Will County Gazette

The Village of Beecher Village Board met May 14.

Here is the minutes provided by the Board:

All present joined in the Pledge to the Flag.

President Szymanski called the meeting to order.

Roll Call:

Present: President Szymanski and Trustees Basile, Meyer, Kraus (arrived at 7:02 p.m.), Mazurek, Kypuros and Wehling.

Absent: None.

Staff Present: Clerk Janett Conner, Administrator Robert Barber, Chief Greg Smith, Treasurer Donna Rooney. Superintendent of Public Works Bud Cowger and Crew Leader Matt Conner arrived at 7:50 p.m.

Guest: George Schuitema, Building Inspector Tom Pahnke, Labor Attorney Tim Guare and Nick Mento from Community Power Group.

President Szymanski asked for consideration of the minutes of the April 23, 2018 Board meeting. Trustee Meyer made a motion to approve the minutes as written. Trustee Basile seconded the motion.

Ayes: (4) Trustees Basile, Meyer, Mazurek and Kypuros.

Nays: (0) None.

Abstain: (1) Trustee Wehling.

Absent: (1) Trustee Kraus.

Motion Carried.

Reports Of Village Commissions:

Superintendent Cowger had nothing to report for the Beautification Commission.

A Fourth of July update was provided by Trustee Meyer. The raffle car, a 2018 Chevy Camaro, has been purchased and tickets will be available soon. Sponsorships are coming in.

Trustee Mazurek provided a Youth Commission report. The mother/son dance had 188 in attendance. Scholarships were given away to high school students. The Youth Commission will be holding a golf cart raffle to be given away in mid-June. Trustee Mazurek asked if there were any developments regarding the tot lot, and there was nothing new to report.

Trustee Basile reported that the Ribbon of Hope dedication will be held on Sunday, May 20th at 2 p.m. at the ribbon in Firemen's Park. If it rains the dedication will be held in the pavilion. The Commission will disband after this and the Village will take over the memorial.

Trustee Wehling provided a report on the Historic Preservation Commission. The next meeting will be held this Wednesday at 6 p.m. The Commission put a new historical plaque in Women's Club Park where the old Dixie Dairy burned down.

A. Finance And Administration Committee

Treasurer's Report: A copy of the Treasurer's report was provided to the Board for review and the Treasurer was present to answer questions. Treasurer Rooney reported that a new account will be opened for the new tot lot to keep the project separate from other funds. Trustee Basile made a motion to approve the Treasurer's Report and the Report of Financial Activity in the prior month. Trustee Meyer seconded the motion.

Ayes: (6) Trustees Basile, Meyer, Kraus, Mazurek, Kypuros and Wehling.

Nays: (0) None.

Motion Carried.

Variance reports for the preceding month were provided in the packet for review.

The Board considered approval of the list of bills and Trustee Meyer requested a bill for Constituent Outreach Consultants (COC) in the amount of $1,500 be added to the list for set up and training for the new Facebook page. This expense was incurred in the old fiscal year. A summary of the list of bills was provided. Trustee Basile made a motion to approve payment of the list of bills in the amount of $142,344.86 plus the addition of the bill for COC in the amount of $1,500. Trustee Meyer seconded the motion.

Ayes: (6) Trustees Basile, Meyer, Kraus, Mazurek, Kypuros and Wehling.

Nays: (0) None.

Motion Carried.

Nick solar Mento farm on from 17 acres Community on the north Power side Group of Corning provided Road, a power 1/2 mile point east presentation of Dixie Highway. on a proposed The PZC previously reviewed the request and recommended unanimously to not object to the project. They haven't yet attended a Washington Township meeting regarding the solar farm. Administrator Barber asked questions about how many of these solar farms will be built before saturating the market in this area. Mr. Mento said that his company plans to own the farm and not sell it. Trustee Mazurek made a motion of non-objection to Will County for a proposed solar farm on 17 acres on the north side of Corning Road, 1/2 mile east of Dixie Highway. Trustee Kypuros seconded the motion.

Ayes: (6) Trustees Basile, Meyer, Kraus, Mazurek, Kypuros and Wehling.

Nays: (0) None.

Motion Carried.

