HomeMy Public PortalAbout04.21.86 VB MinutesPLATN~'IELD VILLAGE BOARD 0~' TRUSTEE
Regular Meeting
DATE: April 2.1, 1986
AT; Village Hall
MEMBERS OF BOARD PRESENT: Mayor Latta, J. Dement, K. Callahan,
J. Peterson, ~ni. Sharp, J. Boots,
D. Gulli.cksen
OTHERS PRESENT: Catherine Janis, Deputy Clerk
.Attorney J. Harvey
Chief Bennett
R. Selfridge
Mayor Latta opened the meeting at 7:30 p.m. with the pledge to
the flag.
Roll call was taken, all members were present.
D..,Gullicksen moved to approve the agenda with the addition of
letter under Administration and Personnel re: J. West,
Administrator requested by J. Dement; letter under Administra-
. tion and Personnel re: J. West, Administrator requested by
D. Gullicksen; letters from Plainfield Lions Club and resolution
on Victims Rights requested by Mayor Latta; and Executive
Session on litigation requested by J. Peterson. Seconded by
J. Dement. Voice vote. 6 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.
Mayor Latta introduced and swore in William R. Martin as the
new Police Sergeant for the Village of Plainfield.
Mayor Latta read a letter from Plainfield Consolidated Schools
and the Plainfield Lions Club to Chief Bennett expressing their
appreciation to the Police Department for volunteering their
assistance at the Bear-Lions basketball game on Tuesday,
April 15, 1986.
Mayor Latta read a letter from the Village of Orland Park
regarding the Argonne Consortium Meeting on April 26, 1986 at
Argonne National Laboratory.
Mayor Latta read two Proclamations:
-Proclaiming May 30th and 31st, 1986 as V.F.W. Poppy Days.
-Proclaiming April 20-26, 1986 as Victims Rights Week in
Plainfield.
PLATNFTELD VTLLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
April 21, 1985
Page Two
J. Bootz moved to approve corrections to invoice list -~
Tame Insurance listed as $1,384.20 should have been. $3;9$8..0.5,
and due to credit on Computerland invoice we paid $291.00
instead of $396.00. Seconded by J. Dement. Vote by roll call.
Sharp, yes; Peterson, yes; Gullicksen, yes; Bootz, yes;
Dement, yes; Callanan, yes. 5 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.
J. Dement read the f.ollowang statement:
Sorry this statement had to come 2 weeks later than
the occurrence, but as I was. one of the ,few Board
members. that was unaware of the plan to dare Jim until
the meeting took. place I hope the delay can be excused.
I think the people of Plainfield and the Village
employees. should know that at no time was there any
documented information presented to the Board that
indicated Jim was not doing his job or that he was acting
unprofessionally. In fact, the very evening that Jim was
faxed the Board approved an excellent agreement that
he had negotiated with Mr. Graham to reopen Pheasant Chase
Subdivision. And to set the record straight, Mrs. Latta
and h.er allies did voice concern about being able to
work. with. Mr. West but I'm not quite sure that was his
fault or theirs. The last point to be addressed in this
matter is the $12,000 we are spending to have our
employees and departments reviewed by~~the consulting firm
of Resource Management Associates. ~~~ are we spending ~~~~~
$1.2,000 to have this done if we fire our top executive
before the consultants. can even prepare an evaluation
of our situation. Are we that much smarter than the
experts?
D. Gullicksen read a letter (Attachment 1) ,from J. West
addressed to the Village Board stating he is returning the
Lotus 1--2-3 program and backup files; 5 keys and 1-battery.
Tn has letter Mr. West requests the Village return to him his
personal telephone .index, personal notes and records.
D. Gullicksen read a statement (Attachment 2) referring to
Village Ordinance #1034, Chapter 1, Article II which states in
part "The Village Administrator may be removed from office at
any tame by a majority vote of the President and Village Board
of Trustees."
PLAINFIELD VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
April 21, 1986
Page Three
D. Gullicksen moved to grant the previous Administrator
3 months severance pay. due to the injustices we have as the
Village Board imposed upon this man and his family. Seconded
by K. Callanan.
J. Peterson. moved the motion be tabled until we have an
opportunity to discuss it in executive session. Seconded by
J. Bootz. vote by roll call. Sharp, no; Peterson, yes;
Gullicksen, no; Bootz, yes; Dement, no; Callanan, no. 2 yes,
4 no. Motion failed.
D. Gullicksen repeated
Administrator 3 months
we have as the Village
family. Seconded by K.
Sharp, Yes; Peterson, r.
Callanan., yes. 4 yes,
his motion to grant. the previous
severance pay .due to the injustices
Board imposed upon this man and his
Callanan. Vote by roll call.
o; Gullicksen, yes; Bootz, no; Dement, yes;
2 no. Motion carried.
