Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-01-11 MinutesMINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE PRESIDENT AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF MORTON GROVE COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, HELD AT THE RICHARD T. FLICKINGER MUNICIPAL CENTER JANUARY 11, 2016 CALL TO ORDER I & Village President Dan DiMaria called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Council II. Chambers of Village Hall. A Police Department Color Guard, led by Commander Paul Yaras, presented and posted colors. Mayor DiMaria then led the Board and assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance. III. Village Clerk Connie Travis called the roll. Present were: Trustees Bill Grear, Rita Minx, John Pietron, Ed Ramos, John Thill, and Janine Witko. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. Regarding the Minutes of the December 14, 2015 Regular Board Meeting, Trustee Minx moved to approve the Minutes as presented, seconded by Trustee Witko. Motion passed unanimously via voice vote. V. SPECIAL REPORTS 1. Swearing In Ceremony for New Police Office Daniel Dahm a. b. Mayor DiMaria said that this is a special evening, as one of Morton Grove's own, Daniel Dahm, is sworn in. He said the Dahm family has a long tradition of serving Morton Grove, adding that he respects the Dahm family and is very proud of Daniel. Fire and Police Commission Chairman Mike Simkins agreed, saying this is especially gratifying to him, because he saw Daniel grow up. The fact that this is the third generation of the Dahm family to serve Morton Grove is near and dear to his heart. Chairman Simkins invited trustee liaison Bill Grear, Chief Mike Simo, Mayor DiMaria, and Daniel and his family to the podium. c. Mr. Simkins gave a brief bio: Daniel started his employment with the Village as of last Monday, and also began his training at the Suburban Law Enforcement Police Academy that day. Daniel was born and raised in Morton Grove, graduated from Niles West High School in 2007, and attended Carthage College in Kenosha, where he received his Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice. As mentioned, Dan's family has a long history with Morton Grove, and Dan is happy to carry on the tradition. He has been working as a CSO for the Morton Grove Police Department and is well prepared to serve his Village as a police officer. Minutes of January 11, 2016 Board Meeting V. SPECIAL REPORTS (continued) Mr. Simkins swore Dan in to the applause and congratulations of the Board and the assemblage. 2. Presentation of the Government Finance Officers Association Award for the Certificate of Achievement in Financial Reporting a. Village Administrator Czerwinski said he had received notice that the Village received this award for the 2014 Budget year. The certificate reflects that Morton Grove has the appropriate processes and reporting methods, and went through the appropriate steps to finalizing its budget. This Award reflects all prior years' of the Village receiving it and is displayed in the Finance Department. Mr. Czerwinski thanked the staff of the Finance Department for all their hard work. VI. VII. VIII. PUBLIC HEARINGS NONE RESIDENTS' COMMENTS (Agenda Items Only) NONE PRESIDENT'S REPORT 1. Mayor DiMaria sought concurrence for his Administrative Appointment of Hanna Sullivan as the Village's new Finance Director/Treasurer. a. b. Trustee Pietron moved to concur with these appointments, seconded by Trustee Minx. Motion passed unanimously via voice vote. Mayor DiMaria said that Ms. Sullivan comes to Morton Grove from the Winnetka Finance Department. He said that she has a strong sense of Customer Service and felt she would be excellent in this position. Ms. Sullivan commented that she went to school at Loyola Academy and her career has been in Government Finance. She thanked the Board and said she looked forward to this opportunity. 2. Mayor DiMaria then presented Resolution 16-01, Authorizing the Appointment of Delegates to the Intergovernmental Personnel Benefit Cooperative (IPBC). a. He explained that the IPBC is instrumental in providing cost-effective health and life insurance benefits to Village employees. As a member, the Village is required to have delegates to represent it in IPBC matters. This resolution authorizes the Village Administrator and the Finance Director/Treasurer as the Village's representatives. 