HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-14-2022MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE PRESIDENT
AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF MORTON GROVE
RICHARD T. FLICKINGER MUNICIPAL CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBERS
NOVEMBER 14, 2022
CALL TO ORDER
Village President Dan DiMaria convened the Village Board Meeting at 6:00 p.m. in the Scanlon
Conference Room on the second floor of Village Hall.
Village Clerk Eileen Harford called the roll. Present were Trustees Saba Khan, Rita Minx, John Thill,
Connie Travis, and Janine Witko.
Trustee Minx moved to adjourn to Executive Session to discuss pending litigation and the
appointment of a Village Official. The motion was seconded by Trustee Travis.
Motion passed 5 ayes, 0 nays.
Tr. Khan aye Tr. Minx ly± Tr. Thill ave
Tr. Travis aye Tr. Witko aye
I. At the conclusion of the Executive Session, Village President Dan DiMaria reconvened the
& 11. Regular Meeting of the Village Board at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Village Hall.
III. Village Clerk Eileen Harford called the roll. Present were Trustees Saba Khan, Rita Minx, Connie
Travis, and Janine Witko. Trustee John Thill was absent with notice.
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Trustee Minx moved to accept the Minutes of the October 24, 2022 Village Board meeting as
presented, seconded by Trustee Witko. Motion passed unanimously via voice vote.
V. SPECIAL REPORTS
1. Promotion of Patrick T. Mallanev to the Rank of Police Sergeant
a. Mayor DiMaria introduced Fire and Police Commission Chairman Mike Simkins to perform the
swearing in of the Village's newest Police Sergeant.
Minutes of November 14, .22 Board Meeting
V.
SPECIAL REPORTS (continued)
b. Chairman Simkins asked the Mayor, Trustee Liaison Connie Travis, Chief Simo, and Matthew to
approach the podium, and asked Pat to bring his guests. Pat introduced his wife, his son, and his
two daughters.
Mr. Simkins gave some background on Pat. He is a 10 -year veteran of the MGPD, having begun his
c. career here in 2012. He grew up in the western suburbs, graduated from York Community High
School in 2002, then went to the University of Illinois—Urbana/Champaign, where he earned a
bachelor's degree in Kinesiology in 2008. He also received his teaching certificate in math,
biology, physical education, and health. Pat student -taught at Evanston Township HS in the fall of
2008, where he also worked as the school's athletic trainer. He went on to teach PE and was the
athletic director at the School of St. Mary in Lake Forest in 2009 until he was hired with
Morton Grove.
d. Pat spent the first two years of his career here in patrol. While still a probationary officer himself,
he became a Field Training Officer and an Evidence Technician. In October of 2014, Pat became a
Tactical Officer in the field services division, and was appointed as a detective in 2020. In Pat's
eight years of investigative experience, he was a Juvenile Officer, and the department's first
member of the Cook County Internet Crimes Against Children task force.
f. After being sworn in, Pat's wife pinned on his badge. The Board and assemblage applauded and
congratulated Sergeant Patrick T. Mallaney.
2. Promotion of Sergeant Eric Ficht to Watch Commander
a. Police Chief Mike Simo noted that, over these last few weeks, the Police Department has
conducted a selection process for the rank of Watch Commander, due to the retirement of
Commander Andy Novak. Sgt. Eric Ficht was selected from a field of well-qualified candidates.
Chief Simo said it was his pleasure to congratulate him on this achievement, and to welcome him
to the Senior Command Staff of the Morton Grove Police Department. Chief Simo invited Eric and
his family to join him at the podium. Eric introduced his wife Lori, his daughter Gracie, and his son
Will.
b. Chief Simo said that Eric is in his 19th year with the Department. He began on January 5, 2004. Eric
grew up on the north side of Chicago and graduated from Gordon Tech High School in 1989.
He went on to major in Criminal Justice, along with a minor in Psychology, from Illinois State
University.
c. Eric has spent his years with the MGPD in the Patrol Services Division. He was promoted to
Sergeant in April of 2019, working in the afternoon and day shifts. Some of his duties as a
sergeant included the Range Master and running the Defensive Tactic and Scenario -Based
Training programs.
d. Mayor DiMaria swore Eric in and congratulated him. Eric's son Will pinned on his badge, and the
Board and assemblage applauded and congratulated him.
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Minutes of November 14, 2022 Board Meeting
V.
