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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-09-09 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 SEPTEMBER 9, 2013 CALL TO ORDER I & Village President Dan DiMaria called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and led the II, assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance. He then directed the Clerk to call the roll. III. Village Clerk Ed Ramos called the roll. Present were: Trustees Bill Grear, Tony Kalogerakos, Shel Marcus, John Pietron, John Thill, and Maria Toth. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Regarding the Minutes of the August 12, 2013 Regular Board Meeting, Trustee Toth moved, seconded by Trustee Kalogerakos, to accept the Minutes as presented. Motion passed unanimously via voice vote. V. SPECIAL REPORTS NONE VI. PUBLIC HEARINGS NONE VII. RESIDENTS' COMMENTS (Agenda Items Only) NONE VIII. PRESIDENT'S REPORT 1. Proclamations a. Mayor DiMaria proclaimed the week of September 17-23, 2013 as "Constitution Week" in the Village of Morton Grove. He urged all residents to reaffirm the ideals of the framers of the Constitution by protecting the freedoms guaranteed to all and remembering that lost rights may never be regained. '.Minutes of Se •tember 9,-2013 Board;Meetln.' VIII. PRESIDENT'S REPORT (continued) b. Mayor DiMaria also proclaimed the week of September 9 through September 13 as "Chamber of Commerce Week." He noted that this year marks the 98th anniversary of the Illinois Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives and congratulated Morton Grove's Chamber on its contributions to the community. 2. Commission Appointments/Reappointments a. Mayor DiMaria noted that he would be asking for the Board's concurrence this evening on several appointments and reappointments to various Commissions. First, though, he stated that Dee Gotta of the Appearance Commission had notified him that she was going to be moving out of the Village. She was requesting permission to stay on the Commission until the end of the year. Mayor DiMaria asked for a motion to approve Commissioner Gotta's request, and further, to appoint Paul Minx to her seat once she has left. Trustee Thill so moved, seconded by Trustee Marcus. Motion passed unanimously via voice vote. b. Mayor DiMaria then asked for the Board's concurrence with several appointments and reappointments as follows: • Terri Cousar to the Community Relations Commission • Joe Brunner to the Finance Advisory Commission • Raoul Smoczynski to the Board of Environmental Health • Saba Khan to the Plan Commission/Zoning Board. Trustee Pietron moved to concur with these appointments, seconded by Trustee Thill. Motion passed unanimously via voice vote. 3 Strategic Plan Committee Appointments Next, Mayor DiMaria asked for the Board's concurrence to appoint the following residents to a new Strategic Plan Committee. This is an exciting new initiative for the Village. These people share a vision for Morton Grove and understand what it takes to move Morton Grove forward. • Ed Gabriel • Keith White (Chairman) • Jeanine Como • Eileen Harford • Tony Hofeld • Brenda Glenn (representing the MG Public Library) • Betty Fergus (representing the MG Park District) Mayor DiMaria noted the importance of having other taxing bodies represented on this Committee. Trustee Grear moved to accept these individuals to serve on the Strategic Plan Committee, seconded by Trustee Thill. Motion passed unanimously via voice vote. 2 Minutes of Se -u.• . 1 -,• .'Iu VIII. PRESIDENT'S REPORT (continued) 4. Presentation for Retiring District Fire Chief Robert Hohs Mayor DiMaria said that this is a happy, yet sad, occasion for the Village. He said that the Hohs family has been serving Morton Grove in various capacities since 1948. District Chief Hohs' uncle Dick was a volunteer fireman for many years and later became a Village Trustee, then Village President. Now District Chief Bob Hohs is retiring. Mayor DiMaria said that Bob began working for the Village in 1979 when the Village Board decided to initiate ambulance service on the west side of town. He has served as a Firefighter, Firefighter/Paramedic, Engineer, Lieutenant, District Chief, and is well known for his sense of humor. Chief Friel noted that Bob came to the Fire Department in 1979, when the Board had a vision to support something new—paramedics. Morton Grove was one of the first five municipalities in the State of Illinois to graduate paramedics. Bob was part of a crew of six hired to work in Station 5 on the west side; now he's the last of those to retire. His love for the Village and love for the Fire Department made him a valuable part of the Fire Department, and he will be missed both emotionally and administratively. When asked to comment, Bob said, "It's been a great run...34.5 years, I love you guys." Mayor DiMaria then presented Bob with a "key to the city" and told him he'd be welcome to come back whenever he wanted. He told Bob to enjoy his retirement. Trustee Grear, liaison to the Fire Department, added that he'll miss Bob both personally and professionally. 