West Cook News

Village of Berkeley Village Board met Oct. 3.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

1 President Lee calls the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. 

2 Pledge of Allegiance 

3 Roll Call: Trustees Hammar, Salemi, Perez, Graf-Stone, Matthews, Village President Lee Also present: Village Administrator Espiritu, Village Attorney Smith, Public Safety Director Larem

4 Presentations and Appointment 

4.1 Proclamation Recognizing October 18, 2023 as Unity Day in the Village of Berkeley

President Lee reads and presents proclamation to Shawnda Steer (Community Parent liaison from Proviso Township High Schools). Unity Day is a National Campaign.

5 Public Hearings 

6 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.

6.1 Village Board Minutes from September 19, 2023

6.2 Closed Session Minutes from September 19, 2023 (not for public release)

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

MOTION CARRIED 

7 Claims Ordinance 

7.1 Motion to Approve Claims Ordinance #1518 in the amount of $315,781.21

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

MOTION CARRIED 

8 Committee Reports 

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

8.1.1 Trustee Liaison Report – Garden Club

Trustee Graf-Stone states the Garden Club is doing well and winding down from summer. Team also working on centennial celebration with the library and time capsule committee. Admin team is working with IT consultants and transitioning on to the cloud-based email. Team met with Hillside staff regarding the upcoming Autumn fest.

8.1.2 Motion to Approve a Resolution Authorizing the Execution of an Intergovernmental Agreement for the Taft Avenue Streetscape Plan by and between the Village of Berkeley, Cook County, Illinois and Cook County, Illinois

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

MOTION CARRIED 

8.1.3 Motion to Approve an Ordinance Approving a Revised Policy of the Village of Berkeley Regarding Electronic Attendance at Meetings

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

MOTION CARRIED 

8.1.4 Motion to Approve an Ordinance Amending the Village of Berkeley Village Code Regarding Public Comment and Participation

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

 MOTION CARRIED 

Trustee Mathews questions cost and transition to the Microsoft 365.

Administrator Espiritu states will share information with the Board.

8.2 Finance and Economic Development (Chair – Vacant; Co-Chair Trustee Salemi) 

8.2.1 Trustee Liaison Report – Library

No report

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

8.3.1 Trustee Liaison Report– School District

8.3.2 Motion to Approve an Ordinance Amending the Village of Berkeley Village Code Regarding Crime Free Housing

Trustee Mathews gives the floor to Safety Director Larem, he defines the village code regarding crime free housing.

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

MOTION CARRIED 

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

8.4.1 Trustee Liaison Report – Chamber of Commerce

No Report

8.5 Public Works and Utilities (Chair – Trustee Hammar; Co-Chair Vacant) 

8.5.1 Trustee Liaison Report – Park District

Trustee Hammer informs all that between village funds and the grant received from ComEd native plants have been placed at three different sites along the prairie path.

8.5.2 Motion to Approve a Resolution Accepting a Bid from Chicagoland Paving Contractors, Inc. for Asphalt and Concrete Repairs at Various Locations within the Village of Berkeley, Cook County, Illinois

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

 MOTION CARRIED 

8.5.3 Motion to Approve a Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement between the Village of Berkeley, Cook County, Illinois and the Edwin Hancock Engineering Company for Phase I & II Engineering for the East Side Paving Improvements Project

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

MOTION CARRIED 

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

8.6.1 Trustee Liaison Report – Neighborhood Watch

Trustee Perez advises all next neighborhood watch meeting is

10/19/23. Also, Lions club will be sponsoring a National Candy Day

10/12 and 10/13, there also will be a booth at the Autumn fest. Flag retirement will also be held by the American Legion at closing of the Autumn fest.

9 Village President 

9.1 Trustee Liaison Report – BerkHill Baseball

9.2 10/7/23 Tour de Proviso - 7:30 a.m. in Westchester

9.3 10/7-10/8 Autumnfest on the Prairie Path -11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

9.4 10/14-10/15 Annual Military Showcase & Reenactment 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 9.5 10/17/23 Village Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m.

President Lee starts by thanking the 1400 block of Atwood for holding a block party and inviting everyone and sponsoring first responders. He reminds all about Berkeley’s 100th year celebration and the book Oat to Roses 2nd edition being published which has captured Berkeley’s history. Also, team reaching out on social media for history, special stories or events that residents could recall and supply information to add to 2nd volume. President Lee reminds all regarding the ongoing tollway construction. Please be patient they are following ordinances in place regarding noise and work hours. President Lee states he attended a Proviso West luncheon and he also was there kicking off the school year, Greek Islands sponsored the lunch. He wants to thank Park District for holding a pickle ball tournament which was a success. Centennial Celebration is approaching Kathleen Chmura is the chair person, Roger Thomas is the co-chair. Lots of events are scheduled, volunteers’ positions are available. Open House is schedule 11/09/23 to plan for centennial. October 19 there will be a property tax appeal workshop sponsored by tax assessor Fritz Kaegi with sponsors from the county to address the proviso township tax assessments recently done.

President Lee states he supports senior housing and supports Taft Avenue corridor plan. President Lee want to inform all that the organization called “Berkeley Neighborhood Volunteers” sent out a fraudulent mailer post marked by the U.S. post office August 21, 2023 misrepresenting information regarding a building development that is being built in Berkeley. This mailer misled the Berkeley residents, as this senior development is not being built in Berkeley.

President Lee is pleased to announce he will be appointing and swearing in Roger Thomas as new Village trustee at the next board meeting.

10 Village Administrator-no report 

11 Village Attorney-no report 

12 Public Comments and Questions 

Please limit comments to three (3) minutes in length, unless further granted by the Board Resident Lisa Guarino would like to see an ordinance amended regarding loud noise with banning live music. Wants to clarify fines given regarding noise level. Safety Director Larem addresses current ordinance.

Resident Kelly Smock’s written comments will be circulated with the board.

Resident Andre Witt wants to thank Police and Fire for attending block party. Fundraiser for St Jude was held and funds will be sent into St Jude’s.

13 Executive Session 

13.1Motion 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)

14 Action After Executive Session 

15 Meeting adjourned at 7:48 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-MOTION CARRIED 

https://www.berkeley.il.us/vertical/Sites/%7BB4877CC9-5533-47FA-94DE-B3C09F1665AB%7D/uploads/October_3_2023_Minutes.pdf