City of Chicago Heights City Council met June 19.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Gonzalez called the regular meeting of the Chicago Heights City Council to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Mayor: David Gonzalez Present
Council:
1st Ward Renee Smith Present
2nd Ward Sonia Perez Absent
3rd Ward Wanda Rodgers Present
4th Ward Christopher Baikauskas Present
5th Ward George Brassea Present
6th Ward Vincent Zaranti Present
7th Ward Kelli Merrick Present
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
COMMUNICATIONS
Alderman Smith -no announcements
Alderman Perez-absent
Alderman Rodgers announced that her next ward meeting would be held on June 20 at 6:00 p.m. at the Chicago Heights Park District.
Alderman Baikauskas announced that his next ward meeting would be held on Monday, June 24 at 7:00 p.m. at Roosevelt School.
Alderman Brassea announced that he would prepare a schedule of his ward meetings by the next council meeting.
Alderman Zaranti announced his next ward meeting would be held in coordination with Park District Commissioner Straczek on June 27 at 7:00 p.m. at Commissioners Park.
Alderman Merrick announced that she would prepare a schedule of her ward meetings by the next council meeting.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Victor Washington, a resident of the City, told of his experience in making a 911 call to the City this past winter.
REPORT OF CHIEF OF STAFF - KAREN ZERANTE
COS Zerante reported that the Mayor's Office of Special Events, along with the Historic Preservation Committee, recently hosted the annual Driving the Dixie, an historic automobile tour through the City along the Dixie Highway. COS Zerante also reminded everyone that the City's Independence Day fireworks display would be held on July 3rd,
REPORT OF THE CORPORATION COUNSEL—T.J. SOMER
None
1. MINUTES: MEETING OF JUNE 5, 2019
Alderman Zaranti moved, and Alderman Rodgers seconded a motion to approve the minutes.
Ayes: Smith, Rodgers, Baikauskas, Brassea, Zaranti, Merrick
Nays: none
Abstain: none
Absent: Perez
Motion to approve carried.
2. BILLS: APPROVAL OF FIRST RUN OF JUNE 2019.
Alderman Zaranti moved, and Alderman Merrick seconded, a motion to approve the bills.
Ayes: Smith, Rodgers, Baikauskas, Brassea, Zaranti, Merrick
Nays: none
Abstain: none
Absent: Perez
Motion to approve carried.
3. ORDINANCE #2019 - 11 : AMENDING CHAPTER 20 OF THE CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES REGULATING GARBAGE CONTAINERS.
Alderman Rodgers moved, and Alderman Zaranti seconded, a motion to approve the ordinance.
Ayes: Smith, Rodgers, Baikauskas, Brassea, Zaranti, Merrick
Nays: none
Abstain: none
Absent: Perez
Motion to approve carried.
Corporation Counsel Somer stated that the ordinance required the landowner of a commercial building or multi-family residence to create a corral to enclose its commercial garbage dumpster, hiding it from public view and helping to improve the appearance of the City.
4. ORDINANCE #2019 - _12_: AMENDING CHAPTER 21 OF THE CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES REGULATING NUISANCE PROPERTY.
Alderman Zaranti moved, and Alderman Rodgers seconded, a motion to approve the ordinance.
Ayes: Smith, Rodgers, Baikauskas, Brassea, Zaranti, Merrick
Nays: none
Abstain: none
Absent: Perez
Motion to approve carried.
Corporation Counsel Somer explained the City's new program, NAPP, Nuisance Abatement : Partnership Program, in which residents agreed to remediate nuisance conditions of lots next door to their residence, in exchange for their control and personal use of the lot. The program would bring some relief to the City in its maintenance of hundreds of vacant lots. Brief discussion on the matter took place.
5. RESOLUTION #2019 - 46 : AUTHORIZING THE CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH A NOTICE SEEKING BIDS FOR THE CITY'S 2019 SIDEWALK 50/50 REPLACEMENT PROGRAM.
Alderman Rodgers moved, and Alderman Merrick seconded, a motion to approve the resolution.
Ayes: Smith, Rodgers, Baikauskas, Brassea, Zaranti, Merrick
Nays: none
Abstain: none
Absent: Perez
Motion to approve carried.
COS Zerante explained the program, in which the City collaborated with residents who had expressed interest in repairing their sidewalks. Once the cost of repairs to the resident was confirmed, the City contacted the residents to see if they wanted to proceed with the sidewalk replacement.
6. RESOLUTION #2019- 47 : APPROVING THE SALE OF A 1997 FORD FIRE DEPARTMENT SURPLUS AMBULANCE TO THE VILLAGE OF GLENWOOD.
Alderman Rodgers moved, and Alderman Smith seconded, a motion to approve the resolution,
Ayes: Smith, Rodgers, Baikauskas, Brassea, Zaranti, Merrick
Nays: none
Abstain: none
Absent: Perez
Motion to approve carried.
COS Zerante stated that this ambulance was retired from service when the City purchased a new ambulance. The fire department obtained an estimate of the value of the ambulance, and the Village of Glenwood was interested in its purchase.
7. RESOLUTION #2019 - 48 : AUTHORIZING A CONVEYANCE AGREEMENT FOR ACQUISITION OF THE VACANT LOT AT 231 W. 16TH PLACE, CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL.
Alderman Rodgers moved, and Alderman Merrick seconded, a motion to approve the resolution.
Ayes: Smith, Rodgers, Baikauskas, Brassea, Zaranti, Merrick
Nays: none
Abstain: none
Absent: Perez
Motion to approve carried.
Corporation Counsel Somer reported that a developer offered to donate the lot to the City, as he was no longer interested in developing it. The City's ownership would eliminate any delinquent taxes on the lot, and enable the City to re-market it. A brief question on the matter was asked.
Mayor Gonzalez announced that he hoped to bring a presentation to the next council meeting explaining how the City could fund its Self-Insured Fund by use of a trust fund.
ADJOURNMENT
At 6:30 p.m. Alderman Rodgers moved, and Alderman Merrick seconded, a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Ayes: Smith, Rodgers, Baikauskas, Brassea, Zaranti, Merrick
Nays: none
Abstain: none
Absent: Perez
Motion to adjourn carried.
http://cityofchicagoheights.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_06192019-199
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