The Braidwood City Council met Dec. 13 to review city reports.
Here are the meeting's minutes, as provided by the council:
The board of trustees provides oversight, guidance and governance for the city of Braidwood.
CITY OF BRAIDWOOD
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Call to Order
Mayor Vehrs called the meeting to order at 7:00pm.
Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Vehrs asked the new Officer, Jeffrey Peterson to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call
Elected Officials present: Commissioner Hutton, Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Hibler and Mayor Vehrs were present. Commissioner Tessler was absent.
Appointed officials present: City Attorney Matt Campbell, City Clerk Sue Grygiel and Chief Nick Ficarello were present. City Administrator Don Labriola and City Engineer were absent.
A motion was made by Comm. Hibler to amend the Agenda as written to bring up Mack & Associates earlier on the Agenda, seconded by Comm. Hutton. Motion approved 4 ayes, 0 nays (Hibler, Hutton, Smith and Mayor Vehrs) 1 absent (Tessler).
Public Comment
Bob Snedeker, has a three part question. First questions was to Mayor Vehrs and possibly City Clerk Grygiel. He wanted to know the employment status full or part time of one Officer Joseph LaCost. The Mayor made a comment but asked not to hold to him. Joe is part time but under the state statute if he’s considered working over 32 hours he is full time and requires health care. The Mayor said with the Chief not here tonight he then asked Deputy Chief Soucie in attendance to comment on. Bob then went over some FOIA’s he requested the names of all part time Officers that were being provided healthcare. He said he accepts their answer and doesn’t need to review it. His response on September 21st said we have no sworn part time Officers that are being given healthcare. Bob said he did another FOIA in November asking for the subscriber’s fees for September and it shows that Joe LaCost a part time Officer is getting healthcare. Bob said wouldn’t it be easier to say that we are providing healthcare to a part time Officer? The city clerk commented she didn’t realize he wasn’t part time because he was on the insurance and that’s when the Chief explained to her exactly what the Mayor had just said regarding the state statute. Even though he is a part time employee and over 30 hours they are to be given health insurance by the city. Bob then asked he is a part time Officer and he is covered employee. The clerk said she was unaware and Nick had said to her are you aware that a part time Officer working over 30 hours has to be given health insurance. At the time of his FOIA she wasn’t aware of the state statute. Bob said he just wanted to see what this inconsistency was and that’s all he had and thanked them.
Angie Hutton, Chamber President. Thanked everybody who came out for the tree lighting, the lighted parade and the festivities that followed at the city park. The Chamber decorated inside the city pavilion and Rob, Josh and others helped put the lights outside around the park.
Public Comment Closed at 7:10pm.
Approval of Minutes
Comm. Hibler made a motion, seconded by Comm. Hutton to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of November 22, 2016. Motion approved 4 ayes, 0 nays (Hibler, Hutton, Smith & Mayor Vehrs) 1 absent (Tessler).
At this time the Mayor asked the gentlemen from Will County FEMA to come up and speak. Allen Matsa spoke on behalf of Will County FEMA along with Johnathon Johnson. Allen said the EMA is commissioned by the Will County Board. They are going to towns in Will County to promote Winter Weather Preparedness and other disasters, so that neighbors can help themselves. This allows Mike Pemble, Josh Bolatto and their team from Braidwood ESDA to allow them abilities to do other things as well. They are around to work alongside communities and help neighbors be better prepared for. They are reaching out to city halls along with schools, senior groups handing out pamphlets for emergency preparedness, which they also brought along tonight and are on the table. They also have the ability to do PowerPoint presentations and hand out whatever materials would be needed for the presentation to other groups, organizations.
At this time Laurie Pope, the city’s external auditing firm of Mack & Associates addressed the council and reviewed the Annual Audit Report (green bound) with the city. Laurie reviewed and explained each of the 87 pages. Laurie said during the audit they became aware of matters that are opportunities for strengthening internal controls and operating efficiency. The Management Letter summarizes our comments and suggestions regarding those matters. Laurie then reviewed these comments and recommendations and gave detailed explanation on some of them to the council.
REPORTS BY CITY OFFICIALS
Mayor
Mayor Vehrs wished everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The Mayor said that City Hall is closed the Friday before Christmas and the Monday after Christmas. The Mayor asked for suggestions from our council regarding having the meeting on December 27th as scheduled or would we like to just go into a meeting in January? The Mayor said he discussed this with Comm. Hibler and only having a 4 day work week, the bills probably will not be ready for the next meeting. Comm. Hutton questioned approving the payroll and the Mayor asked when next payroll was and clerk responded December 30th, which is after the 27th meeting. The Mayor then said we will continue to have the council meeting on December 27th. The Mayor then thanked the council, our Auditing Firm, and everyone who stayed within their budgets and cutting their expenses.
