Village of Berkeley Village Board met March 3
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
1. President Lee calls meeting to order at 6:30pm
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Roll Call
Trustees McKelvy, Mathews, Perez, Salemi, Graf-Stone, Thomas, Village President Lee, Village Clerk Nowak
Also present: Village Administrator Espiritu, Assistant Village Administrator Miller, Deputy Chief Bresnahan, Public Works Director Wagner
4. Presentations and Appointment
Berkeley Library Executive Director Ryan Cox introduces Social Intern from Aurora University Destini Boswell. She will be working with the library this summer. Destini will be working on a wide range of social services and providing resources to the community.
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 Graf-Stone
Aye: Teresa  McKelvy, Sherry Graf-Stone, Diane  Salemi, Jason Mathews, Roger Thomas, and Jerry Perez
Carried 6-0
Village Board Minutes from February 17, 2026
7. Claims Ordinance
Motion to Approve Claims Ordinance #1571 in the amount of $197,220.96
Moved by: Diane  Salemi; seconded by: Jerry Perez
Aye: Teresa  McKelvy, Sherry Graf-Stone, Diane  Salemi, Jason Mathews, Roger Thomas, and Jerry Perez
Carried 6-0
8. Committee Reports
8.1 Administration, Finance, and Technology (Chair – Trustee Graf-Stone; Co-Chair – Trustee Thomas)
Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget Workshop
Trustee Graf-Stone reports staff has submitted a balanced budget and all funds have a positive fund balance. Trustee Graf-Stone also states the Village grants team are working on several applications which are due soon. Selection will also be taking place in the next couple of weeks to determine engineering firm that will complete Phase II of the Taft Ave improvements. This will happen jointly with the Village of Hillside. Lastly, the Strategic Plan will be presented to the Village Board next month.
Trustee Graf-Stone gives the floor to Assistant Administrator Miller who presented the Fiscal Year 2027 draft budget which included highlights of the current fiscal year (FY 26), economic expectations, and the proposed FY 27 budget.
8.2 Community and Economic Development (Chair – Trustee McKelvy; Co-Chair – Trustee Salemi)
Trustee Liaison Report
Trustee McKelvy asked Assistant Administrator Miller to clarify the Torres sign variation request. The board discussed and addressed the concerns. Trustee McKelvy advised that the planning and zoning commission will be reviewing  and voting on a text amendment regarding porches at their next meeting. The McDonalds redevelopment was also approved by the planning and zoning commission.
Monthly Report
Motion to Approve an Ordinance of the Village of Berkeley, Cook County, Illinois, Granting a Sign Variation Relative to 5447 St. Charles Road
Moved by: Teresa  McKelvy; seconded by: Diane  Salemi
Aye: Teresa  McKelvy, Sherry Graf-Stone, Diane  Salemi, Jason Mathews, Roger Thomas, and Jerry Perez
Carried 6-0
Motion to Approve a Resolution Authorizing the Payment of Façade Improvement Program Funds and a Façade Improvement Agreement Between the Village of Berkeley, Cook County, Illinois and Dram 4 Brothers LLC – 5447 St. Charles Road
Moved by: Teresa  McKelvy; seconded by: Diane  Salemi
Aye: Teresa  McKelvy, Sherry Graf-Stone, Diane  Salemi, Jason Mathews, Roger Thomas, and Jerry Perez
Carried 6-0
8.3 Public Safety (Chair – Trustee Salemi; Co-Chair – Trustee Mathews)
Trustee Liaison Report-no report
Chief Larem will be graduating from the FBI Academy on March 18th.
8.4 Public Works and Utilities (Chair – Trustee Thomas; Co-Chair – Trustee Perez)
Trustee Liaison Report-Trustee Thomas stated that the lead line replacement project will be going out to bid soon.
Motion to Approve a Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement Between the Village of Berkeley, Cook County, Illinois, and Nardulli Construction Company, Inc. for the 2026 Electric Avenue Frontage Project in an Amount not to Exceed $86,999.70
Moved by: Roger Thomas; seconded by: Sherry Graf-Stone
Aye: Teresa  McKelvy, Sherry Graf-Stone, Diane  Salemi, Jason Mathews, Roger Thomas, and Jerry Perez
Carried 6-0
Motion to Approve a Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement between the Village of Berkeley, Cook County, Illinois, and Edwin Hancock Engineering Company for Phase III Engineering of the 2026 Electric Avenue Frontage Project in an Amount not to Exceed $14,596.00
Moved by: Roger Thomas; seconded by: Jerry Perez
Aye: Teresa  McKelvy, Sherry Graf-Stone, Diane  Salemi, Jason Mathews, Roger Thomas, and Jerry Perez
Carried 6-0
Motion to Approve a Resolution Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement between the Village of Berkeley, Cook County, Illinois and Fer-Pal Industries for the 2026 Water Main Lining Project in an Amount not to Exceed $453,310.00
 Public Works Director Wagner gave information about the project timeline and success of completed locations.
Moved by: Roger Thomas; seconded by: Sherry Graf-Stone
Aye: Teresa  McKelvy, Sherry Graf-Stone, Diane  Salemi, Jason Mathews, Roger Thomas, and Jerry Perez
Carried 6-0
8.5 Intergovernmental Relations (Chair – Trustee Mathews; Co-Chair – Trustee McKelvy)
Trustee Liaison Report-Trustee Mathews reported that a community round-table will be held on March 14th.
8.6 Community Events (Chair – Trustee Perez; Co-Chair – Trustee Graf-Stone)
Trustee Liaison Report-Trustee Perez stated that all community groups will be sharing scheduling at the upcoming community round-table events. Thanks to all who attended the Lions Club fundraiser. Informs all of the Proviso Has Talent event would like the winner come out in the Music in the Park. Neighborhood Watch will be having a meeting on March 19th. The West Cook County Youth Club will also be having there annual fundraiser soon.
9. Village President
President Lee reviews the calendar. He thanked Trustee Salemi for filling in at last board meeting. Thanks the staff for their diligent work on the budget.
3/24/26 Planning & Zoning Commission at 6:30 pm
4/3/26 Spring Holiday – Village Offices Closed
4/7/26 Village Board Meeting at 6:30 pm
10. Village Administrator
Administrator Espiritu states that he met with library and that they will be presenting at a future meeting regarding improvements and assistance they need.
11. Village Attorney-non present
12. Public Comments and Questions
Please limit comments to three (3) minutes in length, unless further granted by the Board
Thomas Phillips-resident states hard to see oncoming traffic at the corner of Elm/Taft
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)
10. Consideration of Release of Executive Session Minutes 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(21)
Carried
14. Action After Executive Session
15. Meeting Adjourned 7:34PM
Motion to Adjourn
Moved by: Diane  Salemi; seconded by: Jason Mathews
Aye: Teresa  McKelvy, Sherry Graf-Stone, Diane  Salemi, Jason Mathews, Roger Thomas, and Jerry Perez
Carried 6-0
https://berkeleyil.community.highbond.com/document/13232bfa-b91e-4b38-8815-116130813a4b/
