Board of Trustees Meeting

VILLAGE OF HOMEWOOD BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING TUESDAY MAY 24, 2022 VILLAGE HALL BOARD ROOM CALL TO ORDER: President Hofeld called the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees to order at 7:00 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: 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 Lisa Purcell, Trustee Vivian Harris-Jones, Trustee Lauren Roman, and Trustee Jay Heiferman. Trustee Cece Belue and Trustee Karen Washington were absent. President Hofeld introduced staff present: Village Manager Napoleon Haney, Assistant Village Manager Justine Bruno, Attorney Christopher Cummings, Director of Finance Dennis Bubenik, and Police Chief Denise McGrath. MINUTES: The minutes of the meeting of May 10, 2022, were presented. There were no comments or corrections. A motion was made by Trustee Roman and seconded by Trustee Harris-Jones to approve the minutes as presented. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Purcell, Harris-Jones, Heiferman and Roman. NAYS –None. Motion carried. CLAIMS LIST: The Claims List in the amount of $871,863.17 was presented. There were no questions from the Trustees. A motion was made by Trustee Purcell and seconded by Trustee Roman to approve the Claims List as presented. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Purcell, Harris-Jones, Roman and Heiferman. NAYS –None. Motion carried. President Hofeld said two items totaled 70 percent of the Claims List: $310,582.69 to the City of Harvey for Lake Michigan water, and $297,849 to Performance Pipelining, Inc. for sanitary sewer lining work. HEAR FROM THE AUDIENCE: President Hofeld invited anyone in the audience to discuss any item not on the agenda. One resident came forward to ask what improvements could be made to the Dixie Highway viaduct. President Hofeld said the Village recognizes the deteriorating condition, but the viaduct is maintained by the State of Illinois. The Village has made numerous appeals and works through elected officials to get work done on the viaduct. She then asked why the Village would be putting the new water tower so close to the entrance into Homewood for drivers coming from the north. President Hofeld explained that there were few options for where a new water tower could be situated, and he assured the questioner that the site would be landscaped. Her next concern was about downtown parking, which she said is very limited, especially with the Hartford Building construction. President Hofeld said guests are welcome to park in the commuter lot along Harwood Avenue, but the woman said she’d be too afraid of parking there. She then said the Village needs to do something about vacant storefronts, which she said leaves a bad presentation for the Village. President Hofeld said the Village is working with new businesses all the time. He told the questioner that she was welcome to come to Village Hall on Saturday mornings to discuss her suggestions with him. A second questioner also raised the issue of the location for the new water tower. His son owns a home near the site and he asked whether the road behind the old library building would be closed off. President Hofeld said that would depend on the design of the water tower, which will have three times the capacity of the current water tank behind Village Hall. PRESENTATIONS: A student from Homewood-Flossmoor High School explained the “Smiles Are Contagious” exhibit that is part of the international InsideOut Project. Students would begin installing larger-than-life photos pasted onto a visible wall in the Village. Students would begin installing the photos June 1 and they would remain in place until they come down naturally through changes in weather. Special Events Coordinator Allisa Opyd introduced Nikki Fisher, the new manager of the Homewood Farmer’s Market. Fisher invited everyone to the first market of the year on May 28 marking the 40th anniversary of Homewood’s Farmer’s Market. Fisher said she hopes to get feedback – both positive and negative – so that she can gauge what’s working and what needs improvement at the market. Trustees applauded her involvement and wished her well for the 2022 season. OMNIBUS VOTE: The board was asked to consider a motion to pass, approve, authorize, accept, or award the following item(s): A. M-2221/Solicitation of Alternate Bids/2024 Chestnut Road: Pass an ordinance directing the solicitation of alternate bids and proposals for the development of the property at 2024 Chestnut Road in the Downtown TOD Redevelopment Project Area. B. R-3112/Fund Appropriation/2022 Rebuild IL Bond Resurfacing Program: Pass a supplemental resolution appropriating an additional $8,000 of Motor Fuel Tax funds for K- Five Construction Corporation, of Westmont, IL to backfill new curb sections with concrete along Hawthorne Road. C. MC-1061/Liquor License Increase/Culture Food and Entertainment Group, Inc./18031 Dixie Highway: Pass an ordinance increasing the allowed number of Class 4A liquor licenses by one to accommodate the request from Culture Food and Entertainment Group, Inc. to acquire a Class 4A 75/25 Restaurant with bar liquor license for their location at 18031 Dixie Highway. D. Sublease Consent/Homewood Science Center/18022 Dixie Highway: Consent to the Homewood Science Center subleasing a portion of the Science Center property to the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana for one year, beginning June 1, 2022 and ending on May 31, 2023. A motion was made by Trustee Purcell and seconded by Trustee Roman to approve the Omnibus Report as presented. Trustee Heiferman asked if two weeks was sufficient time for alternate bids (Item A). Village Attorney Cummings explained that the time period for soliciting alternate bids complied with the TIF Act. Trustee Heiferman also made note that the Homewood Science Center is leasing space (Item D) that is not essential to the overall operation of the Science Center. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Purcell, Harris-Jones, Roman and Heiferman. NAYS –None. Motion carried. NEW BUSINESS: A request for a special use and parking variation for a proposed business at 18159 Dixie Highway. A motion was made by Trustee Purcell and seconded by Trustee Heiferman to defer this matter to the next Village Board Meeting so it could be considered by the entire board. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Purcell, Harris-Jones, Heiferman and Roman. NAYS –None. Motion carried. GENERAL BOARD DISCUSSION: None. EXECUTIVE SESSION: A motion was made by Trustee Purcell and seconded by Trustee Harris-Jones to move to Executive Session to discuss collective bargaining. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Purcell, Harris-Jones, Roman and Heiferman. NAYS –None. Motion carried. The Village Board returned from Executive Session at 8:18 p.m. ADJOURN: A motion was made by Trustee Purcell and seconded by Trustee Roman to adjourn the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees. The meeting adjourned at 8:18 p.m. on a voice vote. Respectfully submitted, Marilyn Thomas Village Clerk