Township Manager's Report

The past year has been a very eventful year. The efforts of the Office of the Township Manager and Township Staff have been focused on internal operations of the Township. However, the external forces which confronted the Township such as terrorism and the Atofina chemical fire were significant and long lasting. These occurrences reminded the Township Staff that we are not isolated from these types of negative impacts.

The internal focus included:

• The evaluation of a number of the Township policies and procedures. Many of the regulations have been revised, however, the need for a comprehensive revision of the procedure manual including personnel policy is still taking place. This project will continue into the upcoming year.
• The Waters Edge restaurant addition began and we are looking forward to a spring opening under the management of a local restaurateur. Membership pricing has remained the same as last year. If you are not a member sign up today and enjoy golfing and swimming at great rates.
• A new DPW Manager, Barry Sedlock, was appointed. The many challenges he has faced and will continue to address include the sanitary sewer rehabilitation project, updating internal procedures making operations more efficient, and accountability. The DPW Commission meetings are now televised on cable. The meetings take place on the Second Tuesday of each month.
• The Planning Commission began updating the Township Master Plan. This process will continue to take place and is scheduled to be completed in the Fall of this year. The position of Community Development Director has been vacant and is being eliminated due to budgetary concerns and the decrease in building revenues. The Ordinance Enforcement Officer responded to an average of 44 complaints per month. One subdivision was approved which included 26 lots.
• The adoption of a Right-of-Way (ROW) Ordinance took place. The purpose of this ordinance is to regulate the various agencies that do work in the ROW so the public facilities such as sewer lines, water lines, and the bike paths are protected from being damaged.
• The Township Hall renovation project was closed with the exception of a few minor warranty items.
• Although there have not been any major purchases of Open Space this past year the ground work and research for future purchases have taken place. The Greenway/Open Space Committee and the Township Board evaluated, and will continue to do so, potential purchases in order to maximize the purchasing power of the Open Space monies. Numerous grants have been applied for. If these projects are funded, Open Space dollars will be doubled. Wildflower plantings have been approved along the Meridian Road Bike Path.
• As a result of the Atofina incident and the September terrorist attacks Public Safety efforts included the installation of an Outdoor Warning System and a Radio Station (AM 1700). Residents will now be notified of an emergency situation by tuning into the local cable station, AM 1700, and by an outdoor siren system. Public Safety staff is also looking into a phone system which can notify residents via telephone. The existing telephone system and 911 system have been upgraded at the command center of the Public Safety Building.
• An Alpaca Farm is being constructed on Airport property near the Department of Public Works. An alpaca is a miniature lama. The Airport will be receiving rent from the operations.
• The construction of the Senior Housing facility has begun. The anticipated completion date is Fall of 2002.

The upcoming year poses numerous challenges to the entire staff. Perhaps the most important challenge is the provision of services to the community in a cost effective manner with less resources being available. Late in the fiscal year it was recognized that numerous reductions in operating costs for the new year would be necessary due to budgetary considerations. Among the many areas of the proposed budget to be reduced, the most noteworthy are the reduction in business/personnel hours at the Township hall, elimination of the Floating Secretary position, and elimination of the position of Community Development Director. The shortfall in revenues is due to the reduction in State revenue sharing, a decrease in interest income, the loss of a Community Oriented Policing (COPS) grant, increases in health and liability insurance, union and non-union pay increases, and the reduction in building revenues.

In addition to the efficient management of the day to day operations of the Township other significant goals are:

• Continue to improve delivery of service to the community.
• Expand the Open Space Program and the Bike Path/Greenway System in a cost effective manner.
• Be responsive to the desires of the community.
• Continue to improve upon communicating to the residents via cable and www.grosseile.com.
• Take a more aggressive approach to code enforcement.
• Develop and revise internal procedures.
• Increase membership at the Water’s Edge Country Club and Marina.
• Increase GI TV programming.
• Rehabilitation of the Sanitary Sewer System.
• Complete Master Plan Update.

Dale L. Reaume, M.P.A.
Township Manager

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