SPECIAL REPORTS (continued)
e. Mayor DiMaria commented again on how difficult it is these days to be in public safety service,
saying, "It's very commendable to see this—to me, these are what heroes look like."
VI.
VII.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
NONE
PLAN COMMISSION REPORTS
Mayor DiMaria invited Zoe Heidorn, Community Development Administrator, to come to the
podium to present both cases.
1. Plan Commission Case PC 22-12: Requesting Approval of a Special Use Permit for the Operation of
a Massage Establishment, full body, at the Property Commonly Known as 9312 Waukegan Road.
Unit B, with a variation for off-street parking requirements.
2. Plan Commission Case PC 22-13: Requesting Approval of a Preliminary Plat of Subdivision with as-
sociated waivers, and a Planned Unit Development (PUD) Special Use Permit for 8 Detached
Single -Family Dwellings, with waivers to accesswav standards, lot depth, lot area, lot width.
front yard, floor area ration, driveway width, and dimensions and siting of accessory structures for
the Property Commonly Known as 9312 Shermer Road.
la. Ms. Heidorn said it was her pleasure provide an overview of these cases. She said PC 22-12 will be
introduced this evening under Trustee Khan's report as Ordinance 22-22. It is a request for a
Special Use Permit by Massage by Bogan LLC to operate a full body massage establishment at
9136 Waukegan Road, Unit B. The Applicant worked previously as a masseuse at Massage Envy in
Niles and is opening his first business in Morton Grove. The Special Use Permit will authorize full
body massages to be provided by one masseuse to one client at a time within the 644 square foot
unit, which is served by two off-street parking spaces.
1b. The Appearance Commission review was waived, and on October 6, the Traffic Safety
Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of the application with comments.
On October 17, the Plan Commission also voted unanimously to recommend approval of the
Special Use Permit with conditions.
2. PC Case 22-13 is a request by Varda and Company LLC for approval of a Preliminary Plat of
Subdivision and Planned Unit Development, to authorize the construction of eight (8) detached
single-family homes with accessory accessway, parking, and landscaped area with various
dimensional waivers, at 9312 Shermer Road, which is a 1.6 acre property.
2a. On October 3, the Appearance Commission recommended approval of the Application with
conditions by a vote of 4-3. On October 15, the Traffic Safety Commission recommend
approval by a vote of 6-0.
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.Minutes of November 14, 2022 6oard:Meeting:
VII.
PLAN COMMISSION REPORTS (continued)
2b. The developer modified the site plan to respond to comments issued by the Commissions. On
October 17, the Applicant appeared before the Plan Commission. Due to concerns with density,
housing uniformity, parking, and storm water management, the Commission voted 6-0 to
recommend denying the Application.
2c. Based on the Plan Commission's determination and the comments provided, the developer has
since revised the site plan to reduce the density to 6 units and addressed other concerns raised at
the Public Hearing. The Applicant/developer is asking that this case be remanded back to the
Plan Commission, with the revised application materials to be heard at the Commission's
December 19 meeting.
2d. Ms. Heidorn said staff believes the applicant is making a good effort to address the concerns of
the recommending commissions, and ultimately will be able to present a conceivable project to
the Board of Trustees. She noted that the project architect was attending tonight's meeting, if any
of the Board members had any questions.
2e. Mayor DiMaria asked if any Board members had any questions. There were none.
Ms. Heidorn said, in that case, staff would request a motion to remand this case back to the Plan
Commission. Trustee Khan so moved, seconded by Trustee Witko.
Motion passed: 4 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent.
Tr. Khan aye Tr. Minx gyg Tr. Thill absent
Tr. Travis aye Tr. Witko aye
VIII. RESIDENTS' COMMENTS (Agenda Items Only)
1. Sandy, 9230 Shermer, is a 31 -year resident who has concerns over the project being proposed by
Varda and Company. She has voiced her concerns regarding traffic, flooding, and said she was
disappointed that, at the Plan Commission hearing, the Commissioners were referring to the
Ponto Road community. She said that Morton Grove is the community! The Commissioners were
talking as if 6 homes or 8 homes was a subdivision; it's not. She said her neighbors also have
flooded, and they have concerns about this project too. The developer has already cut all the
trees down there, and the property itself has a higher elevation than other homes in that area, so
she's very concerned that any time it rains, all the water will run downhill to her and her
neighbors' homes. She pointed out that there won't be any room for kids to play outside, noting
that Shermer is a very busy street. Sandy said there's no doubt that traffic will increase, and
said that, at 9:00 a.m. this morning, it took her 8 minutes to get out of the driveway. Between the
flooding, the increased traffic, snow removal, and her concern about how ambulances and fire
trucks will be able to get in there and turn around to get out again, she was clearly not a fan of
this project.
