 00:26:56,080 Yeah, so what this letter references, and this is the July 15th, 2026 letter from the 275 00:26:56,080 --> 00:27:04,760 Charger Township of Orient Clerk, she certified the signatures were correct for to move 276 00:27:04,760 --> 00:27:10,100 it forward, but she subsequently does have to certify the questions over to the Township, 277 00:27:10,140 --> 00:27:14,160 and I don't know if I'm sorry, from the Township to the county, I don't know if that process 278 00:27:14,160 --> 00:27:15,140 is happening yet. 279 00:27:15,140 --> 00:27:21,160 This is where we're looking for the expeditious push on behalf of the bill is to ensure that our clerk 280 00:27:22,280 --> 00:27:27,840 was better clerk's on vacation for two weeks so that would then fall upon the billage manager 281 00:27:27,840 --> 00:27:31,720 to make sure that that certification is is is gotten 282 00:27:32,980 --> 00:27:38,840 Okay, so that was the right answer. I just want to I want to be clear about something so 283 00:27:38,840 --> 00:27:49,140 So my understanding is our clerk has notified the township clerk of the action that the council took, 284 00:27:49,480 --> 00:27:56,200 which was what we were required to do. Our involvement in this is now completed. 285 00:27:57,360 --> 00:27:59,920 I just want to be clear about that. 286 00:27:59,920 --> 00:28:01,420 Oh, thank you. 287 00:28:01,540 --> 00:28:02,720 I'll do another council questions. 288 00:28:05,440 --> 00:28:06,420 Let's come right on. 289 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:09,880 Not really a question, but kind of more of a comment. 290 00:28:10,860 --> 00:28:12,040 We've voted no action. 291 00:28:12,160 --> 00:28:13,560 That means no action we're done. 292 00:28:14,040 --> 00:28:17,720 It doesn't mean that we're going to go investigate and try to, 293 00:28:18,340 --> 00:28:22,340 we're not going to make a bunch of rumors or anything like that. 294 00:28:22,480 --> 00:28:26,280 And if we're going to be in here for every rumor that pops out there, 295 00:28:26,520 --> 00:28:28,100 we might as well set up camp here. 296 00:28:28,220 --> 00:28:30,780 Because there's going to be a whole bunch of rumors good and bad. 297 00:28:30,780 --> 00:28:40,120 And we just, I don't know, to me all this is a waste of time, because it's all just rumors, and he said she said, and all that crap. 298 00:28:41,500 --> 00:28:46,500 I think I'm from the old school, you know, don't believe anything you hear and only half of what you see. 299 00:28:47,260 --> 00:28:53,660 And for me, for me, this is just a waste of time. Thank you. 300 00:28:54,140 --> 00:28:54,600 Ms. Mujer. 301 00:28:55,320 --> 00:29:01,760 So I just, my baking service, I don't want to see happen what happened in the last time. 302 00:29:02,660 --> 00:29:09,640 When we had the petitions and we were told that it wasn't legal. 303 00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:12,100 I just don't want there to happen. 304 00:29:12,300 --> 00:29:19,060 I believe this was done with the intelligence and we got enough votes. 305 00:29:19,060 --> 00:29:25,480 And I just don't want to see that happen again, because if the people are signing the petition, 306 00:29:25,640 --> 00:29:26,920 this is what they want, 307 00:29:29,180 --> 00:29:35,400 so I just don't want to see it again just thrown away, and I'll 308 00:29:35,400 --> 00:29:40,020 we can't do this, and let's move on, and 309 00:29:44,300 --> 00:29:49,920 if I could respond to that, because I want to make sure 310 00:29:49,920 --> 00:29:55,760 We all have a clear understanding of if you're referring to the DDA petition, is that the one 311 00:29:55,760 --> 00:29:56,680 that you're referring to? 312 00:29:56,680 --> 00:29:57,520 Here is Stephen. 