Village of Forest Park Village Board met June 8.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
Mayor Hoskins led all assembled in the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Commissioners Novak, Byrnes, Nero, Voogd and Mayor Hoskins answered the Roll Call. Mayor Hoskins announced that all members are attending remotely via video teleconference due to Governor Pritzker’s Shelter-in-place order.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
It was moved by Commissioner Nero and seconded by Commissioner Byrnes that the minutes from the May 18, 2020, Special Meeting of the Village Council be approved without reading as each member has received a copy thereof.
ROLL CALL:
AYES: Commissioners Byrnes, Nero, Voogd and Mayor Hoskins
NAYES: None
ABSTAIN: Commissioner Novak
The motion carried.
It was moved by Commissioner Voogd and seconded by Commissioner Byrnes that the minutes from the May 26, 2020, Regular Meeting of the Village Council be approved without reading as each member has received a copy thereof.
ROLL CALL:
AYES: Commissioners Novak, Byrnes, Nero, Voogd and Mayor Hoskins
NAYES: None
ABSENT: None
The motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT
The Siow and Gehrls household submitted public comment expressing their dissatisfaction with the village website, specifically the link for purchasing vehicle stickers. It was discussed that the link has been modified as of today and the resident was notified via email. In addition, they requested the village consider making their alley a quiet zone, a no through traffic zone and install speed bumps.
Ms. Lydia Van Slyke submitted public comment requesting the Village Council discuss adopting more restrictive use of force policies, including de-escalation, use of force continuum, ban chokeholds and strangleholds, require warning before shooting, restrict shooting at moving vehicles, require officers exhaust all other means before shooting, require officers to intervene to stop another officer from using excessive force.
COMMUNICATIONS:
None
DEPARTMENT REPORTS:
None
APPROVAL OF BILLS:
It was moved by Commissioner Voogd and seconded by Commissioner Nero that the Resolution for the payment of bills be adopted. The Commissioner of Accounts and Finance
has reviewed the bills as applicable to each department and found the aggregate amounts to be correct and recommends payment when funds are available. The bills totaled $249,437.66.
ROLL CALL:
AYES: Commissioners Novak, Byrnes, Nero, Voogd
and Mayor Hoskins
NAYES: None
ABSENT: None
The motion carried unanimously.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
None
NEW BUSINESS:
It was moved by Commissioner Voogd and seconded by Commissioner Byrnes to reappoint Ms. Brooke Sievers to the Library Board
ROLL CALL:
AYES: Commissioners Novak, Byrnes, Nero, Voogd and Mayor Hoskins
NAYES: None
ABSENT: None
The motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Commissioner Nero and seconded by Commissioner Voogd to appoint Ms. Keary Bramwell to the Library Board.
ROLL CALL:
AYES: Commissioners Novak, Byrnes, Nero, Voogd and Mayor Hoskins
NAYES: None
ABSENT: None
The motion carried unanimously.
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT:
Administrator Gillian reported the following:
• He is looking at other services/means to notify village residents about events in light of push- back from concerned residents about eliminating the Code Red robo-call service. He is looking at other services such as text or email notifications through the Facebook provider.
• Village staff has worked over the last week to reopen Madison Street business, which was largely successful. We have received some complaints about social distancing at specific businesses. Director Glinke spoke with each of the businesses and spot checks will be done. In addition, the Chamber sent out regulations from the state to all businesses.
• Village Hall reopened on Monday morning. The process has gone very well. The front door is locked and the police desk clerks are monitoring the number of people allowed into the building.
• We have experienced social unrest in the village in response to the George Floyd protests over the last week or so. Village employees and first responders handled the situation extremely well.
COMMISSIONER’S REPORTS:
Commissioner Novak thanked Finance Director Tish Olmsted for the budget binder and requested an update on union negotiations and furloughs as well as a log of social distancing complaints.
Commissioner Byrnes commended staff, especially first responders for all they did last week during the social unrest.
Commissioner Nero commented that communication is helpful and stated that the village did a great job keeping him and others informed about what was happening. The commissioner further questioned the process of alerting residents prior to the cancellation of the Code Red notification system.
Commissioner Voogd thanked staff for their continued commitment to keeping our buildings safe and clean. The commissioner further expressed her heartbreak and frustration at the systemic racism in our country and stated it is our moral obligation to address racism in light of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis. The commissioner committed to a call to take action personally to make a change, as well as to educate herself and encouraged engagement with the public and urged people to reach out to share experiences with her.
Mayor Hoskins expressed his disgust with the Minneapolis police officers and the murder of George Floyd, and stated that in connection with the peaceful protests, opportunists took advantage of the situation and looted and pillaged in and around Forest Park. The Forest Park Police Department did a professional job of preserving safety and property and keeping Forest Park safe. The mayor expressed he is proud of our first responders, adding that the demonstrations may lead to a spike in COVID-19 cases. Social distancing is still critically important and the village is regulating compliance by and working with the businesses in Forest Park. The mayor announced that Walmart will begin conducting COVID-19 testing at their Forest Park location later this week. Drive-up testing is by appointment on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. Police Chief Aftanas notified the mayor that he received word that the application for a grant to pay for body cameras for the police has been approved. The village expects to purchase 30 cameras once the grant is awarded. Next Mayor Hoskins mentioned that our police policies are available to the public and added that we are reviewing other sample policies from other departments through the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners. A town hall may be held to discuss any suggested changes. Last, local business owner, Frank Duff from REM Staffing, has been sending his staff out to collect trash on the street. The mayor expressed his gratitude to Frank Duff for the gesture.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to be addressed, Commissioner Voogd moved and Commissioner Nero seconded to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried unanimously.
Mayor Hoskins declared the meeting adjourned at 7:29 P.M.
http://www.forestpark.net/dfp/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/minutes-060820.pdf
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