Board of Trustees Meeting

VILLAGE OF HOMEWOOD BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 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 Cece Belue, Trustee Julie Willis, Trustee Vivian Harris-Jones, Trustee Jay Heiferman and Trustee Lauren Roman. Trustee Lisa Purcell was absent. President Hofeld introduced staff present: Village Manager Napoleon Haney, Attorney Christopher Cummings, Police Chief Denise McGrath, and Economic Development Director Angela Mesaros. MINUTES: The minutes of the meeting of September 13, 2022, were presented. There were no comments or corrections. A motion was made by Trustee Roman and seconded by Trustee Belue to approve the minutes as presented. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Belue, Willis, Harris-Jones, Heiferman and Roman. NAYS –None. Motion carried. CLAIMS LIST: The Claims List in the amount of $1,012,719.85 was presented. There were no questions from the Trustees. A motion was made by Trustee Roman and seconded by Trustee Harris-Jones to approve the Claims List as presented. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Belue, Willis, Harris-Jones, Heiferman and Roman. NAYS –None. Motion carried. President Hofeld said two items totaled 78 percent of the Claims List: $349,378.96 to Burns & McDonnell Engineers for work on the water supply conversion project, and $436,766.62 to K-Five Construction for street repairs. HEAR FROM THE AUDIENCE: About a dozen members of the Coalition for Justice for Madeline Miller came forward to address the Board. Those who spoke primarily asked Homewood to lead a coalition of South Suburbs to initiate a crisis response team for incidents where police are called to help with someone who is mentally ill. The speakers believe better mental health response would reduce the incidences of police shooting persons who are mentally ill, as recently happened in Flossmoor. The group also asked for an elected community oversight board to examine police actions. Casey Kueltzo, part of the coalition, also asked the Board to help reduce the chemical spraying on lawns because it is harmful to the community’s better health. He also asked Trustees to work with small businesses in town to keep downtown Homewood a vibrant place. APPOINTMENTS: A motion was made by Trustee Roman and seconded by Trustee Belue to approve the appointments of Tikia Kidd and James Scheffke to the Appearance Commission for three-year terms serving through September 27, 2025. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Belue, Willis, Harris-Jones, Heiferman and Roman. NAYS –None. Motion carried. Clerk Thomas issued the oath of office to Ms. Kidd and Mr. Scheffke. PRESENTATION: Clerk Thomas read a proclamation recognizing the 110-year history of St. Joseph Church and Parish in Homewood. The parish will be disbanded October 16, 2022, and a new parish will be organized enfolding St. Joseph, St. Anne in Hazel Crest and St. Emeric in Country Club Hills into a new parish that will be based at the former St. Joseph in Homewood. OATH OF OFFICE: Clerk Thomas administered the oath of office to Marla Youngblood, the new events manager. OMNIBUS VOTE: The board was asked to consider a motion to pass, approve, authorize, accept, or award the following item(s): A. Appointment/Paul Jordan/Fire and Police Commission: Formalize the appointment of Paul Jordan to the Fire and Police Commission for a three-year term ending on September 27, 2025. B. R-3123/District 153 Referendum: Pass a resolution encouraging citizens to become familiar with information provided by School District 153 regarding the proposed referendum question to increase the District’s limiting rate scheduled to be included on the November 8, 2022 ballot. C. R-3124/Police Department/Vincent Starks: Pass a resolution honoring Officer Vincent Starks for his 20 years of service to the Homewood Police Department. D. R-3125/Retirement/Paul Blake Werner: Pass a resolution honoring Officer Paul Blake Werner on his retirement from the Homewood Police Department. E. Agreement/Marketing Consultant Services/Rachael Jones: Approve a budget amendment in the amount of $29,750; and, authorize the Village Manager to engage Rachael Jones of Grant Park, IL in a Consultant Service Agreement to provide marketing services to the Village of Homewood for an amount not to exceed $4,250 per month from October 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023. F. M-2229/Special Use/Variance/Tattoo Studio/18354 Governors Highway: Pass an ordinance granting a special use permit and variance to allow the operation of a tattoo studio at 18354 Governors Highway. G. Agreement/Collective Bargaining/Police Union: Approve a four-year Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Village of Homewood and the Metropolitan Alliance of Police (MAP) Union. Before the vote, Trustee Heiferman asked the community to join him in supporting the District 153 referendum to keep Homewood schools strong. He also applauded the Village team for hiring Rachel Jones for marketing needs. He is happy to see her back working for Homewood. Trustee Heiferman also asked if the municipal codes will do away with the requirements that forced the village to grant a variance for the tattoo parlor. Trustee Roman also said she supported the District 153 referendum that will improve the district’s finances so it can continue to offer its host of programs for students, in addition to its educational program. She also said improving school finances will help keep Homewood home values strong. She too is excited about Rachel Jones returning to Homewood. President Hofeld said he too is delighted that Rachel Jones will be working for the Village again. President Hofeld invited the owner of the Tattoo Parlor, Payton Bernard, to come forward and address the Board. He thanked Trustees for the vote of support for Big Brother Tattoos. He hopes to open up within the next month. President Hofeld pointed out that there was an error in the total amount of the contract for Rachel Jones. The corrected amount should be $29,750. A motion was made by Trustee Roman and seconded by Trustee Heiferman to approve the Omnibus Vote as amended. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Belue, Willis, Harris-Jones, Heiferman and Roman. NAYS –None. Motion carried. GENERAL BOARD DISCUSSION: Trustee Belue thanked Village staff for all the work put in to making Fall Fest a great event. Trustee Heiferman and Trustee Roman agreed. Trustee Willis told members of the Coalition for Justice for Madeline Miller that she was moved by their presentations and ideas, and Trustee Harris-Jones agreed. Trustee Heiferman said he agreed with their arguments. Trustee Roman thanked the Coalition members for speaking and she hopes to see something happening in the future on the issue of mental health. ADJOURN: A motion was made by Trustee Roman and seconded by Trustee Willis to adjourn the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Belue, Willis, Harris-Jones, Heiferman and Roman. NAYS –None. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 7:48 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Marilyn Thomas Village Clerk