City of Palos Hills City Council Met July 1.
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: Donahue
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, June 17, 2021 as presented. SECONDED by Ald. Price. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:
AYE: Brachman, Lebarre, O’Connell, Kleefisch, Stratton, Pasek, Abed, Nowak, Price
NAY: None
ABSENT: Donahue
MOTION CARRIED
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: City Attorney Pappas stated that all should have received a copy of the Order signed by Judge Carroll directing the County Clerk to issue a tax deed for the racquetball property. Once the deed is received, City Attorney Pappas will have it recorded, and then the property will officially belong to the City.
City Attorney Pappas reported that he is unable to open the escrow accounts for the three properties being bought by MWRD, which is required by the agreement, as MWRD has not yet signed and returned the agreement to the City.
C. MAYOR: Mayor Bennett announced the return of Friendship Fest which will run next Thursday through Sunday.
Mayor Bennett entertained a motion for the full time appointment of Building Commissioner, Tom Lesnicki. SO MOVED by Ald. Price. SECONDED by Ald. Stratton. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:
AYE: Lebarre, O’Connell, Kleefisch, Stratton, Pasek, Abed, Nowak, Price, Brachman
NAY: None
ABSENT: Donahue
MOTION CARRIED 1
9) PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, RESOLUTIONS, AND ORDINANCES BY ALDERMEN:
A. BUILDING & LICENSING:
Ald. Abed read the June 2021 Building report and noted that 90 permits were issued for a total of $19,849.00.
B. CITY ADMINISTRATION:
Ald. Stratton provided an Administration update as follows:
The Administration Department is coordinating with department heads for the disposal of records required by the State for shredding set for July 8, 2021
Administration and IT are continuing to digitize all financial and government records into the City’s Digital Archive System. This will serve as a Continuity of Governance in the event of a disaster. Work is also continuing on establishing multiple geographically dispersed backup and redundant Digital Archive Systems for City digital records
Administration is currently working with our accountants, auditors and departments to compile information needed to begin our annual audit
C. COMMUNITY RESOURCES:
Ald. Price announced that the Palos Memorial Lodge 1993 will be having an opening ceremony at the Friendship Fest on Thursday, July 08, 2021 at 7:00pm, in addition Palos Hills resident Gabriella Zeglin will be performing the Star Spangled Banner which will take place in the large entertainment tent.
Ald. Price stated that Cook County will be offering the Pfizer vaccinations on Saturday, July 10th on the grounds of Friendship Fest. For more information please call the Palos Hills Community Center at 430-4500.
D. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:
Ald. O’Connell reported that A Center For The Martial Arts, located at 10717 S. Roberts Rd, has been issued their business license. Classes offered are Aikido, Jujitsu, Tai Chi, and Karate. Class start times vary - kids, teens, and adults are all welcome to join. For more information or to sign up for a free lesson contact 708-448-2454 or visit their website at ‘acenterforthemartialarts.com’. A Grand Opening will take place at a later date.
Ald. O’Connell provided a Hills Chamber update as follows:
The Hills Chamber had their first networking luncheon at the Palos Hills Golf Course this past Tuesday
The State of The Mayors and annual Chamber Holiday party will be held on Tuesday, December 1st at 5:00pm - location to still be determined
The Hills Chamber will be represented next Saturday and Sunday from 12-6 at the Palos Hills Friendship Fest – a special thank you to Alderman Mike Lebarre for the invitation. There will be giveaways for those stopping by. There will also be “shop local” t-shirts and plastic COVID vaccine card sleeves available for sale
Thank you to the City of Palos Hills for mailing out our 2021 membership applications with their business licenses – because of this we’ve gained many new members this year. Membership is currently at 131 this year.
Reminder – if you’re looking to shop local you can view and download or print the current directory at www.thehillschamber.org
E. FINANCE:
Ald. Lebarre MOVED to authorize the expenditure of a Vendor Warrant dated, July 1, 2021 in the amount of $159,976.76. SECONDED by Ald. Brachman. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:
AYE: O’Connell, Kleefisch, Stratton, Pasek, Abed, Nowak, Price, Brachman, Lebarre
NAY: None
ABSENT: Donahue
MOTION CARRIED
Ald. Lebarre MOVED for consideration of an Ordinance Amending Ordinance 2021-3 Relating To Compensation For City Officers & Employees. SECONDED by Ald. Kleefisch. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:
AYE: O’Connell, Kleefisch, Stratton, Pasek, Abed, Nowak, Price, Brachman, Lebarre
NAY: None
ABSENT: Donahue
MOTION CARRIED
City Clerk Mulderink assigned number 2021-7 to that proposed Ordinance.
