July 23, 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, July 23, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.
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
Alderman Stachnik moved to open the meeting to the public. Alderman Waight second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, Kman, McHugh, Purtill, Stachnik, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.
No public was present at this time.
Alderman Waight moved to close the meeting to the public. Alderman Ferrero second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, Kman, McHugh, Purtill, Stachnik, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.
JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS
Alderman Waight moved to approve the minutes of the regularly scheduled meeting of July 9, 2020 as printed subject to deletions or corrections. Alderman Fonte second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, Kman, Purtill, Stachnik, Waight, Zimmerman aye. Alderman McHugh pass. So approved.
REPORTS OF CITY OFFICIALS
MAYOR
Mayor Howley read a proclamation announcing the week of Labor Day as National Payroll Week. Payroll professionals in Hickory Hills, IL play a key role in maintaining the economic health of Hickory Hills, carrying out such diverse tasks as paying into the unemployment insurance system, providing information for child support enforcement, and carrying out tax withholding, reporting and depositing.
Mayor Howley recently announced that City Hall will reopen to the public on Monday August 3, 2020, but the Community Center will remain closed until further notice. This will be re-visited in September to see where the curve is for COVID-19. There was only 1 party booked at the Community Center, and Alderman McHugh will follow up to make sure that it is cancelled. The Blood Drive will still take place on August 30, 2020.
CITY CLERK
Clerk Catizone distributed a catalog listing of the zoning files. Clerk Catizone explained that during the last 4 months, the Clerk’s Office started a project that needed to be addressed. There were 4 rows of file cabinets that were brought over from the Building Department when they were located at the Community Center and are filled with zoning files. The only type of order to some of the files was that they were in year order. The spreadsheet contains all of the zoning files, by year, petitioner, address and what type of zoning it was requesting. A copy of the spreadsheet will be sent to the ZBA Chairman and Board. I would like to thank and acknowledge Mary Esposito for her efforts in making our project a success. Without her hard work this would not have been completed.
CITY TREASURER
Treasurer Vodicka distributed the Treasurer’s Report dated June 30, 2020 for approval. Treasurer Vodicka noted that the Fuel Tax is far less that it was for the month of May, and that is due to a local government rebuild. Alderman Ferrero moved to approve the Treasurer’s Report dated June 30, 2020. Alderman Kman second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, Kman, McHugh, Purtill, Stachnik, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.
Treasurer Vodicka wanted to remind everyone that the next Blood Drive will be held on August 30, 2020 at the Community Center. You have to register online for an appointment. Everyone who donates will get a free Antibody Test for COVID-19.
CITY ATTORNEY
No report submitted.
CITY ENGINEER
Mr. Spolar presented Invoice 20093605 from Denler, Inc. in the amount of $17,719.00 for work done on the 2020 MFT crack filling, pay estimate #1. Alderman McHugh moved to pay Denler, Inc. for Invoice #20093605 in the amount of $17,719.00. Alderman Stachnik 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 July 2020 in the amount of $474,069.51. 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 stated that the Dispatch Project is moving forward. The target date is July 30, 2020.
Chief Hobart explained that the Police Department was awarded a $10,000 grant from the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus. He thanked everyone who wrote letters on behalf of the Police Department. This grant will be used toward the purchase of an electric vehicle.
Zimmerman/Public Works
Director Lehr stated that Hickory Hills is coming up on ComEd’s project list for the LED street light heads that are owned by ComEd in the city. These are the street lights that are on wooden poles. The city will still pay the monthly bills, but once everything is changed over, the city will see a savings of about $400 per month. This project is slated for 2021.
Director Lehr said that Public Works is proposing to purchase a F150 pickup truck at the cost of $31,000. A local dealer is matching the price so there won’t be any delivery charges. The 1997 pickup truck with 105,000 miles that Public Works currently has will be entered into the auction this fall. This was a budgeted item and Public Works will issue a purchase order unless there is a concern. None were noted.
Alderman Stachnik asked about the status of the Roberts Road project. Ms. Lehr said that they are out doing preliminary work, and does not have the actual start day yet. She did say that the project is supposed to be completed by November 2020.
McHugh/Bldg./Facilities
Alderman McHugh shared that City Hall will be cleaned and sanitized on Tuesday July 28, 2020 by Rainbow International. He will also follow up to make sure that the Community Center is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized before the Blood Drive on August 30, 2020.
At the end of August or the beginning of September the opening of the Community Center will be further discussed.
Purtill/Laws & Ordinances
No report submitted.
Fonte/Health & Environmental Control
No report submitted.
Ferrero/Community Affairs/Youth Advisory
No report submitted.
Alderman Ferrero wanted to thank Monika Wojturska for her help with a resident who left Alderman Ferrero a message on her home phone. The woman left out 1 of the numbers from her phone number, and Monika who speaks polish, was able to translate the message, she did some searching and found the residents number for Alderman Ferrero. She was really a great help, and I truly appreciate it.
Waight/Chamber Business Development
No report submitted.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
Alderman Ferrero asked what the status was on the Lopez house. Commissioner Moirano explained that it is his understanding that the house is under contract for sale.
Alderman McHugh presented a letter from Timothy Komenda in regards to an event called “Richieball”. It has annually been held the 2nd week in August since 1997, and they are asking for the City Councils approval to be able to hold the tournament this year. They will stay within the Illinois guidelines and will have fewer than 50 people at the event that will take place in the parking lot of Robert’s Roadhouse, on Saturday August 8, 2020 at 9:00 am. No objections were noted.
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 7:51 p.m.