December 11, 2014 City Council Meeting Minutes

December 11, 2014 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, December 11, 2014, at 7:36 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
    J. Stachnik
    B. Fonte
    T. McAvoy
    M. McHugh
    J. Szeszycki
    B. Waight
    S. Zimmerman
  • City Clerk, D. Catizone
  • City Treasurer, D. Schramm
  • City Attorney, V. Cainkar
  • City Engineer, M. Spolar
  • Police Chief, A. Vodicka
  • Public Works Director, L. Boettcher
  • Building Commissioner, J. Moirano

Aldermen McAvoy and McHugh were absent. There being a quorum present, the meeting was called to order.

At this time Chief Vodicka presented a new recruit to be sworn in by the Hickory Hills Board of Fire/Police. Commissioner Henry Kman administered the Oath of Office to Probationary Police Officer Scott Chicoine. Father Joseph Mol gave a blessing at this time. Refreshments followed with a short recess.

OPEN TO PUBLIC

Alderman Waight moved to open the meeting to the public. Alderman Stachnik second. Roll call: Aldermen Fonte, McAvoy, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved. Alderman Ferrero left the meeting at this time.

Mrs. Dolores Conoboy
8907 S. 83rd Court

Mrs. Conoboy voiced her concerns regarding flooding in her area. She would like the City to investigate the flooding issues.

Mr. Cesar Romero
8901 S. 83rd Court

Mr. Romero was also present to voice his concerns regarding flooding of his home and to find out what could be done. He noted this was the first meeting he could attend since the flood in August due to rebuilding.

Mr. Miguel Garcia
8906 S. 83rd Court

Mr. Garcia stated the flooding was so bad in his home he can no longer live there. This was the first time they were able to attend a meeting.

After residents expressed their situations, the Mayor directed the Public Works Director and the City Engineer to meet with this group of residents at their homes as soon as possible to inspect the site to see what issues can be resolved. This was the first time the City received notification of flooding at the above addresses.

Mrs. Cesar Romero
8901 S. 83rd Court

Mrs. Romero voiced her concerns regarding flooding issues and she stated the City has not responded to her emergency calls.

Mr. Ian Chafee
School District Board Member

Mr. Chafee informed the Council that Senate Bill 16, a bill impacting funding for School District 117 and other schools, was dead for the current legislative session. And a new version of the bill would be presented at the next session. He noted funding would not be affected at this time.

CLOSE TO PUBLIC

Alderman Waight moved to close the meeting to the public. Alderman McAvoy second. Roll call: Aldermen Fonte, McHugh, McAvoy, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS

Alderman Stachnik moved to approve the minutes of the regularly scheduled meeting of November 13, 2014 as printed subject to deletions or corrections. Alderman Szeszycki second. Roll call: Aldermen Fonte, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Waight, Zimmerman aye. Aldermen McAvoy and McHugh pass. So approved.

REPORTS OF CITY OFFICIALS

MAYOR

St. Pat’s Request – Mayor Howley is in receipt of two temporary liquor license requests from St. Patricia Holy Name Society. The Super Bowl Party on Sunday, February 1, 2015 and the the Fish Fry on February 20, 2015. Alderman McHugh moved to approve a temporary liquor license for St. Patricia Holy Name Society Super Bowl Party on February 1, 2015 with fees waived. Alderman Szeszycki second. Roll call: Aldermen Fonte, McAvoy, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved. Alderman McHugh moved to approve a temporary liquor license for the St. Patricia Fish Fry on February 20, 2015 with fees waived. Alderman Fonte second. Roll call: Aldermen Fonte, McAvoy, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

Proclamation – Mayor Howley read a Proclamation which declared the month of December as National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month in Hickory Hills.

5K Race – Mayor Howley reported the 5K Race monies have been tallied and the total raised is $5,000.00 which will go to the Lions Club.

CITY CLERK

Clerk Catizone thanked Mrs. Mary Boettcher and Marilyn Gabrysiak for decorating the City Hall and the Community Center.

CITY TREASURER

Treasurer Schramm distributed the April 30, 2014 final audit to the City Council for their review. He will answer any further questions at the January 8th Council meeting.

Treasurer Schramm presented the Treasurer’s Report dated November 30, 2014 for approval. Alderman Szeszycki moved to approve the Treasurer’s Report of November 30, 2014. Alderman McAvoy second. Roll call: Aldermen Fonte, McAvoy, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

CITY ATTORNEY

Ordinance 14-10 – Attorney Cainkar presented Ordinance 14-10, an ordinance adopting the Cook County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard
Mitigation Plan. Attorney Cainkar noted this would approve portions of the HMP to guide pre-disaster mitigation and post-disaster mitigation of hazards identified. Alderman McHugh moved to approve Ordinance 14-10. Alderman Waight second. Roll call: Fonte, McAvoy, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

CITY ENGINEER

Mr. Spolar reported the MFT road plan has started. He also noted that Robinson Engineering was moving forward with the design on the 85th Street drainage project.

COMMUNICATIONS

BILLS PAYABLE

Alderman McHugh moved to approve the bills payable for the first half of December, 2014 in the amount of $379,591.28. Alderman Zimmerman second. Roll call: Aldermen Fonte, McAvoy, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

Customary Bills Payable – Alderman McHugh moved to approve the customary bills payable for the second half of December, 2014. Alderman Szeszycki second. Roll call: Aldermen Fonte, McAvoy, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

The amount of the bills payable for the second half of November, 2014 was $168,294.23.

STANDING COMMITTEES

Szeszycki/Finance

Alderman Szeszycki reported at the Committee Meeting he discussed the City’s Workmen’s Compensation Insurance renewal as of January 1, 2015. Alderman Szeszycki moved to approve the renewal of the Workmen’s Compensation Insurance as of January 1, 2015. Alderman McHugh second. Roll call: Aldermen Fonte, McAvoy, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

Alderman Szeszycki distributed the latest video gaming revenues for the Council’s review.

Stachnik/Public Safety

No report submitted.

Zimmerman/Public Works

Mr. Boettcher reported Public Works will order the budgeted snow plow pickup truck this week.

McHugh/Bldg./Facilities

Alderman McHugh reported a new elevator inspector from Thompson Elevator has been appointed to replace the retired inspector. His name is Mr. David Rotermund.

Waight/Laws & Ordinances

Alderman Waight reported he has one business certificate application for Al D Rushing Agency, Inc. located at 7831 W. 95th Street, Unit F. No objections were noted.

Fonte/Health & Environmental Control

No report submitted.

Ferrero/Community Affairs/Youth Advisory

Alderman Ferrero left the meeting ill. No report submitted.

McAvoy/Chamber Business Development

Alderman McAvoy reported Xando Café located at 8729
W. 95th Street was featured on WGN-TV’s “Chicago’s Best”. He congratulated them on this segment.

Alderman McAvoy reported Sertoma is selling Christmas Trees again this year in the Sabre Room parking lot.

Alderman McAvoy noted he is also selling raffle tickets for Sertoma.

Alderman McAvoy paid a very moving tribute to Comptroller Judy Barr Topinka who recently passed away.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

None.

NEW BUSINESS

Mayor Howley extended his condolences on the passing of Mr. Jim Leavy who held many roles in the City of Hickory Hills, was a Silver Star veteran of Vietnam and was saluted as a “Hickory Hills Classic”.

ADJOURNMENT

Alderman Waight moved to adjourn the meeting until the next scheduled or specially called meeting. Alderman McHugh second. Roll call: Aldermen Fonte, McAvoy, McHugh, Stachnik, Szeszycki, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

Meeting adjourned at 8:39 p.m.