313 00:29:59,120 --> 00:29:59,960 Yes, the DDA. 314 00:30:02,580 --> 00:30:11,340 So what happened in that situation was the previous touch of court, not our current touch of court. The previous 315 00:30:11,340 --> 00:30:21,960 touch of court had certified the petition for the DDA question and sent it directly to the Oakland County 316 00:30:21,960 --> 00:30:28,320 election division. When our charter clearly stated that petitions had to come before council 317 00:30:28,320 --> 00:30:35,920 interaction before they went on to the county. That was what we were challenging, not the 318 00:30:35,920 --> 00:30:43,600 petition itself, but the process of how it was handled in the fact that the council, the 319 00:30:45,140 --> 00:30:51,040 council's authority, to review the petition into act on it before it went to the county, was 320 00:30:51,040 --> 00:30:56,220 you served. That was what our issue was, and I just want to make sure everybody's clear on that. 321 00:30:56,220 --> 00:31:04,180 I understand that. Thank you. I, I, I just. I, I, I, I, I can clarify that a little more. 322 00:31:04,820 --> 00:31:11,740 So the resultant action was the village of Lake Oregon sued the petitioner, sued him personally. 323 00:31:13,460 --> 00:31:22,680 Okay. And the county. Then it went to Circuit Court and the Circuit Court said village and DDA attorney 324 00:31:22,680 --> 00:31:30,060 in township paternity go away, okay, but it caused the citizens close to $20,000 in legal 325 00:31:30,060 --> 00:31:36,940 fees because I'm a majority of the bill is council that like the petitions for the way 326 00:31:36,940 --> 00:31:41,680 they are presented. So there was never any fact finding by a court that either position 327 00:31:41,680 --> 00:31:52,660 was legal. With the results, the court did, we are here to talk about this 328 00:31:52,660 --> 00:31:56,180 rumors here, I didn't submit any rumors to anybody. 329 00:31:56,560 --> 00:32:02,280 I reported factual conversations with our citizen petitioners and factual conversations 330 00:32:02,280 --> 00:32:09,860 I had with the county, we've heard reasonable explanations from the village attorney 331 00:32:09,860 --> 00:32:14,840 and the village manager, but they're not rumors, okay? 332 00:32:15,300 --> 00:32:22,380 And so there are serious questions, and I appreciate you answering them, I'd like to 333 00:32:22,380 --> 00:32:29,240 to know that August 11th or 14th is the deadline and so there are only so many motion calls 334 00:32:29,240 --> 00:32:34,720 at the circuit court before those dates where if they decided to not put them on the ballot. 335 00:32:35,040 --> 00:32:39,500 So if they drag us out and don't put them on the ballot, it'll be too late to legally 336 00:32:39,500 --> 00:32:40,560 challenge them. 337 00:32:41,320 --> 00:32:52,360 I want to make sure that the village is not involved in any legal processes, we have the 338 00:32:52,360 --> 00:33:01,660 to be put to rest. So we're hoping that things will move along as we would like to see them. 339 00:33:03,150 --> 00:33:13,150 So I have two more questions. So when the meeting of the county election board or whatever it is, do we know when that is? 340 00:33:13,670 --> 00:33:19,670 I did reach out to the director of elections to ask because I could not locate it on the website, but I have not received a response. 341 00:33:19,670 --> 00:33:24,590 I'll make sure that the council is aware when I do get a response or when I figure it out. 342 00:33:24,870 --> 00:33:26,570 Okay, so we'll know when it is. 343 00:33:26,570 --> 00:33:27,230 Yes, perfect. 344 00:33:27,810 --> 00:33:35,350 And then my second question is, is it appropriate for, like, me to go sit in on that? 345 00:33:37,230 --> 00:33:40,130 I mean, I need to make sure we don't have a core on there. 346 00:33:40,810 --> 00:33:44,930 But otherwise, it's an absolute, it's absolutely an open meeting and that's perfectly permissible. 347 00:33:45,490 --> 00:33:47,350 And I fully intend to be there as well. 348 00:33:47,350 --> 00:33:56,270 And if I had to speak, would I be speaking on behalf of a resident or would I be speaking on behalf of the village council? 349 00:33:56,750 --> 00:34:02,790 If you address in public body, I'm sorry, in public comment, the public body of speaking as a resident. 350 00:34:03,330 --> 00:34:04,390 Okay, thank you. 351 00:34:07,220 --> 00:34:17,980 I think my only comments are a little bit similar, you know, we heard that the term conspiracy and we heard, you know, this cost money too to have our village attorney here, it's costing taxpayer dollars. 352 00:34:18,980 --> 00:34:24,920 And concurring with some other comments that we did our job, we voted to take no action 353 00:34:24,920 --> 00:34:32,300 that is according to state law and the legal parameters and it's moved on further in the process. 