Board of Trustees Meeting

VILLAGE OF HOMEWOOD BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2023 VILLAGE HALL BOARD ROOM CALL TO ORDER: President Hofeld called the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees to order at 7:05 p.m. (after the Truth in Taxation hearing) 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 Julie Willis, Trustee Anne Colton, Trustee Vivian Harris-Jones, Trustee Jay Heiferman and Trustee Lauren Roman. President Hofeld introduced staff present: Village Manager Napoleon Haney, Village Attorney Chris Cummings, Assistant Village Manager Tyler Hall, Public Works Director John Schaefer, Finance Director Amy Zukowski, Fire Chief Bob Grabowski and Police Chief Denise McGrath. MINUTES: The minutes of the meeting of November 28, 2023, were presented. There were no comments or corrections. A motion was made by Trustee Colton and seconded by Trustee Willis to approve the minutes as presented. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Purcell, Willis, Colton, Heiferman Harris-Jones and Roman. NAYS – None. Motion carried. CLAIMS LIST: The Claims List in the amount of $779,650.98 was presented. There were no questions from the Trustees. A motion was made by Trustee Colton and seconded by Trustee Willis to approve the Claims List as presented. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Purcell, Willis, Colton, Harris-Jones, Heiferman and Roman. NAYS – None. Motion carried. President Hofeld said two items totaled two-thirds of the Claims List: $267,684.75 to the City of Chicago Heights for Lake Michigan water, and $245,199.05 for the December payment for employees’ health insurance. MEET THE MERCHANTS: President Hofeld said merchants were busy this holiday season. He will introduce a merchant at the January meeting. HEAR FROM THE AUDIENCE: President Hofeld invited comments on any subject not on the agenda. No comments were offered. OATH OF OFFICE: Fire Chief Grabowski, who oversees the Building Department, introduced Dennis Johnson, the new chief building inspector. Clerk Thomas administered the oath of office to Mr. Johnson. OMNIBUS REPORT: The board is asked to pass, approve, authorize, accept or award the following items: A. MC-1077/Lien Preparation and Recording/Nuisance Vegetation Removal: Pass an ordinance amending section 20-87 of the Homewood Municipal Code regarding the procedure for preparing and recording liens relating to nuisance vegetation removal from private property. B. MC-1078/Administrative Adjudication/Standards for Compliance and Enforcement: Pass an ordinance allowing the Village of Homewood to adopt home rule standards to enhance compliance and enforcement of our Fire and Building Codes through our local Administrative Adjudication hearing process. C. Approval of Fund Transfer/General Fund/Capital Projects Fund: Approve the transfer of $2,000,000 from the General Fund (Fund 01) unassigned fund balance to the Capital Projects Fund (Fund 37). D. Purchase/Lighting/Southgate TIF: Waive competitive bidding and accept the lowest cost proposal received to purchase of two (2) Hadco Hagerstown LED fixtures and two (2) 23’ ValmontTM pole with twin aluminum arms from Crescent Electric Supply Company of Joliet Illinois, in the amount of $26,178 for installation in the Southgate TIF. E. Purchase of Material/Drainage Improvements/Terrace Road Parking Lot/Southgate TIF: Waive competitive bidding, based on the utilization of existing contracted vendors to purchase material that has been bid competitively for other projects; and, approve the purchase of construction materials to be used by Village staff in constructing drainage improvements for the Terrace Road parking lot project in the Southgate TIF, in an amount not to exceed $47,065.20. F. M-2273/Termination of TIF/Southwest Central Business District: Pass an ordinance terminating the Southwest Central Business District Redevelopment Project area in the Village of Homewood. G. 2023 Real Estate Tax Levy Ordinances: a. M-2274: Pass an ordinance levying taxes for corporate purposes and for special funds for the fiscal year commencing on the first day of May 2024 and ending on the thirtieth day of April 2025 for the Village of Homewood. b. M-2275: Pass an ordinance increasing the 2023 Street and Bridge tax levy in the Village of Homewood. c. M-2276: Pass an ordinance directing the Cook County Clerk to reduce the Village of Homewood's 2023 levy, if necessary, to comply with the property tax extension limitation law. Before the vote, Trustee Colton asked Finance Director Zukowski to explain the Village’s actions on the General Obligation bond. Zukowski explained that the latest audit showed a fund balance in the Village’s General Fund. In September, the Board voted to increase the fund balance policy from three months to four months revenue on-hand. Because of the strong fund balance, the Village can delay additional borrowing. The Board may revisit the need for borrowing in Fall 2024. Trustee Heiferman thanked Director Zukowski for materials she shared with the board that offered a concise picture. A motion was made by Trustee Purcell and seconded by Trustee Colton to approve the Omnibus Report as submitted. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Purcell, Willis, Colton, Harris-Jones, Heiferman and Roman. NAYS – None. Motion carried. GENERAL BOARD DISCUSSION: Trustee Purcell announced that she is resigning from her position as a Trustee effective immediately. She had served for nearly 13 years. She said family and work obligations are limiting the amount of time she can dedicate to the position, and she felt it was time for someone else to take on the role. She thanked her fellow Trustees and village staff for all the work they do on behalf of the Village and residents. Trustee Colton said she had made a similar decision to resign from the board (five years ago) and knew how difficult it was for Trustee Purcell. Trustee Purcell received thanks from the Trustees and President Hofeld for her dedicated service to the Village. ADJOURN: A motion was made by Trustee Purcell and seconded by Trustee Willis to adjourn the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees. Roll Call: AYES—Trustees Purcell, Willis, Colton, Harris-Jones, Heiferman and Roman. NAYS – None. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Marilyn Thomas Village Clerk