August 9, 2012 City Council Meeting Minutes
CALL TO ORDER
The regular meeting of the Hickory Hills City Council was called to order by Mayor Mike Howley on Thursday, August 9, 2012 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, .D. Ferrero
T. McAvoy
M. McHugh
J. Stachnik
J. Szeszycki
B. Waight
S. Zimmerman - City Clerk, D. Catizone
- City Treasurer, D. Schramm
- City Attorney, M. Cainkar
- City Engineer, T. Lang
- Police Chief, A. Vodicka
- Public Works Director, L. Boettcher
- Building Commissioner, J. Moirano
Alderman DeRose was absent. There being a quorum present, the meeting was called to order.
OPEN TO PUBLIC
Alderman Ferrero moved to open the meeting to the public. Alderman Szeszycki second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, McAvoy, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.
Mike Morley
Barney Boss
Waste Management
Mr. Morley and Mr. Boss were present to announce that Land and Lakes was sold to Waste Management as of August 1, 2012. They are here to ensure the City that the high quality of service will continue.
CLOSE TO PUBLIC
Alderman Waight moved to close the meeting to the public. Alderman McHugh second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, McAvoy, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.
JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS
Alderman McHugh moved to approve the minutes of the regularly scheduled meeting of July 26, 2012 as printed subject to deletions or corrections. CORRECTION: Page 2, 3rd paragraph address should be 8641 S. 84th Court. Page 4, 3rd paragraph, Added Sentence, Alderman Szeszycki stated that all elms, ash and nuisance trees should be removed from out Lot A. Alderman Waight second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, McAvoy, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.
REPORTS OF CITY OFFICIALS
MAYOR
Wendy’s
Mayor Howley noted Wendy’s re-grand opening is delayed.
Boy Scouts
Mayor Howley thanked the Boy Scouts for delivering flyers to residents recently. He will be sending them a thank you letter.
Ward Map
Mayor Howley stated the Census has showed that our Ward populations have changed and needed to be reviewed. Mayor Howley turned this over to Aldermen McAvoy.
Alderman McAvoy noted he balanced the wards by 3, 500 in each. There were marginal changes. He noted all the Aldermen have reviewed these changes and balance the population for Hickory Hills. There were two options and Option 2 seemed to be the most logical. Later in the meeting the Aldermen will review the boundaries under Unfinished Business. Mayor Howley explained this would need to be voted by next meeting because of the upcoming November election.
CITY CLERK
Clerk Catizone is in receipt of a request for a block party on 81st Avenue from 92nd Place to 93rd Street on September 22nd from 2:00 until dusk. No objections were noted.
Clerk Catizone reported the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago are requesting permission to sell their fall products beginning in October and their cookie sale in the month of January. No objections were noted.
Clerk Catizone noted St. Patricia School is requesting to place signs around for their upcoming Oktoberfest Craft and Vender Fair on September 23rd. No objections were noted.
Clerk Catizone announced the adoptaplatoon will be packing boxes for the troops on August 21st at the Community Center.
Clerk Catizone reported she attended the National Nite Out at the Park District on Tuesday. It was a very well attended.
Clerk Catizone reported, once again, the Des Plaines Valley Mosquito Abatement will be spraying this evening for mosquitos.
CITY TREASURER
Treasurer Schramm presented the Treasurer’s Report dated July 31, 2012. Alderman Szeszycki moved to approve the Treasurer’s Report dated July 31, 2012. Alderman McHugh second. Roll Call: Aldermen Ferrero, McAvoy, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.
Treasurer Schramm stated he would like to place the TIF District on the agenda for the next Council meeting.
CITY ATTORNEY
Ord. 12-15
Attorney Mike Cainkar presented Ordinance 12-15, an ordinance amending Section 30.01, of Chapter 30, Housing and Property Maintenance, of the Hickory Hills Municipal Code, by adopting the 2012 International Property Maintenance Code. Alderman Zimmerman moved to approve Ord. 12-15. Alderman McAvoy second.
Roll Call: Aldermen Ferrero, McAvoy, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.