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Minutes of November 14, 2022 Board Meeting
VIII.
RESIDENTS' COMMENTS (Agenda Items Only) (continued)
2. John Kliney, who lives on Cameron Lane directly behind the proposed development, said his
wife's parents had lived there for 40 -years and they had experienced some ponding when it
would rain heavily. The water would take about a day to disappear, and it didn't happen very
often. He said his house—and his neighbors' homes—are one of the lowest elevations in the area.
He said the proposed development is a large piece of land that's currently grass, but with the
development, it would be all paved over. He heard the developer say it would be "permeable
asphalt," which sounds great, but nevertheless it would have to be maintained. He has heard the
developer say this project will be "better for everyone," but he was concerned that the flooding
would become more frequent because of the development. Mr. Kliney said he's heard the
promises and knows there's "engineering" behind them, but he felt his concern was legitimate.
He said he'd like something more than a promise, more than just what the developer says. He said
we have a small problem now (referring to the flooding) and he doesn't want it to get any
bigger. He also was concerned about the existing 8" water main tying into a 48" water main on
Shermer.
3. Mayor DiMaria thanked both residents and said he understands their comments and concerns.
IX. PRESIDENT'S REPORT
1. Mayor DiMaria asked that everyone continue to keep the Ukranian people in their prayers.
The fighting is still going on; they're going through hell, and we don't want to forget them.
2. Mayor DiMaria announced that a 55 -foot tall Colorado Spruce tree was harvested from a
residential property at the corner of Church Street and Cherry Avenue (6643 Church Street) on
Friday, November 4. It will be Chicago's "official" 109th Annual City of Chicago Christmas Tree. It
will shine brightly in Millennium Park near the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Washington
Street from November 18 through January 8. Morton Grove residents can be proud to know
that the City's Christmas Tree "grew up" in Morton Grove.
3. Mayor DiMaria noted that the "Santa Comes to Town" parade is scheduled for Saturday,
December 3. Santa will begin at Greenwood and Waukegan at 11:00 a.m. and end at Main
Street and Austin Avenue between 1:15 and 1:30 p.m. Santa will then reappear at the
Prairie View Community Center at 6834 Dempster Street, where he will greet families, and where
children who received specially marked candy during the parade will be able to redeem the candy
for a Christmas gift. Gift redemption is from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. For a detailed map of
Santa's route through town, please visit www.mortongroveil.org/santa.
4. Mayor DiMaria said that the Police Department's affiliation with the Marines Toys for Tots drive is
underway. New, unwrapped toys can be donated through December 9 at the following locations:
MG Police Department and MG Village Hall, 6101 Capulina;
MG Fire Department #4, 6250 Lincoln Avenue;
MG Public Library, 6140 Lincoln Avenue; and
MG Park District, 6834 Dempster Street.
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Minutes of November 14, 2'022 Board Meeting
IX.
PRESIDENT'S REPORT (continued)
5. Additionally, Mayor DiMaria said that the MG Firefighters' Association is collecting monetary
donations to purchase gift cards, toys, and a holiday ham for families in need. Checks can be
made payable to the Firefighters Association of Morton Grove and can be mailed to, or dropped
off at: Morton Grove Fire Station #4, Attention: Food Drive, 6250 Lincoln Ave., Morton Grove, IL
60053. The collection ends on December 15. If anyone has any questions, please contact the
Fire Department at 847-470-5226.
6.
Appointment of Ashur Shiba to the Village Board of Trustees
Mayor DiMaria thanked those who had submitted resumes for the trustee position created by
Bill Grear's resignation. He said he was pleased to announce that he had chosen Ashur Shiba to fill
this vacancy, and asked the Board for a motion to concur with this appointment. Trustee Minx so
moved, seconded by Trustee Travis. Motion passed unanimously via voice vote. Mayor DiMaria
noted that Ashur will be officially sworn in at the November 28th Village Board Meeting. He
thanked Ashur for stepping up to do this role.
X. CLERK'S REPORT
Clerk Harford had no formal report this evening.
