Board of Trustees

Village of Peoria Heights Board of Trustees September 3, 2024 The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. Everyone stood for a moment of silence and the Pledge to the Flag. Upon calling roll, the following Trustees were present: Sarah DeVore, Jeff Goett, Elizabeth Khazzam, Jennifer Reichert, Matthew Wigginton, and Brandon Wisenburg. Others present included Mayor Michael Phelan, Village Administrator and Chief of Police Dustin Sutton, Village Clerk Stephanie Turner, and Village Counsel Attorney Mark Walton. Trustee Khazzam made a motion to approve the minutes from the August 20 and August 27, 2024 meetings. Trustee Wisenburg seconded the motion. The minutes were approved 6-0. Mayor Phelan opened the meeting to public comment. Mr. Greg Walters, 800 E Toledo Ave, shared comments from Fire Chief Dan Decker. Fire Chief Decker is absent to assist with an Honor Flight. Fire Chief Decker wrote about his efforts to schedule and resolve the number of no shows to calls. Fire Chief Decker stated that the proposed structure of one volunteer and one full-time employee was the only one that provided around the clock coverage. He stated that without employees the PHFD would struggle to fill shifts, and residents may experience delays waiting for mutual aid. Mr. Walters continued with his personal comments. He expressed anger that the Board was revisiting its previous decision. He expressed the Board had made a commitment to hiring full-time personnel, and the Board needed to honor the commitment. He expressed doubt about the financial projections and the Board’s alternate plans. He said the PHFD was making incremental progress, and that the Board should respect the fire chief’s plan. He asked the Board to reject the proposal. Mr. Ray Lockheart opined that the Board was taking a knee-jerk reaction. He noted that new businesses would replace those that had closed. He stated rescinding the hiring would be a big mistake expressing his agreement with Mr. Walters’ statements. Mr. Norm Reichert, 5616 N Glen Elm Dr, questioned having a fully staffed police department and not hiring full-time firefighters. He expressed confusion funding police pensions and worrying about fire pensions. Mr. Reichert said the Board should reimburse applicants the testing fee. He spoke about the training firefighters need. He noted the Board was in a difficult position whatever action they took. Ms. Cathy Stevenson, 1505 E Glen Ave, noted the meeting was a refreshing debate, and the Board was working to come to the best decision for the Village. She noted the Board didn’t want to embark on a path without a sustainable way to pay for expenses. Ms. Stevenson spoke about past presentations lacking sufficient detail speculating the Board may have deferred if they’d had more information. Ms. Stevenson stated the Village is dependent on sales tax regardless of financial projections. She noted that there are issues with staffing all around the area, and the newer generations have different priorities. Ms. Stevenson expressed the Board would need to carefully consider alternative funding if the positions aren’t rescinded. She thanked the Board for their time and effort. Mayor Phelan clarified Attorney Walton had advised rescinding the resolution to hire would require a simple majority vote rather than requiring a three-quarters vote. Mr. Andrian Cavender, 4961 N Grandview Dr, expressed support for hiring full-time firefighters. He noted he was unfamiliar with the Village’s finances, but he has experiences helping small fire departments get grant funding. He commented it’s a multi-faceted national issue, but he believes the PHFD is moving in the right direction. He stated the Board’s responsibility is to set budgets and to let the fire chief set personnel and pay structure for the department. He noted the Board should keep public safety at the top of their priorities. Ms. Mary Bair stated the Board had hired the Fire Chief Decker to do a job, and she expressed her belief the City of Peoria would have been more expensive than retaining internal service. Mr. Joe Genzel, 1512 E Moneta Ave, spoke about his impression the PHFD’s morale had improved. He expressed disappointment the hiring was in limbo because of financial concerns. He noted candidates might decline the position due to financial concerns. He spoke about previous community support of the PHFD and noted the Board needed to find funding prior to hiring full-time employees. He asked the Board to consider all expenses as well as call volume and response times. He expressed his desire to make sure the hybrid model was the safest and most efficient before the Board raised taxes. Mr. Ben Thompson, captain in the PHFD, assured residents the PHFD will provide service. He noted that regardless of pay the PHFD does its best to maintain its professional demeanor. He stated the PHFD is creating its own skilled firefighters and spoke about the PHFD’s training. Hearing no other comments, Mayor Phelan closed the meeting to public comment, and the Board moved on to old business. Hearing no old business, the Board moved on to new business. Trustee Khazzam made a motion to approve Ordinance 2024-1733: an Ordinance Approving and Authorizing the Execution of a Business Development District No. 1 Redevelopment Agreement By and Between the Village