City of Hometown City Council met Aug. 24.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
Call to The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Hometown was called to order by Order: Mayor Kevin Casey at 7:00 P.M.
Pledge of Allegiance: The Pledge of Allegiance was led by retired Alderman Spencer Touchie.
Roll Call: Roll call indicated that the following were present: Aldermen Zak, Grochowski, Banasiak, Kurysz, Beyer, Barnhouse, Finnegan, Smith, Walsh and Reynolds. Also present: Elizabeth Attard, City Attorney
Press: Kelly White, Hometown Hi-Lites.
Journal August 10, 2021: Moved by Alderman Grochowski seconded by Alderman Kurysz to approve as published the Journal of August 10, 2021 regular City Council Meeting.
Roll call, the vote was:
AYES: (9) Aldermen Banasiak, Zak, Barnhouse, Kurysz, Grochowski, Beyer, Smith, Walsh and Reynolds.
NAYS: (0)
ABSENT: (0)
ABSTENSION: (1) Alderman Finnegan.
MOTION DECLARED CARRIED
CITIZEN’S HEARING
NONE
REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
Office of the Mayor Mayor Kevin M. Casey stated we will not be putting Fred Knoblauch on the Mae Randle Board tonight; Pat is not feeling well so we will put it on hold until she is able to attend a meeting. She was very grateful we would wait.
Office of the City Clerk: City Clerk Mary Jo C. Hacker had reported her office had received a request from the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana to conduct their Fall Product Program from September 24- October 20, 2021. The Door-to-Door portion of the Girl Scout Cookie Program will be from December 15, 2021 – January 17, 2022. They are planning to follow that with Booth Sales from mid-February through May.
Moved by Alderman Walsh seconded by Alderman Reynolds to approve request from the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana to conduct their Fall Product Program from September 24- October 20, 2021. The Door-to-Door portion of the Girl Scout Cookie Program will be from December 15, 2021 – January 17, 2022. They are planning to follow that with Booth Sales from mid-February through May.
Roll call, the vote was:
AYES: (10) Aldermen Banasiak, Zak, Barnhouse, Kurysz, Grochowski, Beyer, Smith, Finnegan, Walsh and Reynolds.
NAYS: (0)
ABSENT: (0)
MOTION DECLARED CARRIED
Office of the Treasurer:
City Treasurer Salvatore Roti had no report.
Mayor Casey stated he received an email stating some properties may be missing the Homeowners Exemption, you can look in the bottom left corner.
REPORTS FROM CITY APPOINTED OFFICIAL
City Attorney: Elizabeth Attard had no report.
Police: Louis Dominguez, Chief was not present.
Public Works: Mark Trlak, Director was not present.
Building: James Forbes, Commissioner was not present.
Public Health & Safety: Director Bonnie Gesiakowski had no report
REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Accounts Payable and Payroll August 24, 2021: Moved by Chairman, Christopher Beyer, seconded by Alderman Banasiak to approve for payment the accounts payable vouchers in the amount of $24,141.47 and payroll vouchers in the amount of $71,568.43 for a total expenditure of $95,709.90.
Roll call, the vote was:
AYES: (10) Aldermen Banasiak, Zak, Barnhouse, Kurysz, Grochowski, Beyer, Smith, Finnegan, Walsh and Reynolds.
ABSENT: (0)
MOTION DECLARED CARRIED
STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND MUNICIPAL BUILDING COMMITTEE
Alderman Glen Zak, Chairman, had no report.
WATER AND SEWER COMMITTEE
Alderman Daniel Walsh, Chairman had no report.
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE
Alderman Robert Smith, Chairman had no report.
BUILDING COMMITTEE
Alderman Brian Barnhouse, Chairman had no report.
LICENSE COMMITTEE:
Alderman Donna Grochowski, Chairman had no report.
CODE AND ORDINANCE COMMITTEE
Alderman Robert Reynolds, Chairman had no report.
INSURANCE COMMITTEE:
Alderman Rick Banasiak, Chairman had no report
PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE
Alderman Luci Kurysz, Chairman reminded residents to lock their house, garages and cars.
POLICE COMMITTEE
Alderman Frank Finnegan, Chairman had no report.
REPORTS FROM SPECIAL COMMITTEES
Library: Alderman Grochowski, Liaison reported the Summer Reading Program ended. Circulation for July 2021 was 481, the circulation for 2020 August was 46. The library received their per capita grant in the amount of $6,414.78. The library has purchased a rocking chair and rug with money left over from the donation in Shirley Sears memory.
Legislation: Alderman Christopher Beyer had no report.
Fire Department: Alderman Rick Banasiak, Liaison had no report.
Personnel Review: Mayor Kevin Casey, Chairman had no report.
PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, RESOLUTIONS, ORDERS AND ORDINANCES BY ALDERMEN
Res.NO. 8-2021: RESOLUTION NO 8-2021: MOVED BY ALDERMAN WALSH, SECONDED BY ALDERMAN KURYSZ TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NO. 8-2021, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF HOMETOWN, AUTHORIZING ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE RESURFACING OF 88TH STREET FROM CICERO TO KENTON.
AYES: (10) Aldermen Banasiak, Zak, Barnhouse, Kurysz, Grochowski,
Beyer, Smith, Finnegan, Walsh and Reynolds.
NAYS: (0)
ABSENT: (0)
MOTION DECLARED CARRIED
SPECIAL EVENTS: Alderman Grochowski reported the memorial for the 20th Anniversary of 9-11 will be on September 11, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. with a rain date of September 12, 2021.
HEALTH, WELFARE & COMMUNITY EVENTS: Alderman Grochowski reported on several upcoming events.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: NONE
NEW BUSINESS: Mayor Casey is meeting with the buyer for Ghosien’s and a surveyor, the sale is full steam ahead. GoPuff has been pulling permits and doing work in the building. The work at the Co-ops is going well. The Toys for Tots fundraiser at the shopping center went off without any incidents. The Four Cities Shopping Center is in foreclosure and Mayor Casey is in contact with the bank regarding potential buyers.
Mayor Casey stated, tonight we are honoring retired Alderman Spencer Touchie. Spencer has been talking about moving to Washington State for the past ten years and it is finally happening. Spencer has been a strong support for the Mayor’s Office, he went through all the Police Chief searches and any other problems and issues that came up, he was the voice of reason. He served his ward well, making contact annually and always looking out for what was best for Hometown. He will be missed, and we wish nothing but happiness on his new adventure. Mayor Casey presented Spencer with a certificate of appreciation and a letter stating we will donate to Saints Among Us in lieu of a retirement gift.
CITIZEN’S HEARING: NONE
ADJOURNMENT: Motion made by Alderman Walsh Seconded by Alderman Reynolds to adjourn the regular meeting of the Hometown City Council.
http://www.cityofhometown.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_08242021-276
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