West Cook News

Village of Berkeley Village Board met Oct. 15.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

1 President Lee called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.

2 Pledge of Allegiance

3 Roll Call

Present: Trustees Hammar, Salemi, Grenier, Graf-Stone, Washington, Perez, President Lee

Also Present: Village Administrator Rudy Espiritu, Assistant to the Village Administrator Justyn Miller, Fire Chief Michael Kuryla, Police Chief Timothy Larem, Public Works Superintendent Joseph Wagner, Assistant Attorney Liz Brogan and Village Attorney Greg Smith.

4 Presentations and Appointment

4.1 Beautify Berkeley Home of the Month for September 2019 – 5626 Bohlander Congratulations!

5 Public Hearings

No Public Hearing.

6 Public Comments and Questions (Consent Agenda Items Only)

No Public Comments or Questions.

7 Consent Agenda

The matters listed for consideration on the Consent Agenda are routine in nature or have all been discussed by the Board of Trustees previously and are matters on which there was unanimity for placement on the Consent Agenda at this meeting.

7.1 Village Board Meeting Minutes from October 1, 2019

7.2 Executive Session Meeting Minutes from October 1, 2019 (not for release)

Trustee	Motion	Second	Ayes	Nays	Absent	Abstain
Larry Hammar			X
Diane Salemi	X		X
Raymond Grenier			X
Sherry Graf-Stone		X	X
Herb Washington			X
Jerry Perez			X

MOTION CARRIED 8 Claims Ordinance

8.1 Motion to Approve Claims Ordinance #1425 in the amount of $111,818.33

Trustee	Motion	Second	Ayes	Nays	Absent	Abstain
Diane Salemi	X		X
Raymond Grenier			X
Sherry Graf-Stone			X
Herb Washington		X	X
Jerry Perez			X
Larry Hammar			X

MOTION CARRIED

9 Committee Reports

9.1 Administration, Zoning and Technology (Chair –Trustee Graf-Stone; Co-

Chair Trustee Washington)

9.1.1 Trustee Liaison Report – Trustee Graf-Stone informed the Board that

Administration is working hard on completing the Audit. Village Administrator Espiritu recently went to the IML Conference focusing on the Economic Development. Staff is getting ready for the upcoming open enrollment for employee health insurance.

9.1.2 Monthly Report

9.1.3 Motion to Approve a Resolution Approving and Authorizing the

Execution of a Community Development Block Grant Program Subrecipient Agreement between Cook County, Illinois and the Village of Berkeley, Cook County, Illinois Regarding Flood Control Project Recreational Enhancements – Project 1907-002

Trustee	Motion	Second	Ayes	Nays	Absent	Abstain
Raymond Grenier			X
Sherry Graf-Stone	X		X
Herb Washington			X
Jerry Perez		X	X
Larry Hammar			X
Diane Salemi			X

MOTION CARRIED

9.1.4 Motion to Approve a Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Execution of an Intergovernmental Agreement between Cook County, Illinois and the Village of Berkeley, Cook County, Illinois regarding Funding from the 2019 Invest in Cook Program to pay for a portion of the costs of the Reconstruction of Proviso Drive from Wolf Road to the Union Pacific Proviso Yard

Trustee	Motion	Second	Ayes	Nays	Absent	Abstain
Sherry Graf-Stone	X		X
Herb Washington			X
Jerry Perez			X
Larry Hammar			X
Diane Salemi			X
Raymond Grenier		X

MOTION CARRIED

9.2 Finance and Economic Development (Chair – Trustee Washington; Co- Chair Trustee Salemi)

9.2.1 Trustee Liaison Report

9.2.2 Monthly Report

9.2.3 First Quarter Financial Dashboard Presentation

Village Administrator Espiritu shared and explained the Financial Dashboard results. One of the revenues that the Board discussed is red light camera revenue. The Village did budget some potential revenue into the budget for this fiscal year and the final application is in with the state. However, there is a lot of concern with red light cameras at this time in the news. The Village expects that to be delayed and potentially maybe not happening. This is something to keep in mind, the Village is not going to push it, but let the State complete their process. If it does not happen, we may need to look at other measures for where we may need to cut or look for other potential revenue. So the Village is in good financial shape where revenues have exceeded expenditures in the first quarter.