of Peoria Heights And Artemis Peoria, LLC and Lindsey M. Swischul. Trustee DeVore seconded the motion. Trustee Khazzam explained the Village had a new salon. Ms. Swischul has put significant funds into redeveloping the site, and the grant is requesting $10,000 in funds to help with the development. The Board voted 6-0 to approve the ordinance. Trustee Khazzam made a motion to approve Ordinance 2024-1734: an Ordinance Approving and Authorizing the Execution of a Business Development District No. 1 Redevelopment Agreement By and Between the Village of Peoria Heights and Roof Tiger, PLLC and Harold N. Morrow. Trustee Goett seconded the motion. Trustee Khazzam shared the businesses had been in the Village for some time. The businesses have moved and improved the exterior of the building. Director Aldrich stated the grant is for signage. The current signs will come down and be replaced. Director Aldrich noted the grant agreement is similar to many grants given in the past, but it has been structured as a forgivable loan. Trustee Wisenburg asked if the business does any sales which would generate sales tax. Mr. Ben Morrow, the owner, stated they don’t, but they have invested heavily in the building and improved its appearance. Mr. Morrow requested an extension due to issues with the sign maker. Mayor Phelan noted it was the second sign Roof Tiger had requested. Trustee Wigginton expressed appreciation for Roof Tiger’s contribution to the Village, but he supported using BDD funds for businesses which generate sales tax into the fund. H noted he’d be voting no as it didn’t generate sales tax. Trustee Wisenburg asked if the Village had a limit on the number of times a business could apply for funds. Trustee Khazzam stated the Village didn’t but that could be changed. Trustee Khazzam noted her position had long been that when there are improvements to the exterior of a building it does improve the Village. Mayor Phelan agreed with Trustee Khazzam about general improvements for the Village but suggested the Board might want to provide direction and clarify some of the gray areas. Mr. Morrow noted he was very pleased with the Village and resolved to donate $5,000 to the PHFD. The Board voted 5-1 to approve the ordinance. Trustee Wigginton voted nay. Director Aldrich provided an update on the ongoing projects. He noted they continue to progress, and there will public meetings held soon. Trustee DeVore thanked Director Aldrich for making online attendance options available. Trustee DeVore made a motion to approve Resolution 2024-14: a Resolution Rescinding Prior Resolution 2024-06 Regarding the Hiring of Full-Time Firefighters. Trustee Khazzam seconded the motion. Mayor Phelan stated again Attorney Walton has expressed the legal opinion that it takes a simple majority. Trustee DeVore acknowledged the comments from the residents. She noted the Board has tried very hard to make the best decisions possible, but that information continues to change. She noted she might have made different decisions in the past if she had the information she does. She stated she had asked many questions, and the decisions aren’t being taken lightly. Trustee DeVore stated the Board is on a deadline, and she is not proposing the Board never hire a full-time firefighter, but that she needs to continue to gather information. She noted the Board is responsible for setting the number of full-time positions, and the finances work in the current fiscal year because the salaries are for a partial year. She noted members of the Board have been approached by residents requesting tax increases to fund the PHFD, but she expressed it was difficult when the Board has repeatedly taken a position of refusing to increase taxes. She spoke about the difficulty of accommodating the requests of the residents while balancing financial needs. Trustee Goett asked what ballot the question would be on, and Trustee DeVore explained it would be on the April consolidated election. Trustee Goett expressed support for hiring three full-time positions. Trustee Khazzam noted her position had been steady. Trustee Khazzam noted the PHFD had been supported in the past, but it wasn’t a paid department. She said she had voted in the past to support salaries, but she was concerned that the Village couldn’t fund three full- time employees. Trustee Khazzam expressed regret the situation had progressed to this point, but she noted if the Board didn’t rescind the three positions then the positions would be filled. Trustee Wisenburg thanked Trustee DeVore for her efforts to get information to the Board. Trustee Wisenburg noted the Board had been discussing the issue for years and expressed concern that rescinding the hiring of the positions would leave the Village without coverage. Trustee Khazzam argued that Fire Chief Decker had made incredible strides in coverage even without the hiring of full-time positions. She stated the coverage issues had already improved. Trustee Wisenburg expressed his belief the only way to guarantee coverage was to hire staff. Trustee Wigginton thanked Trustee DeVore as well especially her work bringing the financial concerns to the Board’s attention noting it was very brave to advocate for the discussion. Trustee Wigginton noted he also had concerns since Fire Chief Decker’s plan required both volunteer and paid