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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-04-13 Board 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 APRIL 13, 2009 CALL TO ORDER I. Village President Rick Krier called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. After leading the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance, he directed the Village Clerk to call the roll. 11. Village Clerk Carol Fritzshall called the roll. Present were: Trustees Georgianne Brunner, Roy Kogstad, Shel Marcus, Rita -Minx, Dan Staackmann, and John Thill. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. Regarding the Minutes of the Special Meeting of March 23, 2009, Trustee Minx moved to accept the Minutes as presented, seconded by Trustee Brunner. Mayor Krier asked if anyone had any changes or corrections. Seeing none, upon the vote, the motion passed unanimously via voice vote. b. Regarding the Minutes of the March 23, 2009 Regular Meeting, Trustee Marcus moved, seconded by Trustee Thill, to accept the Minutes as presented. Mayor Krier asked if anyone had any changes or corrections to the Minutes. Trustee Thill noted that, on page 9, the amount listed in the first paragraph says "$500,000". It should be "$5,000". The correction was noted and upon the vote, the motion passed unanimously via voice vote. IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS NONE V SPECIAL REPORTS Presentation of Employee Anniversary Awards Mayor Krier and Village Administrator Wade presented employee anniversary awards to the following: James Huber and Jay Welter, for 25 years of service each on the Police Depart- ment; Patrick Shey, for 25 years of service on the Fire Department: Stephen Litkowiak, for 15 years of service on the Police Department, and Eva Tarasiuk, for 10 years of service on the Police Department. Although none of the employees were present, the Board acknowledged their years of service with a round of applause. Minutes of April 13,:2009 Board Meetin. VI. VII. RESIDENTS' COMMENTS (Agenda Items Only) NONE PRESIDENT'S REPORT Mayor Krier had several proclamations: a. He proclaimed Wednesday, April 22, 2009 as "Earth Day" in the Village, and urged all citizens to be mindful of local, state, and national laws which protect our environment, and to join in efforts to preserve the beauty and wonder of the lands, skies, and waters of the Earth, in all its diversity. b. Next, Mayor Krier proclaimed Friday, April 24, 2009 as "Arbor Day", commenting that Arbor Day was first celebrated in 1872 as a special day set aside for the planting of trees. He said that trees provide innumerable benefits, including reducing the erosion of topsoil by wind and water, cutting heating and cooling costs, cleaning the -air, and providing a habitat for wildlife. Trees are a renewable resource and they increase property values in the Village as well. He urged everyone to support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands, to support the Village's urban forestry program, and to plant trees for the well-being of this and future generations. c. Mayor Krier also proclaimed April 2009 as "Fair Housing Month" in the Village. He urged all citizens to embrace diversity and make a commitment to fair housing to provide or support equal housing opportunities for all current and future residents of the Village. d. Lastly, Mayor Krier proclaimed May 1, 2009 as "Silver Star Banner Day". He noted that the Silver Star Families of America was formed to make sure people remember the blood sacrifice of the wounded and ill by designing and manufacturing a Silver Star banner and flag. Members of the Silver Star Families of America have worked tirelessly to provide the wounded of the Village and our country with Silver Star banners, flags, and care packages. Mayor Krier designated May 1 as "Silver Star Banner Day" to honor the wounded and ill soldiers of Morton Grove, Illinois, and the nation. e. Mayor Krier announced that the newly elected officials would be sworn in at the April 27, 2009 Board Meeting. He congratulated them all, and said that he is working with Mayor -elect Staackmann on a smooth and seamless transition, similar to the transition he had with former Mayor Dan Scanlon. VIII. CLERK'S REPORT Clerk Fritzshall had no report. 2 Minutes of A. ril 13, 2009 Board Meeting IX. A. Village Administrator STAFF REPORTS a. Mr. Wade had no report, but asked Director of Public Works Andy DeMonte to provide a final report on the just -past snow season. Mr. Wade also commended the Public Works staff for keeping the Village's streets clear this winter under challenging circumstances. b. Mr. DeMonte said the biggest challenge this year, as last year, was the availability of salt and its cost. The Village had requested 6,000 tons from the State, but, for various reasons, the State only provided 2,585 tons—from two different vendors. The Village paid $140 per ton for the salt received from International Salt, and $105 per ton for the salt received from Morton Salt. On its own, the Village was able to secure an additional 2,000 tons of salt at $125 per ton from Central Salt, giving them a total of 4,585 tons of salt, rather than the 6,000 tons requested. Because they had less salt to work with, Public Works changed the way they took care of the streets, salting only the intersections of residential streets. They did, however, fully salt the snow routes and the state roads. They also added 321 tons of sand to the salt, as they did last year. c. Mr. DeMonte then provided some statistics: the total snow accumulation was 527 inches; Public Works mobilized 46 times; there were 27,862 miles driven, and $3,462 tons of salt was used (at a cost of $41,171). He pointed out that the Village still has about 1500-1800 tons of salt remaining, which is good. The sand that was added cost $4,012. As temperatures dropped, 5,437 gallons of calcium chloride was added, at a cost of $3,045. 