GPYC Water Bills on GP Shores Council Agenda

The nearly all new council will discuss both publicly funded health insurance contributions and the water billing during a closed session at its meeting Tuesday night.

According to the agenda, the council expects to make a decision on the health insurance issue—Public Act 152—following a closed session on the matter.

Council will also take on in its closed session.

City Manager Brian Vick and Yacht Club General Manager Thomas Trainor entered into a tolling agreement in March 2010 that essentially stopped the legal clock from ticking on the statute of limitations so representatives from both sides could review the billing and determine whether the Shores overcharged or mischarged the Yacht Club.

Extensions to the tolling agreement have been made several times at 90-day increments. According to the copy of the agreement obtained by Patch, the most recent extension set in mid-November would expire Jan. 7.

The topic first publicly surfaced during the candidate forums before the election with accusations that officials were trying to hide the billing issue from the public.

A review of council meeting minutes and a memo obtained by Patch show council members knew about the billing issue long before this year's election season.

According to the memo obtained by Patch, the topic was first brought to council's attention in July 2010. Vick submitted a memo to council detailing a meeting between Vick, Shores attorney Mark McInerney and Trainor. It also detailed that this was the second meeting and that another meeting was being scheduled so officials from both sides could continue to review the billing.

This memo was not part of a council meeting and in it, Vick explicitly recommended council to use their discretion in discussing the matter because officials did not know whether improper billing had occurred.

Vick also advised council in the memo that the matter could not be discussed in closed session unless the Yacht Club filed a lawsuit or McInerney issued his legal opinion and recommendation after the review.

The review is still ongoing.

In addition to the memo, council was given a "GPYC water billing inquiry update" in November 2010 from Vick during his monthly manager's report in the regularly scheduled meeting, according to the November 2010 meeting minutes.

During tonight's closed session, the council will discuss a written legal opinion regarding the billing issue, according to the agenda.

During the open session, McInerney will update council on access to public records in the billing matter, and whether access to any of the records should be restricted under attorney-client privilege.

Also on the agenda

In addition, the council will consider the following items:

• The extension of a .
• Allowing parking on Lake Shore Road for the Junior League of Detroit Show House.
• An amendment to the water contract between Detroit and Grosse Pointe Shores.
• The for training, purchase of equipment and an automatic aid agreement.

Additionally, council will make appointments to commissions and boards and receive an update on the .

Council also will discuss a policy related to handling Freedom of Information Act requests, according to the agenda.