June 24, 2021 City Council Meeting Minutes

June 24, 2021 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 24, 2021 at 7:33 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 Ferrero second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, Kman, McHugh, Purtill, Stachnik, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

Ms. Kathy Eckert
9335 S. 82nd Court

Ms. Eckert voiced her concerns with cars speeding on 82nd Court. She stated the cars also go right through the stop signs or make rolling stops. Mayor Howley noted he has also noticed speeding on side streets.

Ms. Eckert also voiced her concerns with residents shooting fireworks and what can the City do.

Ms. Mary Fontana
8620 W. 95th Street

Ms. Fontana stated she has been a resident of Hickory Hills for over 50 years. She has seen the traffic on 95th Street become very loud with cars exhaust and speeding.

Ms. Fontana stated her buildings parkway is a place where dogs are relieving themselves and she would like the City to authorize her to keep dogs off the parkway. Is there a way to change the ordinance so tickets can be issued? Mayor Howley noted if the owners are picking up the waste there is not much you can do about this because the dogs need to go outside.

Ms. Fontana thanked Ordinance Officer Jim Lizzo for all his efforts with concerns she has had in the past.

CLOSE TO THE PUBLIC

Alderman Waight moved to close the meeting to the public. Alderman Purtill 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 June 10, 2021 as printed subject to deletions or corrections. Alderman McHugh second. Roll call: Aldermen Fonte, McHugh, Kman, Purtill,
Stachnik, Waight, Zimmerman aye. Alderman Ferrero pass. So approved.

Minutes Correction: Page 7, last sentence of the Specially Called Budget Meeting Minutes of May 27, 2021. There was a typo and it should read $0.26.

REPORTS OF CITY OFFICIALS

MAYOR

Mayor Howley presented a proclamation to commend Pillars Community Health on their 100th Anniversary and offer gratitude for the positive contributions they have made to our community.

Mayor Howley reminded the Council to email or call any suggestions they may have to the park renovation at City Hall.

CITY CLERK

Clerk Catizone is in receipt from Stagg High School Music Boosters for placing signs at corners in Hickory Hills for their upcoming “Mattress Sale Fundraiser”.
Signs will be removed by June 27, 2021. No objections were noted.

CITY TREASURER

No report submitted.

CITY ATTORNEY

Ord. 21-6 – Attorney Cainkar presented Ordinance #21-6, an ordinance amending Chapter 24, Building Code, by adding Section 24.40, Minimum Office and Commercial Space, to the Hickory Hills Municipal Code. Alderman McHugh moved to approve Ordinance #21-6. Alderman Purtill second. Roll call: Aldermen Ferrero, Fonte, Kman, McHugh, Purtill, Stachnik, Waight, Zimmerman aye. So approved.

CITY ENGINEER

No report submitted.

COMMUNICATIONS

BILLS PAYABLE

Alderman Kman moved to approve the bills payable for the second half of June 2021 in the amount of $1,098,061.72. 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 is seeking approval to hire a replacement for a full time radio operator. No objections were noted.

Zimmerman/Public Works

Ms. Lehr reported the City fared well by comparison with Monday’s storm. From approximately 12:00 a.m. until mid-morning Com Ed had multiple outages throughout the City with 984 customers without service. No critical facilities lost power. Several large trees took out some power lines in the 9200 block of 84th Avenue rear yards. Power was restored to all of our residents by Tuesday morning. Most of the City received minor tree damage. Public Works is working to clean up the brush stacked up by residents cleaning up their yards and removing any fallen trees.

Ms. Lehr noted K-5 thanked the City for allowing them an early start last week to mill the intersection at 95th Street and Roberts Road. It was a safer and quicker process with less traffic. Today, a void under the pavement was exposed that had previously gone unnoticed until the top layer was milled off. This void is in line with a sanitary sewer service for one of the businesses. Public Works is investigating what actions need to be taken for repair. It is a possibility we might require an outside contractor for this repair. She noted this repair must be expedited before pavement is placed. The outer lane patch work will begin next week.

McHugh/Bldg./Facilities

Alderman McHugh reported 3 apartments at Parkview just had new tenants move in.

Alderman McHugh stated they have started installation of the new electronic doors at the Community Center.

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

None.

NEW BUSINESS

Alderman McHugh suggested the Council pick a day in September, 2021 for a new City event.

ADJOURNMENT

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

Meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.