9,279 gallons of fuel were used, which cost $20,065. Labor costs incurred, including regular and overtime, came to $280,755, and repair costs were $29,653. For the 2008/2009 "snow season", the total cost to the Village was $754,701. Last year, the total was $771,066, so this year's was less expensive by approximately $16,000. d. As far as salt for next year, Mr. DeMonte said that the State had approached all of the salt companies and had asked them to extend their contracts with various individual municipalities. Morton Grove's price came back as being at or below $75 per ton. He said he had received this information on April 7'h and needed to respond with a commitment by April 9th Mr. DeMonte said he did some research, and learned that Skokie was offered $80 per ton from the same vendor; Park Ridge, $75 per ton from the same vendor; Oak Park, $75 per ton, but he was unsure of the vendor. Naperville bid on its own, and received bids ranging from $76 per ton to $90 per ton. Mr. DeMonte said he committed Morton Grove to 4,000 tons at $75 per ton for a total of $300,000. He pointed out that there's a possibility that either the price or the tonnage could change, noting that he "committed" three times last year. e. Trustee Thill asked if IDOT paid the Village for maintaining its roads. Mr. DeMonte said the Village receives $83,000 a year for salting, sweeping, and pothole patching from IDOT. f. Trustee Marcus complimented the Public Works crews and asked how the pothole patching is coming along currently. Mr. DeMonte said that crews have already gone around town once and will be doing so again, in light of recent weather. B. Corporation Counsel: Ms. Liston had no report. 3 Minutes Of A. riI 13, 2009 Board Meetin • X. A. Trustee Brunner: 1. Trustee Brunner had no formal report, but thanked Mayor Krier, on behalf of the Board of Environmental Health, for the "Earth Day" proclamation. TRUSTEES' REPORTS 2. Trustee Brunner also commended Family and Senior Services Director Jackie Walker - O'Keefe for acquiring another bus for the Village via a $57,000 grant from the Federal Transportation Administration and State funds. This one is a 14 -seat disability -equipped bus that the Village will receive in late summer or early fall. It will replace a 1998 bus currently in service. Trustee Brunner congratulated Ms. Walker -O'Keefe for her efforts. Trustee Kogstad: B. Trustee Kogstad had no report. Trustee Marcus: 1. Trustee Marcus presented Resolution 09-22, Authorization for the Purchase of Watch - guard Digital In -Car Video Recording Systems for Police Vehicles from the Illinois State Bid Program, Contract #PDS -4014193. 2. He explained that this system will replace older VHS -based in -car recording systems that are deteriorating in reliability. In -car video recorders document police activity and can be used for evidence collection, court testimony, and refuting claims of police misconduct. The total cost for the three new in -car recording systems is $14,421. Trustee Marcus moved, seconded by Trustee Minx, to approve Resolution 09-22. Motion passed: 6 ayes, 0 nays. Tr. Brunner ave Tr. Kogstad ave Tr. Marcus aye Tr. Minx ay+e Tr. Staackmann Tr. Thill Next, Trustee Marcus presented Resolution 09-23, Authorizing the Purchase of Police Pursuit Vehicles Through the Illinois Department of Central Management Services State Bid Program, Contract #4015559. He said that, every three years, high mileage squad cars are replaced to insure that vehicles do not fail during their normal course of duty. The squad cars are utilized 24 hours a day and need to be in excellent condition at all times. Five squad cars were approved for purchase in 2009 at a cost of $110,000; however, the Board decided to only purchase four instead. Through the State bid program, the cost for the four squad cars will be $89,340. Trustee Marcus moved to approve Resolution 09-23, seconded by Trustee Minx. Motion passed: 6 ayes, 0 nays. Tr. Brunner aye Tr. Kogstad aye Tr. Marcus Aye Tr. Minx aye Tr. Staackmann Tr. Thill aye 4 Minutes of A • ril 13, 2009 Board Meeting X. TRUSTEES' REPORTS (continued) C. Trustee Marcus: (continued) 3. Trustee Marcus thanked Trustees Brunner, Kogstad, and Minx, as well as Mayor Krier and Clerk Fritzshall, for their four years of service to the Village. D. Trustee Minx: 1. Trustee Minx presented Ordinance 09-06, Amending Ordinance 08-27 to Allow the Proceeds From the Sale of 5821 