West Cook News

Village of Western Springs General Government Committee met April 9.

Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:

Present:

Chair Tymick, Member Tyrrell, Manager Velkrne, Director Baer, Director Scott, Attorney Jurusik, and WSBA President Mike O'Brien

Electronic Attendance at Meeting: There was none.

Chair Tymick called the General Government Committee meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

Agenda Items:

1. Public Comment

There were no public comments.

2. Approval of Minutes

Chair Tymick moved, seconded by Committee Member Tyrrell, to approve the minutes of March 1, 2018 as read.

3. Budget Amendment

Director Baer presented a request for a budget amendment which the Finance Committee reviewed in March. The Finance Committee will be reporting on this request at the Board meeting later this evening. This amendment is requested to add some additional dollars for the Communications Manager Position. Director Baer said the Village recmited for that position and had a really nice response in terms of qualified individuals interested in the position and one particular candidate stood out with strong qualifications. She is very involved in the community and does the newsletter and Facebook for Tower Chorale and other social media. She is a Board member of the Hope Chest Foundation and is Chair of their communications committee as well. In order to meet something acceptable to her and what the Village felt was fair, some additional dollars needed to be added to that position.

The second piece of the request includes an increase for the Management Analyst position to a full time position. The full time amendment request is for a position that is proposed to merge the existing part-time Police Department Accreditation Manager position and a new Management Analyst function thus creating one full-time position that will support all departments to complete projects requiring analysis and research. In addition to the work required for the Police CALEA Accreditation process, the position will focus on many of the community-wide initiatives that were outlined in the Strategic Planning process. This request will cover salary, health benefits and other benefits such as FICA, IMRF, etc. for the remainder of the fiscal year. Daisy Chavez, who has been working with the Village as a part-time intern, would be a good candidate for this position. The total budget amendment request is $36,450 and would be funded through the Village reserve funds. This committee concurred with the request which the Finance Department Committee reviewed in March. The Finance Committee will report and recommend approval of this budget amendment at the April 23, 2019 Board meeting.

4. Memorial Ribbons on Parkway Trees

Director Baer stated Director of Municipal Services Supert had received an inquiry from a resident regarding instituting a ban on memorial ribbons on parkway trees. Director Baer said a policy allowing placement of the ribbons for a period of one month was previously approved by the Board. Public Works will remove ribbons from parkway trees after one month has passed. While this rule has not been enforced as diligently in the past, staff plans to be more proactive and remove the ribbons after one month's time. This policy will allow an adequate amount of time for residents to notify the Village and visually reflect their concern while still protecting parkway trees and avoid allowing the ribbons to become an eyesore. The Village website will include a notice of this policy. The committee concurred with this approach. The resident will be informed of the report to the committee and the Village's plan for removal of ribbons on parkway trees after one month.

s. Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave

WSBA President Mike O'Brien gave the committee an update on the plans for permanent storage of the Santa House which has now been moved off the Village Green.

WSBA President Mr. O'Brien shared additional information with the committee on a concept called "Wage Curve Inflation? which WSBA members feel would be an onerous result of allowing an increase in minimum wage to take effect in Western Springs. Even though the paid sick leave is more onerous, WSBA believes the Village should continue to opt out of the Cook County ordinances on both minimum wage and paid sick leave that took effect on July 1, 2017. The committee listened to Mr. O'Brien present the Wage Curve Inflation concept and a question and answer period followed.

Chair Tymick indicated the committee plans to ask the Board to take a vote on April 23, 2018 on the decision to continue with the status quo or to opt in on both minimum wage and paid sick leave. Chair Tymick will report this intention this evening and will state that this action will come without a recommendation from the committee to let people vote their own conscience. The approach will be to ask the Board to vote on each option for minimum wage and paid sick leave. Discussion about the recommended motions on the April 23, 2018 agenda followed. The motions regarding status quo or opt in for each would not be on omnibus. In the event the Board decides to opt in on either or both minimum wage and paid sick leave, Attorney Jurusik would then be directed to prepare ordinances effectuating the changes at the first meeting in May which would be a special meeting.

6. French Market

Director Scott said the Village currently has a three year contract extension in place with Bensidoun for the French Market which is currently held at Tower Green on Sundays from 9 a.m. until l p.m. The contract runs through January 2019. Bensidoun has requested to begin the market in May rather than June. The committee is amenable to this change. Attorney Jurusik will prepare a contract addendum to move up the start to May from June. The committee will recommend approval of this contract addendum to the Board. The item will be on the April 23, 2018 Board meeting omnibus vote list for consideration of approval.

7. Schedule Next Committee Meeting

The next General Government Committee meeting will be held on Thursday, May 3, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. The May Board meeting schedule is accelerated due to the Memorial Day holiday with the workshop on May 7 and the regular meeting on May 21. Attorney Jurusik mentioned two items which the committee could consider including small cell and a change to PSEBA with an administrative hearing process available to municipalities. Chair Tymick asked if he should recuse himself from discussion of small cell since his company could theoretically benefit from it. Attorney Jurusik said he and Chair Tymick should discuss further whether or not there is a conflict. Director Baer said the committee may also need to discuss a labor contract which may be settled in the next week or two.

8, Adjourn

With no further business to discuss, Chair Tymick moved, seconded by Member Tyrrell to reconvene and adjourn the meeting at 6:51 p.m.

http://www.wsprings.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_04092018-707