HomeMy Public PortalAbout2011-02-14 COW minutesMinutes of the Committee of the Whole Workshop of the President and the Board of Trustees Held on February 14, 2011 In the Boardroom Chairman Fay called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. Board Present: Trustee Kachel, Trustee Lamb, Trustee Peck, Trustee Bonuchi, and Trustee Fay. Others Present: Brian Murphy, Village Administrator; Michelle Gibas, Village Clerk; Allen Persons, Public Works Director; Michael Garrigan, Planning Supervisor; Dean Marquez, Bu ilding Supervisor; Traci Pleckham, Management Services Supervisor; and John K onopek, Interim Police Chief. Trustee Kachel moved to approve the Minutes of the Joint Meeting with the Historic Preservation Commission and the Committee of the Whole Workshop held on January 24, 2011. Seconded by Trustee Peck. Trustee Peck asked to amend the Minutes of th e Committee of the Whole Workshop to include his suggestion of doing a cost/benefit anal ysis in regards to prosecuting all of our misdemeanor cases. Currently, the Will County State’s Attorney handles thos e cases and gets the majority of the revenue. If the Village will generate more revenue after acc ounting for legal fees encumbered, it is a win/win situation for the Village. The Board did not object to the am endment suggested by Trustee Peck. Voice Vote. All in favor, 0 opposed. Motion carried. PRESIDENTIAL COMMENTS Trustee Fay: • Wished everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day. • Stated that he read Special Report in Crains, The Graying of Chicago. The report is about the Baby Boomers reaching retirement age in 2011 a nd triggering 20 years of economic change on a scale not seen since the end of World War II. Trustee Fay suggested the Board read the report. • Stated that he had a conversati on with a former Trustee that ha d previously suggested renting Village property for soccer fields. He will bring back information to the Board. • Commented on Coffee with the Mayor and residents complimenting the snow removal. Trustee Fay thanked everyone i nvolved with snow removal. • Thanked John Konopek for taking on the res ponsibility of Interim Police Chief. TRUSTEES COMMENTS Trustee Bonuchi congratulated J ohn Konopek and expressed gratitude to the entire police staff. Trustee Lamb: • Congratulated John Konopek and urged him to k eep up the communication level that has been recently improved. • Expressed concern regarding the Engineer’s Report Card for the State of Illinois. The rating was D+ as a whole.
Committee of the Whole Workshop Minutes February 14, 2011 Page 2 of 4 Trustee Peck congratulated John Konopek. Trustee Kachel congr atulated John Konopek. PUBLIC COMMENTS No Comments. WORKSHOP MEETING #1 COMMUNITY ROOMS/AMPHITHEATER RENTAL POLICIES Trustee Peck stated that he had some concerns wi th inconsistencies with the renting the Village’s Community Rooms as well as Settlers’ Park. Trustee Peck pointed out that the Amphitheater rental policy does not prohibit use for religious purposes, but the Community Rooms do. Trus tee Peck asked the Board for feedback. Trustee Bonuchi stated that the amphitheater policy should be cons istent with the community room and not allow the use for religious purposes. Tr ustee Fay suggested limiting it to weddings only. Trustee Lamb pointed out that the policies state that the event must be open to the public and all citizens, people having weddings ma y not be happy about that. Bria n Murphy suggested inserting the prior exclusion on the amphitheater policy for religious purposes a nd exploring an option to allow civil weddings. Trustee Peck pointed out that he does not feel th at the policy has been consistent for political candidates and that the Chamber has held candida tes night in the Community Room, but he was denied when he inquired about using the Community Room on be half of a partisan political organization to hold a candidate forum. Trustee Lamb pointed out again that the policy requires that the even t must be open to the public and all citizens. He felt that the Chamber’s Candi date Night was informa tional only and that the Chamber was not endorsing any partic ular candidate. The event must be structured in a non-partisan way and should not be for indi vidual candidates or parties. Trustee Peck asked if we should allow unions or just our own union. They are political. Trustee Lamb agreed that our own union should be allowed. Trustee Fay also suggested clarifying the start time and what time the doors will be open to let people in the building. Trustee Fay summarized the comments and asked Administrator Murphy to look at: • Reinserting the exclusion for religious services to the Amphitheater Policy. • Drafting language to clarify political action. • Including a time that the doors will be open for an event.
Committee of the Whole Workshop Minutes February 14, 2011 Page 3 of 4 #2 ELECTION TERM LIMITS Trustee Peck suggested that the Board look into lim iting the number of terms for elected officials. Trustee Peck suggested grandfathe ring in the current incumbents and begin with the 2013 election limiting the terms to three. Trustee Peck stated that there were a couple ways to implement this process. The Board could pass an ordinance lim iting the number of terms, put a referendum on the ballot, or residents to place the quest ion on the ballot by su bmitting a petition. Trustee Kachel did not agree with limiting terms. He felt that the Village Board does not have a big salary and that the more you learn, the better you can serve your community. He likes the way that it is now. Trustee Peck stated that elected officials are public servants and not elected to service themselves. He would like to see a 3 term limit. Trustee Fay stated that a lot can be said about accumulative experience. It takes a full term to learn the process. Trustee Lamb stated that sometimes being in a position too long can beco me stale, however, the public has the right to vote in w ho they want. It takes time to learn the process and limiting the number of terms you lose expertise. He is not in favor of limiting the number of terms. Trustee Bonuchi stated that she is not in favor of term limits. The staff looks to the Board for direction and more turnove r makes it difficult. Businesses like st ability too. You do this job because you love it not for financial gain. If voters want change, they ca n come out and vote. If you limit terms, you limit the voter’s voice. Trustee Bonuchi also expressed some concern regarding the cost of placing a referendum on the ballot. Trustee Peck clarified that it was not the consensu s of the Board to move forward with term limits, but suggested looking into a referendum. #3 BUDGET WORKSHOP – MISC. FUNDS, STREETS, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Mrs. Traci Pleckham, Management Services Di rector, reviewed the 2011-2012 Budget Worksheets for the Motor Fuel Tax Fund, Bond and Interest, To rt Immunity, Audit, Police Pension, DARE, Tax Increment Financing, and Alcohol Enforcement. Mr. Allen Persons, Public Works Director, then re viewed the Budget for th e Street Division. Mr. Persons pointed out that the Snow and Ice divisi on budget is included in th e Street Division budget. Trustee Kachel inquired about closing Indian Boundary and using the money towards another project. Mr. Persons pointed out that the grant the Village received includes Indian Boundary and he can not allocate the funds towards another project. Trus tee Kachel suggested putting a 4 way stop at the Intersection of Indian Boundary a nd County Line Road. Trustee K achel also suggested looking at electrical charging un its for smart cars.
Committee of the Whole Workshop Minutes February 14, 2011 Page 4 of 4 Mr. Michael Garrigan then revi ewed the budget for Planning Department and Mr. Dean Marquez reviewed the Budget for the Building Department. Trustee Fay thanked the staff for the presentation and suggested ha ving a future workshop on creative ways to increase revenue streams. Trustee Lamb moved to adjourn. Seconded by Trus tee Bonuchi. Voice Vo te. All in favor, 0 opposed. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 8:23 p.m. Michelle Gibas, Village Clerk