Administrator
Absent.
City Clerk
Nothing to Report.
Engineer
Absent.
City Attorney
Atty. Campbell said the first he had was a discussion of a Travel, Expense Reimbursement Ordinance. The state passed Public Act 99-604. Everyone should have received a Draft of this Ordinance and a form as well for seeking expenses incurred. The Act is effective as of January 1, 2017. Atty. Campbell wanted to pass this out to everyone to review the sample ordinance and sample reimbursement form and get a background of it, then bring up at the next council meeting for a vote. At this time Atty. Campbell explained the Public Act to the council.
Atty. Campbell then talked about the last meeting wherein the council approved the Planning & Zoning Recommendations on two different matters. The issue raised is that although we discuss them in Open Session, took a vote in Open Session, that the Agenda didn’t reflect specifically what those items were. So in the sense of making sure that everyone knows what is being done, future Agenda’s should reflect what is going to be discussed. So tonight we are going to just reconsider those recommendations by the Planning & Zoning Board from their October meeting again at this meeting tonight. So the Attorney is looking for a motion to approve the October’s recommendations to allow for a Special Use for a Social/Fraternal Club, VFW at 435 Enterprise Drive.
Motion made by Comm. Hutton to approve the Zoning Boards Recommendation for VFW’s (Social/Fraternal Club) request for a Special Use at 435 Enterprise Drive, Braidwood with the stipulations; as long as the engineering plans and the structure plans all come back to the Zoning Board for approval and all infrastructures are in place prior to any occupancy permit given to the VFW, seconded by Comm. Smith. There was discussion by the council members and the Mayor. Motion approved 4 ayes, 0 nays (Hutton, Smith, Hibler & Mayor Vehrs) 1 absent (Tessler).
Attorney Campbell is looking for another motion to grant a Special Use Permit pursuant to the October Zoning Boards recommendations, for the Braidwood Warrior Museum at 435 Enterprise Drive.
Motion made by Comm. Hutton to approve the Braidwood Warrior Museum’s request for a Special Use at 435 Enterprise Drive, Braidwood with the stipulations; as long as the engineering plans and the structure plans all come back to the Zoning Board for approval and all infrastructures are in place prior to any occupancy permit given to the Warrior Museum, seconded by Comm. Hibler. Mayor asked for discussion. Atty. Campbell said this Special Use will have the same stipulations as the VFW Special Use earlier. Motion approved 4 ayes, 0 nays (Hutton, Hibler, Smith & Mayor Vehrs) 1 absent (Tessler).
REPORTS BY CITY COMMISSIONERS
Accounts & Finances
Comm. Hibler made a motion to pay the total bills due on our Check Register in the amount of $202,742.36, seconded by Comm. Smith. Motion approved with 4ayes, 0 nays (Hibler, Smith, Hutton & Mayor Vehrs) 1 absent (Tessler).
Comm. Hibler made a motion to pay the Payroll Expenses due in the amount of $91,729.68 seconded by Comm. Smith. Motion approved 4 ayes, 0 nays (Hibler, Smith, Hutton & Mayor Vehrs) 1 absent (Tessler).
Streets & Public Improvements
Comm. Smith said we’ve dealt with some snow and have some more coming. The men have done a good job with cleaning our streets. If they know they will be going out they come down to the barn early and don’t charge us to get things ready to go out and plow. Fay is very proud that they do this without pay.
Public Property
Comm. Hutton then read a letter that the city clerk received from a resident apologizing to one of her staff members for her rudeness to her over the phone-mainly out of frustration. This had to do with the residents October payment of her water bill that showed unpaid. The resident later found out that it was her bank that rejected the payment to the city and not because of insufficient funds, but a mistake made by her bank. He then read the Outside Crews report and now with the winter months most of the outside work is done. The Plant Crew helped with the snowplowing operations.
Public Health & Safety
Comm. Hutton gave Comm. Tesslers reports. The Chief’s Press Release from 11/22-12/12/16, for total calls for service 384. Next he addressed Eric’s agenda item.
Comm. Hutton made a motion to appoint Nicholas Bengston to full-time Police Officer, seconded by Comm. Smith. Motion approved 4 ayes, 0 nays (Hutton, Smith, Hibler & Mayor Vehrs) 1 absent (Tessler).
Planning & Zoning Board Report
No Report.
Executive Session
No Executive Session.
Old Business
Nothing to Report.
New Business
Nothing to Report.
Adjournment
Comm. Hutton made motion to adjourn the Regular Meeting at 7:56pm, seconded by Comm. Hibler. Motion approved with 4 ayes, 0 nays (Hutton, Hibler, Smith & Mayor Vehrs) 1 absent (Tessler).
Meeting adjourned.
Approved this____ day of_________________2016
____________________________________Mayor
____________________________________City Clerk
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