Ald. Nowak MOVED to waive the reading of proposed Ordinance 2021-7. SECONDED by Ald. O’Connell. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:
AYE: Kleefisch, Stratton, Pasek, Abed, Nowak, Price, Lebarre, O’Connell
NAY: Brachman
ABSENT: Donahue
MOTION CARRIED
Ald. Lebarre MOVED for PASSAGE of Ordinance 2021-7, An Ordinance Amending Ordinance 2021-3 Relating To Compensation For City Officers & Employees. SECONDED by Ald. Stratton. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:
AYE: Stratton, Pasek, Abed, Nowak, Price, Brachman, Lebarre, O’Connell, Kleefisch
NAY: None
ABSENT: Donahue
MOTION CARRIED
Ald. Lebarre reported that the issue with a pole on 88th Avenue at 101st Street that ComEd had put up has been resolved with the cooperation of the Public Works Commissioner.
F. LEGISLATION & ORDINANCES:
In the absence of Ald. Donahue there was no report this evening.
G. PARKS:
Ald. Nowak announced that the department has been having Day Camp the last several weeks; the current session has reached the maximum of 70 campers.
GOLF:
Ald. Pasek had no report this evening.
H. PLANNING & ZONING:
Ald. Nowak had no report this evening.
I. PUBLIC SAFETY:
Ald. Kleefisch stated that a check was received from CarFax in the amount of $90.00.
J. PUBLIC WORKS/SEWER & WATER:
Ald. Brachman provided a Public Works update as follows:
Crews have installed and tested the new water main on 104th Street and on Sunvalley Dr. The services for the residences are currently being transferred from the old main to the new main. Work should be complete within the next couple of weeks
Palos Hills recorded just over 7 inches of rain over the last week. Thankfully there were no reports of flooding and only a few incidents of tree damage in town
Public Works will once again be on hand to set up and assist other City departments in running this year’s Friendship Fest. We might have skipped a year, but Public Works has not forgotten what is required to make this event successful
IT has completed restructuring the City’s SCADA Network – this is to further secure the City’s Sanitary and Water Communication System. The restructuring will also allow for some self-healing during a disaster event
Maintenance review of the City’s 3 tornado sirens will be conducted on Friday, July 2nd. The work is part of the City’s annual maintenance program. The sirens are not scheduled to be activated during this maintenance review. The controller for the tornado siren located at 104th Street and 78th Avenue is slated for an upgrade sometime in August or September
Ald. Brachman MOVED to deny the driveway request for 10642 S. Tod Drive as it is not within the guidelines of our Ordinances. SECONDED by Ald. Kleefisch. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:
AYE: Pasek, Abed, Nowak, Price, Brachman, Lebarre, O’Connell, Kleefisch, Stratton
NAY: None
ABSENT: Donahue
MOTION CARRIED
10) REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES: None this evening.
11) UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Mayor Bennett, The City Council has to go into Executive Session to review Executive Session minutes. We will come back out and close the meeting.
The City Council went into Executive Session at 7:21pm
The City Council returned from Executive Session at 7:23pm
Mayor Bennett, the purpose of going into Executive Session was to review Executive Session Minutes and there were only 2 items, both regarding personnel, and the Council would have to decide to release or not to release those minutes. Ald. Stratton MOVED not to release the minutes of April 15, 2021 and June 17, 2021 as both dealt with personnel. SECONDED by Ald. Brachman. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:
AYE: Abed, Nowak, Price, Brachman, Lebarre, O’Connell, Kleefisch, Stratton, Pasek
NAY: None
ABSENT: Donahue
MOTION CARRIED
12) MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS: Ald. Pasek announced that there is a Golf Committee meeting at 5:30pm on July 15, 2021 at City Hall.
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 7:25 p.m.
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