Vernon Council approves consent agenda, moves forward on property-acquisition referral and adopts confidentiality ordinance

Vernon Township Council unanimously approved its consent agenda, adopted a resolution authorizing pursuit of a property acquisition and referral to the township planning board for redevelopment investigation, and adopted an ordinance limiting disclosure of certain confidential or exempt records.

The consent agenda, covering resolutions numbered 25-268 through 25-286, was moved and seconded and carried on a unanimous roll-call vote. Specific items on the consent agenda were not read into the record during the meeting beyond confirmation that members had received the bills and related documentation.

Resolution 25-287 was read into the record and approved. The resolution authorizes the township to pursue acquisition of certain property and, if acquisition is unsuccessful, to refer the property to the township planning board for investigation to determine whether all or a portion of the property constitutes a condemnation area in need of redevelopment. Council moved to place the resolution on the floor (moved by Council member Sparta; seconded by Council member Bucheri) and carried it by unanimous roll call.

Council introduced Ordinance 25-16, which would amend the Vernon Township administrative code (Chapter 250) regarding Department of Public Works fees; the introduction passed on a roll call vote. Separately, the council placed Ordinance 25-14 on the floor for adoption. That ordinance—described as establishing a chapter entitled "restricted areas to safeguard the public and confidential or exempt records from disclosure"—was opened for public comment but drew no speakers and was adopted by unanimous roll call.

All votes taken on consent items, resolutions and ordinances at the meeting were recorded on roll call with the attending council members voting 'yes.' No recorded 'no', abstention or recusal votes were recorded in the transcript for these items.

The council adjourned after other business and public comment. The transcript includes public comment on related topics (a resident reading a mayoral Facebook post about the property known in public remarks as "Legends" and concerns about vehicle markings), but no formal action was taken on those public comments during the meeting.

Next steps identified in the meeting record: the project authorized by Resolution 25-287 may proceed through administrative acquisition procedures and any required planning-board inquiry; Ordinance 25-16 remains at introduction pending further readings as required by township procedure.