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February 25, 2010 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, February 25, 2010 at 7:35 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 Clerk, J. Jackson
  • City Attorney, V. Cainkar
  • Police Chief, A. Vodicka
  • Public Works Director, L. Boettcher
  • Building Commissioner, G. Betcher
  • Deputy Clerk, D. Catizone

City Engineer Tom Lang was absent. There being a quorum present, the meeting was called to order.

OPEN TO PUBLIC

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

Mrs. Kathy Karpowicz
8800 S. 85th Court

Mrs. Karpowicz explained she had a sewer back up at her house on January 24th. She immediately called the Police and they notified Public Works who responded within an hour. The damage was very severe and the lower level of her home had to be gutted. She noted she received a letter from the City’s insurance carrier saying the City has no liability. Her homeowners insurance did not cover this incident because she did not carry the sewer backage rider. Alderman Szeszycki noted in his opinion the City should have some responsibility. Mayor Howley apologized for this terrible situation.

She asked if other residents are aware they would need this sewer rider and she noted she will tell everyone about it.

CLOSE TO PUBLIC

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

JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS

Alderman McHugh moved to approve the minutes of the regularly scheduled meeting of February 11, 2010 as printed subject to deletions or corrections. Correction: Page 1 Add Alderman L. DeRose to roll call. Alderman Ferrero second. Aldermen DeRose, Ferrero, McAvoy, McHugh, Moirano, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

REPORTS OF CITY OFFICIALS

    MAYOR

    Dog Ordinance Request

    Mayor Howley reported he is in receipt of a request from Mr. Ken Klimasz (8130 W. 90th Street) for a variance to the dog ordinance. Currently he has three dogs. One of the dogs is a foster dog and his wife is seeking a home for the pet. Both Aldermen of his Ward have no problem with this situation. Alderman Stachnik moved to grant this variance for one additional dog. Alderman Zimmerman second. Aldermen DeRose, McAvoy, McHugh, Moirano, Ferrero, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

    St. Patricia Liquor License Request

    Mayor Howley presented two liquor license requests from St. Patricia on March 18th-21st for their School Play and April 23rd for the Bunco/Raffle Night. Alderman Moirano moved to approve these temporary liquor licenses with fees waived for St. Patricia’s Parents Club. Alderman Szeszycki second. Aldermen DeRose, Ferrero, McAvoy, McHugh, Moirano, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

    Street Fair Liquor License Request

    Mayor Howley presented a liquor license request for this year’s Street Fair on June 27, 2010. Alderman McHugh moved to approve this outdoor liquor license request. Alderman Ferrero second.
    Aldermen DeRose, Ferrero, McAvoy, McHugh, Moirano, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

    Municipal Expo

    Mayor Howley thanked the Council members who attended the Southwest Conference of Mayors Municipal Expo which was held on Saturday, February 20th at Silver Lake Country Club.

    Mayor Howley noted he has some new eligibility information for seniors taking advantage of the Circuit Breaker Program. He will send this information out. He also noted if anyone receives job openings information to forward it to Marc Mattson to place on the City’s website and post at City Hall.

    CITY CLERK

    Res. 10-06 Request

    Clerk Jackson presented Res. 10-06, a resolution requesting permission for temporary closure of Roberts Road on April 17th for the purpose of holding a baseball parade from Roberts Road to 76th Avenue from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Alderman Zimmerman moved to approve Resolution 10-06. Alderman McAvoy second. Aldermen DeRose, Ferrero, McAvoy, McHugh, Moirano, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Zimmerman aye. So approved. Clerk Jackson also extended an invitation to the Council to attend this parade.

    Sertoma

    Clerk Jackson reported Sertoma Club is seeking applicants for their Man of The Year Award. Deadline for applications is March 31, 2010.

    Jewel Garden Center Request

    Clerk Jackson noted Jewel Osco is requesting permission to erect a greenhouse from March 21st to June 26th. No objections were noted and permission will be granted.

    Senior Health Fair

    Clerk Jackson reported the Senior Task Force will be
    holding a health fair in April.

    Census Request

    Clerk Jackson has received a request from the Census Committee to use our facility for training April 27th, 28th, 29th and 30th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. No objections were noted.

    Clerk Jackson noted her granddaughter recently was in the play Beauty and the Beast and did an excellent job.

    CITY TREASURER

    No report submitted.

