Board of Trustees Meeting

VILLAGE OF HOMEWOOD BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 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 Cece Belue, and Trustee Lauren Roman. Trustee Vivian Harris- Jones, and Trustee Jay Heiferman were absent. President Hofeld introduced staff present: Village Manager Napoleon Haney, Attorney Christopher Cummings, Finance Director Dennis Bubenik, Police Chief Denise McGrath, Fire Chief Bob Grabowski and Public Works Director John Schaefer. MINUTES: The minutes of the meeting of August 23, 2022, were presented. There were no comments or corrections. A motion was made by Trustee Purcell and seconded by Trustee Belue to approve the minutes as presented. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Purcell, Belue, Willis and Roman, and President Hofeld. NAYS –None. Motion carried. CLAIMS LIST: The Claims List in the amount of $1,100,263.31 was presented. There were no questions from the Trustees. A motion was made by Trustee Roman and seconded by Trustee Purcell to approve the Claims List as presented. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Purcell, Belue, Willis, and Roman and President Hofeld. NAYS –None. Motion carried. President Hofeld said four items totaled 60 percent of the Claims List: $237,237.04 to the City of Harvey for Lake Michigan water; $244.732.75 for employee health insurance for September; $93,653.42 to Thorn Creek Basin Sanitary District; and $88,272 to the Village of Thornton shared tax revenue per the agreement to close a road to Thornton allowing for improvements at Menard’s. HEAR FROM THE AUDIENCE: President Hofeld invited anyone in the audience to discuss any item not on the agenda. Stephanie Kuersten came forward to thank President Hofeld and Angela Mesaros, economic development director, for their efforts to save Bookie’s Book Store. She asked that the village do what it can to support small businesses in town. She said many are still trying to regroup after the pandemic and have landlords asking for higher rents. President Hofeld said part of the reason Bookie’s is leaving is because sales didn’t meet expectations. He said that is an example of how the community needs to support small businesses. He invited the resident to visit with him for a further discussion on the issue. APPOINTMENT: Village Manager Haney introduced President Hofeld’s choice of Paul Jordan to fill a vacancy on the Police and Fire Commission. Mr. Jordan is an assistant chief with the Matteson Police Department and has lived in Homewood for 14 years. Mr. Jordan was sworn into his new position by Clerk Thomas. OATHS OF OFFICE: Clerk Thomas administered the oath of office to Jeanine Cameli as administrative secretary in the Fire Department; Liza Javier as the new water billing clerk in the Finance Department; and Antonia Urbanski, communications and engagement specialist. Omnibus Vote: The board was asked to consider a motion to pass, approve, authorize, accept, or award the following items: A. Reappointments/Senior Advisory Committee: Approve the reappointments of Kathy Austin to the Senior Advisory Committee for a three-year term ending on September 13, 2025, and Raymond Pierre to the Senior Advisory Committee for a three-year term ending on September 13, 2025. B. M-2228/Parking Variance/810 Maple: Pass an ordinance granting a variance from Table 11.2 (Municode Table 44-487.2) Parking Requirements to allow the operation of a 11,940 square foot retail building with 26 parking spaces at 810 Maple Avenue. The Planning and Zoning Commission agreed with the proposed variance. C. Exterior Improvements/Sign Variance/17605 Halsted Street/Target: Approve exterior improvements to the Target store; and, grant a variance from Section 30-5 of the Sign Ordinance to allow an additional 111.1 square feet for the signage at 17605 Halsted Street as proposed in the drawings prepared by RSP Architects Ltd. D. MC-1065/Police Towing Licenses: Pass an ordinance amending Chapter 24, Article III Police Towing License System to eliminate the annual creation of an eligibility list for towing licenses, and to conduct an open application process when a license becomes available; and, create two categories of towing licenses; Light/Medium Duty and Heavy Duty. E. Intergovernmental Agreement/Ambulance Transport Service Reimbursements: Authorize the Village President to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Illinois Department of Health Care and Family Services for reimbursement of unrecovered costs of ambulance transports through Medicaid. F. R-3121/Motor Fuel Tax Funds/Street Patching: Pass a resolution appropriating $400,000 of Motor Fuel Tax funds to cover street patching for the period of May 1, 2022 – April 30, 2023. G. Bid Award/Saw-Cutting/Grinding/ Universal Concrete Grinding LLC: Award the 2022 Sidewalk Survey and Saw-cutting/Grinding of Trip Hazards bid to Universal Concrete Grinding LLC of Girard, OH, the lowest responsible bidder, at a unit price of $32.63 per cut/grind location, not- to-exceed $50,000. H. Bid Award/Tuckpointing/2018 Ridge Road: Award a bid to Bruno’s Tuckpointing of Hazel Crest, IL, the lowest responsible bidder, for tuckpointing services at the Homewood Science Center annex at 2018 Ridge Road in an amount not to exceed $60,340, with a unit brick replacement cost of $35, and Unit Parapet Wall Cap of $125.  I. R-3122/ITEP Grant Application/183rd Street Bike Lanes: Pass a resolution authorizing the application for Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program funding to implement a road diet with on-street bike lanes for the 183rd Street corridor, from Dixie Highway to Morgan Avenue. A motion was made by Trustee Purcell and seconded by Trustee Roman to accept the Omnibus Report as presented. Before the vote, Manager Haney shared information about the grant for work along 183rd Street. The village will be asking for support from local elected officials, the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association and other organizations that could be impacted by the change. Public Works Director Schaefer said his department will host two information sessions about the proposed redesign of 183rd Street from Dixie Highway east to Morgan Street. Sessions will be Thursday evening and Saturday morning at Village Hall. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Purcell, Belue, Willis, and Roman and President Hofeld. NAYS –None. Motion carried. NEW BUSINESS: Finance Director Bubenik told the board about a proposal from R. Scott Donkel to purchase the Ridgewood Tap at 2059 Ridge Road. Bubenik said Donkel is asking for a liquor license, and the liquor commissioner is in favor of awarding the license pending the purchase of the property and Donkel meeting all other requirements for licensing and fee payments. Donkel addressed the board. He said he is excited to be in Homewood and believes a reworking of the Ridgewood Tap would be a great addition for the downtown area. He is ready bring his ideas on the project to fruition. A motion was made by Trustee Purcell and seconded by Trustee Roman to direct staff to bring an ordinance increasing the allowed number of class 1 liquor licenses at a future Board meeting. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Purcell, Belue, Willis, and Roman and President Hofeld. NAYS –None. Motion carried. GENERAL BOARD DISCUSSION: Manager Haney invited everyone to Fall Fest on Saturday, September 24, on Martin Avenue, and he encouraged cooks to enter the annual chili contest that will be conducted during Fall Fest. EXECUTIVE SESSION: A motion was made by Trustee Roman and seconded by Trustee Purcell for the Board to move to Executive Session to discuss collective bargaining under 5 ILCS 120/2(c)2. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Purcell, Belue, Willis, and Roman and President Hofeld. NAYS –None. Motion carried. The board moved to Executive Session at 7:30 p.m. The board returned from Executive Session at 7:45 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 was adjourned on voice vote at 7:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Marilyn Thomas Village Clerk