Board of Trustees Meeting

VILLAGE OF HOMEWOOD BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING TUESDAY—SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 VILLAGE HALL BOARD ROOM and audio conferencing The board convened its regular Village Board meeting at 7:15 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: President Hofeld dispensed with the Pledge of Allegiance. INTRODUCTION OF STAFF: Village Manager Jim Marino, Village Attorney Christopher Cummings and Finance Director Dennis Bubenik were at Village Hall. Economic Development Director Angela Mesaros and Director of Public Works John Schaefer linked remotely. Assistant Village Manager Napoleon Haney was present and assisted with the Zoom link-up. MINUTES: The minutes of the General Board Meeting of September 8, 2020, were reviewed. There were no comments or corrections. A motion was made by Trustee Burnson and seconded by Trustee Heiferman 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 $283,370.15 was reviewed. There were no questions from the Trustees. A motion was made by Trustee Purcell and seconded by Trustee Washington to approve the Claims List as presented. President Hofeld said two items totaled 59 percent of the Claims List: $75,764.13 to Burns & McDonnell Engineers for work on the water conversion project, and $91,155.33 to Thorn Creek Basin Sanitary District. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Dawkins, Purcell, Washington, Roman, Heiferman and Burnson. NAYS –None. Motion carried. HEAR FROM THE AUDIENCE: The Village Clerk read two public comments into the record. One dealt with an outside noise issue from Mama & Me Pizza on the weekends. The other expressed concern about police preparedness if civil unrest occurs after the Nov. 3 election. President Hofeld referred the matters to Manager Marino for action. [copies of the comments are attached at the end of the minutes] FY 2019-2020 AUDIT PRESENTATION/ACCEPTANCE: Finance Director Bubenik gave a report on the audit. He said TIF funds lost some luster during the 2008 recession, and pension funds are taking a bigger chunk from the budget. This year and last year, the General Fund is finishing with a slight surplus. When COVID-19 hit it was near the end of the audit year, so its effects are not fully reflected in the audit. Don Shaw of Lauterbach and Amen auditors gave his report via Zoom. He thanked Bubenik and Amy Zukowski, assistant finance director, for their assistance. He said the firm gave the Village a clean, unmodified opinion. The overall budget is about $10.5 million with 73 percent dedicated to the General Fund, the main operating fund. It showed a net increase over budget of approximately $440,000, slightly higher an expected. A motion was made by Trustee Dawkins and seconded by Trustee Burnson to accept the April 30, 2020 Annual Financial Report (audit) as presented. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Dawkins, Purcell, Washington, Roman, Heiferman and Burnson. NAYS –None. Motion carried. OMNIBUS AGENDA: Clerk Thomas presented the Omnibus Agenda: A. RESOLUTION R-3063/RETIREMENT: Consider a motion to approve a resolution honoring Officer David P. Lux on his retirement after 31 years of dedicated service to the Village of Homewood. B. 2019 ANNUAL REPORT: Accept the 2019 Annual Report for the Board of the Fire and Police Commission. C. REAPPOINTMENT: Consider a motion to approve the following reappointments – Anita Cochran to the Fire & Police Commission for a 3-year term ending September 26, 2023; Alene Rutzky to the Senior Advisory Committee for a 3-year term ending September 26, 2023; Jack Levitt to the Senior Advisory committee for a 3-year term ending September 26, 2023; Cate Roberts to the Beautification Committee for a 5- year term ending September 22, 2025; Paul Kramer to the Tree Committee for a 3-year term ending September 26,2023; Regina Zohfeld to the Tree Committee for a term ending October 10,2023. D. ORDINANCE MC-1040/CLASS 7B LIQUOR LICENSE/VIDA TACOS: Consider a motion to pass an ordinance amending Chapter 10 of the Homewood Municipal Code increasing the number of available Class 7B – 75/25 beer and wine only liquor licenses; on premise consumption; no video gaming - from one to two and reducing the 7B license seating requirement from 50 to 35. E. ORDINANCE MC-1041/DONATION OF PROPERTY: Consider a motion to approve an ordinance authorizing the donation of 63 bicycles that were abandoned, lost, or stolen property and recovered by the Homewood Police Department. The bicycles will be donated to Restoration Ministries, Inc., an Illinois not-for-profit corporation in Harvey, IL. F. BUDGET AMENDMENT/SANITARY SEWER REPAIR PROJECT: Consider a motion to approve a budget amendment of $25,000 to the Public Works Contractual Services line item to cover cost for emergency repairs to the sanitary sewer system, restorations and  any minor contingencies to homes on Lyn Court and a home on Homewood Avenue; thereby, increasing the 2020/2020 budget for the Public Works Contractual Services line item from $10,000 to an adjusted budget amount of $35,000. G. ORDINANCE M-2141/PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT: Consider a motion to approve an ordinance authorizing the Village President to execute a purchase and sale agreement for a 2.77-acre parcel of land from Reliable Materials Corporation in Thornton, IL in the amount of $250,000. The land will be the site of a water booster pump station as part of the Village’s Water Main Transmission Project. President Hofeld asked for comments. Trustees congratulated David Lux on his retirement from the police force. President Hofeld said he served as the unofficial Officer Friendly for the department and Trustee Burnson said Lux’s outreach to the community will be missed. President Hofeld gave special thanks to Public Works Director John Schaefer for his work on securing the property from Reliable Materials Corp. and his managing the water transmission project with the engineers from Burns & McDonnell. A motion was made by Trustee Dawkins and seconded by Trustee Heiferman to approve the Omnibus Agenda as presented. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Dawkins, Purcell, Washington, Roman, Heiferman and Burnson. NAYS –None. Motion carried. GENERAL BOARD DISCUSSION: Trustee Heiferman continues to get comments about the safety on 183rd Sreet. He asked the police to continue to enforce the speed limits there and on Ridge Road. He also asked for special attention to the neighbor’s complaint about loud noise from Mama & Me Pizza. He said he lives a block away and can hear the music loudly. A motion was made by Trustee Purcell and seconded by Trustee Roman to move to Executive Session to discuss pending litigation. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Dawkins, Purcell, Washington, Roman, Heiferman and Burnson. NAYS –None. Motion carried. The board moved to Executive Session at 7:33 p.m. The board returned from Executive Session at 7:55 p.m. A motion was made by Trustee Dawkins and seconded by Trustee Washington to adjourn the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Dawkins, Purcell, Washington, Roman, Heiferman and Burnson. NAYS –None. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Marilyn Thomas Village Clerk