XI. STAFF REPORTS
A. Village Administrator:
1. Village Administrator Czerwinski presented Resolution 22-42, Authorizing Amendment No. 1 to
the Agreement Between the Village of Morton Grove and Morton Grove Post 134 of the
American Legion Dated February 22, 2000, and a Release and Settlement Agreement.
a. Mr. Czerwinski said the purpose of this Resolution is to approve an amendment to the February
2000 purchase agreement between the Village and Post 134 of the American Legion, and a
Settlement Agreement which will dismiss litigation between the parties and resolve issues
relating to the Legion's gun range at the Civic Center. The Legion has proposed that if the
Village will split the costs for lead remediation and monitoring services, and clarify the Legion's
insurance obligations under the Agreement with respect to extended liability, the Legion, in turn,
will dismiss its lawsuit with prejudice and forever surrender its rights under the Agreement to
use the basement of the Civic Center and to operate a gun range at the Civic Center. The Legion
formally approved this proposal at its November 7, 2022 meeting of its corporate board. The
financial impact of this resolution is $47,455.00. Mr. Czerwinski asked for the Board's support of
this Resolution.
Trustee Witko moved to approve Resolution 22-42, seconded by Trustee Travis.
Motion passed: 4 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent.
Tr. Khan aye Tr. Minx aye Tr. Thill absent
Tr. Travis aye Tr. Witko ave
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Minutes of November 14, 2022 Board Meeting
XI.
STAFF REPORTS (continued)
2. Mr. Czerwinski wanted to make the public aware of the upcoming holiday schedule for Village Hall
and Public Works. Both entities will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 24 and 25, for
Thanksgiving. Also, they'll both be closed on Monday, December 26, for Christmas, and on
Monday, January 2, for New Years.
3. Mr. Czerwinski announced that the Village will once again offer holiday lights recycling through
February 1, 2023. A holiday lights recycle bin is located in the lobby of Village Hall (6101 Capulina)
and all holiday string lighting is accepted through this free program. Discarded lights will be
recycled through the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) and Elgin
Recycling. Mr. Czerwinski pointed out that garlands, live greens, wreaths, and other decorations
attached to lights will NOT be accepted. If anyone has questions, they should call Elgin
Recycling at 847-448-4311.
XI.
B.
Corporation Counsel:
Corporation Counsel Liston had no formal report this evening.
XII. TRUSTEES' REPORTS
B. Trustee Khan:
1. Trustee Khan presented Ordinance 22-19, Amending Ordinance 00-01 to Extend the Estimated
Date of Completion of the Lehigh Avenue/Ferris Avenue Redevelopment Plan and Project.
This is the second reading of this Ordinance.
a. Trustee Khan explained that the Lehigh Avenue/Ferris Avenue TIF District was created on
January 24, 2000, pursuant to Ordinance 00-01, which approved the Tax Increment
Redevelopment Plan (the "Plan"), Ordinance 00-02, which designated the Tax Increment
Redevelopment Project Area (the "Redevelopment Project Area"), and Ordinance 00-03, which
adopted Tax Increment Allocation Financing (collectively, the "TIF Ordinances"). The Illinois TIF
Act, specifically Sections 11-74.4-3(n)3 and 11-74.4-3.5(a) of the Act, authorize the Village to
extend the estimated date of completion of the Plan and Project and the estimated date of
retirement of all obligations incurred to finance redevelopment project costs to December 31,
2024, subject to receipt of 2023 incremental real estate tax revenues during 2024. This
Ordinance will amend Ordinance 00-01 to extend the estimated date of completion of the Plan
and Project, and the estimated date of the retirement of all obligations incurred to finance
redevelopment project costs as defined by the Plan and Project, as allowed by law.
Trustee Khan moved, seconded by Trustee Minx, to adopt Ordinance 22-19.
Minutes of November 14, 2022 Board Meeting
XII.
B. Trustee Khan: (continued)
Motion passed: 4 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent.
TRUSTEES' REPORTS (continued)
Tr. Khan ave Tr. Minx ave Tr. Thill absent
Tr. Travis ave Tr. Witko a�
2. Next, Trustee Khan introduced for a first reading Ordinance 22-22, Approving a Special Use
Permit for a Full Body Massage Establishment for the Property Commonly Known as
9136 Waukegan Road, Unit B, in Morton Grove, Illinois.
She explained that this is pursuant to PC Case 22-12, which had been reported out earlier this
evening by Zoe Heidorn, Community Development Administrator.
As this is the first reading of this Ordinance, no action will be taken this evening.
