City of Blue Island City Council met Aug. 25.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
CALL TO ORDER
The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Blue Island Held Remotely at 7:03 p.m. by Mayor Vargas as permitted by Executive Order 2020-07 signed by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker on March 16, 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
Roll Call indicates the following:
Present: 12 Bilotto, Rita, Hawley, Fahrenwald, Hill, Mech, Carr, Zylman (7:12), Klinker, Stevo Johnson, Alexander,
Absent: Cazares, Donahue
Present Also: Randy Heuser, City Clerk Cary Horvath, City Attorney Kelly Burke, City Attorney
JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS:
Motion by Ald. Carr, second by Ald. Hill to approve the Regular City Council Minutes from July 16, 2020.
Ayes: 11 Bilotto, Rita, Hawley, Fahrenwald, Hill, Mech, Carr, Klinker, Stevo Johnson, Alexander
Nays: 0
Absent: 3 Cazares, Donahue, Zylman
Abstention: 0
There being Eleven (11) Affirmative Votes, the Mayor declared the motion carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Michael Green expressed concern about confrontations and the arrest of a neighbor who harassed him and asked “Do Black & White Arrest Procedures differ in Blue Island”
Kathy & Dell Haskell expressed their concern about not being able to park in their neighborhood because the employees of Cook County Health park there. The City will address the parking concerns of the whole UTOD.
Carol DiPace-Greene asked that everyone wear their facemasks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and thanked those involved with the recent mask giveaway and announced that the next giveaway will be Sept 12th.
REPORT OF CITY OFFICIALS
MAYOR:
Mayor Vargas asked that we all be vigilant about following CDC guidelines. Mayor also thanked COMED and Lopez tires for their water donation during the recent power outage.
Mayor stated that we are in the process of getting our Fire Fighters from EMT to ALS.
The Mayor announced that the Cal Sag Trail is near completion, he also thanked all the volunteers who are picking up trash, he mentioned that the Western Ave Bridge Construction is ongoing. The Mayors Advisory Board will consist of the following individuals - Luis Acosta, Nancy Thompson, Carol DiPace-Greene, Nancy Madrigal, Pastor Laurie Koehler Jr., Dennis Loskowski.
Mayor Vargas also thanked Public Works for their efforts in the Storm Cleanup
CITY CLERK:
Bids:
No Bids
CITY TREASURER:
Motion by Ald. Fahrenwald, second by Ald. Carr to approve Inter-fund Transfers from Unrestricted and Restricted Accounts.
Ayes: 10 Bilotto, Rita, Hawley, Fahrenwald, Hill, Mech, Carr, Zylman, Klinker, Alexander
Nays: 2 Stevo, Johnson
Absent: 2 Cazares, Donahue
Abstention: 0
There being Ten (10) Affirmative Votes, the Mayor declared the motion carried
CITY ATTORNEY:
No Business
Aldermen Rita & Carr expressed their concern about how Attorney Horvath addresses female Aldermen. Mayor Vargas said he would look into these allegations.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - next meeting September 9, 2020
Ordinance No. 2020-031 An Ordinance of the City of Blue Island, Cook County, Illinois, Amending Chapter 90 of the Code of Blue Island, Illinois Regarding the Keeping of Poultry as amended reducing the square footage from 7500 to 4800.
Motion by Ald. Bilotto, second by Ald. Rita to approve Ordinance No.2020-031
Ayes: 11 Bilotto, Rita, Hawley, Fahrenwald, Hill, Mech, Carr, Zylman, Klinker, Johnson, Alexander
Nays: 1 Stevo
Absent: 2 Cazares, Donahue
Abstention: 0
There being Eleven (11) Affirmative Votes, the Mayor declared the motion carried.
FINANCE COMMITTEE – next meeting August 31, 2020
Motion by Ald. Bilotto, second by Ald. Hill to approve Payroll for August 7, 2020 for $338,461.03.
Ayes: 12 Bilotto, Rita, Hawley, Fahrenwald, Hill, Mech, Carr, Zylman, Klinker, Stevo Johnson, Alexander
Nays: 0
Absent:: 2 Cazares, Donahue
Abstention: 0
There being Twelve (12) Affirmative Votes, the Mayor declared the motion carried.
Motion by Ald. Stevo, second by Ald. Johnson to remove the invoice from Montana & Welch from the Accounts Payable.
