West Cook News

Village of Berkeley Village Board met Dec. 7.

Here are 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 at Roll Call: Trustees Mohammed, Hammar, Salemi, Graf-Stone, Perez, Village President Lee, Village Clerk Nowak

Note: Trustee Mohammed joined at 6:34 p.m.

Also present: Village Administrator Espiritu, Village Attorney Smith, Assistant to the Village Administrator Miller, Police Chief Larem, Fire Chief Grenier, Public Works Superintendent Wagner

4 Presentations and Appointment

4.1 Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report – Brian LeFevre from Sikich LLP

Brian LeFevre joins the board meeting by phone to present an audio annual comprehensive financial report. Brian confirms all have the pdf document that has been broken down in three sections. He cites the introductory section page 16 regarding the award the village received. Brian then goes into specific details regarding the report and funding he refers to specific sections and pages.

Administrator Rudy Espiritu comments on the work put in on the audit and states how proud he is of the fiscal year. Thanks staff and board. President Lee thanks Administrator Espiritu for his leadership and Brian LeFevre’s team.

4.2 Chair/Co-Chair and Liaison Appointments

President Lee reviews appointments, Co-Chairs, assignments and sub committees. He states a lot was based on strategic planning session. President Lee states goal is to interact and care for long range planning, he will reach out one on one. He also asked the board to reach out to department heads.

Committee	Chair	Co-Chair
Administration, Zoning, and Technology	Trustee Graf-Stone	Trustee Mathews
Finance and Economic Development	Trustee Mohammed	Trustee Salemi
Police and Property Maintenance	Trustee Mathews	Trustee Hammar
Fire and Health	Trustee Salemi	Trustee Perez
Public Works and Utilities	Trustee Hammar	Trustee Mohammed
Community and Intergovernmental Relations	Trustee Perez	Trustee Graf-Stone

Organization	Liaison	Alternate
Berkeley Park District	Trustee Hammar	Trustee Perez
Berkeley Public Library	Trustee Mohammed	Trustee Graf-Stone
Berkeley School District 87	Trustee Mathews	Trustee Salemi
Berkeley-Hillside Baseball	Mayor Lee	Trustee Hammar
Neighborhood Watch/Lions Club	Trustee Perez	Trustee Mathews
Hillside-Berkeley Chamber of Commerce	Trustee Salemi	Trustee Mohammed
Berkeley Community Garden Club	Trustee Graf-Stone	Mayor Lee

5 Public Hearings

6 Public Comments and Questions (Consent Agenda Items Only)

Please limit comments to five (5) minutes in length, unless further granted by the Board.

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 Minutes from November 16, 2021

Trustee	Motion	Second	Ayes	Nays	Absent	Abstain
Shafi Mohammed			X
Larry Hammar			X
Diane Salemi	X		X
Jerry Perez			X
Sherry Graf-Stone		X	X
Jason Mathews					X

MOTION CARRIED

8 Claims Ordinance

8.1 Motion to Approve Claims Ordinance #1476 in the amount of $252,925.29

Trustee	Motion	Second	Ayes	Nays	Absent	Abstain
Shafi Mohammed			X
Larry Hammar			X
Diane Salemi	X		X
Jerry Perez		X	X
Sherry Graf-Stone			X
Jason Mathews					X

MOTION CARRIED

9 Committee Reports

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

9.1.1 Trustee Liaison Report

Trustee Graf-Stone highlighted the COVID numbers are climbing and stated we encourage to keep all protocols in place. Trustee Graf-Stone is busy with upcoming events and will be finalizing budget. Trustee Graf-Stone commended public works for the beautiful job decorating for the holidays

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

9.2.1 Trustee Liaison Report

9.2.2 Motion to Approve a Resolution of the Village of Berkeley, Illinois Accepting the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and Related Financial Documents for the Fiscal Year Ending April 30, 2021

Trustee	Motion	Second	Ayes	Nays	Absent	Abstain
Shafi Mohammed	X		X
Larry Hammar			X
Diane Salemi		X	X
Jerry Perez			X
Sherry Graf-Stone			X
Jason Mathews					X

MOTION CARRIED

9.2.3 Motion to Approve an Ordinance of the Village of Berkeley, Cook County, Illinois for the Levy, Assessment and Collection of Taxes for Tax Year 2021

Trustee	Motion	Second	Ayes	Nays	Absent	Abstain
Shafi Mohammed	X		X
Larry Hammar			X
Diane Salemi			X
Jerry Perez			X
Sherry Graf-Stone		X	X
Jason Mathews					X

MOTION CARRIED

Administrator Espiritu states 2nd straight year zero percent increase in property taxes.

