Village of Berkeley Village Board met May 19.
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, Washington, Perez and President Lee
Absent – Trustee Graf-Stone
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
No Presentations or Appointments.
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 May 5, 2020
Voice Vote
MOTION CARRIED
8 Claims Ordinance
8.1 Motion to Approve Claims Ordinance #1439 in the amount of $117,504.62
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 – No report.
9.1.2 Monthly Report
9.1.3 Motion to Approve a Resolution Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement Between the Village of Berkeley, Cook County, Illinois and M & O Environmental Company for Asbestos Abatement Services at 1812 North Taft Avenue
MOTION CARRIED
9.1.4 Motion to Approve a Resolution Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement Between the Village of Berkeley, Cook County, Illinois and Crunch Inc., for the Demolition and Excavation Services at 1812 North Taft Avenue
MOTION CARRIED
9.2 Finance and Economic Development (Chair – Trustee Washington; Co-Chair Trustee Salemi)
9.2.1 Trustee Liaison Report – No report.
9.2.2 Monthly Report
9.2.3 Recession Preparation Presentation Village Administrator Espiritu gave a presentation on how he has been working with staff to prepare if/and when they go into a recession. The recession is not going to be caused by spending too much, but due to lack of revenue. The Village has several revenue accounts and some investment accounts and CD’s, which at this time they are transferring some of the funds to either the payroll account to pay salaries or the operating account (basically their General Fund) to continue services in the Village. Village Administrator Espiritu explained that during a recession cash is very important (revenue) and if it does not come in as expected, it becomes an issue. They have to think about how are they going to pay salaries? How are they going to pay for accounts payables? How do you make sure you have enough money to run the operation? They will have to discuss and decide on what large projects they will fund and what projects will they have to hold off on. They will also discuss and decide on major purchases, as well as, discuss and decide if they can hold off on filling any vacancies. Village Administrator Espiritu informed the Board that they are expecting a decline in revenues on Building Permits, Video Gaming, Income Tax, Sales Tax and Property Taxes. Village Administrator Espiritu and Assistant to the Village Administrator Miller are now working on an amended budget to present to the Board in a month. We may have to make cuts and all purchases and all purchases will have to go through the administration for approval. Temporary reallocation of personnel to help each other because each department can be affected differently. Wage freezes and furloughs and possible layoffs may have to be negotiated with the unions. There are some advantages that the Village of Berkeley does have, for example, they do have available cash in the bank. Kudos to the Board and previous staffs for building that available cash to get them through the rainy days. The Village of Berkeley also has a diverse mix of revenues, Property Tax is the most stable tax and Sales Tax is wonderful when the economy is booming. Capital Funds are well funded. If and when there may be a necessity for an emergency purchase, they have the money to pay if they had to. Village of Berkeley is grant savvy because we are active in applying for grants. The Village of Berkelery is low to moderate income and we are eligible for many grants. The Tollway Intergovernmental Project, if they can work it out with them, the Village of Berkeley can get cash as soon as this summer. Based on previous recession outcome, Berkeley was not as affected as other communities and it seems and they hope that it will be the same. $800,000 was liquidated because it was anticipated that they would go into recession they also have another $1,000,000 to liquidate if needed. The Village of Berkeley will not be filling positions in all departments during the recession. President Lee and the Board agree that Village Administrator Espiritu and Staff did a really great job in preparing for the recession and planned for any emergencies that may come up Village Administrator Espiritu thanks all the Staff for stepping up and doing a great job.
9.3 Police and Property Maintenance (Chair – Trustee Salemi; Co-Chair Trustee Hammar)
9.3.1 Trustee Liaison Report – No report.
9.3.2 Monthly Report
Police Chief Larem updated the Board that all police officers are healthy and back on the force.
9.4 Fire and Health (Chair – Trustee Grenier; Co-Chair Trustee Perez)
9.4.1 Trustee Liaison Report – No report.
9.4.2 Monthly Report
9.5 Public Works and Utilities (Chair – Trustee Hammar; Co-Chair Trustee Grenier)
9.5.1 Trustee Liaison Report – Trustee Hammar informed the Board that although we had some flooding it came and went pretty quickly.
