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January 22, 2009 City Council Meeting Minutes

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CALL TO ORDER

The regular meeting of the Hickory Hills City Council was called to order by Mayor Mike Howley on Thursday, January 22, 2009 at 7:44 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.

Pledge of Allegiance

Mayor Howley led the Pledge of Allegiance.

ROLL CALL

Upon roll call, the following were present:

  • Mayor, M. Howley
  • Aldermen
    L. DeRose
    D. Ferrero
    T. McAvoy
    M. McHugh
    J. Moirano
    J. Stachnik
    J. Szeszycki
    S. Zimmerman

  • City Treasurer, D. Schramm
  • City Attorney, V. Cainkar
  • City Engineer, T. Lang
  • Deputy Police Chief, M. Murphy
  • Building Commissioner, G. Betcher
  • Public Works Director, L. Boettcher
  • Deputy City Clerk, D. Catizone

Clerk Jackson and Chief Vodicka were absent. There being a quorum present, the meeting was called to order.

OPEN TO PUBLIC

Alderman Moirano moved to open the meeting to the public. Alderman Stachnik second. Aldermen DeRose, Ferrero, McAvoy, McHugh, Moirano, Stachnik, Szeszycki Zimmerman aye. So approved.

No one spoke during this portion of the meeting.

CLOSE TO PUBLIC

Alderman McAvoy moved to close the meeting to the public. Alderman Ferrero second. Aldermen DeRose, Ferrero, McAvoy, McHugh, Moirano, Stachnik, Szeszycki Zimmerman aye. So approved.

JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS

Alderman McHugh moved to approve the minutes of the regularly scheduled meeting of January 8, 2009 as printed subject to deletions or corrections. Alderman Ferrero second.

Corrections: Page 7 under Laws and Ordinances Alderman DeRose would like an addition made to his original recommendation not to issue a license to Unlimited Freight and if so, only if they paid back business fees and a fine of $100.00 per month since March of 2006.

Correction: Page 4 second paragraph roll should reflect Alderman DeRose as a nay.

Correction: Page 7 second paragraph should read: After some discussion, it was determined a $225.00 fine in addition to $300.00 for the past and current licenses will be sent to this business.

ROLL CALL: Aldermen DeRose, Ferrero, McAvoy, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Zimmerman aye. Alderman Moirano pass. So approved.

REPORTS OF CITY OFFICIALS

    MAYOR

    Mayor Howley presented Resolution 09-01, a resolution recognizing February 6, 2009 as “Wear Red Day” in Hickory Hills, in honor of 2009 Nation Heart Health Month and encourage all citizens to wear red and learn more about their heart health and raise awareness of cardiovascular disease prevention. Alderman Stachnik moved to approve Res. 09-01. Alderman Ferrero second. Aldermen DeRose, Ferrero, McAvoy, McHugh, Moirano, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

    Mayor Howley is in receipt of a request from the Hickory Hills Youth Baseball to hold a parade on April 18, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. The parade will follow the same route as in the past. Alderman Moirano moved to approve the request of the HHYB to hold a parade on April 18th. Alderman McHugh second. Aldermen DeRose, Ferrero, McAvoy, McHugh, Moirano, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

    Mayor Howley noted Andy of Andy’s Roadhouse had a previous proposal for a smoking shelter that Building Commissioner Betcher felt was not going according to the plans. He has met with the owner and the current design has been approved by Attorney Cainkar. Andy will proceed with the proposal.

    Mayor Howley reported the City has received a $40,000.00 grant for decorative street lighting. As part of this grant, a sample of the new sign was displayed to the Council. The signs will be placed on 88th Avenue , Roberts Road, 78th Avenue, 76th Court and 76th Avenue. This installation has to go through IDOT before it begins sometime in the spring.

    Mayor Howley met with the tollway engineers for the 95th Street Bridge project. They are going to send a proposal which our Attorney will review. Mayor Howley noted the concrete stamps that will be used will come from the Morton Arboretum. The City will have to decide what kind of leaf will be placed on the sign and also the wording. Mayor Howley asked the Council what they would prefer. The Council agreed on “Welcome to the City of Hickory Hills”. Mayor Howley will keep the Council informed on the progress of this project.

    Mayor Howley is in receipt of a request from a person who would like to sell stuffed teddy bears on Valentine’s Day weekend at the Speedway Gas Station on 95th Street. This would be a fundraiser for the Master’s Touch United Pentecostal Church of Chicago. This request was denied.