354 00:34:32,520 --> 00:34:36,480 We are not doing anything to try to block that to try to do anything but there are independent 355 00:34:36,480 --> 00:34:43,360 other entities that we have no control over in a voice or say in and so it's a little bit frustrating 356 00:34:43,360 --> 00:34:47,380 that we're spending our village attorney dollars on something and we have no control over 357 00:34:47,380 --> 00:34:48,280 from here on out. 358 00:34:48,400 --> 00:34:49,540 I understand there are some questions, 359 00:34:51,900 --> 00:34:54,520 but, you know, similar to some other comments being 360 00:34:54,520 --> 00:34:59,480 said for every question, if we have a special meeting and have our attorney come for every question 361 00:34:59,480 --> 00:35:04,120 that becomes a lot to there, are going to be a lot of questions, but the village council also 362 00:35:04,120 --> 00:35:05,280 chose to take no action. 363 00:35:05,540 --> 00:35:10,720 That means we did our job, that we listen to the voters, we listen to the citizens, to put 364 00:35:10,720 --> 00:35:15,180 on the ballot, and we don't have any control over that at this point. 365 00:35:16,120 --> 00:35:21,960 That's up to the township, it's up to the election board, and so I was a little confused 366 00:35:21,960 --> 00:35:27,120 on why we were having this meeting because we've done what we've, but this is this is 367 00:35:27,120 --> 00:35:34,040 as to ask us to do, and so to ask you all to come up again, to come here, to take your 368 00:35:34,040 --> 00:35:40,640 time, time away from your family's, time away from, you know, your dinner, your plans to come 369 00:35:40,640 --> 00:35:44,540 in here the same thing that we've listened to and we put it out about as a little bit frustrating 370 00:35:44,540 --> 00:35:50,600 for me, knowing that there's nothing else that we can do and our authorized to do and should 371 00:35:50,600 --> 00:35:56,500 do when we've done the process. So yeah, those are my comments when I hear about the attorney 372 00:35:56,500 --> 00:36:00,600 fees and different things like that. We're greasing text for your dollars to pay for this too. 373 00:36:00,600 --> 00:36:02,360 I have one more comment. 374 00:36:02,700 --> 00:36:04,180 As we've all do respect. 375 00:36:05,100 --> 00:36:08,740 We're doing this because we want the citizens to know what's going on. 376 00:36:09,660 --> 00:36:14,780 And I don't really care about dinner tonight, or any of that, or the taxpayer that 377 00:36:14,780 --> 00:36:18,140 is going to be attorney that's who we're paying him for. 378 00:36:19,140 --> 00:36:22,600 This is a question as to how it is being handled. 379 00:36:23,940 --> 00:36:27,760 And two of the council members called for this meeting. 380 00:36:28,320 --> 00:36:30,300 And we should be allowed to do 381 00:36:33,660 --> 00:36:34,240 that. 382 00:36:34,340 --> 00:36:34,780 Mr. Park. 383 00:36:37,580 --> 00:36:44,580 Look at what's been put in front of us tonight, but I'm not sure everybody else has. 384 00:36:45,640 --> 00:36:49,520 The purpose of the meeting is to spell rumors in the first one. 385 00:36:50,720 --> 00:36:56,240 Those major in the village attorney addressed their involvement once we made that vote. 386 00:36:56,240 --> 00:37:00,560 And it was that them just doing their due diligence making sure that the 387 00:37:00,560 --> 00:37:03,600 concept knows, and that's where our role ends. 388 00:37:04,480 --> 00:37:09,340 We can't influence the meeting, that the meeting, they have that all the information 389 00:37:09,340 --> 00:37:12,080 at the election committee. 390 00:37:12,540 --> 00:37:13,600 We can't influence that. 391 00:37:14,240 --> 00:37:14,860 They act independently. 392 00:37:15,140 --> 00:37:16,380 They're going to do what they're going to do. 393 00:37:16,940 --> 00:37:18,880 And we can't necessarily influence that. 394 00:37:19,940 --> 00:37:22,280 By attending and stating in the opinion. 