2 Minutes of January 11, 2016 Board Meeting VIII. 3. PRESIDENT'S REPORT (continued) Trustee Pietron moved to approve Resolution 16-01, seconded by Trustee Minx. Motion passed: 6 ayes, 0 nays. Tr. Grear Tr. Minx Tr. Ramos ave Tr. Thill Rye Tr. Pietron Tr. Witko ave Mayor DiMaria also presented Resolution 16-02, Authorizing the Appointment of a Delegate and Alternate Delegate to the Intergovernmental Risk Management Agency (IRMA). a. He explained that this resolution is required by IRMA and authorizes the Village Administrator as the Risk Manager and the Finance Director as the Alternate. 4. a. 5. Trustee Grear moved to approve Resolution 16-02, seconded by Trustee Witko. Motion passed: 6 ayes, 0 nays. Tr. Grear Tr. Minx Tr. Ramos Rya Tr. Thill Bye Aye Tr. Pietron aye Tr. Witko Next, Mayor DiMaria presented Resolution 16-03, Authorizing the Appointment of a Delegate and Alternate Delegate to the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF). He explained that this resolution is required by IMRF and authorizes the Finance Director/ Treasurer and the Village Administrator as the Village's representatives to IMRF. Trustee Pietron moved to approve Resolution 16-03, seconded by Trustee Minx. Motion passed: 6 ayes, 0 nays. Tr. Grear ave Tr. Minx Tr. Ramos aye Tr. ThillBye an Tr. Pietron Tr. Witko Rye Rye Mayor DiMaria reminded everyone that the registration period is now open for the next session of the Police Department's Citizens Academy. The session begins on March 22 and will be held every Tuesday evening until May 24. Applications will be accepted through February 12, 2016. Anyone interested in applying should do so as soon as possible via the Village's website or by contacting Officer Gina Lietz at 847-470-5200. 6. Mayoral Update: A Look Back at 2015's Accomplishments and a Review of 2016's Goals a. E Mayor DiMaria stated that he is proud that the Village Board and staff work as a team, sharing the goal of providing high-quality municipal services and public improvements in a fiscally responsible manner, while developing and supporting economic activities in order to preserve and enhance an excellent quality of life for the community. He noted that each member of the Board brings a unique perspective to the collective work of setting Village policy, and said that, despite differences of opinions, the Board's goal is to work together for the residents and businesses of Morton Grove. 3 Minutes of January 11, 2016 Board Meeting VIII. PRESIDENT'S REPORT (continued) 6. Mayoral Update (continued) Mayor DiMaria said that 2015 was one of the best years yet in moving Morton Grove forward. c. He praised the Public Works Department, led by Andy DeMonte, and said that their efforts make all of our lives better. In 2015, Public Works responded to two extreme summer storms and 32 winter (ice and snow) storms. The Village had its first "boil order" in decades in 2015 when a large water main broke, releasing two million gallons of water into the forest preserves. Amazingly, Public Works got the break fixed and returned Morton Grove's water system to normal within hours. The boil order lasted 2.5 days and was a health safety precaution. Public Works also collected 1,237 tons of leaves; trimmed 1,444 parkway trees; removed 183 dead or diseased trees; planted 113 parkway trees; repaired 72 water main breaks; replaced and repaired 569 signs and 61 sign poles; used 4,038 tons of roadway salt; used 104 tons of cold mix patch and 587 tons of hot mix asphalt to help keep streets pot -hole free; repaired 11 alleys; and helped residents obtain over 875 free rain barrels from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. d. e. f. g. h. As far as Public Safety, Mayor DiMaria complimented the Police and Fire Departments, led by Chief Michael Simo and Chief Tom Friel respectively, as they are committed to innovative operations and forming relationships with community partners. In 2015, the Police Department initiated a Citizens Police Academy attended by 20 residents; hosted a Police Department open house event; participated in the first Morton Grove Police Department National Night Out; and upgraded the video cameras in the Tock -up areas. Further, Deputy Chief Brian Fennelly successfully completed Advanced Administrative Training at the FBI National Academy, and Officers Lietz and Tabor attended numerous events and met with hundreds of residents and businesses as part of the department's community outreach efforts. Morton Grove's Fire Department benefitted from a new $585,000 fire engine, successfully