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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-12-13 Reconvened 12-10-2007 MinutesMINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 10, 2007, RECONVENED MEETING OF THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING HELD ON DECEMBER 13, 2007, OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF MORTON GROVE RICHARD T. FLICKINGER MUNICIPAL CENTER -COUNCIL CHAMBERS MORTON GROVE, ILLINOIS 60053 Pursuant to proper notice in accordance with the Illinois Open Meetings Act, the Reconvened Meeting was called to order at 7:07 pm by Mayor Richard Krier who led the assemblage in the pledge of allegiance. He announced this meeting was a reconvening of the December 10, 2007, Regular Board Meeting pursuant to a proper motion made at the conclusion of the Executive Session held on December 10, 2007. Village Clerk Fritzshall called the roll. In attendance were: Elected Officials: Mayor Richard Krier, Trustee Georgianne Brunner, Trustee Roy Kogstad, Trustee Shel Marcus, Trustee Rita Minx, Trustee Dan Staackmann, Trustee John Thill Absent: No one was absent Village Staff: Village Administrator Joseph F. Wade, Corporation Counsel Teresa Hoffman Liston, and Finance Director Daniela Partipilo Also Present: Several members of the public and the press President Krier asked for resident comments: Harold Cohen stated the December 10, 2007, meeting ranked as one of the ugliest meetings he had ever attended. He noted the malcontents led by Trustee Kogstad did their best to undo the budget preparations that had been approved during the year. He noted the Village's accounting methods were good enough for Moody's. He stated the motion to reduce the levy by one percent would net out $4.00 per year, per household, about the cost of a hamburger at McDonalds. He stated the Action Party Trustees were selling out the Village's future for the cost of a hamburger. Dale Senensky voiced his disapproval for Trustee Kogstad's actions and noted he and the Action Party's votes were politically motivated. He stated Mayor Krier was doing a good job and prior to his tenure, the public would not know about these meetings because the Action Party did not televise meetings. He noted Trustee Kogstad was joining forces with Trustee Staackmann to embarrass the Mayor, and questioning the Village's accounting methods to falsely "create a big deal". Bill Grear then spoke and stated he was here as a private citizen. He stated the Board is not made up of Action Party or Caucus Party candidates. They are the Village Board and they are all here to do what is best for the Village. He stated he did not believe anyone was politically motivated and the occurrences of the meeting of December 10, 2007, were not intended to make the Mayor look bad. Clerk Fritzshall then reported Morton Grove had now been named as an early voting site. Residents can take advantage of early voting at Village Hall from January 14, 2008 through January 31, 2008. Residents can register at Village Hall through January 8, 2008. They can also register in person downtown at the Clerk's office. She reminded the assemblage the primary election would be held on February 5, 2008. Joseph Wade reported the voting information would be placed on the Village's website. Corporation Counsel had no report. Trustees Brunner, Kogstad, and Marcus had no report. Trustee Minx then presented Ordinance 07-33 which had been voted down, then reconsidered and tabled at the December 10, 2007. Trustee Minx moved to take the Ordinance offthe table, the motion was seconded by Trustee Brunner and approved unanimously pursuant to a voice vote. She noted the Ordinance remained as previously read and represented a 3.5% increase in the levy over previous years in the amount of $11,898,236 after abatement. Trustee Minx moved to approve Ordinance 07-33, the motion was seconded by Trustee Staackmann. Trustee Thill stated he was proud of the fact the Board had engaged in healthy discussions and respected the Board's difference of opinion. He then moved to amend Ordinance 07-33 to reduce the increase in the levy from the previous year from 3.5% to 3%. The motion was seconded by Trustee Staackmann. Trustee Minx noted she was confused regarding Trustee Staackmann's questioning of the Village's accounting methods since this was the accounting method used by the Village for many years. It is also used by the Park District. Nothing had changed so why had this not been questioned before? She further noted the auditors had approved this accounting method. Trustee Staackmann stated he did not vote on the prior year's budget and he spoke with the previous finance director. The disparity in the accounting method had already existed. He also questioned why Trustee Minx was not concerned about taking $265,000 from the Fund Balance to further subsidize the garbage tax? Trustee Minx stated additional funds were needed to run the Village. For the 2008 Budget, all departments had cut their recommended expenditures at the request of the Village Administrator. Approximately $500,000 in needed expenditures were deferred to future years. Trustee Minx stated cutting the levy puts a burden on the future. She noted Trustee Thill had criticized previous Boards for not "stepping up-to-the-plate" to raise the levy. She further noted her motion to subsidize garbage expenses failed because Trustees were concerned about fund balances. She reasserted the garbage fees should be placed back on the tax rolls where they belong. She noted by decreasing the levy, the Village was going backwards. Finally, she stated it was ludicrous to have a discussion on a matter that would have a net affect to taxpayers of approximately $2 per household. Trustee Brunner then stated she did not thinkthe proposed levy reduction would help anyone. She reminded the Board, the Village was using $1 million of its fund balance to pay for 2008 operating expenses. She stated the levy increase is money that