5. 9/11 Remembrance Mayor DiMaria asked for a moment of silence to commemorate the events of September 11, 2001, and to honor all the first responders who lost their lives in that tragedy. 6. Liquor Control Commission Parental Responsibility Campaign Laura Murphy of the State of Illinois Liquor Commission stated that her presentation would be short due to the warmth of the evening. She noted that the State spends $2.9 billion on costs related to underage drinking. This is a new campaign which basically says that parents are the most important factor in determining children's behaviors and decisions. The campaign encourages parents to talk to their children about the dangers and consequences of underage drinking. Studies show that. in the State of Illinois overall, 38.5% of all 8th graders drink. The percentage is higher is suburbs and more affluent communities. Ms. Murphy said that she will come to any event to give this presentation, to underscore its importance and to get the word out. It won't cost anything because it's paid for by a Federal grant. She said letters will be going out to all the schools about this campaign, and urged people to visit the website Mayor DiMaria said the Village would post this information on its website as well. 3 Minutes of Se .tember 9, 2013 Board Meetin VIII. PRESIDENT'S REPORT (continued) 7. Miscellaneous Reports and Updates Mayor DiMaria said that he and staff met today with the Director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, who came to Village Hall to discuss loans and grants for local storm water projects. He wanted the residents to know that the Village is sensitive to the storm water issues and is being proactive when it comes to trying to resolve them. IX. CLERK'S REPORT Clerk Ramos had no formal report. X. STAFF REPORTS A. Village Administrator: Village Administrator Ryan Horne noted that, on September 6th, he had attended the O'Hare Noise Compatibility Commission meeting. Morton Grove was approved to become the 51St member of this commission. The Commission provides an avenue for residents impacted by O'Hare noise to register their complaints and concerns. B. Corporation Counsel: Corporation Counsel Liston had no report. Xl. TRUSTEES' REPORTS A. Trustee Grear: Trustee Grear had no formal report, but noted that this is Trustee Kalogerakos' last meeting. He said he'd learned a lot from him and wished him well, adding that he'd be missed. B. Trustee Kalogerakos: 1. Trustee Kalogerakos presented Resolution 13-52, Authorizing the Collective Bargaining Agreement Reached Between the Village of Morton Grove and the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #135, for January 1, 2011 Through December 31, 2103. He explained that the Union and the Village negotiating teams have entered into an agreement for a two year extension of the Collective Bargaining Agreement originally entered into on March 8, 1989. This agreement will establish compensation and benefit adjustments and clarify labor management issues between the Village and all police officers. 4 Minutes of Se ' tember 9, 2013 Board Meetin •' XI. TRUSTEES' REPORTS (continued) B. Trustee Kalogerakos: (continued) Trustee Kalogerakos moved to approve Resolution 13-52, seconded by Trustee Toth. Motion passed: 6 ayes, 0 nays. Tr. Grear aye Tr. Kalogerakos aye Tr. Marcus aye Tr. Pietron aye Tr. Thill aye Tr. Toth aye Trustee Marcus wanted to publicly thank everyone involved, particularly Corporation Counsel, for their hard work on this Agreement. 2 Next, as Trustee Grear had mentioned, Trustee Kalogerakos read a statement indicating that this is his last Board meeting as a Village Trustee. His resignation is effective this evening. He said he must resign because he's bought a home outside of the Village. Trustee Kalogerakos said he was privileged and honored to serve Morton Grove as Village Clerk and Village Trus- tee. He said he has always believed that local government is as important, if not more so, than State and Federal government. He added that living in Morton Grove has been great. He said he'd be geographically closer now to Village Hall, even though he'll be in another town, and said that he'd always be just a phone call away. He said he was confident that Mayor DiMaria and the Board would find a suitable