put into service in July, which allowed for the replacement of a 1978 Pierce Arrow engine. In 2015, the Fire Department responded to 3,713 calls for emergency service with an average response time of four minutes from dispatch to arrival. This included 2,106 calls for emergency medical services and 1,607 fire/rescue/service calls, including 37 fires. $3.8 million of property was saved from damage in actual fire incidents. The Fire Department paramedics participated in a program to significantly cut the time needed to get heart attack patients from their home to the operating room, in an effort to increase survivability. The Department's thermal imaging technology was updated so that firefighters can better detect fires and hazards in zero visibility (even through most walls). The Fire Prevention Bureau provided fire safety and injury preven- tion education to over 1,000 school -aged children and scores of seniors. Public safety staff participated in 22,700 hours of technical training, including participation in coordinated "Active Shooter" response training, simulating the extraction and transport of mass casualty gunshot victims from public venues. The Village utilized the Mass Notification system seven times in 2015 in order to keep the community better informed as to ongoing events. i- In terms of economic development and business services, probably the biggest news of 2015 is the announcement that Moretti's is coming to Morton Grove! Moretti's is part of the Ala Carte Entertainment Group, known throughout Chicagoland for top-notch successful restaurants and 4 Minutes of January 11, 2016 Board Meeting VIII. 6. Mayoral Update (continued) J. PRESIDENT'S REPORT (continued) entertainment venues. The new Morton Grove Moretti's restaurant and catering facilities will be over 10,000 square feet and will bring, not only new tax revenue, but also new jobs, new dining options, and it will be the catalyst for additional businesses in the Village. Also in 2015, the new Audi dealership at Waukegan and Golf had a great first year. Their beau- tiful 60,000 square foot facility now brings in substantial property tax revenue to the Village and to School District 67, in addition to substantial sales tax revenue. k. The Board also approved in 2015 a redevelopment agreement for a new $46 million mixed-use retail and residential development at 8700 Waukegan Road. The project is currently proceeding through the zoning approval process, with construction anticipated to start in spring of 2016. I. As to the 2015 accomplishments of the Administration, Mayor DiMaria said that neither he nor the Board members micro -manage Village staff. However, the single most important decision he made in 2015 was appointing Ralph Czerwinski as Village Administrator. Ralph's work ethic, his passion for excellence, his focus on problem -solving, and his commitment to staff and residents are well-known and well appreciated. m. In 2015, the marketing and branding initiative was completed, resulting in the Village's new tagline and logo. Efforts to improve communication with residents included live streaming of Village Board meetings, hosting three successful neighborhood outreach events, and an increase in the Village's Facebook page of over 42% in followers. n. Mayor DiMaria said the Village faces big issues, challenges, and opportunities in 2016. Springfield is a mess, and that financial crisis can greatly impact the Village. The world is increasingly becoming more dangerous and terrorism can occur anywhere. The mayor said that we cannot control these things, but we can and must be prepared. So, for 2016, the Village's first goal is to maintain its excellent public services. The Village will also continue its efforts to upgrade its infrastructure, including working with the Village of Niles to evaluate alternative water supplies. The Village will focus its efforts to cost-effectively maintain its infrastructure with a near- and long-term focus. o. Another goal will be to review our organization, our operations, and our processes to reduce expenses without impacting vital services. And in 2016, the Village will also focus on customer service and resident communications, including improving the database for its mass communi- cation system. The system is only as good as the information it has. Mayor DiMaria said the administration will work with residents and businesses to obtain both correct and current email addresses and phone numbers. In 