Summary
The Bingham Township Board met on November 17, 2025, with all five members present. The Board approved the agenda as amended, corrected and approved the October 20, 2025 minutes, and took action on several old and new business items. Key outcomes included approval of an engineering contract for the Boughey Park parking lot, approval of a new Parks and Recreation website, an update on cemetery records digitization, and the acceptance of Trustee Todd Stone's resignation following an unresolved dispute over a proposed blight ordinance. The Board also reviewed committee reports covering zoning, planning, fire authority, treasurer, and supervisor matters, and approved vendor and payroll payments.
Public Comments
No public comments were made during the designated public comment periods at the start or end of the meeting.
Parks and Recreation Matters
Boughey Park Parking Lot: Kevin Krogulecki of Gosling Czubak Engineering presented a proposal to finalize engineering, bid, and oversee construction of an internal parking lot at Boughey Park. The preferred design includes a base of 10 parking spaces with an optional expansion of 8 additional spaces (18 total), intended to address roadway parking congestion and safety concerns. A wetland delineation was recommended for spring to confirm boundaries and ensure regulatory compliance, which would delay construction until after the summer season. Estimated costs: construction of 10 spaces (~$70,000), an additional 8 spaces (~$24,000), and a total project cost of ~$90,000–$100,000 base, up to ~$120,000 with expansion. The engineering contract fee is $22,700, covering bidding and construction oversight. Funding is available through Parks & Recreation funds ($66,000 in Park & Recreation Grants and $144,000 in Park Improvements). Layman moved, Stone supported, to approve the contract with Gosling Czubak Engineering for $22,700; motion carried 5-0 on a roll call vote (Werner, Amalfitano, Korson, Layman, Stone all voting yes). The contract was signed at the meeting; wetland delineation is planned for spring, with construction anticipated in fall following the summer season.
Parks & Recreation Website: Ted Cimafranca presented a new Parks & Recreation website built on licensed township software, including park information, contact details, hours, activities/resources for various age groups, external recreation links, and planned QR codes for park signage. Requested revisions included clarifying that listed activities are external/community resources, adding a link to park rules and regulations, and renaming the Maker Creek property from "undeveloped" to "Nature Preserve." Korson moved, Amalfitano supported, to approve replacing the existing webpage with the new site, link it from the township homepage, and approve the requested revisions; motion carried 5-0.
Committee Report (Ted Cimafranca): Ongoing work continues on the five-year Parks and Recreation plan, the website, and the Boughey Park parking lot project. The committee received playground equipment donations not previously included in the five-year plan, and appreciation was expressed for volunteer efforts.
Infrastructure Projects
Township Building Water Intrusion: The Building & Grounds Committee (Rachel Amalfitano) discussed basement water intrusion experienced over the summer. Recommendations included installing eavestroughs and regrading areas sloping toward the building. Midge Werner contacted three to four excavation contractors for site visits and bids, and contacted Curtis Graham, the original builder, to identify the contractor who performed the initial work for further assessment.
Woodside Court Road: The Board discussed resident concerns about deterioration of Woodside Court, a county road. The Road Commission plans to restore the road to gravel standards only, while residents prefer repaving; the County has indicated it will not fund paving. Options discussed included the Township fronting paving costs and recovering them through a special assessment district, with associated legal and administrative concerns about collections. The Board agreed to gather additional information before taking action.
Driveway Permit Issue: A commercial property failed to construct a required driveway per Road Commission requirements. The Road Commission has abandoned the original permit and is working with the Township on next steps; a new permit may be issued.
Other Business
Cemetery Management Records: Rachel Amalfitano updated the Board on digitizing township cemetery records. Two vendors (Sims and CemSites) have submitted proposals; a third option, BSNA Cemetery Mapping Software, is pending a formal quote and may be most cost-effective given existing township use of BSNA products. Estimated one-time setup cost is approximately $14,000, plus an annual maintenance fee of roughly $700, with additional costs likely for migrating existing paper, card, and map records. The Board discussed whether a simpler internal solution (e.g., spreadsheet plus digitized map) might suffice given the cemeteries' relatively small size. No action or vote was taken; next steps include gathering additional quotes, researching systems used by neighboring cemeteries (St. Mary's, St. Michael's), and beginning to organize existing records digitally.
Todd Stone Resignation: Following the prior meeting, Trustee Todd Stone had submitted a resignation letter effective November 1, citing frustration over lack of progress on blight enforcement. He later proposed remaining on the Board if the Board committed to enacting a "fair but robust" blight ordinance by June 30, 2026, forming a citizen committee, and allowing his continued leadership in the process. Board members raised concerns about enforcement challenges, subjectivity of typical blight ordinances, legal considerations, and costs, and discussed alternatives including an attorney-drafted warning letter, Planning Commission involvement, or a joint meeting with the Planning Commission. Some members expressed philosophical opposition to committing to a fixed deadline. When no firm commitment was made, Stone stated he was resigning effective immediately, citing four years without resolution on the issue. Werner moved, Layman supported, to accept Stone's resignation with regrets; motion carried 4-1. Stone indicated he would continue serving on the Parks and Recreation Committee as a resident. The vacancy will be posted publicly, with 45 days allowed to appoint a replacement; interim liaison responsibilities will be addressed later.
Zoning/STR Administrator (Steve Patmore): The township attorney is preparing a formal letter regarding ongoing zoning compliance issues, with written correspondence as the initial step. The attorney also requested scheduling a January Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) meeting regarding litigation involving a property with multiple dwellings improperly split and sold within a family; a potential solution may involve ZBA variances to legalize nonconforming lots.
Planning Commission (Steve Patmore, Jeff Layman): Discussion covered noise and event facilities. No formal noise complaints have been received recently, though some commissioners believe issues may be underreported. The Commission discussed possible enhanced monitoring of event facilities during evenings/weekends and whether hiring a monitoring/enforcement individual would be appropriate.
Fire Authority (Jeff Layman): An ambulance was involved in a traffic accident caused by another driver running a red light; no firefighters or EMTs were seriously injured. The damaged ambulance is out of service and secured, with equipment currently being borrowed. Replacement is expected to take approximately 12–18 months.
Cemetery Committee (Midge Werner): All cemeteries are cleaned and closed for the season. The fall maintenance invoice has not yet been received. Board members expressed satisfaction with the current maintenance provider, and a future cost comparison with prior years was suggested.
Building & Grounds: A new key lock box has been obtained to centralize Township building keys for easier access and accountability.
Short-Term Rental Ordinance: The Board discussed potential amendments, including possibly reducing the total number of permitted STRs, reviewing permit transfer rules upon property sale, comparing neighboring township practices, and encouraging long-term residency. No vote was taken.
Enforcement Officer Discussion: The Board discussed the potential need for a part-time civil infraction/enforcement officer to handle complaints and enforcement matters. Consensus was reached that a job description should be developed; the matter will be explored further.
Board Vacancy & Administrative Matters: The Trustee vacancy will be advertised in the newspaper, with Midge Werner contacting the Michigan Townships Association (MTA) for guidance on appointment procedures. Todd Stone's keys are to be collected and his final check mailed. Township email account updates will be handled, and the need for additional administrative support for zoning and STR records was noted.
Financial Summary
- Boughey Park parking lot: engineering contract approved for $22,700; total estimated project cost $90,000–$100,000 base, up to ~$120,000 with expansion. Funding available from Parks & Recreation funds: $66,000 (Park & Recreation Grants) and $144,000 (Park Improvements).