Ayes: 4 Hawley, Fahrenwald, Stevo, Johnson
Nays: 8 Bilotto, Rita, Hill, Mech, Carr, Zylman, Klinker, Alexander
Absent: 2 Cazares, Donahue
Abstention: 0
There being Four (4) Affirmative Votes, the Mayor declared the motion failed.
Motion by Ald. Bilotto, second by Ald. Rita to approve Accounts Payable for August 26, 2020 for $302,328.95.
Ayes: 9 Bilotto, Rita, Hawley, Hill, Mech, Carr, Zylman, Klinker, Alexander
Nays: 3 Fahrenwald, Stevo, Johnson
Absent: 2 Cazares, Donahue
Abstention: 0
There being Nine (9) Affirmative Votes, the Mayor declared the motion carried.
Resolution No. 2020-036 A Resolution Approving and Authorizing a Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City of Blue Island and A.F.S.C.M.E. Council 31, Local 1172 for the period January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2021.
Motion by Ald. Bilotto, second by Ald. Zylman to approve Resolution 2020-036.
Ayes: 11 Bilotto, Hawley, Fahrenwald, Hill, Mech, Carr, Zylman, Klinker, Stevo, Johnson, Alexander
Nays: 1 Rita
Absent: 2 Cazares, Donahue
Abstention: 0
There being Eleven (11) Affirmative Votes, the Mayor declared the motion carried
PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY - Next Meeting is September 15, 2020
MUNICIPAL SERVICES – Next Meeting is September 8, 2020
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE - Next Meeting September 15, 2020
Ordinance No. 2020-030 An Ordinance of the City of Blue Island, Cook County, Illinois Amending Title XI (Business Regulations) of the Code of Blue Island, Illinois regarding Cannabis Business Establishments.
Motion by Ald. Stevo, second by Ald. Fahrenwald to table Ordinance 2020-030.
Ayes: 3 Fahrenwald, Stevo, Johnson
Nays: 8 Bilotto, Rita, Hawley, Hill, Mech, Carr, Klinker, Alexander
Absent: 2 Cazares, Donahue
Abstention: 1 Zylman
There being Thee (3) Affirmative Votes, the Mayor declared the motion failed.
Motion by Ald. Rita, second by Ald. Klinker to approve Ordinance 2020-030.
Ayes: 8 Bilotto, Rita, Hawley, Hill, Mech, Carr, Klinker, Alexander
Nays: 3 Fahrenwald, Stevo, Johnson
Absent: 2 Cazares, Donahue
Abstention: 1
There being Eight (8) Affirmative Votes, the Mayor declared the motion carried.
Motion by Ald. Rita, second by Ald. Carr to approve Property Damage Claim #2020 12527 Front window shattered by a golf ball.
Ayes: 12 Bilotto, Rita, Hawley, Fahrenwald, Hill, Mech, Carr, Zylman, Klinker, Stevo Johnson, Alexander
Nays: 0
Absent: Cazares, Donahue
Abstention: 0
There being Twelve (12) Affirmative Votes, the Mayor declared the motion carried.
ALDERMANIC ANNOUNCEMENTS/COMMENTS
Alderman Hill thanked Public Works for their work during the storm cleanup. He also stated that he had gotten a complaint about overnight parking
Alderman Carr also thanked Public Works for their work during cleanup
Alderman Fahrenwald reminded everyone that it is important to wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID.
Alderman Klinker asked about the status of The Vault and Raven's license suspensions, the Mayor stated that a meeting is pending for Friday August 28, 2020.
Attorney Horvath stated that her remained silent to the accusations made by Aldermen Rita & Carr but that didn't mean he agreed with the statements.
Alderman Stevo asked that the Ordinances be updated on the website.
Alderman Rita asked for follow up on the Rodent abatement program and asked for a weekly report for the third ward.
Alderman Hill thanked Julia Plumb for starting to take care of the Rain Gardens.
Alderman Johnson asked that residents keep up with their yard maintenance to stop the spread of rodents and snaked in unkempt properties.
Alderman Alexander asked for the status of the Social Justice Committee – Mayor Vargas stated that the Mayors Advisory Committee would be handling that.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Ald. Fahrenwald, second by Ald. Rita to adjourn the meeting.
Upon a voice vote, the Mayor declared the motion carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:34 p.m.
The next regular meeting of the City Council is scheduled for September 8, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1U07PmF-PmQ2WMVYP7sq31-jbOCKWxYI-WEAYM_hlJb8/edit
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