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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-06-2020 Budget Workshop Approved MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 6, 2020 SPECIAL MEETING/ BUDGET WORKSHOP OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES RICHARD T. FLICKINGER CENTER 6101 CAPULINA MORTON GROVE, ILLINOIS 60053 Pursuant to proper notice in accordance with the Open Meetings Act, the special meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Mayor DiMaria who led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance and called the roll. In attendance were: Elected Officials: Mayor Daniel P. DiMaria, Clerk Eileen Scanlon Harford, Trustees Bill Grear, John Thill, Rita Minx, Connie Travis. Janine Witko and Ed Ramos. Absent: none Village Staff : Village Administrator Ralph Czerwinski, Finance Director Hanna Sullivan, Assistant to the Village Administrator Tom Friel, Corporation Counsel Teresa Hoffman Liston. Village Engineer Chris Tomich, Police Chief Mike Simo. Fire Chief Frank Rodgers, Land Use Planner/Coordinator Zoe Heidorn, and IT Manager Boyle Wong. Guests: Joann Rapp, Matt Flink Mayor DiMaria stated that the presentation of the 2021 budget would continue from last night's meeting with the focus tonight on the TIF and Capital projects accounts. Village Administrator Ralph Czerwinski presented the budgets for the following funds: • The Capital Projects Fund (Page 66 of the Budget Binder) projected a decrease from the 2020 budget in the amount of $742,500 due partly to a decrease in capital projects and partly because costs associated with the Austin Avenue improvements had been moved to the Motor Fuel Tax Fund budget. 2021 funds were budgeted to complete Beckwith Road bridge rehabilitation. railroad crossing modifications for the Metra tracks at Oakton Street and construction improvements for the Oakton Street pedestrian trail. Money was also included for design work for Village Hall and the Police Station. • The Lehigh/Ferris TIF Fund (Page 70 of the Budget Binder) projected a decrease of $393,000 due to less development expenses. Funds were budgeted for streetscape improvements and to continue area marketing efforts. • The Sawmill Station TIF Fund (Page 73 of the Budget Binder) projected a decrease of $1,240,000 due to a decrease in expenses relating to the Sawmill Station Shopping Center Development. The Village expects to issue a $3,200,000 revenue bond to reimburse the developer for TIF eligible expenses. The bond shall be repaid solely from funds generated by the center. • The Motor Fuel Tax Fund (Page 79 of the Budget Binder) projected an increase of$236,150 to account for additional funds expected from the state from a new three-year distribution of Rebuild Illinois funds. Expenses for the Beckwith Road Bridge project will be paid from this fund. • The Emergency 911 Fund (Page 77 of the Budget Binder) projected an increase of $55,000 of funds received which will be used to pay a portion of the Village's central dispatching fees. The remainder of these costs are paid by the Village's General Fund through the police department budget. • The Solid Waste Fund (Page 81 of the Budget Binder) projected a decrease of $46,539 as the Villages collection costs decreased as a result of its new contract with Groot. Savings from the new contract will allow this account to pay a portion of the salaries for employees engaged in leaf pick up which helps keep leaves out of the Village sewer system thereby protecting homes from flooding. • The Commuter Parking Fund (Page 83 of the Budget Binder) projects a decrease of $13,500 due to expected reduced use of the commuter lot by commuters due to COVID 19. Finance Director Hanna Sullivan stated that parking is paid by app or collection machines, revenues are markedly down, so expenses were cut. • The Fire Alarm Fund (Page 83 of the Budget Binder) projects an increase of$44,100 due to an increase of associated phone services costs. • The Seizure Fund (Page 84 of the Budget Binder) was unchanged from 2020. These funds are used to support crime lab expenses. 1 • The Municipal Parking Fund (Page 84 of the Budget Binder) projects a decrease of $77,300 due to reduced revenue resulting from less commuting and a reduction in related expenses. • The Morton Grove Days Commission Fund (Page 85) remains unchanged from 2020. All revenue for this account emanates from funds raised by the Morton Grove Days event — no taxpayer or Village revenue supports this fund. 2021 will be the 100-year anniversary of Morton Grove Days which will be a 4-day event. Finance Director Hanna Sullivan then presented the budgets for the various Village pension funds. These funds reflect the entire revenues and expenses related to the respective pensions not contributions from the Village: • The General Employees' Pension (Page 91 of the Budget Binder) was closed for new participants since 2005; 18 active employees remain in this plan. The budget remains unchanged. • The Firefighters' Pension Fund (Page 91 of the Budget Binder) projected an increase of $96,400 due to expected additional retirements. • The Police Pension Fund (Page 161 of the Budget Binder) projected an increase of $335.200 to account for actual increased retirements In response to Trustee Thill's question, Ms. Sullivan noted that the Village's contribution to the pension funds are based on recommendations from a private actuary and is more than the statutory minimum and state recommended contribution amount. Mr. Czerwinski summarized the 2021 budget as a functional core service budget with conservative revenue estimates. The Village has, to date, experienced a better than expected recovery of the financial impacts of COVID 19. He has been proud of staff's actions to control costs and maintain services amid a necessary hiring freeze. The 2021 budget does not include a property tax increase because we know businesses and residents are also experiencing difficulties due to the pandemic. The Mayor then asked for questions. Trustee Thill asked the Board to let the public know that Morton Grove Day expenses are not paid by taxpayers. Mr. Czerwinski explained revenue is generated solely from sponsors and from the event itself. The Village receives a $50,000 funding advance from the Morton Grove Day Commission's 501c3 funds to be used as "seed money" for contracts and insurance which are paid before the event. Trustee Grear noted the Village's contribution is primarily staff time, which is substantial. Trustee Minx provided historical context for the event which began with the 1920s era Women's Wartime Working Circle holding a street carnival to raise money to construct the doughboy in front of the Library. Mayor DiMaria then asked for audience comments. Joann Rapp requested that the Village hire at least one full-time social worker. She believes money can be found within the police budget and a full-time social worker would be worth her weight in gold. Matt Flink 8939 Mansfield, complimented staff for the budget document and presentation. He asked if the Village had gathered any information to support lifting the year-old cannabis moratorium. He believed the additional sales tax revenue could help pay the costs for an additional social worker. Naperville originally had a moratorium, and now it is poised to open three stores. He would like to see a public vote on this issue. Trustee Minx then moved to adjourn the special meeting to an executive session to discuss personnel issues. The motion was seconded by Trustee Witko and passed unanimously by a roll call vote at 6:35 pm. At the conclusion of the executive session, the meeting resumed at 7:03 pm. Trustee Minx asked Mr. Czerwinski about the workload of the social worker. Mr. Czerwinski stated that Chief Simo monitors the social worker's responsibilities and believes that the Village's needs are currently being met. Staff has reached out to neighboring communities to discern any interest in a cooperative arrangement where additional services can be provided in the event our social worker is absent or needs assistance. A brief discussion then ensued. 2 Trustee Minx then moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Trustee Thill and passed unanimously by a voice vote at 7:09 pm. PASSED this 12th day of October 2020. Trustee Grear Trustee Minx Trustee Ramos Trustee Thill I I, Trustee Travis Trustee Witko (� APPROVED by me this 12th day of October 2020 Daniel P. DiMaria, Village President Board of Trustees, Morton Grove. Illinois APPROVED and FILED in my office this 12th day of October 2020 Eileen Scanlon Harford, Village Clerk Village of Morton Grove, Cook County, Illinois Minutes By Teresa Hoffman Liston Corporation Counsel