replacement for him. a. b. c. d. e. f. Mayor DiMaria presented Trustee Kalogerakos with an inscribed clock, in recognition of his dedicated service to the Village from April of 2009 to September of 2013, from the Board and the grateful citizens of Morton Grove. Trustee Marcus said that Trustee Kalogerakos had been a great candidate for Village Clerk because of his knowledge and experience, and did an excellent job after he was elected to that position. He's been a great Trustee, too. Trustee Marcus said the Village was blessed to have a person of Tony's caliber in public office. He said that Tony is a wonderful family man and the Board will miss him. Trustee Marcus thanked Tony for all his time and efforts, and told him that he has been an asset to the Village and a good friend. Clerk Ramos noted that Tony was a tough act to follow, but he planned to stay in close contact with him. He wished Tony all the best. Trustee Pietron said he'd only worked with Tony for a short while but has found him to be a man of his word, hard-working, dedicated to his family, and a man of very strong values. He said it's truly a loss for Morton Grove for Tony to leave the Board. He, too, wished Tony all the best. Trustee Thill said that he's noticed that when Tony walks into a room, people light up. He has that effect on people. It's one of his strong points. He said that Tony was a big influence on the Village in a short amount of time, and said that he'd miss Tony very much. Trustee Toth said this is a difficult night for her. She said that Tony has served the Village with grace and intelligence. She thanked him for stepping up and doing so, and said he was a kind and thoughtful man. Those qualities have served and will continue to serve him well. She said it's going to be really hard not having him on the Board. 5 Minutes of Se • tember 9, 2013 Board Meetin XI. B. 9. TRUSTEES' REPORTS (continued) Trustee Kalogerakos: Corporation Counsel Liston said she's appreciated Tony and would miss him. But Administrative Secretaries Sue Lattanzi and Marlene Kramaric will miss him even more. Ms. Liston said that Tony has been a "rock" for them, especially in dealing with the State Board of Elections, which can be a challenge. He will be missed. h. Mayor DiMaria told Tony that he exemplifies what a family man is all about and said he's going to be a wonderful father. Two words come to mind for Tony: Quality and Class. C. Trustee Marcus: Trustee Marcus had no formal report, but as the liaison to the Advisory Commission on Aging, he attended the Farmers Market at that Commission's table along with representatives from the North Shore Senior Center. There are a myriad of events and programs that take place at the American Legion Memorial Civic Center, thanks to North Shore Senior Center. He encouraged residents to check out the many programs designed for seniors, and to attend them. D. Trustee Pietron: Trustee Pietron had no formal report. E. Trustee Thill: 1. Trustee Thill presented Resolution 13-53, Authorizing the Execution of a Purchasing Agreement for a New John Deere 544K End Loader From West Side Tractor Sales Company. He explained that this equipment will be used for the maintenance and installation of water main, sewer pipes, valve assemblies, fire hydrants and any work on Village roadways and properties. The low bid price was $143,786, which includes a one-year 5,000 -hour extended warranty and trade. Trustee Thill moved to approve Resolution 13-53, seconded by Trustee Kalogerakos. Trustee Pietron had several questions. He asked why the equipment was being replaced. Superintendent of Public Works Andy DeMonte responded that a 1998 Caterpillar, which has cost $43,000 in repairs over the last few years, was being traded in for the new John Deere End Loader. Trustee Pietron asked Mr. DeMonte if he was comfortable with the tipping loads (yes) and if the Village had looked at other manufacturers (yes, various front end loaders were brought in for demonstration, and Public Works personnel liked this model the best.) 6 Minutes of Se . tember 9, 2013 Board Meetin • XI. E. Trustee Thill: (continued) TRUSTEES' REPORTS (continued) Upon the vote, the motion passed: 6 ayes, 0 nays. Tr. Grear aye Tr. Kalogerakos ayre Tr. Marcus ayg. Tr. Pietron aye Tr. ThiIIafire Tr. Toth aye F. Trustee Toth: Trustee Toth had no formal report, but announced that the Natural Resource Commission is partnering with the Morton Grove Historical Society and the Morton Grove Park District in accepting nominations for Champion and Heritage trees. Champion trees are the finest specimens of their kind, and Heritage trees are important landmarks that commemorate aspects of Morton Grove's past. Nomination