4-16-2024 Annual Meeting Minutes

TOWN OF GENESEE ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES GENESEE TOWN HALL APRIL 16, 2024 Chairman Leair called the meeting to order at 6:020 p.m. Present were Chairman Leair and Clerk Treasurer Majeskie. There were nine residents at the meeting. Introduction of Town Officials Chairman Leair introduced the Town officials that were present. Chairman Leair, Clerk Treasurer Majeskie, Town Board Supervisors Ross, Morris, Braun and Tesch. There were five other residents, Buck Houston, Marleene Bloom, Robert Merkt, and Tony & Peggy Reese. 2023 Financial Report – Rotroff Jeanson & Co. –Howard Jeanson Jeanson went over the audit. He said the Town is doing good and is in good financial shape. Reports – Plan Commission – Rachel Workman Recreation Department - Dennis Michaelis Public Works Superintendent – Michael Berg Parks Department – Kevin Mickelberg Recycling Report – Meri Majeskie, Coordinator Building Inspector – Paul Launer, Lake Country Inspections Approval of reports Morris made a motion to approve the reports and them reports on file, seconded by Houston. The motion passed 6-0. Three people did not vote. Concerns or resolutions from electorate as authorized by law Marleene Bloom said she hopes that the Town Board and Plan Commission remembers and sideliners the fact that the people who love to live in Genesee they do so because of its rural nature and any decisions that are made by the Board should be tempered and governed by this fact. During the year five different households came to a meeting regarding the noise generated by a local Tavern and no attempt has been made to change this as yet. Other neighbors have voiced their displeasure but didn’t think it would \make a difference if they came to complain. If the Town can approve an event, they can certainly rescind it if given a reason to do so. I know previous taverns in the area that had music inside were even told that they had to have their doors closed. They didn’t want the music and noise going to the outside. I know North Prairie, Eagle and Dousman have celebrations with outdoor music, but they are usually held in the Town Parks for the benefit of the Fire Departments and other local originations like scouts cheches etc. And not for already profitable restaurant and business. I just want to reiterate that I think the Town should continue and respect the voices of the residents and keep our Town as a quiet and peaceful place to live. I don’t think that we need some of the things that have been happening in the Town lately. Chairman Leair responded by saying we are aware of the problem; she said the Town could address this issue when we come to a new permit season, they could maybe talk about the length of time that the music plays. We do allow taverns and businesses to have music even here in the depot, day or night. We will work on it for next year, right now the permits on the events have been approved. We are totally aware of your concerns. Terry Tesch would like to see public comments at meetings in the future. Chairman Leair responded by says she has a very open meeting and usually allows someone to speak if the Board agrees. We have tried to be open and we deal with people personally when they have a issue, we talk to them and address their concerns. Robert Merkt asked if we know for sure that John’s Disposal is actually recycling? Chairman Leair said we do get reports from them quarterly. Robert Merkt said the reason he asked is he has been seeing the same truck pick up garbage and recycling at the same time. Discussion. Chairman Leair I will have the Clerk contact John’s disposal and report this. Tony Reese wanted to build upon Terry Tesch’s comment about public comments at Board meetings on discussions that the Board is going to do, in addition to that I would like to see some referendums when big cash is being spent. Chairman Leair, like I said to Terry I think we can talk about that. When we have a hearing the whole room opens up and anyone can comment, but when we have certain agenda items and there are people in the room that came in respect for that they are given the opportunity to speak. So, we try to be very open at our meetings plus we have meetings like this and a Town meeting in the Fall. You can also call us anytime and we would sit down and talk with you about your concerns. We like that personal communication better. The second thing is referendums. There was information going around why was there no referendum when we built the DPW building, because state statue allows us to go to a meeting of the Board of Electors and get that permission or a referendum. We noticed that meeting, it was an agenda item, it was on our website it was publicly noticed and that motion to approve the building of the DPW building was approve by a meeting of the electors. Referendums can be very expensive to run by a community, but sometimes they are just required. Tony Reese - What about the snack bar and restrooms? Chairman Leair - The Bathrooms and concession building at Sunset Park was also approved at the same meeting of the Electors. Tony Reese – I know it was approved. I think that the Towns people that I have talked with are a little upset. They felt like they had no input into either one of the buildings down at the park. Chairman Leair – Thank you for your comments. Any other comments? None. Minutes to be approved – Annual Meeting of April 18, 2023 Ross made a motion to approve the annual meeting minutes of April 18, 2023, seconded by Braun. The motion passes 5-0. Budget Hearing and Town Meeting of November 13, 2023. Ross made a motion to approve the budget hearing and Town Meeting minutes from November 13, 2023, seconded by Braun. The motion passed 5-0. Set date for Budget Hearing and Town Meeting for November 11, 2024 and Annual Meeting for April 15, 2025 Houston made a motion to approve the Town Meeting for November 11, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. and The Annual meeting on April 15, 2025 at 6:00 p.m., seconded by Tony Reese. The motion passed 6-0. Adjournment Braun made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Ross. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 6:53 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Meri Majeskie, WCMC Town Clerk Treasurer