    CITY ATTORNEY

    Ord. 10-06

    Attorney Cainkar presented Ordinance 10-06, an ordinance amending Section 30.01, of Chapter 30, housing and property maintenance, of the Hickory Hills Municipal Code, by adopting the 2009 International Property Maintenance Code. Mr. Cainkar noted every three years the International Code Council updates the International Property Maintenance Code to include better provisions pertaining to the condition of existing structures within the City. The newer version will enhance the enforcement efforts of the Building Department to provide better neighborhoods within the City. Alderman McHugh moved to approve Ord. 10-06. Alderman Moirano second. Aldermen DeRose, Ferrero, McAvoy, McHugh, Moirano, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

    Ord. 10-07

    Attorney Cainkar presented Ordinance 10-07, an ordinance authorizing the conveyance of property and a temporary easement to the County of Cook for the 88th Avenue project in the City of Hickory Hills, Cook County, Illinois. Mr. Cainkar reported the County will pay the sum of $42,000.00 in consideration of the parcel and temporary easement. Alderman Moirano moved to approve Ord. 10-07. Alderman Zimmerman second. Aldermen DeRose, Ferrero, McHugh, McAvoy, Moirano, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

    Res. 10-05

    Attorney Cainkar presented Resolution 10-05, a resolution approving a grant agreement between the City of Hickory Hills and the Illinois Economic Opportunity in the amount of $750,000.00 for grant award No. 07-203770. Alderman McHugh moved to approve Res. 10-05. Alderman Moirano second. Aldermen DeRose, Ferrero, McHugh, McAvoy, Moirano, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

    CITY ENGINEER

    Public Hearing

    Mr. Lang was absent. At this time in accordance with General Permit ILR40 issued by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit Program, the City of Hickory Hills will hold a public hearing this evening.

    The purpose of which is to present and invite input on the City’s Stormwater Management Program.

    Mr. Boettcher conducted this portion of the hearing. He noted as required by state and federal regulations, the City of Hickory Hills submitted a notice of intent to be covered by Illinois General Permit ILR40 in March of 2003. That notice of intent set forth the commitment by the City to implement certain minimum control measures and to have those measures completed and in place by March of 2008. This permit has since been updated and the measures continued. Six minimum control measures must be outlined along with the general introduction of the actions to be taken. The minimum control measures are:

    Public Education and Outreach: which is met by publishing articles in the newsletter and distributing pamphlets.

    Public Participation and Involvement: which is met by holding this public hearing.

    Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination: which is met by mapping the City’s storm atlas, identifying the outfalls and inspecting the discharges during dry weather.

    Construction Site Runoff Control and Post Construction Runoff Control: which are both met by ordinances the City has passed which require inspections.

    And lastly, Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping of Municipal Operations: which is met through an employee training program and a review of the actions and operations of the City that potentially impact storm water runoff.

    That is the summary of the commitment by the City of Hickory Hills to satisfy the IEPA general permit requirements.

    No public response at this time. Public Hearing closed.

COMMUNICATIONS

BILLS PAYABLE

Alderman Szeszycki moved to approve bills payable for the second half of February in the amount of $330,867.49. Alderman Ferrero second. Aldermen DeRose, Ferrero, McAvoy, McHugh, Moirano, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

STANDING COMMITTEES

    Szeszycki/Finance

    No report submitted.

    Zimmerman/Public Safety

    Alderman Zimmerman reported he would like to table the police promotion on the agenda until the March Committee meeting.

    Chief Vodicka distributed the annual report. Chief Vodicka thanked Deputy Chief Murphy for organizing this project.

    Moirano/Public Works

    Alderman Moirano reported Public Works attended a Cook County Highway Department utility meeting this week Handouts at the meeting indicate a spring letting on the 88th Avenue project with a summer construction start date and completion in November 2011. All utility companies were in agreement that they could meet this time schedule. During the entire 18 month construction project, traffic on 88th Avenue will only travel southbound. Northbound traffic will be detoured to Kean Avenue. Southbound traffic on 88th Avenue will be required to meander from east to west sides of the pavement as construction activity is being performed. A requested timeline of working days required for the various phases of lane shifts was requested. Easement and property acquisition information will be sent out at a later time. The depth of the storm sewer jeopardizing the City’s eight inch water main will be raised by five feet. After the meeting, it was learned that this project is being accelerated for construction prior to MWRD passing a storm water management ordinance which could require a redesign of the storm sewers on this project.

    Alderman Moirano noted National Power Rodding will start televising sewers in the north west (Blueridge Area) corner of the City on Monday, March 8, 2010.

    McHugh/Bldg./Facilities

    Alderman McHugh thanked the Mayor for his efforts in obtaining the grant to replace the roofs at Parkview.

    DeRose/Laws & Ordinances

    No report submitted.

    Stachnik/Health & Environmental Control/Recycling

    No report submitted.

    Ferrero/Community Services/Youth Advisory Board

    No report submitted.

    McAvoy/Chamber/Business Development

    Alderman McAvoy reported the Chamber held its special networking breakfast this morning and was very well attended.

    Alderman McAvoy welcomed a student from U of I, Stan Skupien, who is attending the Council Meeting for a school project.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Alderman Moirano asked if Alderman McAvoy will be assisting with the bingo tent at this year’s Street Fair. Alderman McAvoy stated there would be no change from last year. Mayor Howley inquired if a concert could be held on Saturday night before the Street Fair. The Council will investigate this option.

NEW BUSINESS

Clerk Jackson reported the City has received a plaque of appreciation from the Knights of Columbus.

ADJOURNMENT

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

Meeting adjourned at 8:19 p.m.