9.2.4 ICSC 2019 Retail Convention Update

Village Administrator Espiritu attended the IML Conference in Chicago specifically for economic development workshops

The Board discussed at the last meeting about going to the Retail Convention Show. This is the first time the Village of Berkeley is being represented. This is basically where they are recruiting for more amenities and those kind of things (which residents are looking for). Dollar Tree is coming to Berkeley and we are looking for restaurants to come to Berkeley. Each business looks for certain amount of income within the community. Most are looking for $55,000 – $65,000 average income per household to make sure their business will thrive. Berkeley has a very good chance of getting more businesses within the community. A link will be put on the Berkeley website for any business that may be interested in coming to Berkeley.

9.2.5 Motion Approve a Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Execution of a Joint Powers Agreement between Sourcewell and the Village of Berkeley, Cook County, Illinois for Village Participation in the Sourcewell Joint Purchasing Program

Trustee	Motion	Second	Ayes	Nays	Absent	Abstain
Herb Washington	X		X
Jerry Perez			X
Larry Hammar			X
Diane Salemi		X	X
Raymond Grenier			X
Sherry Graf-Stone			X

MOTION CARRIED

9.3 Police and Property Maintenance (Chair – Trustee Salemi; Co-Chair Trustee Hammar)

9.3.1 Trustee Liaison Report – Trustee Salemi informed the Board that Police and Code Enforcement are doing very good work. Most residents are being compliant and those that are not are being held accountable.

9.3.2 Monthly Report

9.4 Fire and Health (Chair – Trustee Grenier; Co-Chair Trustee Perez)

9.4.1 Trustee Liaison Report – No report

Chief Kuryla informed the Board that Trustee Grenier retired from the Carol Stream Fire Department (with 25 years) last Thursday and was celebrated.

Fire Chief Kruyla read a Proclamation for Rusty Grenier that was given to him when he served as a Paid-on-Call Firefighter in Berkeley.

9.4.2 Monthly Report

9.5 Public Works and Utilities (Chair – Trustee Hammar; Co-Chair Trustee Grenier)

9.5.1 Trustee Liaison Report – No report

9.5.2 Monthly Report

9.5.3 Motion to Approve a Resolution to Waive Competitive Bidding and Authorize the Execution of a Purchase between the Village of Berkeley, Cook County, Illinois and Morton Salt Inc. for the Purchase of 535 Tons of Road Salt at an Amount not to exceed $46,473.00

Trustee	Motion	Second	Ayes	Nays	Absent	Abstain
Jerry Perez			X
Larry Hammar	X		X
Diane Salemi			X
Raymond Grenier		X	X
Sherry Graf-Stone			X
Herb Washington			X

MOTION CARRIED

9.5.4 Motion to Approve a Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement between the Village of Berkeley, Cook County, Illinois and Chicagoland Paving Contractors Inc. for the 2019 Alley Improvements Project in an Amount Not to Exceed $325,000.00

Trustee	Motion	Second	Ayes	Nays	Absent	Abstain
Larry Hammar	X		X
Diane Salemi		X	X
Raymond Grenier			X
Sherry Graf-Stone			X
Herb Washington			X
Jerry Perez			X

MOTION CARRIED

9.5.5 Motion to Approve a Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement between the Village of Berkeley, Cook County, Illinois and Civiltech Engineering Inc. for Phase III Engineering of the 2019 Berkeley Alley Improvements Project in an amount not to exceed $43,270.00

Trustee	Motion	Second	Ayes	Nays	Absent	Abstain
Diane Salemi			X
Raymond Grenier			X
Sherry Graf-Stone		X	X
Herb Washington			X
Jerry Perez			X
Larry Hammar	X		X

MOTION CARRIED

9.5.6 Motion to Approve a Resolution for Improvement under the Illinois Highway Code for the Use of Motor Fuel Tax Funds in the Amount of $368,270.00 for the 2019 Alley Improvement Project

Trustee	Motion	Second	Ayes	Nays	Absent	Abstain
Raymond Grenier			X
Sherry Graf-Stone			X
Herb Washington			X
Jerry Perez		X	X
Larry Hammar	X		X
Diane Salemi			X

MOTION CARRIED

The two sidewalk machines were on the auction site 16 days. The minimum bid has been met for one of them. The minimum bid for both machines and accessories was $10,000.00.

57 water meters that remain to install. Those that have not yet complied have been given weekend opportunities in September and October, as well as, Monday – Friday 7am – 3pm. Those that do not get meters installed by October 31st will receive a final letter providing them with two weekends in November and a shut off date of December 2nd for non- compliance. Homes that are non-compliant will have received mail and hand deliver notices in addition to the several notices that were sent since May 2018.

