South Cook News

City of Palos Hills City Council Met Nov. 5.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

1) CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Bennett called the City Council Meeting to order at 7:00p.m.

2) PLEDGE TO THE FLAG: Mayor Bennett led everyone in the Pledge to the Flag.

3) ROLL CALL: Upon roll call the following Aldermen responded:

PRESENT: Price, Brachman, Lebarre, O’Connell, Kleefisch, Stratton, Pasek, Abed, Nowak

ABSENT: Marrotta

4) QUORUM: Mayor Bennett declared a quorum was present.

5) READING OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES:

Ald. Kleefisch MOVED to approve the City Council Meeting Minutes dated, October 15, 2020 as presented. SECONDED by Ald. Nowak. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

AYE: Brachman, Lebarre, O’Connell, Kleefisch, Stratton, Abed, Nowak, Price

NAY: None

ABSTAIN: Pasek

ABSENT: Marrotta                 MOTION CARRIED

Mayor Bennett teleconferenced Ald. Marrotta who is now recognized as being present.

Mayor Bennett announced that with the retirement of Police Chief Madigan that there has been a movement in ranks; one officer will move to Lieutenant, and one up from patrol to Sergeant.

At this time Mayor Bennett administered the Oath of Office to Police Lieutenant Joe Collecchia.

Mayor Bennett administered the Oath of Office to Police Sergeant Bradley Fletcher.

Mayor Bennett thanked and recognized retired Police Chief Paul Madigan for the 49 years of truly remarkable service and the impact he made on the Palos Hills Community. A retirement plaque was presented to Paul Madigan on behalf of Mayor Bennett, members of the City Council, and the citizens of Palos Hills.

6) CITIZENS PETITION: None this evening.

7) CITIZENS HEARING:

Mayor Bennett, the meeting is open to the public for any comments or questions.

There were no comments or questions from the public; the public portion of the meeting was closed.

8) REPORTS & COMMUNICATIONS FROM MAYOR AND OTHER CITY OFFICIALS:

A. CITY CLERK: No report this evening.

B. CITY ATTORNEY: In the absence of City Attorney Pappas there was no report this evening.

C. MAYOR: No report this evening.

9) PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, RESOLUTIONS, AND ORDINANCES BY ALDERMEN:

A. BUILDING & LICENSING:

Ald. Price read the October 2020 Building report and noted that 90 permits were issued for a total of $37,060.00 in permit fees.

Ald. Price announced that the house at 10505 S. 82nd Court has been demolished, and the owner has been connected with a developer who wishes to build a new house on the lot.

B. CITY ADMINISTRATION/GOLF:

Ald. Marrotta had no report this evening.

Ald. Abed read the Golf report and noted that we have had beautiful golfing weather all week and the course has been steady with golfers. The sprinkler system was blown out on October 27th. Fall projects will range from trimming of trees, redoing the deck of the bridge on #2, and drainage on #6 when the ground gets a little bit firmer.

C. COMMUNITY RESOURCES:

Ald. Nowak announced that the Community Center will be collecting candy and other wrapped goodies for military stationed overseas through November 13, 2020. There is a box located in the front lobby of the building located at 8455 W. 103rd Street.

D. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:

Ald. O’Connell had no report this evening.

E. FINANCE:

Ald. Lebarre MOVED to authorize the expenditure of a Vendor Warrant dated, November 5, 2020 in the amount of $310,534.70. SECONDED by Ald. Pasek. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

AYE: Lebarre, Marrotta, O’Connell, Kleefisch, Stratton, Pasek, Abed, Nowak, Price, Brachman

NAY: None                  MOTION CARRIED

F. LEGISLATION & ORDINANCES:

Ald. Abed had no report this evening.

G. PARKS:

Ald. Stratton stated that the Resource and Recreation department will not be hosting an official Veteran’s Day celebration this year. Wreaths will be placed at the Veteran’s Memorial in honor of those who have fought and continue to fight for our country.

H. PLANNING & ZONING:

Ald. Nowak stated the Building department has received all necessary paperwork and fees to request a Zoning Board hearing via Zoom for Tuesday, December 1, 2020 at 7:00p.m. The request is for an addition to a single family residence to be erected in the rear yard setback of the home at 8174 Vail Drive for an additional bedroom.

Ald. Nowak MOVED to hold a ZBA hearing for Tuesday, December 1, 2020 at 7:00p.m. on the Zoom meeting platform. SECONDED by Ald. O’Connell. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

AYE: Marrotta, O’Connell, Kleefisch, Stratton, Pasek, Abed, Nowak, Price, Brachman, Lebarre

NAY: None                  MOTION CARRIED

Ald. Nowak MOVED to have the City Attorney draft a Special Use Ordinance for the existing therapeutic massage clinic at 8126 W. 111th Street; the Commission was satisfied with the responses to their concerns, and the board voted to recommend the Special Use be granted by the City Council.

SECONDED by Ald. Pasek. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

AYE: O’Connell, Kleefisch, Stratton, Pasek, Abed, Nowak, Price, Brachman, Lebarre, Marrotta

NAY: None                  MOTION CARRIED

I. PUBLIC SAFETY:

Ald. Kleefisch read the Palos Hills Police Department Monthly Activity Report for October 2020 and noted that we issued 151 traffic tickets, 354 parking tickets, there were 16 misdemeanor complaints, no felony complaints, no criminal homicides, no robberies, no aggravated assault and batteries, no burglaries, 1 theft, no motor vehicle thefts, no arsons, and the CID division handled a total of 43 cases.

Ald. Kleefisch stated that a check was received from Carfax in the amount of $115.00, and a check was received from Ilinois Law Enforcement Alarm System in the amount of $928.00.

J. PUBLIC WORKS/SEWER & WATER:

Ald. Brachman provided an update on the hazardous tree at 7846 W. 99th Place and stated that the property owners contacted the Public Works Commissioner and agreed to pay to remove the tree.

The tree has now been removed by the City’s contractor.

Ald. Brachman gave a status update on the Roberts Road project and stated that due to numerous contractor and COVID-related delays the overlay project will not be completed before the Winter starts. The center lanes will be paved before Thanksgiving and the remaining portions of the project will start again this coming Spring. The new anticipated completion date is June 18, 2021.

Ald. Brachman stated that the City has submitted an application for reimbursement of funds used for materials and services related to COVID-19 through the FEMA COVID Public Assistance Grant. FEMA can grant up to 75% of the $40,000.00 the City had spent on qualified purchases; hopefully FEMA will grant us our full amount.

10) REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES: None this evening.

11) UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None this evening.

12) MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS: Ald. Pasek asked if the next Council meeting will be held in the Council Chambers. Mayor Bennett stated that he is weighing options at the moment. One option being for himself, City Clerk, and Aldermen to be present in the Council Chambers and viewable via Zoom with the meeting closed to the public. The public would need to submit any questions or comments they might have to the City prior to 5:00p.m. the day of the meeting. The Committee meetings will be cancelled and all City business will then take place at the 7:00p.m. Council session.

Ald. Kleefisch complimented Mayor Bennett for his recent appointments of the Chief of Police and the two Officers that were just promoted as well as the vision he had in 1993 to appoint Paul Madigan as our Chief of Police.

13) ADJORNMENT:

No further business, Mayor Bennett entertained a motion to adjourn. SO MOVED by Ald. Stratton. SECONDED by Ald. Pasek. By voice vote, all voted AYE.

The Meeting adjourned at 7:29p.m.