May 28, 2020 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, May 28, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. on a conference call. Clerk Catizone was present in the council chambers recording the meeting.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Howley lead the pledge of allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Upon roll call, the following were present:
- Mayor, M. Howley
Aldermen, D. Ferrero
B. Fonte
H. Kman
M. McHugh
P. Purtill
J. Stachnik
B. Waight
S. Zimmerman - City Clerk, D. Catizone
- City Attorney, V. Cainkar
- City Engineer, M. Spolar
- City Treasurer, A. Vodicka
- Police Chief, C. Hobart
- Public Works Director, S. Lehr
- Building Commissioner, J. Moirano
There being a quorum present, the meeting was called to order.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Mayor Howley noted no comments/questions were received from the public through email or telephone.
JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS
Alderman Stachnik moved to approve the minutes of the regularly scheduled meeting of May 14, 2020 as printed subject to deletions or corrections. Alderman Waight second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, Kman, McHugh, Purtill, Stachnik, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.
REPORTS OF CITY OFFICIALS
MAYOR
Mayor Howley presented the 2020 Appointments for approval as listed below.
City Attorney & City Prosecutor Vincent Cainkar
City Engineer Michael Spolar (Robinson Eng. Ltd.)
Chief of Police Charles Hobart Jr.
Building Commissioner John Moirano
Director of Public Works Sue Lehr
City Collector D’Lorah Catizone
PT Ordinance Officer Jim Lizzio
ESDA Director Chris Knights
Elevator Inspector Dave Rotermund
(Thompson Elevator)
Plumbing Inspector David Tavares
Electrical Inspector William Fritz
Fire Inspector Dep. Fire Chief Jeffrey Dees
(Roberts Park)
Building Inspector Ed Mack
Sprinkler Inspector James Groark
HVAC Inspector James Manuzak
Zoning Board of Appeals (7 Year Term)
Syed Imam 01/28/98 – 04/30/27
Board of Fire & Police (3 Year Term)
William Turner 10/12/17 – 04/30/23
Human Rights Commission (3 Year Term)
Seema Imam 11/21/96 – 04/30/23
Auxiliary Police Officers (1 Year Term)
Betty Soprych Valentine Zilinskas Arthur Ventura
Steve Makropoulos Brian Trapp John Bracha
Edvinas Gaidomavicius Kim McKinney Michael Mallon Brian Mendygral Bogdan Landowski
Police Pension Board (2 year Term)
Open – 04/30/22
Hearing Officer (1 Year Term)
Arthur Wrobel 05/01/14 – 04/30/21
Community Affairs Commission (3 Year Term)
Sandy Wcislo 02/25/99 – 04/30/23
Alderman Ferrero moved to approve the above 2020 appointments. Alderman Kman second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, Kman, McHugh, Purtill, Stachnik, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.
Mayor Howley noted the energy audit, that the Council had discussed previously, will move forward at this time. It will be a 60-40 split with no cost to the City.
Mayor Howley suggested as in the past the summer committee meetings will be suspended. as in the past. Alderman Waight moved to cancel the committee meetings for the months of June through September. Alderman Purtill second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, Kman, McHugh, Purtill, Stachnik, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.
Mayor Howley reported he is in receipt of an email from the Southwest Conference of Mayors outlining what other cities are doing moving forward. He will review this with department heads.
CITY CLERK
Clerk Catizone reported the deadline for newsletter articles is Friday, May 29th.
CITY TREASURER
Treasurer Vodicka presented the Treasurer’s Report dated April 30, 2020 for approval. Alderman Kman moved to approve the Treasurer’s Report dated April 30, 2020. Alderman Stachnik second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, Kman, McHugh, Purtill, Stachnik, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.
Treasurer Vodicka distributed a memo to the Council highlighting the 2020 proposed budget. He reviewed the revenue from police dispatch services. This is increased due to potential agreements. In order to balance the budget, funds will be transferred from the Utility Tax Fund and a transfer from the Parkview Apartment Fund. Treasurer Vodicka reported there is a salary increase to the radio operators related to hiring additional personnel. Lastly, he noted the Utility Tax Fund will be utilized to offset deficits to the Water Capital Fund, the Sewer Capital Fund, General Fund and expensed related to Capital Projects for a total of $1,845,500.00. This reflects a $325,500.00 increase over last year’s budget. It was the consensus of the Council to approve this budget and request the City Attorney prepare the appropriation ordinance for the next City Council Meeting.
CITY ATTORNEY
Attorney Cainkar presented Ordinance #20-7, an ordinance authorizing restaurants, bars, and other food/beverage establishments to resume operations in outdoor seating areas during Phase 3 of the “Restore Illinois” Plan. Alderman McHugh moved to approve Ordinance #20-7. Alderman Ferrero second. After some discussion, it was the consensus of the Council, the closing time for this outdoor seating would be 12:00 a.m. The City will review each establishment’s plan and defer to Building Commissioner Moirano for approval. Roll Call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, Kman, McHugh, Purtill, Stachnik, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved. Some of the establishments who showed interest in the tent for outdoor seating are; Primetime, Xando, Pepe’s, The Sock Bar and Grill and Roadhouse.
CITY ENGINEER
Mr. Spolar updated the Council on projects going on in the City. He noted the water main replacement on 97th Place is complete and some restoration needs to be completed.
COMMUNICATIONS
BILLS PAYABLE
Alderman Kman moved to approve the bills payable for the second half of May 2020 in the amount of $579,410.21. Alderman Waight second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, Kman, McHugh, Purtill, Stachnik, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.
STANDING COMMITTEES
Kman/Finance
No report submitted.
Stachnik/Public Safety
Chief Hobart presented the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the Village of Summit and Village of Bedford Park to provide dispatch services for Bedford Park Police and Summit Police and Fire. These agreements call for revenue to be paid to our City that will cover the additional expenses incurred. Chief Hobart noted the State of Illinois required dispatching services to be consolidated, which the HHPD completed in 2017. The state agency will need to approve this consolidation. Today, he is seeking approval of the Summit IGA and Bedford Park IGA and the hiring of four (4) full-time employees. He anticipates an August 1, 2020 start date for this project. Alderman McHugh moved to approve the two IGA with the Villages of Summit and Bedford Park. Alderman Purtill second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, Kman, McHugh, Purtill, Stachnik, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved. Mayor Howley thanked Chief Hobart for all his efforts with this consolidation.
Zimmerman/Public Works
Ms. Lehr reported the City’s annual consumer confidence report (CCR) was posted on the website in April. The EPA requires this report to be in the hands of the residents by July 1st. To reduce printing costs, the URL will be printed on the May, June and July’s water bills and noted in the summer newsletter.
Ms. Lehr noted the City of Chicago will not defer the water
increase this year.
McHugh/Bldg./Facilities
Alderman McHugh reported one of the Parkview Apartment basements took in some water during the last rainfall. This has been repaired.
Purtill/Laws & Ordinances
Alderman Purtill presented three (3) business certificate applications for approval. These are all located at the 9525 S. 79th Avenue. These were not approved at this time.
Fonte/Health & Environmental Control
No report submitted.
Ferrero/Community Affairs/Youth Advisory
No report submitted.
Waight/Chamber Business Development
No report submitted.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
None.
ADJOURNMENT
Alderman Ferrero moved to adjourn the meeting until the next regular or specially called meeting. Alderman Waight second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, Kman, McHugh, Purtill, Stachnik, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.
Meeting adjourned at 8:51 p.m.