West Cook News

Village of Berkeley Village Board met Sept. 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, Graf-Stone, Washington, Perez, President Lee, Grenier

Also present: Village Administrator Rudy Espiritu, Fire Chief Michael Kuryla, Superintendent Joseph Wagner, Assistant to the Village Administrator Justyn Miller, and Village Attorney Gregory Smith

4 Presentations and Appointment

4.1 Berkeley Park District 2020-2025 Comprehensive Master Plan Presentation – Commissioner Dave Ditchfield

Commissioner Dave Ditchfield gave an overview of the Park District 2020-2025 Comprehensive Master Plan that was approved and voted on by the Park District Board of Commissioners. Berkeley Park which is owned by the Park District is the most attractive park they have. They would like to have a building go up near the Water Tower so they can provide to all the residents youth programs, summer camps and afterschool care for their children. This is a $4.5 million-dollar project. Main funding would be grants, partnerships with local businesses and the Village. Commissioner Ditchfield will leave design with the Village. This is a draft design and may need to be modified. The Park District will rely on professionals for the construction. There are three employees in Park District at this time. President Lee and Trustee Salemi suggested names and ideas on how to start the project rolling. President Lee would like to meet with Park District to discuss the project further and work together.

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 September 1, 2020

7.2 Executive Session Meeting Minutes from September 1, 2020 (not for public 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 #1447 in the amount of $248,859.48

Trustee	Motion	Second	Ayes	Nays	Absent	Abstain
Diane Salemi	X		X
Raymond Grenier			X
Sherry Graf-Stone			X
Herb Washington			X
Jerry Perez		X	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 reported that staff continues their efforts in working with the Tollway Project. They are now working more with ComEd as well. Thank you to Staff for keeping up with the Pandemic updates. Thank you to the Fire Department for their help in keeping the Garden Club’s tanks filled with water. They appreciate it very much.

9.1.2 Monthly Report

9.1.3 Motion to Approve a Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Execution of an Intergovernmental Agreement between the Regional Transportation Authority and the Village of Berkeley, Cook County, Illinois, regarding Phase I Engineering for Sidewalk Improvements (Contract No. A2T-2020-01)

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

MOTION CARRIED

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

9.2.1 Trustee Liaison Report – Trustee Washington echoed President Lee’s comments from the Park District Presentation, that all entities in the Village of Berkeley should stay connected and work together instead of each one working on their own. In doing so, you have one large plan and it all ties back to Economic Development. As the Village of Berkeley develops, businesses and potential residents will want to open their business here and/or potential residents will want to stay in Berkeley.

President Lee would like to highlight on the next Berkeley Connects each entity’s plan of what is coming in the future.

9.2.2 Monthly Report

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

9.3.1 Trustee Liaison Report – Trustee Salemi reported that Commander Bednar reports over 90% Code Enforcement compliance. Some of the trustees commented that the Code Enforcement approach is very well received.

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.

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.

Superintendent Wagner sent a letter to residents thanking them for their patience during the course of the Elm Street Water Main Project. The project was completed in nine weeks. The liner will hopefully last 80 years. One house needs to be reconnected. The temporary piping is gone.

9.5.2 Monthly Report

9.5.3 Motion to Approve a Resolution Approving and Authorizing the

Execution of an Agreement between the Village of Berkeley, Cook County, Illinois and Baxter & Woodman Consulting Engineers for a Phase I Engineering Study for Sidewalk Installation East of Wolf Road in an Amount Not to Exceed $73,685.00

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

MOTION CARRIED

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

9.6.1 Trustee Liaison Report – Trustee Perez reported that the Neighborhood Watch is trying to have a meeting, however some of the members are older and at this time are not interested in attending but Neighborhood Watch Board members do meet every other Monday in their back yard. They have 482 followers on their face book page. The Day of Service that started in Berkeley is now being done in other communities.

10 Village President

10.1 President’s Report

10.1.1 10/6/20 Village Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m.

President Lee (Below was discussed during the Park District Presentation.) informed the Board and guests that Baseball might open up on opening day at the school district. But, as of July, 2021 District 87 will be breaking ground and the baseball field will be gone. President Lee has already talked to Hillside (who has been a partner for a long time), the Baseball President, and now that the Park District is working on new plans, President Lee is happy to connect and work with all the entities to benefit all of Berkeley.

10.2 Motion to Approve a Resolution of the Village of Berkeley, Cook County, Illinois Adopting a Diversity Statement

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

MOTION CARRIED

11 Village Administrator

11.1 Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Halloween Guidance

The majority of towns are waiting on the IDPH to see what the guidelines are. Board agrees to wait as well. Coronavirus cases s are going down, for now. Only two cases over the last week. Zero deaths in Berkeley.

12 Village Attorney – Village Attorney Smith reported that this afternoon the Village of Berkeley are now the owners of the property next door, 5829 Electric Ave.

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 7:26 pm

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

MOTION CARRIED

Exit from Executive Session at 7:38 pm

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

MOTION CARRIED

15 President Lee adjourned the meeting at 7:38 pm

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

Voice Vote

MOTION CARRIED

https://www.berkeley.il.us/vertical/Sites/%7BB4877CC9-5533-47FA-94DE-B3C09F1665AB%7D/uploads/Board_Meeting_Minutes_September_15_2020.pdf