South Cook News

City of Palos Hills City Council met July 6

Here are 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, Donahue, O’Connell, Kleefisch, Stratton, Pasek, Abed, Nowak 

ABSENT: None

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 15, 2023 as presented. SECONDED by Ald. Nowak. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted: 

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

NAY: None

ABSTAIN: 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.

A resident from the Timbers approached City Council to ask about the Committee meeting that was to take place this evening at 5:45pm to discuss the building code Ordinance. Mayor Bennett stated that it has been rescheduled for July 20th at 5:45pm. The resident also mentioned the duplicate water bills that were sent this month. Mayor Bennett responded that there was a glitch with the company that does the bills. The resident also asked if there are reports on population. Mayor Bennett replied that the Census is conducted by the Federal Government, and we only receive statistical and geographical information.

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: No report this evening.

C. MAYOR: No report this evening.

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

A. BUILDING & LICENSING: 

Ald. Abed had no report this evening.

B. CITY ADMINISTRATION: 

Ald. Stratton MOVED to go into Executive Session at the conclusion of the Council Meeting for the purpose of reviewing Executive Session Minutes. SECONDED by Ald. Pasek. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

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

NAY: None 

MOTION CARRIED

C. COMMUNITY RESOURCES: 

Ald. Price announced that Friendship Fest will be taking place from July 13th through July 16th, mega bands are now being sold at the Community Center at $50.00 each. The City will be celebrating National Night Out on Tuesday, August 1st from 6:30-8:30pm at Town Square Park.

D. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: 

Ald. O’Connell reported that there were 3 new business licenses issued: A&D Tile Company, Turkish House, and Brama La Pizza.

E. FINANCE: 

Ald. Lebarre MOVED to authorize the expenditure of a Vendor Warrant dated, July 6, 2023 in the amount of $450,657.60. SECONDED by Ald. Pasek. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted: 

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

NAY: None 

MOTION CARRIED

F. LEGISLATION & ORDINANCES: 

Ald. Donahue MOVED for consideration of An Ordinance Of The City Of Palos Hills, Cook County, Illinois Approving An Adopt-A-Lot Program License Agreement With Pascasio S. Diaz For The Property Commonly Known As 7905 West 100th Place, Palos Hills, Illinois. SECONDED by Ald. Pasek. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

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

NAY: None 

MOTION CARRIED

City Clerk Mulderink assigned number 2023-14 to that proposed Ordinance.

After the reading of proposed Ordinance number 2023-14 entitled An Ordinance Of The City Of Palos Hills, Cook County, Illinois Approving An Adopt-A-Lot Program License Agreement With Pascasio S. Diaz For The Property Commonly Known As 7905 West 100th Place, Palos Hills, Illinois Ald. Donahue MOVED for its PASSAGE of same. SECONDED by Ald. Brachman. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

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

NAY: None 

MOTION CARRIED

Ald. Brachman MOVED for consideration of An Ordinance Of The City Of Palos Hills, Cook County, Illinois Providing For The Sale Of Surplus Personal Property. SECONDED by Ald. Pasek. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

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

NAY: None 

MOTION CARRIED

City Clerk Mulderink assigned number 2023-13 to that proposed Ordinance. 2 

After the reading of proposed Ordinance number 2023-13 entitled An Ordinance Of The City Of Palos Hills, Cook County, Illinois Providing For The Sale Of Surplus Personal Property Ald. Brachman MOVED for its PASSAGE of same. SECONDED by Ald. Stratton. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

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

NAY: None 

MOTION CARRIED

G. PARKS: 

Ald. Nowak announced that Touch-A-Truck will be held on Friday, July 21st from 10:00am 12noon at Town Square Park.

GOLF:

Ald. Pasek had no report this evening.

H. PLANNING & ZONING: 

Ald. Nowak had no report this evening.

I. PUBLIC SAFETY: 

Ald. Kleefisch reported that we received four checks; one from Palos Community Consolidated School District 118 in the amount of $693.84, a check from Carfax in the amount of $175.00, a check from Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago in the amount of $1,272.48, and a check from Consolidated High School District 230 in the amount of $15,641.22.

J. PUBLIC WORKS/SEWER & WATER: 

Ald. Brachman had no report this evening.

10) REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES: Ald. Stratton reported that the Administration Department is currently working with our accountants and auditors in compiling information needed for the annual audit report.

11) UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Ald. Lebarre MOVED to have the property at 8757 Vail Drive that has been vacant for approximately 15 years maintained by the City place a lien on it.

Ald. Lebarre wanted to discuss this prior to voting, and asked what action could be taken prior in order to prevent a property from getting to a state of disrepair.

Mayor Bennett stated that beyond maintenance on the outside, there would have to be a declaration that the house is to a point of disrepair to cause a different type of action or potential condemnation.

Mayor Bennett added that we have a property maintenance Ordinance.

City Attorney Cainkar responded that you either write them citations, or you take them to court with your orders saying that you have 30 days to do this, and if you don’t the City has the right to do it and place a lien on the property.

Ald. Lebarre asked about another property that has gone downhill and if they could be cited for various things.

Mayor Bennett stated yes, and that falls under general property maintenance.

Ald. Pasek wants to ensure that the grass cutting should be part of the lien as the neighbor shouldn’t be responsible to continue that.

With no further questions, motion SECONDED by Ald. Pasek. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

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

NAY: None 

MOTION CARRIED

Ald. Lebarre reported that the paperwork received from one of the clubs that they are buying food outside the City of Palos Hills. Commissioner Violante will let them know again that there are plenty of local options for them to choose from.

12) MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS: Ald. Kleefisch mentioned that the flyers that are in plastic bags and thrown on driveways are refuse and end up in the street. Ald. Stratton stated that she has received positive feedback as people know what they’re going to the store for 90% of the time.

Mayor Bennett stated that this is more for the City Attorney.

City Attorney Cainkar replied that as it is commercial advertisements it’s protected by the first amendment, so he will look at our Ordinance. It could be changed to read ‘it’s allowable if you put it in the handle of the door’ and you can’t them throw them on the driveway causing litter.

Ald. Nowak said that she had called the number on the newspaper and reported that they are littering on driveways, and does take about two weeks from when you call, but it did stop.

Ald. Kleefisch asked if the state is still discussing home rule. Mayor Bennett stated they bring that up every year with the IML, and they are not going to budge on home rule status; 80% of the state’s villages and cities are non-home rule.

Mayor Bennett announced that City Council has to go into Executive Session for a few minutes. We will come back out and close the meeting.

The City Council went into Executive Session at 7:28pm

The City Council returned from Executive Session at 7:33pm

Mayor Bennett, the purpose of going into Executive Session was to review Executive Session Minutes and there were 2 items on the agenda regarding labor and/or pending litigation. Ald. Stratton MOVED not to release the two sets of labor negotiations from Executive Session Minutes. SECONDED by Ald. Price. Upon roll call the following Ald. voted:

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

NAY: None 

MOTION CARRIED

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 7:34p.m.

https://www.paloshillsweb.org/docproxy?docId=3193204