would be used for repairs and storm clean-up, not for some lavish unnecessary expense. If the Board chose to deplete the fund balance, she recommended some of the deferred spending items be reinstated. An insufficient levy placed previous boards in a predicament where they had to cut out the street lighting program and put the garbage on the tax rolls. While the Village should consider increased funding sources, she did not believe any new source would bring in $1 million. Trustee Brunner further stated past and current budgets were conservative in predicting revenue and estimating expenses. No one can be sure about expenditures or revenue so staff establishes a delegate balance. She believes staff has done a good job of doing this. However, Trustee Kogstad, after coming to only one meeting, questioned the Village's fund balance without taking into consideration staff efforts and reconciliations, and without any facts to back-up his "guess". Trustee Brunner believed it would be more appropriate to leave the levy alone. Mayor Krier hoped this discussion was not political but feared it maybe. He stated Trustee Kogstad's reasons for not attending any meetings during the year were personal and he would not question them, but questioned the credibility of Trustee Kogstad's assessments because he had not attended meetings and not reviewed staffs recommendations and their back-up documents. He likened this discussion to a candy cane. Some say a candy cane is red, some say it is white, both are right but no one is discussing what the cost is and whether the Village can afford to buy it. The 3.5% levy increase was not arbitrary. The Board had discussed this for several months and nothing had changed except Trustee Kogstad coming back and sewing seeds of doubt within the Board. Mayor Krier can only conclude these actions are political. He reminded Trustee Staackmann that he agreed the Village needed to improve its infrastructure, that its fund balance was a safety net, and in the past he had stated he wanted to keep the fund balance as high as was reasonable, and did not want this Board to raid it. Mayor Krier reminded the Board the Village is taking in less money than it is spending in 2008. For these reasons, he believes the motion to amend the levy is truly political. He had hoped the Board had gotten past the practice of keeping the levy artificially low. He reminded the Board the Village's favorable bond rating was due to Moody's opinion that the Village's financial condition was strong due to its fund balance and solid financial planning. He also stated the Village received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the GFOA. Arbitrarily reducing the levy sends the wrong message. He noted no Board member had been in favor of cutting expenses. If the Trustees thoughtthe Village's fund balance was too high, the Village could have spent another $600,000 to improve streets in dire need of repair. Since this is not a financial issue, it must be political. There being no further discussion, Clerk Fritzshall called the roll: Tr Brunner nay Tr Kogstad aye Tr Marcus aye Tr Minx nay Tr Staackmann aye Tr Thill aye The motion to amend Ordinance 07-33 was approved. There being no further discussion, Clerk Fritzshall called the roll on Ordinance 07-33 as amended. The vote was as follows: Tr Brunner nay Tr Kogstad aye Tr Marcus aye Tr Minx nay Tr Staackmann aye Tr Thill aye The motion carried. Trustee Minx then introduced Resolution 07-58 which abated taxes levied for 2007 in the amount of $327,325. The motion to approve Resolution 07-58 was made by Trustee Minx, seconded by Trustee Brunner and approved unanimously pursuant to a roll call vote. Trustee Minx then introduced Resolution 07-59 which abated taxes levied for 2007 in the amount of $810,570. The motion to approve Resolution 07-59 was made by Trustee Minx, seconded by Trustee Brunner and approved unanimously pursuant to a roll call vote. Trustee Minx then introduced Resolution 07-60 which abated taxes levied for 2007 in the amount of $269,896. The motion to approve Resolution 07-60 was made by Trustee Minx, seconded by Trustee Brunner and approved unanimously pursuant to a roll call vote. Trustee Minx then extended her wish to all for a safe and happy holiday and thanked all persons who attended or watched these meetings. Trustee Staackmann had no report. Trustee Thill complimented the Village on the upgrade to the Morton Grove Exchange, he also asked the residents to read the last page regarding recycling. There was no further business of the Board. President Krier asked for resident comments: Bill Zimmer stated he worked for and voted for Trustee Kogstad in the past election. He likened Trustee Kogstad to a cicada who emerges every 17 years, makes noise, causes trouble and then disappears again. He stated Trustee Kogstad was elected to serve full-time and he refuses to do so. He also criticized Trustee Kogstad for choosing not to eliminate the garbage fee as was his campaign promise. He noted Trustee Kogstad had stated farewell to the Caucus Party and hello to the Action Party. Eric Poders asked the Board not to take what had happened personally. The Economic Development Commission had been working on a strategic plan to improve the finances within the community. He urged the Board to work together and wished the Board a happy holiday. There being no further business to come before the Board, Trustee Marcus moved to adjourn the meeting, the motion was seconded by Trustee Thill and approved unanimously at 7:52 pm. Minutes by: Carol A. Fritzshall, Village Clerk PASSED THIS 14~' day of January 2008. Trustee Brunner Trustee Kogstad Trustee Marcus Trustee Minx Trustee Staackmann Trustee Thill APPROVED BY ME THIS 14a' day of January 2008 Richard Krier, Village President Village of Morton Grove Cook County, Illinois ATTESTED and FILED in my office This 15~' day of January 2008. Carol A. Fritzshall, Village Clerk Village of Morton Grove Cook County, Illinois