Dempster Street to be Removed From a Restricted and Designated Reserve Account and Amending Ordinance 08-43 to Increase 2009 Budget Funding for Village Road Repairs. This is the second reading of this ordinance. She said that this had been thoroughly explained at the previous Board meeting, and noted that Public Works is developing a plan for how best to use the funds for road repairs. Trustee Minx moved to adopt Ordinance 09-06, seconded by Trustee ThiII. Trustee Brunner noted that, at the March 23 Board Meeting, she had asked about finding another way of funding these road repairs, possibly using reserve funds instead of using the funds in the designated Dempster Street account. She said that, since then, she had spoken with Mr. Wade, who told her that reserve funds were available and that using them would not put the Village below its threshhold of 25% in reserves. She asked Corporation Counsel if the best course of action would be to amend this ordinance. Corporation Counsel Liston told Trustee Brunner that she could either move to amend this ordinance or simply vote it down, and then the Board could direct staff to rewrite the ordinance. Trustee Minx said that a business owner who had spoken at the last board meeting had said he really appreciated having the funds earmarked, and she believed that that was Trustee Thill's original intent. She said that, when the Village does get the funding from IDOT, one of the things that will need to be done is the alleys behind the businesses on Dempster; those will not be funded by IDOT and they are in terrible shape. She said that she, too, would prefer leaving the money in the designated Dempster Street fund and using reserve funds instead, especially since doing so would not have a negative impact on the Village's reserve fund policy. Ms. Liston suggested that the best way to amend this ordinance would be to delete Section 2 in its entirety. Trustee Brunner so moved, seconded by Trustee Staackmann. Motion passed: 6 ayes, 0 nays. Tr. Brunner ave Tr. Kogstad Tr. Marcus aye Tr. Minx Tr. Staackmann Ly± Tr. ThiII aye Trustee Marcus commented that, due to the fact that the numbers in the reserve account are higher than anticipated, this looks like a win-win situation: the money in the designated Dempster Street account remains there; and the reserve fund doesn't go below 25%. 5 Minutes of April 13, 2009 Board Meeting X. D. Trustee Minx: (continued) TRUSTEES' REPORTS (continued) Trustee Kogstad asked Mr. Wade if the final numbers have been received yet. He responded that they have not, but there are funds in the reserve to cover this. Trustee Kogstad commented that, according to Standard & Poors, the Village has 42% reserves in its reserve funds, not 25%. There being no further discussion, Mayor Krier called for the vote on Ordinance 09-06, as amended. Motion passed: 6 ayes, 0 nays. Tr. Brunner Ly± Tr. Kogstad Tr. Marcus aye Tr. Minx ave Tr. Staackmann Ey2 Tr. Thill aye E. Trustee Staackmann: Trustee Staackmann announced that EMA Director John Hill would be doing a presentation at Village Hall on April 26, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. regarding preparedness for tornado season. He urged the assemblage to attend what promises to be a very informative presentation. F. Trustee Thill 1. Trustee Thill presented Resolution 09-17, Authorization for the Purchase of Three Ford Fusions. 2. He explained that the Public Works Department routinely reviews vehicles and equipment for fuel economy, safety, dependability, age, and excessive repair cost. Equipment is replaced or eliminated when it no longer meets the department's needs. There are currently three high mileage vehicles used in the Public Works Departments that require replacement. The Ford Fusion was chosen as the replacement model because of its greater fuel economy and reduced maintenance costs. Funds in the 2009 Budget have been approved in the amount of $233,200 for replacement of vehicles and related equpment. This purchase will total $46,575. Trustee Thill moved to approve Resolution 09-17, seconded by Trustee Minx. Motion passed: 6 ayes, 0 nays. Tr. Brunner aye Tr. Kogstad aye Tr. Marcus aye Tr. Minx aye Tr. Staackmann aye Tr. Thill aye Trustee Thill then presented Resolution 09-24, Statement of Ability and Willingness to Provide Local Cost Share of Federally Funded Pavement Resurfacing Improvement to Lehigh Avenue Between Oakton Street and Lincoln Avenue. He explained that this resolution is necessary in order to receive federal economic stimulus funding. It asserts the Village's ability and willingness to provide twenty percent (20%) of the cost for pavement surface improvements to Lehigh Avenue, provided it receives federal funds for the remaining eighty percent. This resurfacing project excludes the area of the commuter parking spaces. It is estimated to cost $420,000, and the Village will receive $328,000 in stimulus funding to pay for the bulk of the project. The Village's cost will be $82,000. 