D. Gullicksen .brought to the Board from the Plan Commission
• Case #1.45-35862. He introduced Mr. Dan McNeill representing
Phillips 66. They propose putting up a 49 square foot Phillips
sign and a 42 square foot price sign underneath that. They
will be removing 164 square feet and putting up 91 square feet.
The 2 signs would be on one, pole; total approximate height
22 feet. They will remove Pride canopy sign.
K. Callanan objected to the heighth of the sign. Would like
to see lower signs in Plainfield.
D. Gullicksen moved to concur with the Plan Commission and
approve the sign variance for Phillips 66 and authorize the
attorney to draft an ordinance for the variance. Seconded by
W. Sharp. Vote by roll call. Sharp, yes; Peterson, no;
Gullicksen, yes; Bootz, no; Dement, no; Callanan, no.
2 yes, 4 no. Motion failed.
After some discussion the Board agreed Phillips should adjust
the heighth of th.e sign to the height of the present canopy,
approximately 16 feet.
•
PLAINFLELD VILLAGE BOARD OP TRUSTEES
April 21, 1986
Page Pour
D. Gullicksen moved to approve the sign vaxi.ance fox
Phillips 66 allawi.ng a 49 square foot Phillips 66 sign and
a 42 square foot price sign an one pole, and to adjust th.e
total heighth of the sign to the heigh.th of the present canopx,
approximately 16 feet, and authorise the attorney to draft an
ordinance for the variance. Seconded by J. Peterson. Vote
by roll call., Sharp, yes.; Peterson, yes; Gullicksen, yes.;
Baotz, yes; Dement, yes; Callanan, yes. 6 yes, 0 no. Motion
carried.
D. Gullicksen brought to the Board from the Plan Cammisson a
report on Boundary Agreement with Naperville. Naperville
suggested a baundary at 115th. Street because it is a natural
boundary. The Plan Commission recommended the Village Board
in their continuing meetings with Naperville negotiate a
boundary agreement at 111th. Street. Mayor Latta raised the
question that if we go above our facility plan (127th. what
obligation do we have outside our facility plan, for example
water and sewer. J. Harvey stated there is no legal obligation
as to water and aewex. Eventually you would enter into some
type of annexation agreements with.. the owners and work out haw
the lines would be extended and how the cost would be divided.
We can have them in the Village but there is no legal duty to
have them hook up to the water and sewer. After same discussi
it was agreed that this matter be discussed further at the
next workshop meeting.
D. Gullicksen acknowledged receipt of a letter of resignation
from Donald E. Pearson stating his resignation from the Plan
Commission as of the first of May.
on
J. Harvey presented the proposed Zaning Covenant from
R. Selfridge an th.e rezoning of the property at 501 Division
Street with a few minor amendments. R. Selfridge stated he was
agreeable to the covenant with the changes made by Mr. Harvey.
If the covenant is acceptable to the Board Mr. Selfridge would
like to have it recorded before the closing an the purchase of
the lot. J. Harvey stated assuming this is executed this
evening he will prepare the ordinance formally changing the
zoning for the next Board meeting.
D. Gullicksen moved that we accept the Restrictive Covenant to
501 Division Street as amended in Mr. Harvey's draft of the
covenant and authorize the Mayor to execute on behalf of the
Village. Seconded by W. Sharp. Vote by roll call. Sharp, yes;
Peterson, yes; Gullicksen, yes; Bootz, yes; Dement, yes;
Callanan, no. 5 yes, 1 na. Motion carried.
PLAINFIELD VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
April 21, 1986
Page Bive
Mayor Latta presented a letter and drawings from Robert Baish
Construction Company regarding the apartment building he built
at 719 Main Street. Mr. Baish states that in preparation far
locating and pouring sidewalks there are 2 trees in line with
the sidewalk location. Mr. Baish requests permission to route
the sidewalk around these trees~so they can be preserved.
After a short discussion the Board agreed to table this to the
next workshop meeting so they can go out and view the site
before making a decision.
K. Callanan reported she received a memo from H. Countryman
and Bud Dralle requesting the Board to discuss a few issues
they would like to incorporate in the Plumbing Ordinance, and
would like to discuss this at the next workshop meeting.
K. Callanan stated she would like to bring forth a proposal in
workshop regarding codification of our ordinances. Wanted to
know time frame we have to discuss this before we have to have
it incorporated in our budget or appropriation request for next
• yesr. J. Bootz stated there is enough time. At next Board
meeting K. Callanan will request this be discussed at the
May 12th workshop .meeting.
K. Callanan reported there is a request from Meals on Wheels
that she will present for the next workshop meeting.
W. Sharp stated that at the last Board meeting he made a motion
to transfer funds. for the Whispering Creek settlement to line
item #828- There is a correction; it should have been line
item #827.
W. Sharp moved that the previous line item listed as #828 on
my motion of the last meeting be changed to line item #$27
Road and .Bridge. Seconded by D. Gullicksen. Vote by roll call.