2016, the Village will also begin integrating its new logo throughout its communications with residents and businesses, and the final goal of 2016 is to continue efforts to attract successful businesses to Morton Grove. p. Mayor DiMaria said the most frequent feedback he gets from residents is "What's going on with the Prairie View Shopping Center?" and "We need a full service grocery store." These are his top priorities. The Board and staff have worked and will continue to work with the owner of the shopping center and prospective retailers to revitalize what was once the Village's most productive commercial center. The mayor said he was optimistic and believed everyone's hard work would ultimately pay off. This will be Morton Grove's best year yet! 5 Minutes of January 11, 2016 Board Meeting IX. Clerk Travis had no report. X. CLERK'S REPORT STAFF REPORTS A. Village Administrator: 1. Village Administrator Czerwinski thanked the Police Department for providing the color guard this evening. He also thanked the Village Board for their appointment of Hanna Sullivan as Finance Director, adding that she will be a great asset for the Village. 2. Mr. Czerwinski said he wanted to publicly acknowledge the great job done by Fire Chief Tom Friel, filling the void as Finance Director until the Village could hire someone. He also thanked Ed McKee, a part-time accounting professional who helped immensely during the budget process, and noted that "we'll keep your phone number close." 3. Mr. Czerwinski thanked Boyle Wong for updating the Village's website, noting that, in the future both the website and the Village's Facebook page will, from time to time, offer a "Morton Grove Spotlight" feature highlighting things that are good or things people need to know about. He added that the Village's newsletter came out recently with a new format, and that, too, will include a "Morton Grove Spotlight" section when appropriate. The "spotlight" idea came from Trustee Thill. 4. Mr. Czerwinski said that the ability to "mass communicate" with residents is crucial. He said the Village has a good system, but the Village needs the cooperation of its residents in order for the system to work as efficiently as it should. To that end, Mr. Czerwinski said the Village will make the sign-up process as easy as possible for residents. They only need to call Village Hall. While they're at it, they can also sign up for the Village's e -newsletter and the Economic Development e -newsletter. Both of these e -newsletters are ways in which the Village can very quickly deliver important news to its residents and businesses. 5. Mr. Czerwinski announced that the Secretary of State's office is no longer mailing license plate renewal/registration forms. He said it's very important that people check their license plate expiration date and go online to renew the plates at least a month in advance. Mr. Czerwinski said this is a shocking change, but one that will save the State $450,000 a month. He added that Mayor DiMaria had brought this information to his attention. 6. On behalf of the Morton Grove Public Library, Mr. Czerwinski announced that a Senior Spelling Bee would be held on March 16, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at the Library. This is open to people who are age 50 and older. Culver's is co -sponsoring this event. The winner and runner-up will advance to a regional spelling bee. This information will be posted on the Village's website and its Facebook page. B. Corporation Counsel: Corporation Counsel Liston had no report. 6 XI. TRUSTEES' REPORTS A. Trustee Grear: 1. a. b. Minutes of January 11, 2016 Board Meeting Trustee Grear presented Resolution 16-04, Authorizing Membership for the Morton Grove Police Department in the Northeastern Illinois Regional Crime Laboratory (NIRCL). He explained that Village currently relies on the Illinois State Police Crime Laboratory in Chicago for crime lab services. Due to the heavy usage of this lab by other law enforcement agencies, including the Chicago Police Department, the processing times for evidence analysis are extremely long, and the lab's ability to conduct sophisticated analyses on Morton Grove PD evidence submissions is limited. The NIRCL is a private crime lab serving approximately 42 member law enforcement agencies. Its turnaround time and ability to conduct sophisticated analyses is significantly faster and better, resulting in better overall service to the crime victims and the residents of the Village. This lab is the only full service private crime laboratory in the Chicago metro area. Trustee Grear said this agreement will automatically renew on May 1 of each year unless the Village adopts a resolution to terminate the membership agreement. Cost of membership is $33,716 annually. Trustee Grear moved to adopt Resolution 16-04, seconded by Trustee Minx. Motion passed: 6 ayes, 0 nays. Tr. Grear aye Tr. Minx ave Tr. Ramos aye Tr. Thill aye Tr. Pietron aye Tr. Witko aye 2. Trustee Grear welcomed Ms. Sullivan and congratulated Daniel Dahm, who he's known for many years. 