City of Hometown City Council met Feb. 22.
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 Alderman Rick Banasiak.
Roll Call: Roll call indicated that the following were present: Aldermen Zak, Banasiak, Grochowski, Barnhouse, Smith, Kurysz, Beyer, Walsh and Reynolds.
Absent: Alderman Finnegan.
Also present: Elizabeth Attard, City Attorney
Press: Kelly White, Hometown Hi-Lites.
Journal February 8, 2022
Moved by Alderman Zak seconded by Alderman Smith to approve as published the Journal of February 8, 2022 regular City Council Meeting.
Roll call, the vote was:
AYES: (7) Aldermen Banasiak, Zak, Barnhouse, Smith, Walsh, Beyer and Reynolds.
NAYS: (0)
ABSENT: (1) Alderman Finnegan
ABSTENSION: (2) Aldermen Grochowski and Kurysz
MOTION DECLARED CARRIED
Moment of Silence: Mayor Casey asked for a moment of silence for Officer Russell Allabastro, Russ recently succumbed to his battle with cancer. Russ served the communities of Blue Island, Metra and he retired from Bridgeview. He is a great loss for our department, he served on the Hometown Police Department close to three years. He had no complaints against him, he was a great guy. More than fifty (50) police vehicles escorted him from Christ Hospital to Hann Funeral Home where his services will be Saturday.
CITIZEN’S HEARING
NONE
REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
Office of the Mayor
Mayor Casey had no report.
Office of the City Clerk:
City Clerk Mary Jo C. Hacker had no report.
Office of the Treasurer:
City Treasurer Salvatore Roti introduced John Hoffman, the City Auditor. Mr. Hoffman thanked City Clerk Hacker and her staff for assisting him during the annual audit. He advised everyone he handed out a copy of his report and encouraged everyone to look through it. One of the highlights was the IMRF Pension liability went from $194,000.00 to $53,000.00. Mr. Hoffman encouraged the City to pay additional into the fund as in the past few years.
Mr. Hoffman stated he had just completed a Single Audit which was necessary due to the amount of federal grant funds awarded to the City of Hometown. That information is included on the report that was given to the officials. Mayor Casey thanked Mr. Hoffman, until he retired and is now in the building daily, he did not realize all the time involved on the annual audit. Alderman Kurysz thanked the auditor for the breakdown he provides.
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 February 22, 2022
Moved by Alderman Beyer, seconded by Alderman Banasiak to approve for payment the accounts payable vouchers in the amount of $106,642.15 and payroll vouchers in the amount of $62,923.79 for a total expenditure of $169,565.94.
Roll call, the vote was:
AYES: (9) Aldermen Banasiak, Zak, Grochowski, Walsh, Barnhouse, Smith, Kurysz, Beyer and Reynolds.
NAYS: (0)
ABSENT: (1) Alderman Finnegan
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 reported that they will be hosting a Candy Bar Bingo on March 19 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.at Hammond Hall.
BUILDING COMMITTEE
Alderman Brian Barnhouse, Chairman notified the City Council that the Zoning Board of Appeals met February 16, 2022 at the request of Steven Kopel, 4630 W. 89th Street regarding the denial of his permit to build a 24’x22’ garage. the Zoning Board of Appeals voted 6-0 yes in favor of Mr. Kopel.
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 had no report.
POLICE COMMITTEE
Alderman Frank Finnegan was absent. Mayor Casey stated there were some cars broken into over the weekend, some of the cars were locked some were not. They also hit Oak Lawn and Burbank. There was not one street targeted, they bounced around. The Chief will speak more about this at the next meeting, we had two major arrests over the weekend, one was a federal warrant, one was an FBI warrant.
REPORTS FROM SPECIAL COMMITTEES
Library: Alderman Grochowski, Liaison, reported the board has changed their meeting date to the first Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m.
Legislation: Alderman Christopher Beyer had no report.
Fire Department: Mayor Casey, Liaison, reported he will meet with them Thursday to sort things out. There are remedies to fix some issues.
Personnel Review: Mayor Kevin Casey, Chairman had no report.
PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, RESOLUTIONS, ORDERS AND ORDINANCES BY ALDERMEN
CDBG Resolution: Moved by Alderman Beyer, seconded by Alderman Reynolds to approve Resolution No.2-2022, A Resolution sending a request to the County of Cook, Illinois for Community Development Block Grant ("Cdbg") Funds for Program Year 2022 in the Amount of Two Hundred Ninety Thousand, and no/100 Dollars ($290,000.00) for the following project: Corcoran Road - Kostner Ave. to Duffy Ave.
Roll Call, the vote was:
AYES: (9) Aldermen Banasiak, Zak, Grochowski, Walsh, Barnhouse, Smith, Kurysz, Beyer and Reynolds.
NAYS: (0)
ABSENT: (1) Alderman Finnegan
MOTION DECLARED CARRIED
SPECIAL EVENTS: Alderman Grochowski had no report.
HEALTH, WELFARE & COMMUNITY EVENTS: Alderman Grochowski reminded everyone the VFW cancelled the St. Patrick’s Day dinner due to increased cost of corned beef. The Ladies Auxiliary will be hosting a Penny Social on March 27, 2022. Our Lady of St. Germaine will be hosting a St. Pats family style dinner on March 5, 2022. Our Lady of St. Germaine is holding a Blood Drive on Tuesday March 15 from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm. The next Facts not Facebook meeting will be at Patterson Park, Saturday, March 12, 2022 at Noon.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: NONE
NEW BUSINESS: Mayor Casey reported, at the March 8, 2022 meeting there will be an Ordinance on the agenda to put Home Rule on the ballot. There is a committee of residents and they have had a couple meetings already. The residents are pushing for this to be able to activate Crime Free Housing. Mayor Casey stated both of the federal warrants from this past weekend were both renters.
Mayor Casey stated, our revenue is good, Crime Free Housing is more important. Keep in mind that the BP is a corporate owned station, Gus is the manager. The next Home Rule meeting will be March 19 at Patterson Park at noon. Alderman Banasiak asked if they will be holding any fundraisers and Mayor Casey stated yes, they will need funds for signs and flyers. Treasurer Roti stated they have speakers at each meeting also.
CITIZEN’S HEARING: NONE
ADJOURNMENT: Motion made by Alderman Reynolds Seconded by Alderman Kurysz to adjourn the regular meeting of the Hometown City Council.
MOTION STATED CARRIED
The meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.
http://www.cityofhometown.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_02222022-290
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