staff to succeed. Mayor Phelan expressed disagreement that the financial information was new. He noted there were moving targets, but Administration had provided information regarding salaries and benefits from the beginning. He noted the pension cost was a big concern as actuaries hadn’t weighed in to specify the full costs. Mayor Phelan noted the Board needed to find solutions. Trustee Reichert noted she came from firefighters, and she loves the Village. She stated numbers don’t lie, and the Village needed to be able to financially support its decisions. She expressed the PHFD is doing a great job while the Board is trying to make the decision, and the PHFD wouldn’t go anywhere. She noted the decision isn’t just about the people but about the money. She expressed concern the PHFD wouldn’t be present in 5 years because of the finances. She noted the Board’s decisions affected the residents and pausing didn’t mean the Village would go back to the City. She expressed the Board could trust the PHFD’s professionalism to allow the Board to evaluate options. Mayor Phelan asked if the current eligibility list remained if the Board voted to rescind. Attorney Walton agreed noting it would remain in effect, and the Board would be able to resume hiring with the list. Mayor Phelan thanked the Fire and Police Commission for their work. Trustee DeVore questioned if item should be deferred to get additional information. Mayor Phelan asked Mr. Walters and Mr. Shields, members of the Fire and Police Commission, if they would be amiable to deferring hiring. Both agreed. Trustee Reichert made a motion to defer, and Trustee Goett seconded the motion. The Board voted 6-0 to defer the resolution. Trustee DeVore made a motion to approve Ordinance 2024-1735: an Ordinance Establishing the Number of Authorized Class A-2 Liquor Licenses Within the Corporate Limits of the Village of Peoria Heights. Trustee Goett seconded the motion. Trustee DeVore noted the ordinance would increase the number of licenses to 16. The Board voted 6-0 to approve the ordinance. Trustee DeVore began the discussion of a ballot question on funding for the PHFD. Trustee DeVore noted she felt it would be beneficial for the Board put a nonbinding referendum on the April consolidated election ballot. She said the wording would need to be particular and looked to counsel for guidance. Trustee Khazzam expressed support. Attorney Walton suggested the Board might consider two questions. Mayor Phelan noted the Board had some time to work on the wording. Trustee Wisenburg requested the referendum be binding. Attorney Walton stated the Board couldn’t do that. Mayor Phelan expressed the Board was unlikely to act against the public vote. Trustee Wisenburg asked about sales tax versus property taxes. Attorney Walton explained sales taxes aren’t specific and restricted. The Board spoke about restrictions around sales tax and levying. Attorney Walton will develop some potential questions for the Board to discuss and adjust. Mayor Phelan requested the Board contact Attorney Walton with preference as to property tax levy or sales tax increase. Trustee Wigginton made a motion to approve the street closure for Peoria Heights Homecoming Parade on September 27, 2024 from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Trustee Khazzam seconded the motion. Trustee Wigginton detailed the parade route. Trustee Reichert encouraged residents to attend. She also welcomed businesses and encouraged them to contact the school district if they’d like to participate. Trustee Khazzam asked if there was an opportunity for donations, and Trustee Reichert agreed. The Board voted 6-0 to approve the road closure. Trustee Wigginton reported a stop sign had been installed on Glen Elm and Best per resident requests. He also noted the Board had approved the purchase of a new air conditioning unit which had just been installed in time for autumn. Mayor Phelan asked for miscellaneous business. Trustee Wisenburg stated he’d received a message a while back that Marietta had been closed for an event. Trustee Reichert noted she recalled the event, and the road wasn’t closed. Cars were allowed to pass. Chief Sutton noted it was an annual event, and they had not closed the street in the past. Mayor Phelan opened the meeting to public comment. Mr. Norm Reichert shared he was experiencing difficulty with the transition to new waste disposal providers. Chief Sutton noted he would follow up. Mr. Rob Stevenson, 1505 E Glen Ave, thanked the Board for their discussion. He expressed it was essential for the Board to continue to encourage retail in the downtown. He noted there had been a recent creep of service industries in the Prospect corridor. He asked the Board be aware of the Village’s dependence on sales tax. The meeting was closed to public comment. Trustee Wisenburg made a motion to enter executive session under the Open Meetings Act 5 ILCS 120/2(c)1 personnel. Trustee Wigginton seconded the motion. The Board voted 6-0 to enter executive session at 6:59 pm. The Board reconvened regular session at 7:16 pm. Trustee Goett made a motion to adjourn, and Trustee DeVore seconded the motion. The Board of Trustees voted 6-0 to adjourn at 7:16 pm. _____________________________________ ______________________________________ Michael Phelan, Mayor Stephanie Turner, Village Clerk