Sharp, yes; Peterson, yes; Gullicksen, yes; Bootz, yes;
Dement, yes; Callanan, yes. 6 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.
W. Sharp requested permission to send an application to the
Will County Private Industry Council to get 2 or 4 youth workers
for use in the Street Department for the summer. This is the
Will County PIC program. This will be at no cast to the Village.
•
PLAINFIELD VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
April 21, 1986.
Page Six
W. Sharp moved to apply to the Will County Pxi.vate Industry
Council to obtain youth. workers for the summer. Seconded
by J. Peterson. Vote by roll call. Sharp, yes; Peterson, yes;
Gullicksen, yes; Bootz, yes; Dement, yes; Callanan, yes.
6 yes, Q no. Motion carried.
W. Sharp reported American Cable is in final stages of
negotiating for the new site for the receiving tower. They
expect to see wires dropped next week. by utility companies.
Time schedule for first homes to be turned on is still June.
Question raised from audience asking if Board has received
any communication from John Bays or his attorney on the
Plainfield Plaza. J. Harvey. stated we have not, that Mr. Jacobs,
who was the attorney for Mr. Bays, his office was extensively
damaged by fire, therefore anything coming out of his office
has been very slow. J. Harvey was asked to follow up on this
matter.
J. Peterson moved to adjourn into Executive Session to
• reconvene. Seconded by J. Bootz. Vote by roll call.
Sharp, Yes; Peterson, yes; Gullicksen, yes; Bootz, yes;
Dement, yes; Callanan, yes. 6 yes, C~ no. Motion carried.
8; ~5 p,m.
9.1p p.m.
D. Gullick~en moved to adjourn. Seconded by ~'. Boots.
Voice vote. 6 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.
9:11 p.m.
w
Catherine Jania, eputy Village Clerk
ATTACHMENT N0. 2
Board Meeting 4/21/$6
i•
Village Ordinance Number 1034,
part "The Village Administrator
time by a majority vote of the
Trustees".
Chapter 1, Article II, states in
may be removed from office at any
President and Village Board of
What this means is that any time a majority of the Board wants to
remove a Village Administrator for whatever reason and regardless
of how well a job he may be doing a change may be made far any
reason. I personally feel this is not fair to the individual
occupying this position. An administrator should be given the
same rights given to any other Village employee. That is: If he
is doing something a Board Member disagrees with; that Trustee
should bring the issue to the Village Board and the
Administrators' attention as soon as possible (in a joint meeting
with the Board and the Administrator). Tf the Board agrees that a
change should be made, the Administrator should be informed by
the Board (NOT an individual Trustee) that a change is warranted
and then give the Administrator the opportunity to make any
correction within a reasonable time. The Administrator should NOT
be dismissed just because the majority of the Board doesn't lake
the way he parts his hair.
This Village Board has had several Workshop meetings attempting
. to define what they wanted the duties of the Village
Administrator to be because they did not agree with the duties
and responsibilities specified in Ordinance 1034. After numerous
meetings this Board could not reach a consensus of opinion on the
duties expected of our Village Administrator. The only statement
I ever heard is that certain Baird Members could and would not
accept the duties and responsibilities identified in Ordinance
1034. Several times the Administrator was told to write his own
position description then later told to stop work on the position
description. This was one of the reasons we, The Village Board,
voted to incur an expense of over $11,000... To write position
descriptions because we did not know what we wanted our Village
Administrator and other Village Employees to do!
Over the past four years our previous Administrator has saved the
Village of Plainfield and most important the Taxpayers of
Plainfield over a half million dollars. He did this by
collecting delinquent bills owed the Village; Enforcing Village
Ordinances; Setting up purchase order procedures and accounts
payable procedures; Requiring contractors to provide Performance
Bonds and Certificates of Insurance; He even went after the State
and Federal Government when they improperly billed the the
Village. He established systems and procedures to increase the
efficiencies of Village Departments all of which were an accord
with Ordinance 1034 "An Ordinance creating the office of Village
Administrator within the Village of Plainfield".
. I might add that he did this even while being harassed by certain
Board Members, the Mayor, and several Police Officers WHO DID NOT
LIKE THE ESTABLISHED WRITTEN PROCEDURES OR THE IDEA OF BEING
HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR PERFORMING THESR JOB.!
ATTACHMENT NO. 1
Board Meeting 4/21/86
April 20, 1986
Village Board of Plainfield
1400 N. Division Street
Plainfield, I1 60544
Plainfield Village Board:
As most of you probably know I have often done Village work at
home (after regular scheduled working hours) in an effort to
complete work without .interruption and/or to meet certain
scheduled deadlines.
. During the past week I have discovered several items which belong
to the Village. Namely these items are: The LOTUS 1-2-3 Prg. &
back up disks; 5-keys; and 1-battery. These items are returned
to you in GOOD FAITH and in return I request that you will honor
my request to return my personal telephone index, personal notes
and records.
Thank You.
Sincerely,
James E. West