9.2.4 Motion to Approve an Ordinance of the Village of Berkeley, Cook County, Illinois Abating the tax hereto levied in Ordinance 17-22 for the Tax Year 2021 to pay the Principal and Interest on $1,112,000 General Obligation Bonds, Series 2017

Trustee	Motion	Second	Ayes	Nays	Absent	Abstain
Shafi Mohammed	X		X
Larry Hammar			X
Diane Salemi		X	X
Jerry Perez			X
Sherry Graf-Stone			X
Jason Mathews					X

MOTION CARRIED

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

9.3.1 Trustee Liaison Report

Trustee Hammer gave the floor to Chief Larem who states would like to recognize Officer Nick Simons for notable police work at next board meeting for being the lead on apprehending a ring of counterfeits.

9.3.2 Motion to Approve a Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Execution of an Intergovernmental Agreement between the County of Cook on behalf of the Cook County Sheriff and the Village of Berkeley (Police Department Dispatching Services)

Trustee	Motion	Second	Ayes	Nays	Absent	Abstain
Shafi Mohammed			X
Larry Hammar	X		X
Diane Salemi			X
Jerry Perez			X
Sherry Graf-Stone		X	X
Jason Mathews					X

MOTION CARRIED

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

9.4.1 Trustee Liaison Report

Chief Grenier states staff is looking forward to the switch to Hillside dispatch just waiting for fiber optic line to be installed.

Trustee Salemi attended a Hillside/Berkeley chamber of commerce holiday luncheon today at Republic Bank. Next meeting will be looking for new members.

9.4.2 Motion to Approve a Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Execution of an Intergovernmental Agreement between the Village of Hillside, Cook County, Illinois and the Village of Berkeley, Cook County, Illinois Providing for Emergency Services Fire Dispatching and Prisoner Detention Services

Trustee	Motion	Second	Ayes	Nays	Absent	Abstain
Shafi Mohammed			X
Larry Hammar			X
Diane Salemi	X		X
Jerry Perez		X	X
Sherry Graf-Stone			X
Jason Mathews					X

MOTION CARRIED

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

9.5.1 Trustee Liaison Report

Trustee Hammer wants to commend public works for the light show and pathway lights, speakers operational. Update on the public works building on McDermott is that the concrete has been poured.

Superintendent Wagner states will be requesting payment for $500,000.00 to cover a ¼ of Public Work material storage project which will cost a total of 2 million. He hopes to have materials moved in May.

Next Ad hoc meeting with park district will be in January. Open house for park district Saturday January 8 1-3p.

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

9.6.1 Trustee Liaison Report

Trustee Perez states Lion club will contribute funds to the food drive.

They are looking forward to the business banners on the light poles.

Reminds everyone of the neighborhood watch meeting tomorrow.

10 Village President

10.1 12/21/21 Village Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m.

President Lee comments on the wonderful lights down the prairie path in addition to the speakers. He states you can hear music at each pole which are about 100 ft. apart. President Lee comments on the well written letter by Administrator Espiritu stating the accomplishments of this past year. Thanks also assistance Justyn Miller for all his contributions. President Lee states a lot went on this past year school and tollway just a couple of things. President Lee states baseball agreement coming along and next year will be a big year for ad hoc committee.

11 Village Administrator

Administrator Espiritu states COVID numbers are going up, there were 25 cases this past week highest in a year. Assistant Miller reminds all that input can still be given regarding the sidewalk project residents can go directly to the website to do so.

12 Village Attorney

No report.

13 Public Comments and Questions

Please limit comments to five (5) minutes in length, unless further granted by the Board

Resident Mark Dodgson from Kouba Dr. states a great time to be a resident thanks the board and all for time put in. He states the Village of Berkeley has a fantastic fire and police department. He commends the staff on the budget and public works department for all the decorating. Mr. Dodgson states he has compared neighboring towns and Berkeley homes are selling quicker and have increased more in value then our neighbors.

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 Meeting Adjourned at 7:31 p.m.

Trustee	Motion	Second	Ayes	Nays	Absent	Abstain
Shafi Mohammed			X
Larry Hammar			X
Diane Salemi	X		X
Jerry Perez			X
Sherry Graf-Stone		X	X
Jason Mathews					X

VOICE VOTE

https://www.berkeley.il.us/vertical/Sites/%7BB4877CC9-5533-47FA-94DE-B3C09F1665AB%7D/uploads/December_21_2021_Agenda_Packet-Reduced.pdf