395 00:37:23,080 --> 00:37:29,980 The second thing, the spell rumor, the council is fully in the special meeting in an effort to reverse the direction of... 396 00:37:31,540 --> 00:37:42,400 We created that, by saying, by having us meeting, is everybody thought that this meeting we're going to change things. We didn't have the meeting that where we wouldn't even happen. 397 00:37:43,600 --> 00:37:52,640 I agree. It's a, I think people are here thinking that we're going to change things. And that's wasn't the case all of them. And I don't. 398 00:37:52,640 --> 00:37:59,180 I think some people took it too much on themselves to take it further when the administration 399 00:37:59,180 --> 00:38:03,400 did their job, turning it to their job, and we shouldn't be here to make. 400 00:38:05,640 --> 00:38:06,540 I know public comments. 401 00:38:15,880 --> 00:38:23,240 So just for the information, this is the Julia of the, sir, at the township. 402 00:38:23,540 --> 00:38:25,120 Did you file with election commission? 403 00:38:25,860 --> 00:38:32,580 30J July 23rd, 2026 at 256 p.m. So it's any questions. It's been filed for quite a while. 404 00:38:34,100 --> 00:38:36,120 This is the way I see it. 405 00:38:37,140 --> 00:38:41,660 I believe that we have a village manager and a village attorney that is 406 00:38:41,660 --> 00:38:43,900 meddling into this ballot proposal. 407 00:38:45,160 --> 00:38:48,880 None of you gave them any permission to look into any of this. 408 00:38:49,420 --> 00:38:53,720 Okay? And the way I read the law, you guys allowed it to go on the ballot. 409 00:38:53,720 --> 00:38:59,100 the township has nothing to say about it, they have nothing to say about it, and the county 410 00:38:59,100 --> 00:39:01,700 probably wouldn't have gave them a rat to ask you if they wouldn't have gone near and 411 00:39:01,700 --> 00:39:07,480 cost a problem. For both of them, the conflict of interest, one news is a job, one news 412 00:39:07,480 --> 00:39:12,340 is the planet. So I want you to really think about what they did, because they won over and 413 00:39:12,340 --> 00:39:15,620 rub with what you guys allowed them to do. Thank you. 414 00:39:21,110 --> 00:39:27,710 Thank you, Christy, 635 Central Drive. You know, it's unbelievable to me that we're here 415 00:39:27,710 --> 00:39:34,070 number one, and that you folks who are supposed to represent us were unaware of these other 416 00:39:34,070 --> 00:39:37,970 processes that we have to go through, the steps that we have to go through. 417 00:39:38,370 --> 00:39:42,150 We should have been told that the last time we were here, you could have said, hey, we 418 00:39:42,150 --> 00:39:46,990 can only go so far, but then we have to go to the township, then it has to go to the county. 419 00:39:47,370 --> 00:39:48,610 But no, here we are again. 420 00:39:49,070 --> 00:39:55,730 And once again, who's picking up the tap, us the taxpayers, we're paying these attorneys, we're 421 00:39:55,730 --> 00:40:03,250 these people to be here. It's ridiculous. It's totally ridiculous. Get it together. This is 422 00:40:03,250 --> 00:40:11,910 the way it's been for 49 years since I've been here. 49 years of nothing ever being done 423 00:40:11,910 --> 00:40:19,490 properly. That's why we're in this position. That's why we don't want a village any longer. Thank you. 424 00:40:23,720 --> 00:40:25,940 Anyone else for public comment? 425 00:40:28,740 --> 00:40:30,240 Seeing none? Item? 426 00:40:30,620 --> 00:40:31,660 Go ahead. 427 00:40:39,380 --> 00:40:42,660 I appreciate the clarification of tonight's meeting. 428 00:40:42,920 --> 00:40:45,360 I do not look at it as a room or situation. 429 00:40:45,720 --> 00:40:50,560 You're educating the citizens as to the process that's happening. 430 00:40:50,820 --> 00:40:52,020 And I appreciate that. 431 00:40:58,240 --> 00:41:01,040 Seeing no other public comments on it. 432 00:41:01,460 --> 00:41:03,380 We have no action to take on this agenda. 433 00:41:03,380 --> 00:41:07,580 I don't saw item number six is called to the public on any item. 434 00:41:09,630 --> 00:41:13,190 See, then I will close call to the public and item seven is the motion to adjourn. 435 00:41:13,190 --> 00:41:13,990 Motion to adjourn. 436 00:41:14,650 --> 00:41:14,810 Second. 437 00:41:15,490 --> 00:41:17,010 We have motion and support on a favor. 438 00:41:17,150 --> 00:41:19,210 I oppose meeting adjourn.