C. Trustee Minx:
Trustee Minx had no formal report this evening, but wished everyone a very happy
Thanksgiving.
D. Trustee Thill:
Trustee Thill was absent—no report.
E. Trustee Travis:
Trustee Travis had no formal report this evening.
F. Trustee Witko:
1. Trustee Witko presented for a first reading Ordinance 22-20, Adopting the Budgets for All
Corporate Purposes of the Village of Morton Grove and the Morton Grove Library, Cook
County, Illinois for the Calendar Year Effective January 1, 2023 and Ending December 31, 2023.
a. She explained that the 2023 Budget represents the Corporate Authorities projections of revenue
expected to become available during fiscal year 2023, as well as Village expenditures.
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Minutes of November 14, 2022 Board Meeting
XII.
F. Trustee Witko: (continued)
TRUSTEES' REPORTS (continued)
b. The Budget was presented at a Village Workshop held on October 11, 2022, and a Public Hearing
on the Budget will be held on November 28, 2022. Public notice of the hearing was published in
the Chicago Tribune on November 17, 2022. The Budget has been available for inspection at the
office of the Village Administrator, the MG Public Library, and posted on the Village's website
since at least November 14, 2022.
c. The General Fund subtotal is $35,106,825; the General Operations subtotal is $19,782,621; and
the Economic Development Fund subtotal is $12,655,138 for a total budget (without pensions) at
$67,544,584. Pensions total $10,600,100 and the Library's budget is $3,691,288, resulting in a
Village and Library total budget of $81,835,972.
Trustee Witko noted that, since this is the first reading of this Ordinance, no action will be taken
this evening.
2. Next, Trustee Witko introduced for a first reading Ordinance 22-21, An Ordinance Levying and
Assessing Taxes for the Village of Morton Grove, Cook County, Illinois for 2022 to be
Collected in the Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2023 and Ending December 31, 2023.
a. She explained that this Ordinance sets the 2022 property tax levy amount that will be collected
and will fund the 2023 budget. The Ordinance must be adopted and filed with the Cook County
Clerk in order to levy property taxes within the Village of Morton Grove.
b. Trustee Witko said, pursuant to Ordinance 22-20, the amount necessary to be levied for the 2022
property taxes is $10,630, 675 for Village operational expenses, $660,963 for Village debt service,
and $3,601,951 for the Library. This will result in a levy of $11,291,638 for the Village, and
$3,601,951 for the Library, for a total levy of $14,893,589. By law, the Village is required to levy an
additional $797,300 for Village debt service payments authorized by general obligation notes and
bonds for a total levy, before abatements, in the amount of $15,690,889. However, the Village
Board intends to adopt a Resolution that will immediately abate $797,300 from the levy,
resulting in a net levy as intended by the Corporate Authorities in the amount of $14,893,589.
c. Trustee Witko said the effective result is a 2% increase in the Village's portion of the tax levy and a
4.75% increase in the Library's portion of the tax levy, resulting in an overall increase of 2.66%
from the final extended tax levy from the previous year.
Trustee Witko said, as this is the first reading of this Ordinance, no action will be taken tonight.
XIII. OTHER BUSINESS
Mayor DiMaria thanked everyone who had sent in resumes for the Trustee position, and said he
would now review them to look for candidates to appoint to any of the Village Commissions.
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Minutes of November 14, 2022 Board Meeting
XIV.
WARRANTS
Trustee Witko presented the Warrant Register for November 14, 2022 in the amount of
$877,729.31. She moved to approve this evening's Warrant Register as presented,
seconded by Trustee Travis.
Motion passed: 4 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent.
Tr. Khan ky± Tr. Minx ly± Tr. ThiII absent
Tr. Travis aye Tr. Witko
XV. RESIDENTS' COMMENTS
NONE
XVI. ADJOURNMENT
Trustee Minx moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Trustee Travis. Motion passed
unanimously via voice vote.
The meeting adjourned at 7:37 p.m.
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Minutes of November 14, 2022 Bb3rd Meeting
PASSED this 28th day of November, 2022.
Trustee Khan
Trustee Minx
Trustee ThillY�-
Trustee Travis
Trustee Witko
APPROVED by me this 28th day of November, 2022.
Daniel P. DiMaria, Village President
Board of Trustees, Morton Grove, Illinois
APPROVED and FILED in my office this 29th day of November, 2022.
Eileen Harford, Village Clerk
Village of Morton Grove, Cook County, Illinois
Minutes by Teresa Cousar
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