West Cook News

Village of Berkeley Village Board met Feb. 4

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

1. President Lee calls meeting to order at 6:31 pm

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 Courtney Willits, Public Safety Director Larem, Assistant Administrator Miller, Public Works Director Wagner

4. Presentations and Appointment

Berkeley Park District - Board President Teresa Larem

The Mayor welcomed Berkeley Park District. Thank you Teresa Larem for presenting an intergovernmental award to the Village of Berkeley for the recent completion of the Prairie Path spur path. President Lee welcomes all Park district commissioners and thanks the Park District for all there collaborations this past year.

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.

Motion to Approve the Consent Agenda as presented

Moved by: Diane Salemi

Seconded by: Sherry  Graft-Stone

Aye Sherry  Graft-Stone, Diane Salemi, Jason Mathews, Larry Hammar, Roger Thomas, and Jerry Perez

Carried 6-0

6.1 January 21, 2025 Village Board Minutes

7. Claims Ordinance

Motion to Approve Claims Ordinance #1545 in the amount of $216,878.03

Moved by: Diane Salemi

Seconded by: Jerry Perez

Aye Sherry  Graft-Stone, Diane Salemi, Jason Mathews, Larry Hammar, Roger Thomas, and Jerry Perez

Carried 6-0

8. Committee Reports

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

Trustee Liaison Report-Trustee Graf-Stone reported the team is working on finalizing FY25-26 budget and will be presenting it at next board meeting on February 18, 2025.

1. Motion to Approve an Ordinance Amending the Annual Budget for the Fiscal Year beginning May 1, 2024 and ending on April 30, 2025 for the Village of Berkeley, Cook County, Illinois

Moved by: Sherry  Graft-Stone

Seconded by: Diane Salemi

Aye Sherry  Graft-Stone, Diane Salemi, Jason Mathews, Larry Hammar, Roger Thomas, and Jerry Perez

Carried 6-0

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

Trustee Liaison Report-Trustee Salemi gives floor to Public Safety Director  Larem who addresses complaints regarding lawn decorations. He states  a recommendation has been made to amend the current code and put in place height restrictions for lawn decoration removal. During certain times of the year, taller lawn decorations are allowed. President Lee states the zoning amendment will be addressed by the planning and zoning committee and will be brought back to the board for final approval.

Motion to Approve a Resolution Authorizing the Submission of Proposed Amendments to the Village of Berkeley Zoning Code to Regulate The Maximum Height Of Lawn Decorations

Moved by: Diane Salemi

Seconded by: Sherry  Graft-Stone

Aye Sherry  Graft-Stone, Diane Salemi, Jason Mathews, Larry Hammar, Roger Thomas, and Jerry Perez

Carried 6-0

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

Trustee Liaison Report-Trustee Mathews gives the floor to Public Safety Director Larem who addresses issues with non-cannabis THC products. He presented an ordinance regarding banning the sale of these products.

Motion to Approve an Ordinance Amending the Village of Berkeley Village Code to Prohibit the Sale of Products Containing Illicit THC and Kratom

Moved by: Jason Mathews

Seconded by: Sherry  Graft-Stone

Aye Sherry Graft-Stone, Diane Salemi, Jason Mathews, Larry Hammar, Roger Thomas, and Jerry Perez

Carried 6-0

Motion to Approve a Resolution Approving a Memorandum of Understanding with the Illinois Council of Police

Moved by: Jason Mathews

Seconded by: Diane Salemi

Aye Sherry Graft-Stone, Diane Salemi, Jason Mathews, Larry Hammar, Roger Thomas, and Jerry Perez

Carried 6-0

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

Trustee Liaison Report-no report

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

Trustee Liaison Report-no report

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

Trustee Liaison Report-Trustee Perez reports neighborhood watch is having a meeting on February 20, 2025 welcoming all candidates who are running for office. Lions Club helped out at the soup kitchen. The Lions Club is also having a fundraising dinner being held on February 28, 2025.

9. Village President

2/17/25 - President's Day - Village Hall Closed (Institute Day)

2/18/25 - Village Board Meeting at 6:30 pm

Village President Lee reports the Lions Club is having a fundraiser dinner at Alpine Banquets on February 28 2025. He also reminds all the rink will be back. Encourages all trustees to meet with department heads regarding the budget. President Lee reminds the audience that village taxes have not been raised in five years.

10. Village Administrator

Administrator Espiritu addresses the federal freeze states the latest grant will proceed and project will start March 1.

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

Heather Brander-resident states that she has a 12ft skeleton at her home. She states it is safe and would like to address planning and zoning meeting when ordinance is being address.

Bonnie Routen-wants support from the Village to attend fundraiser for Lions Club on February 28, 2025 at 6pm

13. Executive Session

Motion to enter into Executive Session to consider the:

1. Appointment, Employment, Compensation, Discipline, Performance or Dismissal of Specific Employee(s) and/or Legal Counsel 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(1)

2. Collective Bargaining, Salary Schedules; categorically 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(2)

3. Appointment/Removal for Public Office or Attorney 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(3)

4. Consideration to Purchase, Lease (Buy), or Acquire Specific Real Estate Property 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(5)

5. Setting Price for Sale/Lease Specific Real Estate Property 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(6)

6. 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)

7. Probable or Imminent and Pending Litigation 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(11)

8. Establish Reserves or Settle Claims (Tort) 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(12)

9. Consideration of Release of Executive Session Minutes 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(21)

Carried

14. Action After Executive Session

15. Meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m.

Motion to Adjourn

Moved by: Diane Salemi

Seconded by: Jason Mathews

Aye Sherry  Graft-Stone, Diane Salemi, Jason Mathews, Larry Hammar, Roger Thomas, and Jerry Perez

Carried 6-0

https://berkeleyil.community.highbond.com/document/db77a3f3-46b1-485b-9e3b-ca758eefe730/