9.6 Community and Intergovernmental Relations (Chair – Trustee Perez; Co- Chair Trustee Graf-Stone)

9.6.1 Trustee Liaison Report – Trustee Perez informed that the Garden Club had their Harvest Feast event this past Saturday.

There is a box in the Village Hall that is for collecting undergarments for Veterans for the month of October. Westchester Food Pantry also has a box in the Village Hall collecting food.

10 Village President

President Lee informed the Board that the Garden Club had a very good turnout at their Harvest Feast Event. They do a wonderful job and are growing each year.

The enhancement for the retention pond will not be added until we receive outside funding for that. We should receive it in about a year from now.

Alley Project – great job.

If you are a homeowner, come November 20, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. to appeal your taxes. Appeals should be done twice a year, every year. There will be representatives from Proviso Town hip to assist. A robo call will be done to remind residents.

Officer Michael Fluker is a mentor for Proviso High School and now is mentoring district 87. A letter was received thanking Officer Michael Fluker and she shared how he changed her son’s life.

Village of Hillside hosts the Veteran’s Parade on November 2, 2019.

10.1 President’s Report

10.1.1 10/22/2019 Planning and Zoning Commission at 6:30 p.m.

10.1.2 11/5/2019 Village Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m.

11 Village Administrator – No report

12 Village Attorney – Illinois General Assembly will begin their veto session starting the week of October 28th for a couple of weeks. A number of bills will be introduced that will affect or relate to the Village. One of them has to do with Public Safety Pension Consolidation. The Governor put together a task force called the Pension Consolidation Feasibility Task Force which issued a report that came out last week.

What the Task Force recommended and what IML is supporting is a partial consolidation of downstate police and fire pension funds. This will not apply to the City of Chicago. All of the fire and police pension funds outside of Chicago are called the Downstate Pension Funds. Instead of a full consolidation where all functions of the 650 local pension funds going down to Springfield and operated there, they are talking about taking the investment decisions out of the local control and consolidating them into a single board with equal representation of labor and management. Whereas the decisions on disability and general administration would remain with the 650 local funds, including here in Berkeley (Police Pension Fund). If a police officer is hurt in the line of duty, they can ask for a disability pension. Disability pension decisions will be made in each community by representatives selected by the active officers on one part and the Village Mayor on the other part. However, the taskforce believes that there could be an economy of scales that instead of having 650 financial advisors to manage the money of each of these funds, earning separate fees, bring them all to one pool and have one advisor with a lower more reasonable fee making those decisions.

13 Public Comments and Questions

Mary Sharp-Baker, resident – Ms. Sharp-Baker received a letter from the Illinois State Highway. It states that they acquired the property. How can they acquire this property if they are residential?

Mayor Lee responded and Village Administrator Espiritu will meet with Ms. Sharp- Baker after the meeting.

14 Executive Session

14.1 Motion to enter into Executive Session to consider the:

a. Appointment, Employment, Compensation, Discipline, Performance or Dismissal of Specific Employee(s) 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(1)

b. Collective Bargaining, Salary Schedules; categorically 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(2)

c. Appointment/Removal for Public Office or Attorney 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(3)

d. Consideration to Purchase, Lease (Buy), or Acquire Specific Real Estate Property 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(5)

e. Setting Price for Sale/Lease Specific Real Estate Property 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(6)

f. Security Procedures and the use of personnel and equipment to respond to an actual, a threatened, or a reasonably potential danger to the safety of employees, students, staff, the public, or public property. 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(8)

g. Probable or Imminent and Pending Litigation 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(11)

h. Establish Reserves or Settle Claims (Tort) 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(12)

i. Consideration of Release of Executive Session Minutes 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21)

15 Action to be Taken as a Result of Executive Session

16 President Lee adjourned the meeting at 7:40 p.m.

Trustee	Motion	Second	Ayes	Nays	Absent	Abstain
Larry Hammar			X
Diane Salemi	X		X
Raymond Grenier			X
Sherry Graf-Stone		X	X
Herb Washington			X
Jerry Perez			X

https://www.berkeley.il.us/vertical/Sites/%7BB4877CC9-5533-47FA-94DE-B3C09F1665AB%7D/uploads/Board_Meeting_Minutes_October_15_2019(1).pdf