St. James Township Special Meeting

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Rose Gallagher
Posts: 20
Joined: Wed Sep 23, 2009 5:49 pm

St. James Township Special Meeting

Post by Rose Gallagher »

Can anyone who attended yesterday's St. James Township Special Meeting please share with us what it pertained to requiring the "special" meeting?
MR
Posts: 56
Joined: Fri May 11, 2007 8:32 am

Post by MR »

I would like to know also. AND I would also like to know how I can find out about future meetings to attend.
Rose Gallagher
Posts: 20
Joined: Wed Sep 23, 2009 5:49 pm

Post by Rose Gallagher »

My time is being consumed by holiday planning and grandchildren right now but after the first of the year I will be sending St. James Township a written request. Any citizen can request public information from any body that operates under the Open Meetings Act. That body can charge a nominal fee for the information which is the cost of printing and mailing. With electronic transmission, it should be free for there is no additional cost. I will be requesting:
1. All posted notices of meetings to include regular, special and committee
2. Copy of unapproved minutes of all those meetings within 8 business days
3. Copy of approved minutes within 5 business days
I would suggest that anyone desiring the same information to contact St. James Township with a request. For whatever reason they have made it obvious that they want to keep much of their conduct from the public.
I am not a religious Forum watcher but will try to put notices of meetings on the Forum as I receive them, if I do receive them.
I think the public should be keeping a close eye on what is going on and ask those responsible, what and why?
medic5740
Posts: 1108
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 8:28 am
Location: Beaver Island

Special meeting of St James Twp

Post by medic5740 »

Although I attempt to video tape every public township meeting, I had run out of video tapes and could not attend the special St James meeting. I do have video of every township meeting online since September including the joint township meeting. There are video clips on a subscription only website at this location:

http://beaverislandnews.com

You will find video of the BICS Holiday Program, the Christmas Cantata, selected video clips of the Holiday Hilarity production, etc. in addition to the township meetings.

I believe the topics to be discussed at this special meeting included a "Dual Representation" agreement since both townships have the same legal firm representing them. There may also have been some discussion about the property assessment problem involving the State of Michigan.

Yes, you can get minutes by making a request of the St. James Township Clerk Jean Wierenga and the Peaine Township Clerk Colleen Martin, based upon your schedule. You can also view them for free at the homepage of the above mentioned website as soon as they are available along with the minutes of Peaine, BI Community School, and others.

Peaine Township has their minutes available online as well.

Hope this doesn't sound too much like a commercial, but the information is available including the mood and the tone of voice of those speaking,which can't be found in the minutes.
Rose Gallagher
Posts: 20
Joined: Wed Sep 23, 2009 5:49 pm

Post by Rose Gallagher »

I thank you for the information and being a watchdog for your subscribers and the public. Video captures and conveys what minutes alone can not and more often than not how things are said is more revealing than what is said. I will be watching for this information in the future.
I am still interested in postings for township regular, special or committee meetings that show the date, time and agenda topics so people know what is coming up as opposed to seeing or reading what happened.
I searched for a St. James Township website but could not locate one. Any help or suggestions for my search will be greatly appreciated.
Rose
BobTidmore
Posts: 766
Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2003 3:00 pm
Location: Beaver Island

Post by BobTidmore »

Here is the St. James Township web site, such as it is. Note under â??Whatâ??s Newâ?￾ the meeting notice for September 25, 2007. The names of some of the officers are incorrect too.

It was last updated on 09/04/2007.

http://www.charlevoixcounty.org/stjames.asp
Pat Simmons
Posts: 27
Joined: Wed Nov 18, 2009 1:36 pm

Post by Pat Simmons »

Hi Mr. West! :D
Sheri Timsak
Posts: 357
Joined: Sat Feb 25, 2006 9:38 am
Location: Beaver Island, MI

Post by Sheri Timsak »

Mr. Jaq You seem to know alot about the island but i don't recognize your name - could it be an alias??
Dawn E. Marsh
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon Sep 14, 2009 10:03 am
Location: Beaver Island

Post by Dawn E. Marsh »

I would like to know why Mr. LaCostor? feels the need to use an alias. I'm sure we should know you if you live here part time. Why don't you say who you really are?
Gillespie
Posts: 1569
Joined: Tue Mar 11, 2003 1:43 pm
Contact:

Post by Gillespie »

Whoever he is or the next person that comes up with a cartoon name WILL be deleted!! It's bull_ _ _t, and I am tired of it, if you cannot speak you mind with your own name then stay off this forum. As to the validity of what is stated here or in the local papers and other media, to say that the forum only spits vitreol is bunk. The people who use their own names have put serious commentary on the forum and only the phony (you know what's) have taken things off course. Last warning, good point or not, you had better make yourself "known" or you wil be deleted, Jaq's post is the last of the made up name topics, anyone disagree??
Rambo08
Posts: 55
Joined: Sun Mar 23, 2008 9:44 pm

sudonyms

Post by Rambo08 »

Yes Richie, I for one agree!!!
Richard Burris & Amy
Dawn E. Marsh
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon Sep 14, 2009 10:03 am
Location: Beaver Island

Post by Dawn E. Marsh »

I SECOND THAT, RICHIE!!!
medic5740
Posts: 1108
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 8:28 am
Location: Beaver Island

Back on topic

Post by medic5740 »

To get this back on topic, the meeting was held to agree to the dual representation agreement, allowing one law firm to represent both townships. The minutes are available online at:

http://beaverislandnews.com

Click on St. James Township Minutes

Joe Moore
Rose Gallagher
Posts: 20
Joined: Wed Sep 23, 2009 5:49 pm

Post by Rose Gallagher »

Thank you for the information on the official St. James Township website. I did find it in my search but when I saw that there had been no updates for two and a half years I assumed it was no longer the official township website but guess I was wrong?????? I thought I was behind on my e-mail but not two and a half years.
Also thank you for the information on the special meeting. My concern with having the same attorney representing both townships is the possible conflict of interest. If the two townships disagree on joint ventures, how does the one attorney represent both in resolving the issue? If a third party is required to resolve conflict it would add costs to the tax payers that may not be necessary with seperate attorneys representing the interests of each client. Our daughter's ex talked her into sharing one divorce attorney to save on cost, guess how that worked out for her.
Why two townships to begin with? Rose
Donegaljim
Posts: 101
Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2008 7:45 am

Post by Donegaljim »

It was a very poor decision that will become all too obvious at some inopportune time. there are a lot of hidden agendas in that decision.
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