Public Works Bargaining Agreement
Attorney Mike Cainkar presented the Agreement between the City of Hickory Hills and the Service Employees International Union Local 73 for the Department of Public Works dated May 1, 2012 to April 30, 2016. Alderman McHugh moved to approve the Department of Public Works Agreement. Alderman Ferrero second. Alderman Szeszycki stated he disagreed with two points of the contract. They include the weekends worked and the length of the contract. Roll Call: Aldermen Ferrero, McAvoy, McHugh, Stachnik, Waight, Zimmerman aye. Alderman Szeszycki nay. So approved.
Mayor Howley thanked the team for negotiating this contract.
Promotion of Electrician Trainee
Attorney Cainkar presented this side agreement to promote the current electrician trainee to electrician. Alderman McAvoy moved to approve this electrician promotion. Alderman Ferrero second. Roll Call: Aldermen Ferrero, McAvoy, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.
CITY ENGINEER
No report submitted.
COMMUNICATIONS
BILLS PAYABLE
Alderman Szeszycki moved to approve the bills payable for the first half of August, 2012 in the amount of $578, 753.53. Alderman Waight second. Roll Call: Aldermen Ferrero, McAvoy, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.
STANDING COMMITTEES
Szeszycki/Finance
No report submitted.
Stachnik/Public Safety
Safety
Alderman Stachnik thanked the Police Department for their work on the home burglaries.
He noted the Police Department has sent out flyers and reverse 911 calls have been made to get the word out to the residents. Any citizen can contact the HHPD to have an inspection of their home.
Alderman Stachnik is in receipt of a request to hire one patrol officer. A memo was distributed by Chief Vodicka. Chief Vodicka noted currently they are down two officers and is seeking to hire one. The academy would start in October and be sworn in at the second meeting in September. Alderman McHugh moved to approve the hiring of one officer which is included in the Police Department Budget. Alderman Stachnik second. Aldermen Ferrero, McAvoy, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.
Zimmerman/Public Works
Alderman Zimmerman deferred the report to Mr. Boettcher.
88th Ave. Reconstruction
Mr. Boettcher stated for this phase, the underground contractor should be completed with drainage work this week on 88th Avenue. Rear yard drainage between 89th Street and Lotus Lane has been increased threefold by the installation of a larger inlet pie discharging to a 4X’s larger capacity pipe. The excavation contractor has started grading for the stone sub-base, curbs and sidewalks. The change over traffic which will be the next phase should occur near the end of August.
Com Ed Tree Removal
Mr. Boettcher noted last year along 87th Street near the wetland area, Public Works took issue with Com Ed when they removed the tree top branches in the wires. In the best interest of all, Com Ed agreed to clear trees to at least 20 feet north of the Com Ed poles and Public Works would then keep the area mowed to keep vegetation from interfering with one of the main electric supply lines to the City.
Underground Fuel Storage Tanks
Mr. Boettcher reported that an unfunded mandate originating from the USEPA and implemented by Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) now requires state tested and certified operators for owners of underground storage tanks.
Three classifications of operators are defined with burdensome paperwork and reporting may require towns to re-evaluate of the benefits/burdens of underground storage tanks. He noted enforcement degree is the issue.
McHugh/Bldg./Facilities
No report submitted.
Waight/Law & Ordinances Ordinances
No report submitted.
DeRose/Health & Environmental Control/Recycling Environmental Control/Recycling
Alderman DeRose was absent. No report submitted.
Ferrero/Community Affairs/Youth Advisory Affairs/Youth Advisory
No report submitted.
McAvoy/Chamber/Business Development/Business Development
Alderman McAvoy reported the Hills Chamber will hold a networking breakfast on August 22, 2012 at Koko’s Café. This breakfast will begin at 7:30 p.m.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
At this time, the Aldermen were given an opportunity to review the proposed changes in the Ward boundaries. It was the consensus of the Council to go with Proposal 2 or Map D. The map will be given to Attorney Cainkar to prepare the Ordinance with the new ward boundaries. Alderman Stachnik would like to the option to review and let the Mayor know if he has any changes.
NEW BUSINESS
None.
EXECUTIVE SESSION/ADJOURNMENT
Alderman Ferrero moved to adjourn into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing nonunion employee salaries and salary increases for Sergeants/Lieutenants and civilian personnel of the Police Department. Alderman Waight second. Roll Call: Aldermen Ferrero, McAvoy, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.
Meeting adjourned at 8:36 p.m.