Board of Trustees Meeting

VILLAGE OF HOMEWOOD BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 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, Trustee Julie Willis, Trustee Vivian Harris-Jones, Trustee Jay Heiferman and Trustee Lauren Roman. President Hofeld introduced staff present: Village Manager Napoleon Haney, Village Attorney Chris Cummings, Director of Finance Dennis Bubenik. MINUTES: The minutes of the meeting of October 25, 2022, were presented. There were no comments or corrections. A motion was made by Trustee Roman and seconded by Trustee Heiferman to approve the minutes as presented. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Belue, Willis, Harris-Jones, Heiferman and Roman. NAYS –None. ABSTAIN –Trustee Purcell. Motion carried. CLAIMS LIST: The Claims List in the amount of $696,746.43 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, Belue, Willis, Harris-Jones, Heiferman and Roman. NAYS – None. Motion carried. President Hofeld said two items totaled 66 percent of the Claims List: $222,709.50 to the City of Chicago Heights for water, and $235,577.37 for employees’ health insurance for November. HEAR FROM THE AUDIENCE: President Hofeld invited anyone in the audience to address the board on any subject not on the agenda. No comments were offered. APPOINTMENTS: A motion was made by Trustee Purcell and seconded by Trustee Harris-Jones to accept President Hofeld’s nomination of Dennis Bubenik to the Firefighters/ Pension Board for a three-year term ending Nov. 8, 2025, and the appointment of Trustee Jay Heiferman as the Village Board’s President Pro Tem. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Purcell, Belue, Willis, Harris-Jones and Roman. NAYS –None. ABSTAIN – Heiferman. Motion carried. PROCLAMATIONS: Clerk Thomas read a proclamation honoring Marty and Kyle Arrivo as they retire from Homewood Florist. The business had been in downtown Homewood for more than 60 years. Marty Arrivo thanked the board for the proclamation and thanked the residents of Homewood for their support over the many years that he and his father ran the business. Clerk Thomas read a proclamation honoring Kim Phillipos, owner of Mama & Me Pizzeria that closed in downtown Homewood after 32 years in business. Ms. Phillipos said she misses her interactions with staff and the wonderful customers. She called operating the business a lovely experience. OMNIBUS VOTE: Consider a motion to pass, approve, authorize, accept, or award these item(s): A. Reappointments/Tree Committee: Approve the reappointment of Jason Baldauf to the TREE Committee for a three-year term ending on November 8, 2025, and the reappointment of Janet Hernandez to the TREE Committee for a three-year term ending on November 8, 2025. B. Incentive Agreement/2135 183rd Street/Nix Nax: Authorize the Village President to enter into an agreement with Ronald Nixon of Nix Nax to provide financial assistance from the Southwest Central Business District Tax Increment Financing Faç ade and Property Improvement Program in the amount of $17,925 for building improvements at 2135 183rd Street. C. MC-1066/Liquor License/2059 Ridge Road/Ridgewood Tap: Pass an ordinance increasing the allowed number of class 1 liquor licenses by one for R. Scott Donkel, LLC d/b/a Ridgewood Tap at 2059 Ridge Road. D. Memorandum of Understanding/AFSCME Union: Approve the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Village of Homewood and the Public Works union represented as the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) AFL-CIO, Council 31, Local 2891. Approval of the MOU effectively closes the collective bargaining agreement until its expiration on April 30, 2025. E. Incentive Agreement/2155 183rd Street/Blueberry Hill: Authorize the Village President to enter into an agreement with George Nikolopoulos, of Blueberry Hill, to provide financial assistance from the Southwest Central Business District Tax Increment Financing Faç ade and Property Improvement Program in the amount of $65,000 for building improvements at 2155 183rd Street. F. R-3129/Budget Amendment/Purchase of Real Estate/Sale of Surplus Property/174th Street: Approve a budget amendment in the amount of $43,000 in the Northeast Tax Increment Financing District (TIF) Fund; authorize the purchase of Parcel T-1A-502.EX from the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority for $43,000; and pass a resolution authorizing the sale of surplus real estate owned by the Village of Homewood consisting of a portion of the 174th Street right-of-way west of Halsted Street identified as Parcel T-1A- 502.EX in the Village of Homewood. This surplus property will be sold to Wind Creek Casino so that 174th Street can be the access road for the casino under construction. A motion was made by Trustee Purcell and seconded by Trustee Belue to approve the Omnibus Report as presented. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Purcell, Belue, Willis, Harris-Jones, Heiferman and Roman. NAYS – None. Motion carried. President Hofeld asked Scott Donkel when he expected to reopen Ridgewood Tap under his ownership. He said he is working with an architect to make changes. He is hoping for an April 1 opening. NEW BUSINESS: Finance Director Bubenik gave an outline of the proposed 2022 tax levy of $7,145,461 showing an increase of 3.83 percent over the previous year. This is the first year since 1994, when the Illinois Legislature instituted tax caps, that taxing bodies have hit the maximum CPI cap of 5 percent as official Consumer Price Index (CPI) is at 7 percent. He said the village will also levy $3,868,599 to cover police and fire pensions, IMRF pensions, Social Security and Medicare. The total tax capped levy is $6,599,691 is up $373,567. The Village also adds an additional amount to the levy of $534,000 to pay principal and interest on in outstanding debt. The Village levy is only about 10 percent of the total tax bill. A motion was made by Trustee Purcell and seconded by Trustee Roman to instruct staff to advertise in a local newspaper the scheduled Truth in Taxation Hearing on Dec. 13 and prepare the 2022 tax levy for the Village Board to adopt at the Dec. 13 board meeting. Trustees and President Hofeld extended their thanks to Director Bubenik and his staff for their outstanding efforts. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Purcell, Belue, Willis, Harris-Jones, Heiferman and Roman. NAYS – None. Motion carried. GENERAL BOARD DISCUSSION: Trustee Willis said she was glad the Village was able to come to agreement on the agreement with the Public Works Employees union, and she was sorry to see that Homewood Florist was closing. Trustee Heiferman said he too was sorry to see Homewood Florist and Mama & Me Pizzeria closing, but he was happy to see that Nix Nax, Blueberry Hill and Ridgewood Tap are working to improve their business locations. President Hofeld reminded residents that the free leaf pickup is Nov. 16, Nov. 23 and Nov. 30. ADJOURN: A motion was made by Trustee Purcell and seconded by Trustee Roman to adjourn the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Purcell, Belue, Willis, Harris-Jones, Heiferman and Roman. NAYS – None. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 7:27 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Marilyn Thomas, Village Clerk