9.5.2 Monthly Report
9.5.3 Motion to Approve a Resolution Approving the Purchase of a 2021 Ford F750 Reg Cab Dump Truck and Related Equipment in an Amount not to Exceed $117,165.00
MOTION CARRIED
9.6 Community and Intergovernmental Relations (Chair – Trustee Perez; Co-Chair Trustee Graf-Stone)
9.6.1 Trustee Liaison Report – Trustee Perez informed the Board that there was some savings from cancelling all the summer events.
9.6.2 Electric Avenue Lights Festival Discussion – Trustee Perez asked the Board to see if that would be something that be considered. President Lee asked the Board if they would consider planning lighting up the park during December so that residents can visit anytime in December. Given the financial effects of the pandemic, the Board chose to hold off making a final decision on this.
10 Village President
10.1 President’s Report
10.1.1 6/2/20 Village Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m.
Memorial Day is this Monday, May 25th and working with Public Safety and American Legion Post 1016. Two members will be in attendance as well as the Poppy Queen 2020. The wreath will be laid at the monument stone at Veteran’s Park. No public will be encouraged to attend. At 11 am, we will have a moment of silence village-wide and PD will have a 7-gun volley to commemorate our fallen soldiers.
A condensed version Virtual Round Table meeting will be scheduled on May 27th at 3:30 for an hour. Meeting will include Dist. 87, Berkeley Library and Berkeley Park District.
Board Trustee Liaison program to start with the new fiscal year. President Lee encourages the trustees to open up communication lines for each of our governmental partners and outside organizations.
8 inches of rainfall in a short time. Biggest test for the Flood Mitigation Project. A few glitches that Superintendent Wagner indicated. A corroded battery at Morris and Bohlander was discovered and the problem regarding communication. This has been corrected.
11 Village Administrator – Update on Covid-19 – 47 Covid-positive on May 5, 2020 it is now 72 Covid positive cases in Berkeley, however, there are more being tested. Two weeks ago, infection rate was at 27.65%, it is now at 23.5%. No death reported from Covid-19 in the community.
12 Village Attorney – Village Attorney Smith has 2 brief items to report. As Village Administrator Espiritu mentioned, the governor has a 5 phase restore Illinois plan and the Village of Berkeley is in region 1. Region 1 is on track along with the rest of the state to move from phase 2 (called flattening) of the plan to phase 3 (recovery) on Friday, May 29th so long as the matrix that the Illinois of Public Health is overseeing regarding this plan are met. Assuming that region 1 is ready to move forward to 3 phase 3 on May 29th, you will see more businesses in the Village of Berkeley to be able to operate. This is important because as the governor repeatedly stressed, the State is putting very little resources enforcing the Governor’s Executive’s Orders. Instead they are relying on the Counties and local law enforcement to educate the public and try to gain compliance. As of phase 3 being entered into, all manufacturing office, retail may reopen in capacity limits. Barber shops and beauty parlors will be able to open as well with certain capacity limits and extra health precaution. Once phase 3 begins, groups of 10 people may gather for any reason. Face masks and social distancing are still required in phase 3.
Additionally, the Illinois General Assembly is going to begin a special session tomorrow in Springfield. They are going to meet in the convention center down there. We expect a lot of activities coming out of Springfield both regarding legislation regarding the governor’s authority for Executive Orders in time of emergency. As you may have read, in some quarters, people think the Governor lacks order to do certain things that he’s done. He believes the legislation will address some of those issues and hopefully provide relief, not only for resident businesses, but to address some of the financial impacts that were mentioned earlier from Village Administrator Espiritu. Will keep you up dated
13 Public Comments and Questions No Public Comments or Questions
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)
Enter into Executive Session at 7:51 pm
Voice Vote
MOTION CARRIED
Exit out of Executive Session at 8:21 pm and into the Village Board Meeting
Voice Vote
MOTION CARRIED
15 Action to be Taken as a Result of Executive Session – No action taken.
16 President Lee adjourned the meeting at 8:22 pm
Voice Vote
MOTION CARRIED
https://www.berkeley.il.us/vertical/Sites/%7BB4877CC9-5533-47FA-94DE-B3C09F1665AB%7D/uploads/Board_Meeting_Minutes_May_19_2020.pdf
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