    Mayor Howley thanked Brendon Houlihan from the Cook County Board of Review who held a tax appeal seminar on Monday, January 12th.

    Mayor Howley noted the Senior Club installed their new officers on Wednesday and he wished them a great year.

    Mayor Howley gave an update on the Pace’s planned new addition of bus routes on 95th Street. They will be adding 1 or 2 morning and afternoon bus routes travelling from 88th Avenue east on 95th Street to Pulaski Avenue. This modification will assist local students and residents.

    This is planned to begin in March of this year. Mayor Howley noted bus schedule changes have now been posted.

    CITY CLERK

    No report submitted.

    CITY TREASURER

    No report submitted.

    CITY ATTORNEY

    Attorney Cainkar opened the public hearing for the purpose of discussing the Cook County Community Block Grant Program. (See attached minutes.)

    Ord. 09-01

    Attorney Cainkar presented Ordinance 09-01, an ordinance amending Section 6.10, water rates, of Chapter 6, water service, of the Hickory Hills Municipal Code by changing water rates. The rate shall be $4.45 per 1,000 gallons subject to the following minimums: commercial user’s 5,000 gallons minimum billing at $22.25 per month. Single family/residential user’s minimum billing 12,000 gallons at $53.40 per quarterly billing. Alderman McAvoy moved to approve Ord. 09-01. Alderman Ferrero second. Aldermen DeRose, Ferrero, McAvoy, McHugh, Moirano, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

    Attorney Cainkar presented Ordinance 09-02, an ordinance amending Section 7.09, basis for wastewater service charges, of Chapter 7, sanitary sewer service, of the Hickory Hills Municipal Code by changing sanitary sewer rates. A basic user charge of $3.30 per month plus $0.77 per thousand gallons or fraction thereof is established. Alderman Moirano moved to approve Ord. 09-02. Alderman Szeszycki second. Alderman DeRose, Ferrreo, McAvoy, McHugh, Moirano, Szeszycki, Zimmerman aye. Alderman Stachnik nay. So approved.

    CITY ENGINEER

    No report submitted.

    COMMUNICATIONS

    BILLS PAYABLE

    Alderman Moirano moved to approve bills payable for the second half of January 2009 in the amount of $341,686.93. Alderman McHugh second. Aldermen DeRose, Ferrero, McAvoy, McHugh, Moirano, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

    STANDING COMMITTEES

      Szeszycki – Finance

      No report submitted.

      Zimmerman – Public Safety

      No report submitted.

      Moirano – Public Works

      Alderman Moirano reported since the last meeting he noted the plow blades have been changed to steel. He noted rubber blades were used for twenty years and there will be a period of adjustment for plow drivers.

      Alderman Moirano noted Public Works has received 150 tons of the recently ordered salt.

      McHugh – Building/Facilities

      No report submitted.

      DeRose – Laws & Ordinances

      Alderman DeRose reported he called Unlimited Freight Inc. and they have paid the past due business licenses.

      Stachnik – Health & Environmental Control/Recycling

      No report submitted

      Ferrero – Community Affairs/Youth Advisory Board

      Alderman Ferrero reported the Youth Board will hold an ice cream social and jazz concert on February 18th at the Community Center at 5:30 p.m.

      McAvoy – Chamber/Business Development

      Alderman McAvoy reported on the meeting with Commonwealth Edison on Friday, January 16, 2009. He noted Mayor Howley, Alderman DeRose, Representatives from Com Ed and a concerned resident were present. They identified some hot areas and will continue communicating.

      Alderman McAvoy read a thank you letter from Mr. George Czarnak from the HHYB for the check they received for their share of working the Bingo Tent at the Street Fair.

    UNFINISHED BUSINESS

    None.

    NEW BUSINESS

    Mayor Howley reported there is a billboard on 95th Street at PGN and the owner would like to improve this billboard. He will be working with the Building Department on this project.

    Alderman Moirano expressed his gratitude for the Council’s thoughts and prayers during the recent loss of his mother.

    ADJOURNMENT

    Alderman Ferrero moved to adjourn the meeting until the next regularly scheduled or specially called meeting. Alderman Moirano second. Aldermen DeRose, Ferrero, McAvoy, McHugh, Moirano, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

    Meeting adjourned at 8:31 p.m.