West Cook News

Village of Berkeley Village Board met Oct. 17.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

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

2 Pledge of Allegiance

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

4 Presentations and Appointment

4.1 Motion to Give Advice and Consent to the Village President’s Appointment of Roger Thomas to fill the Trustee seat vacated by Trustee Shafi Mohammed

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

MOTION CARRIED

4.2 Oath of Office for new Village Trustee Roger Thomas-Congratulations!

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 October 3, 2023

Trustee	Motion	Second	Ayes	Nays	Absent	Abstain
Roger Thomas			X
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 #1519 in the amount of $155,998.98

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

8.1.2 Monthly Report

Trustee Graf-Stone stated that staff is currently working on the audit and it will be submitted for approval in November. Garden Club is wrapping up and will be setting up a clean-up date.

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

8.2.1 Trustee Liaison Report – Library

8.2.2 Monthly Report-no report

8.2.3 Motion to Approve an Ordinance Amending the Annual Budget for the Fiscal Year Beginning May 1, 2023 and ending April 30, 2024 for the Village of Berkeley, Cook County, Illinois

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

MOTION CARRIED

Assistant Administrator Justyn Miller provided a presentation about the budget amendment and explained cost increases related to the amendment. Discussion was held regarding the Police Department vehicle expense.

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

8.3.1 Trustee Liaison Report– School District

8.3.2 Monthly Report

Trustee Mathews reports an increase in tows have taken place month over month due to new technology being used. Director Larem explains the protocol for accidents and why reports indicate the increase of ambulance assists.

8.3.3 Motion to Approve a Resolution Waiving Competitive Bidding and Approving the Purchase of Two (2) Fully-Outfitted 2023 Dodge Durango V8 All-Wheel Drive Police Pursuit Vehicles in an Amount Not to Exceed $150,000.00

Trustee	Motion	Second	Ayes	Nays	Absent	Abstain
Roger Thomas			X
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

8.4.2 Monthly Report

Hillside/Berkeley chamber of commerce meeting coming up to discuss having a holiday party. Director Larem received notification from the state fire marshal office that the Village received approval for loan for fire truck.

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

8.5.1 Trustee Liaison Report – Park District

8.5.2 Monthly Report

Trustee Hammar reports that he attended the park district meeting with Trustee Perez, meetings are held the first Wednesday of every month. Trustee Hammer explains salt purchase agreement and the pay as we use concept. Director Wagner states the secondary public works building allows utilization for salt storage. Public Works Director Wagner also updates on a couple of items. He informs all village is currently undergoing water main lining project, target completion will be end of November. Village of Berkeley applied and has received a Metropolitan Mayors Caucus/ComEd grant for holiday lights, more displays will be added this year. This year adopt a tree program will also be displayed by businesses across Berkeley.

8.5.3 Motion to Approve a Resolution to Waive Competitive Bidding and Authorize Execution of a Purchase Agreement between the Village of Berkley, Cook County, Illinois and Morton Salt, Inc. for the Purchase of 525 Tons of Road Salt at an Amount not to Exceed $77.36 per Ton

Trustee	Motion	Second	Ayes	Nays	Absent	Abstain
Roger Thomas			X
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 Graf-Stone reports fall festival went well. Neighborhood watch meeting coming up.

9 Village President

9.1 Trustee Liaison Report – BerkHill Baseball

9.2 10/19/23 Property Tax Appeal Workshop at 6:00 p.m. at Sunnyside

9.3 10/31/23 Halloween Trick-or-Treat Hours 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

9.4 11/7/23 Village Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m.

President Lee advises all 11/04 will be the Veteran’s Day parade. Tax seminar will be held at MacArthur school this Thursday 10/19, everyone will be able to learn how to file an appeal. President Lee will assign trustees new committees at next meeting, needs feedback from trustees. Important Centennial volunteer meeting will be held Tuesday 11/14/23, chairperson Kathleen Chamara and co-chair Roger Thomas will be hosting along with others. Congratulations to park district on being awarded a grant for the bike trail. This will be an investment toward the prairie path and park district.

10 Village Administrator-November 2 dinner with Mayors Caucus will be held. Assistant Administrator Miller updates regarding Metra parking lot grant that was filed with the Illinois EPA.

11 Village Attorney-Attorney Greg Smith informs all legislative veto session starts 10/24, will keep everyone abreast.

12 Public Comments and Questions

Please limit comments to three (3) minutes in length, unless further granted by the Board Resident Kelly Smock- wants to make sure previous letter of noise concern was received. Also concern about rodent increase due to vacant house and construction taking place. Lastly supports food truck area concern about lack of light in pathway. Resident Laura Garcia-Graham-questions CMAP plan. Administrator Espiritu states this is for bike path planning between the partnering villages

13 Executive Session - None

14 Action After Executive Session - None

15 Meeting adjourned 7:34p

Trustee	Motion	Second	Ayes	Nays		Absent Abstain
Roger Thomas			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_17_2023_Minutes.pdf