June 25, 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, June 25, 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 June 11, 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 reported video gaming will reopen on Wednesday, July 1st.
Mayor Howley stated this meeting will be the last telephone meeting and we will resume in person meeting on Thursday, July 9, 2020. This is from the directive of the State and barring no changes. Mayor Howley has talked with our City Attorney and staff and the decision has been made to reopen City Hall and the Community Center on Monday, August 3rd.
Mayor Howley thanked Officer Scott Sodaro for his 26 years of service on the Hickory Hills Police Department and wished him well during his retirement.
Mayor Howley expressed his condolences to the family of Mr. John Blaha. Mr. Blaha was a long time resident of Hickory Hills.
Mayor Howley thanked the Hickory Hills residents for their continued support of Elsie’s Food Pantry.
Mayor Howley noted he spoken to the Superintendent of School District 117 and they are planning the reopening of schools in the fall.
CITY CLERK
Clerk Catizone reported the business licenses and liquor licenses have been coming in over the last few weeks. She also noted she has been fielding several questions from businesses regarding guidelines to reopening.
Clerk Catizone inquired when the Council would agree on
issuing garage sale permits. The Council had no objections to begin granting garage sale requests as of July 1, 2020.
Clerk Catizone noted she attended the retirement luncheon for Officer Scott Sodaro today. She wished him the best and thanked him for his service to the City.
CITY TREASURER
Treasurer Vodicka presented the Treasurer’s Report dated May 31, 2020. Alderman Kman moved to approve the Treasurer’s Report dated May 31, 2020. Alderman Ferrero second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, Kman, McHugh, Purtill, Stachnik, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.
Treasurer Vodicka distributed a copy of the MFT Documentation Review #39 covering the receipt and disbursement of Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) Funds by the City for the period beginning January 1, 2019 and ending December 31, 2019. This is an informational item for the Council’s review.
CITY ATTORNEY
No report submitted.
CITY ENGINEER
Mr. Spolar presented Invoice #26266, estimate #1 from Lindahl Brothers, Inc. for work done on the 2020 MFT resurfacing project in the amount of $528,659.35. Alderman Kman moved to approve Invoice #26266 in the amount of $528,659.35 to Lindahl Brothers, Inc. Alderman Ferrero second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, Kman, McHugh, Purtill, Stachnik, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.
COMMUNICATIONS
BILLS PAYABLE
Alderman Kman moved to approve the bills payable for the second half of June 2020 in the amount of $257,120.08. 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 distributed a memo regarding a Police Officer replacement request. He is seeking City Council approval to hire a replacement from the final eligibility register for Probationary Police Officer. This is due to a recent retirement. No objections were noted.
Zimmerman/Public Works
Ms. Lehr reported earlier this year, the City applied for a Com Ed/Openlands sponsored grant to improve an area in Ward 3 at 91st Place and 92nd Street, it is commonly referred to as the “triangle”. She is pleased to report that the City has been awarded the full $10,000.00 grant for this project. This is a matching funds grant. The project will transform an unused area of turf grass into an established pollinator habitat that supports pollinator species, educational signage and a public passive recreational area.
McHugh/Bldg./Facilities
Alderman McHugh reported Parkview Apartments has no vacancies at this time.
Alderman McHugh noted he will arrange with Rainbow International for a deep cleaning of City Hall before its reopening on August 3rd.
Purtill/Laws & Ordinances
No report submitted.
Fonte/Health & Environmental Control
No report submitted.
Ferrero/Community Affairs/Youth Advisory
No report submitted.
Waight/Chamber Business Development
No report submitted.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Building Commissioner Moirano reported the strip mall at 9525 S. 79th Avenue has completed the necessary improvements and the City Clerk can now issue the three pending business licenses.
NEW BUSINESS
Clerk Catizone thanked S & M Auto for their recent donation of masks to City Hall.
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 8:02 p.m.