West Cook News

Village of Berkeley Village Board met Nov. 19

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

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

2 Pledge of Allegiance 

3 Roll Call 

Trustees Thomas, Hammar, Salemi, Perez, Graf-Stone, Matthews, Village President Lee, Village Clerk Nowak 

Also present: Village Administrator Espiritu, Village Attorney Greg Smith, Public Safety Director Tim Larem, Assistant Administrator Miller 

4. Presentations and Appointment 

4.1 Proclamation Recognizing and Honoring the Public Service of Paid-on-Call Firefighter and Crossing Guard Ken Kroll President Lee presents proclamation to Ken Kroll, thank you for your service and contributions. 

4.2 Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report - Brian LeFevre from Sikich LLP 

Brian LeFevre stated audit worked with well with the Berkeley Village staff. Administrator Espiritu wants to thanks Mr. LeFevre and his team also wants to recognizes Assistant Administrator Miller for all his hard work and coordinating audit. Administrator Espiritu states the village has a surplus and with a balance budget, taxes have not increased in the last five years. President Lee commends the staff and department heads, he points out the positive trends specifically the police pension fund. 

5 Public Hearings 

6 Consent Agenda 

6.1 Village Board Minutes from November 5, 2024 

6.2 Executive Session Minutes from November 5, 2024 (not for public release)

6.3 Motion to Approve a Resolution Approving the Appointment of a Delegate and Alternate Delegate to the Intergovernmental Risk Management Agency 

7 Claims Ordinance 

7.1 Motion to Approve Claims Ordinance #1541 in the amount of $274,026.22 

8 Committee Reports 

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

8.1.1 Trustee Liaison Report 

Trustee Graf-Stone provides a few updates from the team. The Village has received bids for the industrial connector along with the sidewalk pavement project on east side of Berkeley. Audit has been concluded and budget process has been started for the upcoming fiscal year.

8.1.2  Monthly Report 

8.1.3 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, 2024 

8.2 Community and Economic Development (Chair - Trustee Salemi; Co-Chair - Trustee Thomas) 

8.2.1 Trustee Liaison Report-no report 

8.2.2 Monthly Report 

8.3 Public Safety (Chair - Trustee Mathews; Co-Chair - Trustee Hammar) 

8.3.1 Trustee Liaison Report-no report 

8.3.2 Monthly Reports 

8.3.3 Motion to Approve a Resolution Approving the Adoption of the Cook County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan 

8.4 Public Works and Utilities (Chair – Trustee Hammar; Co-Chair – Trustee Salemi) 

8.4.1 Trustee Liaison Report 

Administrator Espiritu advises projects will be started that have been in the works for years. Through thoughtful planning, the Village was able to save almost one million dollars under the engineer's estimate for all three projects in totality. Sidewalk installation is fully grant funded. The industrial connector, new pavement, new driveway aprons and new sidewalks will be start construction and be completed in 2025. 

8.4.2 Monthly Report

8.4.3 Motion to Approve a Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement Between the Village of Berkeley, Cook County, Illinois and A Lamp Concrete Contractors, Inc. for the 2025 East-Side Paving Project in an Amount Not to Exceed $3,274,627.70 

8.4.4 Motion to Approve a Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement between the Village of Berkeley, Cook County, Illinois and Hancock Engineering Company for Phase III Engineering of the East Side Paving Project in an Amount Not to Exceed $259,996.00 

8.4.5 Motion to Approve a Resolution Concurring with the Illinois Department of Transportation's Recommendation to Accept a Bid from A Lamp Concrete Contractors, Inc. for the East-Side Sidewalk Project 

8.4.6 Motion to Approve a Resolution Concurring with the Illinois Department of Transportation's Recommendation to Accept a Bid from Triggi Construction, Inc. for the Industrial Pedestrian Connector Project 

8.4.7 Motion to Approve a Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement between the Village of Berkeley, Cook County, Illinois and Hancock Engineering Company for Phase III Engineering of the Industrial Pedestrian Connector Project in an amount not to Exceed $55,090.00 

8.5 Intergovernmental Relations (Chair – Trustee Thomas; Co-Chair - Trustee Perez) 

8.5.1 Trustee Liaison Report-no report 

8.6 Community Events (Chair - Trustee Perez; Co-Chair - Trustee Graf-Stone) 

8.6.1 Trustee Liaison Report 

Trustee Perez reminds everyone about the neighborhood watch meeting being held on November 21, Chief Larem will be joining. Also reminds everyone regarding the community event on December 7 celebrating the holidays. 

9 Village President 

9.1 Village President Report 

President Lee want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. December 7 the Village, Library and Park District will be hosting a community centennial holiday event. 

9.2 11/28/24 

Thanksgiving Day Holiday - Village offices closed 

9.3 11/29/24 Day after Thanksgiving Holiday - Village offices closed 

9.4 12/3/24 Village Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m. 

10 Village Administrator 

Administrator Espiritu elaborates on the miscommunication that took place regarding the garden club and leaf dumping at the garden club site. States the Village and President Lee are committed to the success of the garden club. Village Board concurred that with the potential for commercial development on the garden club site in 2025, it would be best for the Garden Club to seek a new location before the growing season begins. Village Board directed Administrator Espiritu to draft a letter to the Garden Club in this regard. 

11 Village Attorney-Attorney Smith advises Springfield house is in session now with no municipal bills on the table. 

12 Public Comments and Questions 

Please limit comments to three (3) minutes in length, unless further granted by the Board 

Nicole Molinaro-resident from Westchester wants to support local clubs has horticultural expertise 

Kathleen Chmura-Informs all there will be a hot chocolate truck on December 7 donations will be accepted for the food pantry 

13 Executive Session 

13.1 Motion to enter into Executive Session to consider the: 

a. Appointment, Employment, Compensation, Discipline, Performance or Dismissal of Specific Employee(s) and/or Legal Counsel 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, 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 executive session 7:52pm 

14 Action After Executive Session 

15 Meeting Adjourned at 8:26pm 

https://www.berkeley.il.us/vertical/Sites/%7BB4877CC9-5533-47FA-94DE-B3C09F1665AB%7D/uploads/VOB_Village_Board_Meeting_Minutes_-_24-1119.pdf