Village of River Forest Board of Trustees met July 11

By Kristine Gonzales-Abella

Oct 19, 2022

Village of River Forest Board of Trustees met July 11.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

A regular meeting of the Village of River Forest Board of Trustees was held at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room of Village Hall, 400 Park Avenue – River Forest, IL.

1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. Upon roll call, the following persons were:

Present: President Adduci, Trustees Vazquez, Brennan, Johnson, O’Connell, Village Clerk Keller

Absent: Bachner, Gillis

Also, Present: Village Administrator Brian Murphy, Assistant to the Village Administrator Matthew Walsh, Management Analyst/Deputy Clerk Elijah Bebora, Fire Chief Thomas Gaertner, Police Commander James Greenwood, Finance Director Rosemary McAdams, Director of Public Works and Development Services Jeff Loster, Village Attorney Greg Smith.

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

President Adduci led the pledge of allegiance.

3. CITIZEN COMMENTS

Terry Griffin, resident at 435 William stated that she is the President of the William Place Condominium. She remarked that the condominium residents have been conducting a petition on the deteriorating Chicago Transit Authority water tower and adjacent shed located next to the green line. She commented that condominium residents have brought the water tower issue in front of the River Forest Village Board, Village of Forest Park Village Board, the local press, Speaker Emanuel Welch’s office, and the Chicago Transit Authority without any relief. She remarked that the water tower has an impact to her property and is a blight to the community. She commented that since 2009, Traffic and Safety Commissioner, Rick Gillis, tried without success to have the tower removed. She stated that in 2012, the Forest Park Director of Public Health and Safety stated that the water tower broke in 2011 and is currently not compliant with current codes. She stated that she is aware that the State of Illinois allocated money for infrastructure and the Chicago Transit Authority has money to spend. She stated that the water tower should be a priority that will be looked into. She remarked that her petition currently has 45 signatures.

Carla Sloan, Supervisor at the River Forest Township stated that the youth engagement program was started 27 years ago to address the issues of gangs, drugs, and violence in the community. She remarked the program has since shifted to mentoring and addressing mental health issues. She remarked that more youth are participating in the program than ever before, with a third being residents of River Forest. She commented that nine taxing bodies have renewed their agreement with the Township. She stated that River Forest youth are experiencing difficulties in the post-COVID-19 world. She commented that the downside of not having a partnership with the Village is not having the ability to work as effectively as possible with the River Forest Police Department.

Megan Traficcano, Director of Oak Park Township Youth Services stated that she took over the role as Director in 2019. She commented that when she started in her role, she first performed a needs assessment by visiting the taxing bodies who have been working with the youth and the youth themselves. She commented that the feedback she received was that youth are struggling with mental health, crisis, and trauma. She remarked that she then hired Jonathan Brown as the Youth Engagement Program Manager and decided that a major shift in the program was needed. She stated that after engaging in dialogue with the taxing bodies and youth, they shifted focus to engagement. She remarked that the Township fiscal year is from April 1 – March 31. She commented that during the 2021-2022 fiscal year, the Township provided services for 80 individual youth, an increase from 64 the previous year and 54 from two years ago. She stated that of the 80 youth, 18 are River Forest residents constituting 22% of youth who received services. She remarked that Officer Benjamin Ransom has been a pleasure to work with and has been of great support to the program but confidentiality reasons prevent the program from sharing certain details with him. She commented that the Village joining the program would ensure that there would be a constant flow of information to the Police Department.

Jonathan Brown, Youth Engagement Program Manager stated that since he started working for the program, he has increased River Forest youth participation by over 30%. He commented that clients receiving services range from students attending Willard Elementary School, Roosevelt Middle, and Oak Park River Forest High School. He stated that the program has three tiers: mental health, mentoring, and community outreach. He stated that youth that receive services often are in contact with law enforcement, but due to the Village not being a partner in the program, they are unable to communicate with the Police Department at a level they would like to.

4.ELECTED OFFICIAL COMMENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Trustee Vazquez stated that he has no comment for the public record.

Trustee Brennan stated that she would like to acknowledge the pain and anguish from the Highland Park mass shooting. She remarked that the shootings in Highland Park caused some people to ask her questions about River Forest’s policy on Assault rifles. She stated that Cook County has an assault weapons ban and she assumes that ban covers River Forest as well. She commented that other communities have enacted their own assault weapons ban.

Village Attorney Greg Smith responded to Trustee Brennan and stated that the Village is covered by the Cook County assault weapons ban and the police department is able to coordinate with Cook County to enforce the ban.

Trustee Johnson stated he agreed with the remarks from Trustee Brennan. He commented that the Village should consider posting information in newsletters on what to do in the event of a mass shooting.

Trustee O’Connell stated that he read an article in the Chicago tribune on property taxes. He stated that he would like Finance Director McAdams to provide an explanation.

Director McAdams stated that the Village has healthy reserves. She commented that if the Village were to have cash flow issues, there are investments that come in each month. She remarked that she is constantly monitoring the Village’s investments.

Village President Adduci stated that she would like to congratulate the Village on attaining the Government Finance Officers Association Award (GFOA). She commented that she echoes Trustee Brennan’s comments and hopes there will be gun legislation coming out of the State Legislature.

5. CONSENT AGENDA

a. Village Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes – June 27, 2022

b. Approval of a Microsoft Office 365 License Purchase Agreement with Dell Technologies for $50,229.00

c. Authorization of a Sale by Auction of a Surplus Village-Owned Vehicle – 2017 Ford Explorer Police Patrol Vehicle - Ordinance

d. Amendment to Section 7-1-8.E. of the Village Code Regarding Ambulance Fees – Ordinance

e. Monthly Department Reports

f. Accounts Payable June 2022 - $1,597,042.20

g. Village Administrator’s Report

MOTION by Trustee O’Connell to approve consent agenda items A-G. Second by Trustee Johnson.

Roll call:

Ayes: Vazquez, Brennan, Johnson, O’Connell

Absent: Bachner, Gillis

Nays: None

Motion Passes.

6. CONSENT ITEMS FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION

None

7. RECOMMENDATIONS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES

a. Board and Commission Appointments

1. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Group – Appoint Dionna Plywacz 2. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Group – Appoint Whitney Simon 3. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Group – Appoint Olivia Denton Koopman

MOTION by Trustee Vazquez to concur with the appointment by the Village President of Olivia Denton Koopman, Whitney Simon, and Dionna Plywacz to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Group. Second by Trustee Johnson.

Roll call:

Ayes: Vazquez, Brennan, Johnson O’Connell

Absent: Bachner, Gillis

Nays: None

Motion Passes.

8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

None

9. NEW BUSINESS

None

10. EXECUTIVE SESSION

MOTION by Trustee Johnson to enter into Executive Session under 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5) to discuss the purchase or lease of real property for the use of the Village, including whether a particular parcel should be acquired, and under 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(6) to discuss the setting of a price for sale or lease of property owned by the Village. Second by Trustee Vazquez

Roll call:

Ayes: Vazquez, Brennan, Johnson O’Connell

Absent: Bachner, Gillis

Nays: None

Motion Passes.

11. ADJOURNMENT

Motion to adjourn by Trustee Brennan, Seconded by Trustee O’Connell. The Village Board of Trustees Meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.

Roll call:

Ayes: Vazquez, Brennan, Johnson, O’Connell

Absent: Bachner, Gillis

Nays: None

Motion Passes.