Board of Trustees Meeting

VILLAGE OF HOMEWOOD BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING TUESDAY—MAY 12, 2020 VILLAGE HALL BOARD ROOM and audio conferencing CALL TO ORDER: Village President Hofeld called the regular meeting to order at 7:25 p.m. There were no members of the public at Village Hall. The meeting was conducted by President Hofeld from the Board Room. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: President Hofeld dispensed of the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL: Clerk Marilyn Thomas called the roll. Those present were Village President Richard Hofeld at Village Hall, with Trustee Barbara Dawkins, Trustee Lisa Purcell, Trustee Karen Washington, Trustee Lauren Roman, Trustee Jay Heiferman, Trustee Larry Burnson and Clerk Thomas via audio conference. NOTE: Due to the Governor’s emergency order suspending provisions of the Open Meetings Act because of the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing recommendations, elected officials are permitted to participate via video/audio. The public was invited to dial into the meeting for audio. Comments were submitted by email before the meeting. INTRODUCTION OF STAFF: Village President Hofeld introduced staff members in attendance at Village Hall: Village Manager Jim Marino and President Hofeld. Village Attorney Christopher Cummings joined remotely. Assistant Village Manager Napoleon Haney was operating the remote operations. MINUTES: The minutes of the Public Hearing on the Budget and General Board Meeting of April 28, 2020, were reviewed. There were no comments or corrections. A motion was made by Trustee Heiferman and seconded by Trustee Purcell to accept the minutes as presented. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Dawkins, Purcell, Washington, Roman, Heiferman and Burnson. NAYS –None. Motion carried. CLAIMS LIST: The Claims List in the amount of $937,382.93 was reviewed. There were no questions from the Trustees. A motion was made by Trustee Purcell and seconded by Trustee Burnson to approve the Claims List as presented. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Dawkins, Purcell, Washington, Roman, Heiferman and Burnson. NAYS –None. Motion carried. President Hofeld said four items totaled approximately 81 percent of the Claims List: $325,304.49 to the City of Harvey for water; $155,270.13 to E-COM; $214,179.63 for employees health insurance for May; and $92,286.18 to Thorn Creek Sanitary System.. HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC: Comments from John Farris were submitted by email. (Attached) OMNIBUS REPORT: Clerk Thomas presented the Omnibus Agenda: A. ANNUAL REPORT/FIRE PENSION BOARD: Accept the 2019 Annual Report for the Fire Pension Board. B. CONTRACT RENEWAL/ACTUARY SERVICES: Authorize the Village President to renew the agreement with Lauterbach & Amen of Naperville, IL to provide actuarial services for the Village of Homewood for fiscal years ending April 30, 2020 and April 30, 2021, for a total cost not to exceed $23,820. C. RFP PURCHASE AWARD/PUBLIC WORKS-SURVEY EQUIPMENT: Waive competitive bidding because of the technical nature of the item makes bidding impractical. Award the purchase of one (1) Robotic Total Station & Tablet Field Computer from Topcon Solutions Store of Carol Stream, IL, in an amount not to exceed $29,250.00. D. RAFFLE LICENSE/DOWNTOWN HOMEWOOD BUSINESS ASSOCIATION: Authorize the issuance of a raffle license to the Downtown Homewood Business Association for a single raffle to be held on May 31, 2020 and waive the fidelity bond requirement and raffle license fee. E. RESOLUTION R-3056/SOLICITATION OF BIDS AND PROPOSALS FOR SALE AND REDEVELOPMENT- 18155 DIXIE HIGHWAY: Consider a motion to pass a resolution directing the Village Manager to solicit bids and proposals for the sale and redevelopment of the property located at 18155 Dixie Highway, Homewood, Illinois. F. ORDINANCE M-2135/RESUBDIVISION OF THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF RIDGE ROAD AND MARTIN AVENUE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MIXED-USE BUILDING: Pass an ordinance approving a plat of subdivision for property at the Southwest corner of Ridge Road and Martin Avenue in Village of Homewood, Cook County, Illinois. G. ORDINANCE MC-1036/ZONING ORDINANCE TEXT AMENDMENT- CANNABIS INFUSER ORGANIZATION: Pass an ordinance amending the Homewood Zoning Ordinance by defining a cannabis infuser organization and allowing one cannabis infuser organization as a permitted use in the M-1 zoning district. A motion was made by Trustee Washington and seconded by Trustee Burnson to approve Items A-F as presented. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Dawkins, Purcell, Washington, Roman, Heiferman and Burnson. NAYS –None. Motion carried. A motion was made by Trustee Roman and seconded by Trustee Purcell to accept Item G as presented. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Dawkins, Purcell, Roman and Heiferman. NAYS— Trustees Washington and Burnson. Motion carried. GENERAL BOARD COMMENTS: Trustees extended their concerns for residents urging them to remain safe and at home during the stay-at-home order. As difficult as it is, remaining in place will reduce the spread of the virus. EXECUTIVE SESSION: A motion was made by Trustee Purcell and seconded by Trustee Washington to move to Executive Session to discuss actual litigation. The Board moved to Executive Session at 7:25 p.m. The Board returned from Executive Session at 8:07 p.m. A motion was made by Trustee Purcell and seconded by Trustee Roman to adjourn the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees. The meeting was adjourned by voice vote at 8:07 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Marilyn Thomas Village Clerk Comments from John Farris The new website is very attractive and I do hope proves to be useful once residents learn to navigate. It is noted that public [remote] participation by email or written comments has been established. Posting of the full agenda items for the Board Meetings, not just the agenda, would I hope be the next step. I would hope that the the Board would make some comments on those who have passed recently due to the virus. It would be good to note what the Village is doing especially in terms of the nursing homes. As to the public comments on the 2020-21 budget: As presented and adopted, the Corporate Fund budget is not balanced; appropriations appear to exceed revenues by $300,000 or so. My comment as to appropriating fund balance was to accomplish a BALANCED BUDGET, that would be by using some of available fund balance. Things are going to be difficult to predict but you must start in balance. As to your fund balance policy, it must be formally adopted. No one offered if it was formally adopted and in place. Just saying you have a guideline is not enough. I will submit a FOIA, unless you can provide the reference informally. I could not find a search of you codes/ I am astounded that not one member of the Board addressed any of the specific items I mentioned. Leaf pickup and tree maintenance items I brought up were not significant in dollar terms and they do add a lot to the town. I will also do a FOIA on the membership in Homewood Rotary. It should be a person expense of the member.