6 Minutes of April 13, 2009 Board Meeting X. F. Trustee Thill: (continued) TRUSTEES' REPORTS (continued) Trustee Thill noted that the $82,000 will come from the Lehigh -Ferris TIF District Fund and the Commuter Parking Lot Fund. Trustee Thill moved to approve Resolution 09-24, seconded by Trustee Minx. Motion passed: 6 ayes, 0 nays. Tr. Brunner aye Tr. Kogstad ave Tr. Marcus aye Tr. Minx aye Tr. Staackmann ave Tr. Thill aye XI. OTHER BUSINESS NONE XII. WARRANTS Trustee Minx presented the Warrant Register for April 13, 2009, in the amount of $611,152.67. She moved to approve the Warrants, seconded by Trustee T hili. Trustee Thill asked about a line item on page 1, a $268 charge payable to Midwest Board -Up. Mr. Horne said he would look into it and get the details to the Board. Trustee Thill also asked about a $245 charge for "biohazard cleanup"; he wondered if the Village would be reimbursed. Mr. Horne said that he would follow up and get back to the Board. Trustee Kogstad asked about a charge on page 16, "link plow uninstalled". Mr. DeMonte said that was for one of the larger plows that goes on the six -wheeler. Mayor Krier called for a vote on the Warrants. Motion passed: 6 ayes, 0 nays. Tr. Brunner aye Tr. Kogstad aye Tr. Marcus ave Tr. Minx aye Tr. Staackmann an Tr. Thill 2yg XIII. RESIDENTS' COMMENTS a. Eric Poders, 7940 Foster. Mr. Poders commended Jackie Walker -O'Keefe on her successful efforts to acquire the new disability -equipped bus. He said that he had gone to an acupunc- ture clinic and wanted to pass to her some information regarding a free acupuncture clinic to provide stress reduction, available to all military personnel, including those on activity duty, veterans, retirees, and their family members. Mr. Poders suggested that since the Village will have two buses, perhaps it could use one to shuttle people to this clinic. He also suggested working with the American Legion for identifying qualified residents of the Village. Mr. Poders said that he had given Bill Neuendorf an idea for a community garden. He suggested working with the Park District to identify plots of land that people could use, and possibly do a farmers' market in Morton Grove, similar to what Skokie does. Mr. Poders asked if the Board could tell him how much money is in the reserves, in excess of the 25% threshold. He noted that, at the last meeting, Village Engineer Chris Tomich had recommended the Village budget at least $1 million a year for the next five or six years for street repairs, and wondered if the excess dollars in the reserves could be used. Minutes of April 13, 2009 Board Meetin. XIII. RESIDENTS' COMMENTS (continued) Trustee Kogstad responded that the Board couldn't really say, since it did not have the final audit numbers, but said that, according to Moody's, the Village has 42.5% in reserves. He did not know what that was in dollars, however. Mr. Poders wondered where that money had come from. Trustee Kogstad said, "Taxes." Mr. Poders said the Village owes it to the people to fix the streets. b. Nancy Lanning. Ms. Lanning said that she had been a judge at Village Hall in the April 7th election, and a fellow judge had a diabetic seizure during the course of the day. She said that the Fire Department helped tremendously, and she wanted to thank them. c. Iry Kirshner. Mr. Kirshner, a 40 -year resident, said he has a problem with one of the Village's older ordinances and was wondering if he could get some sort of variance. The ordinance was passed about ten years ago and limits continuous parking of trucks and commercial vehicles on Village streets. Motor homes and recreational vehicles are also included. Mr. Kirshner said that he just returned from a three-month stay in Florida and called the Police Department, as he has in the past, to ask for a couple of days in order to clean out the vehicle and prepare it for storage, because the ordinance only allows one hour of parking. He pointed out that his vehicle doesn't infringe on anyone else's property and his neighbors have never complained about it. This time, when he called the Police Department, he was initially told "one hour", then subsequently told he could have "one day". He said it was about 3 p.m. when he returned and made the call. He assumed that "one day" meant 24 hours. However, the next morning, there was a ticket on the vehicle that had been issued at 12:10 a.m. Mr. Kirshner felt that this ordinance puts him under too much pressure and said he would appreciate the Board's consideration. Mayor Krier said that staff would look into this and make recommendations for a possible change to the ordinance. XIV. ADJOURNMENT/EXECUTIVE SESSION There being no further business, Trustee Minx moved to adjourn the meeting. Trustee Brunner seconded the motion. Motion passed: 6 ayes, 0 nays. Tr. Brunner ave Tr. Kogstad Tr. Marcus ave Tr. Minx ly± Tr. Staackmann ave, Tr. ThiII aye The Board Meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m. 8 Minutes of.April 13, 2009 Board Meetin PASSED this 13th day of April, 2009. Trustee Brunner Trustee Kogstad Trustee Marcus Trustee Minx Trustee Staackmann Trustee Thill Richard Krier, Village President Board of Trustees, Morton Grove, Illinois APPROVED and FILED in my office this 14th day of April, 2009. Carol A. Fritzshall, Village Clerk v Village of Morton Grove, Cook County, Illinois Minutes by. Teresa Cousar 9