3. Trustee Grear thanked the residents for giving him the opportunity to serve them, saying he tries to answer everyone's questions as honestly as possible, and if he doesn't know the answer to a question, he'll say so, and try to find the right person to answer the question. He said he feels that the relationship between the Board and the staff is like that of a family. B. Trustee Minx: Trustee Minx had no formal report, and agreed with Trustee Grear's assessment of the nature of the relationship between the Village Board and staff. She said it's the main reason why Morton Grove is a good place in which to work, raise a family, and retire! E 7 Minutes of January 11, 2016 Board Meeting Xl. TRUSTEES' REPORTS (continued) C. Trustee Pietron: Trustee Pietron noted that, in the corporate world, it's the CEO of the company that sets the tone; in terms of the Village, it's the mayor. He said Mayor DiMaria has set the tone for the Village in terms of his honesty, progressiveness, and confidence in his staff. D. Trustee Ramos: Trustee Ramos congratulated Mayor DiMaria for the strong leadership he provides, and encouraged him to "keep it up!" E. Trustee Thill: Trustee Thill complimented Mayor DiMaria on his "state of the Village" report, calling it exciting and well-done. F. Trustee Witko: Trustee Witko had no report, but passed on a warning to residents from ComEd to be on the alert for scam artists claiming to be ComEd representatives seeking payment. These scam artists are trying to frighten people by telling them their service will be discontinued unless a payment is made. They instruct the resident to wire funds or buy a prepaid credit card and call them with the PIN from the card. Trustee Witko said ComEd wants to protect its customers from these types of deceptive schemes. It's not ComEd's practice to ask a customer to purchase a prepaid credit card. If customers are ever unsure about the status of their accounts, they should always contact ComEd for verification. People who believe they have been the target of a phone scam are urged to contact the Illinois Attorney General's office at 1-800-386-5438. Trustee Minx also noted that, if something appears to be too good to be true, it's probably not. There are other types of scams out there about winning or inheriting money, where victims are asked to first provide money before their winnings or inheritance can be released. If anyone feels they are a victim of such a scam, they should call the Morton Grove Police Department. XII. OTHER BUSINESS NONE 8 Minutes of January 11, 2016 Board Meeting XIII. WARRANTS 1. Trustee Ramos presented the Warrant Register for December 28, 2015, in the amount of $906,308.07. He moved that the Warrants be approved as presented. Trustee Pietron seconded the motion. Motion passed: 6 ayes, 0 nays. Tr. Grear aye Tr. Minx Tr. Ramos Eye. Tr. ThiII Aye Tr. Pietron Tr. Witko Aye 2. Trustee Ramos presented the Warrant Register for January 11, 2016 in the amount of $682,700.20. He moved that the Warrants be approved as presented, seconded by Trustee Witko. Motion passed: 6 ayes, 0 nays. Tr. Grear aye Tr. Minx Tr. Ramos an Tr. Thili Lye Tr. Pietron aye Tr. Witko ave XIV. ADJOURNMENT Trustee Pietron moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Trustee Minx. Motion passed: 6 ayes, 0 nays. Tr. Grear ave Tr. Minx ave Tr. Ramos Aye Tr. ThiII aye The meeting adjourned at 7:48 p.m. Tr. Pietron aye Tr. Witko aye 9 Minutes of January 11, 2016 Board Meeting PASSED this 25th day of January, 2016. Trustee Grear Trustee Minx Trustee Pietron Trustee Ramos Trustee Thill Trustee Witko APPROVE m by f—January, 2016. Daniel P. Di aria, Village President Board of Trustees, Morton Grove, Illinois APPROVED and FILED in my office this 26th day of January, 2016. )Z C /u—C/3 Connie J. Travis, Village Clerk Village of Morton Grove, Cook County, Illinois Minutes by: Teresa Cousar 10