Board of Trustees Meeting

VILLAGE OF HOMEWOOD BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING TUESDAY—JANUARY 14, 2020 VILLAGE HALL BOARD ROOM CALL TO ORDER: Village President Hofeld called the regular meeting to order at 7 p.m. There were more than 50 members of the public and one press representative present. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Village President Hofeld led trustees in the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL: Clerk Marilyn Thomas called the roll. Those present were Village President Richard Hofeld, Trustee Barbara Dawkins, Trustee Lisa Purcell, Trustee Lauren Roman, Trustee Jay Heiferman and Trustee Larry Burnson. Trustee Karen Washington was absent. INTRODUCTION OF STAFF: Village President Hofeld introduced staff members in attendance: Village Manager Jim Marino, Village Attorney Christopher Cummings, Police Chief Bill Alcott, Fire Chief Bob Grabowski, Director of Public Works John Schaefer, Director of Finance Dennis Bubenik and Assistant Village Manager Napoleon Haney. MINUTES: The minutes of the meeting of December 10, 2019, were presented. There were no comments or corrections. A motion was made by Trustee Purcell and seconded by Trustee Heiferman to approve the minutes as presented. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Dawkins, Purcell, Roman, and Heiferman. Trustee Burnson abstained. NAYS –None. Motion carried. CLAIMS LIST: The Claims List in the amount of $1,494,917.29 was reviewed. There were no questions from the Trustees. A motion was made by Trustee Burnson and seconded by Trustee Purcell to approve the Claims List as presented. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Dawkins, Purcell, Roman, Heiferman and Burnson. NAYS –None. Motion carried. President Hofeld said five items totaled approximately 88 percent of the Claims List: $324,047.95 to the City of Harvey for Lake Michigan water; $100,430.90 for E-COM; $211,934.78 for January’s employee health insurance; $629,171 for the 2020 contribution to IRMA; $53,093.52 for Thorn Creek Sanitary District. APPOINTMENTS: President Hofeld asked the board to consider the appointments of Jacqueline Burgess, Odell Fields Jr. and Sally MacDonald to the Ethics Commission; Valerie Warnsby to the Economic Development Commission and Keith E. Harris to the Community Relations Commission. Their appointments extend through January 14, 2023. President Hofeld also asked the board to consider the reappointment of Susan Goldberg to the Ethics Commission. She will also serve through January 14, 2023. A motion was made by Trustee Purcell and seconded by Trustee Dawkins to approve the appointments. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Dawkins, Purcell, Roman, Heiferman and Burnson. NAYS –None. Motion carried. PRESENTATIONS: Finance Director Dennis Bubenik presented LaShawna Cook as the new Utility Clerk. She will be responsible for water and sewer service billings, computerized billing records and account information for customers. She has an associate’s degree from South Suburban College and has previously worked for the City of Country Club Hills. Clerk Thomas administered the oath of office to LaShawna Cook. FIRE DEPARTMENT: Three firefighter paramedics were presented by Fire Chief Grabowski. He said he was able to hire Richard Qualter, Edgar Serna and Tom Schlesinger after receiving a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant that will cover their salaries for three years. Each has worked for the Homewood Fire Department as a part-time firefighter/paramedic. Clerk Thomas administered the oath of office to Richard Qualter, Edgar Serna and Tom Schlesinger. POLICE DEPARTMENT: Chief Alcott presented Brian Krueger and Andy Gasbarro as new police officers. They are expected to complete training through the Cook County Sheriff’s Police Training Academy and then spend 15 weeks patrolling with other Homewood officers in the village’s field training program. Clerk Thomas administered the oath to Brian Krueger and Andy Gasbarro. HEAR FROM THE AUDIENCE: Carole Sharwarko, representing the Homewood- Flossmoor Chronicle, thanked President Hofeld and the trustees for their support of the Artic Dip that this year will benefit the Chronicle’s Reporter Supporter Program. She invited the community to come out to the event on Feb. 1. Pre-teen members of the Legos on the Move group made a presentation on ideas for safer crosswalks. They suggested innovations to save lives that would get pedestrians to look up from the road, and for cars to slow down. The group meets at the Homewood Science Center. President Hofeld said the village would investigate the possibility of a trial installation of a crosswalk. OMNIBUS REPORT: Clerk Thomas presented the Omnibus Agenda: A. 2019 ANNUAL REPORTS: Accept the 2019 Annual Reports for the Beautification Committee, Green Committee, Storm Water Committee, and Tree Committee. B. RAFFLE LICENSE/FOUNDATION-153 GALA-50/50 QUEEN OF HEARTS: Authorize the issuance of a raffle license to Foundation-153 for a single raffle to be held on February 29, 2020 and waive the fidelity bond requirement and allow for tickets sales outside of Homewood. C. STAFF DIRECTION/LIQUOR LICENSE/CLASS 7B/MOD SUPER FAST PIZZA, D/B/A MOD PIZZA-17631 HALSTED STREET: Consider a motion directing staff to draft an ordinance amending the Homewood Municipal Code increasing the allowed number of Class 7B liquor licenses from zero to one. D. RESOLUTION R-3042/2020 MFT STREET RESURFACING PROGRAM: Pass a Resolution for Improvement under the Illinois Highway Code appropriating an additional $700,000 from the Village’s Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) fund for various street and parking lot resurfacing work. E. ORDINANCE M-2124/SPECIAL USE PERMIT/THE LEARNING LAB PRESCHOOL & DAYCARE, LLC-18725-18727 DIXIE HIGHWAY: Pass an ordinance granting a special use permit to allow expansion of an existing child care center at 18725-18727 Dixie Highway, Homewood, Cook County, Illinois. A motion was made by Trustee Purcell and seconded by Trustee Burnson to approve Omnibus items A-C-D-E. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Dawkins, Purcell, Roman, Heiferman and Burnson. NAYS –None . Motion carried. A motion was made by Trustee Purcell and seconded by Trustee Burnson to approve Item B on the Omnibus Report. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Purcell, Roman, Heiferman and Burnson. Trustee Dawkins abstained. NAYS –None. Motion carried. A motion was made by Trustee Purcell and seconded by Trustee Roman to adjourn the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Dawkins, Purcell, Roman, Heiferman and Burnson. NAYS –None. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 7:33 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Marilyn Thomas Village Clerk