forms can be found on the Village's website, at Village Hall, at the Historical Museum, or at the Park District. XII. OTHER BUSINESS a. Mayor DiMaria noted there is now a vacancy on the Village Board. Anyone interested in the Village Trustee position should contact him at Village Hall. b. Trustee Grear noted that there would be a change in the Board Meeting schedule for the month of October. The Board will meet on October 7 instead of October 14 due to the Columbus Day holiday being on October 14. c. Trustee Thill noted that there will be an upcoming closure of Dempster Street at the Lehigh railroad tracks. Village Administrator Horne said that Dempster would be closed at the railroad tracks from October 5 through October 12. Detours would be in place. XIII. WARRANTS 1. Trustee Toth presented two Warrant Registers: first, the Warrants for August 26, 2013, in the amount of $664,118.47. She moved to approve the Warrants, seconded by Trustee Kalogerakos. 2. Motion passed: 6 ayes, 0 nays. Tr. Grear aye Tr. Kalogerakos aye Tr. Marcus aye Tr. Pietron Tr. ThiII aye Tr. Toth aye Next, the Warrant Register for September 9, 2013, in the amount of $321.200.45. Trustee Toth moved to approve the Warrants, seconded by Trustee Kalogerakos. Trustee Toth had a question for Mr. DeMonte. 7 Minutes of Se . tember'9, 2013 Board Meetin XIII. WARRANTS (continued) She noted that, every month, the Village cuts checks for vehicle repairs—either police or Public Works vehicles. She wondered why the four mechanics on staff weren't handling these repairs. She said it seems that some repairs are done in-house and others are sent out. Since the Board is now getting into Budget discussions, she thought perhaps there could be some funds put toward sending the mechanics for additional training. Mr. DeMonte said that he wasn't sure what the particular repairs were, but would like to review them and get back to Trustee Toth. He pointed out typically, repairs are done in house, but noted that sometimes whether a repair can be done in-house or not is predicated on the type of equipment needed to facilitate the repair. Upon the vote, the motion passed: 6 ayes, 0 nays. Tr. Grear aye Tr. Kalogerakos aye Tr. Marcus aye Tr. Pietron aye Tr. ThiII ave Tr. Toth aye XIV. RESIDENTS' COMMENTS 1. Carol, 8517 Fernald, said she's lived in Morton Grove her whole life and at her current address for the past three years. She wanted to thank Officer Shannon McMillan for his help and cooperation with a problem she had. She said that, in mid-July, she was walking her dog from Fernald to Capulina to Georgiana. On Georgiana, two dogs came off a porch and attacked her dog so badly that he subsequently had to be put down. She'd had the dog for eight years and he was like a member of her family. She said she wanted this posted on the Village's website and put in the newspapers so people would know where to avoid walking their dogs. She said she found out after the fact that there had been nine dog attacks on Georgiana. Had she known that, she'd never have walked her dog down Georgiana. She also emphasized that dogs should be leashed and signs should be posted saying so. If dogs are not leashed, the owners should be ticketed and fined. 2. Bonita L., who lives on Meade and Greenwood, asked why dirt and weeds have been planted on Dempster where the drive-thru bank used to be. Mayor DiMaria noted that the Park District had done that, not the Village. He said he was sure it was not intentional or permanent, but he would call the Park District tomorrow to investigate further. 3. Trustee Marcus wanted to thank the Village's administrative staff for their patience as the Village continues to try to resolve the air conditioning problems at Village Hall. A new compressor was put in, but a part subsequently failed. Staff has been working under very warm conditions, and he wanted to publicly acknowledge them. Mayor DiMaria agreed, adding that Village Hall might close early again tomorrow. 8 Mlnutes,of Se • toolbar 9, 2013 Board Meetin XV. ADJOURNMENT/EXECUTIVE SESSION Trustee Marcus moved to adjourn the Meeting. Trustee Thill seconded the motion. Motion passed: 6 ayes, 0 nays. Tr. Grear aye Tr. Kalogerakos aye Tr. Marcus aye Tr. Pietron ave Tr. Thill Lys Tr. Toth aye The meeting adjourned at 7:53 p.m. PASSED this 23rd day of September, 2013. Trustee Grear Trustee Marcus Trustee Pietron Trustee Thill Trustee Toth YC /?YE APPRO D by me this 2 rd day of September, 2013. Daniel P. DiMaria, Village President Board of Trustees, Morton Grove, Illinois APPROVED and FILED in my office this 24th day of September, 2013. Edilberto Ramos, Village Clerk Village of Morton Grove, Cook County, Illinois Minutes oy. Teresa Cousar 9