Trustee Meyer made a motion to approve a proposal from Teska Associates in an amount not to exceed $20,000 for the drafting of a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District study. Trustee

Mazurek seconded the motion.

Ayes: (5) Trustees Basile, Meyer, Mazurek, Kypuros and Wehling.

Nays: (0) None.

Abstain: (1) Trustee Kraus.

Motion Carried.

The Board considered updating the building and electrical codes for the Village from 2005 and 2006 to 2015. Tom Pahnke from Safebuilt was present and provided a presentation on his recommendation to update the codes and explained a few amendments to this updated code.

Ordinance #1286 — An Ordinance updating the building and electrical codes for the Village of Beecher upon recommendation of the Building Inspector. Trustee Mazurek made a motion to approve Ordinance #1286. Trustee Kypuros seconded the motion.

Ayes: (6) Trustees Basile, Meyer, Kraus, Mazurek, Kypuros and Wehling.

Nays: (0) None.

Motion Carried.

Tom Pahnke was asked the status of the nursing home addition. Inspector Pahnke explained the delays in the project due to some changes.

Inspector Pahnke also reported that Dunkin' Donuts is still coming to town. There were some changes to the location of the drive thru. A building permit for the menu boards was just issued and much of the equipment has been moved into the building. It is estimated to open in the middle of June.

President Szymanski appointed three members to the Planning and Zoning Commission whose terms are expiring. Bill Hearn, George Schuitema and Phil Serviss were reappointed to the PZC for three year terms. Trustee Meyer made a motion to approve President Szymanski's appointments. Trustee Wehling seconded the motion.

Ayes: (6) Trustees Basile, Meyer, Kraus, Mazurek, Kypuros and Wehling.

Nays: (0) None.

Motion Carried.

Labor Attorney, Tim Guare, provided a report on the summary of changes to the Village Personnel manual. Attorney and staff has made changes and reviewed the manual which is now ready for the Board to approve. Trustee Kypuros asked about cutting vacation and seniority pay and holidays for future employees. He felt the current benefits provide too much time off and is unsustainable for the future. Tim Guare addressed some of the questions regarding cutting vacations, etc., and some rights addressed by state statutes. Trustee Kypuros also had some other ideas for negotiating these issues moving forward. Trustee Kraus commented that he did not have a chance to look closely at the changes so he would not be voting in favor of the Resolution. Trustee Meyer also did not get to read it yet because she wasn't able to download the packet so she wasn't ready to vote either. A motion was made by Trustee Basile and seconded by Trustee Wehling to approve the resolution and then reconsidered by the same. Trustee Basile made a motion to table a Resolution adopting an updated Personnel Manual for Village employees. Trustee Wehling seconded the motion.

Ayes: (6) Trustees Basile, Meyer, Kraus, Mazurek, Kypuros and Wehling.

Nays: (0) None.

Motion Carried.

Trustee Kypuros made a motion authorizing the purchase of a 2019 F-250 XL 4 x 4 SD super cab 6.75' box 148" WB SRW in the amount of $40,641.00 from Currie Motors of Frankfort. This vehicle is part of the Suburban Purchase Cooperative bid process. It includes the plow upfitting by Lindco. Anticipated delivery is in the fall. Trustee Mazurek seconded the motion.

Ayes: (6) Trustees Basile, Meyer, Kraus, Mazurek, Kypuros and Wehling.

Nays: (0) None.

Motion Carried.

Trustee Kypuros made a motion approving an agreement with HR Green in the amount of $30,270.00 to conduct the feasibility study and permit process for a quiet zone from Eagle Lake Road south to Indiana Avenue. Trustee Wehling seconded the motion.

Ayes: (6) Trustees Basile, Meyer, Kraus, Mazurek, Kypuros and Wehling.

Nays: (0) None.

Motion Carried.

Trustee Mazurek made a motion approving an intergovernmental agreement with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) for the implementation of an L.T.A. Grant for an update of the Village's Comprehensive Plan. Teska is the approved consulting firm after a lengthy RFP process. Trustee Kypuros seconded the motion.

Ayes: (6) Trustees Basile, Meyer, Kraus, Mazurek, Kypuros and Wehling.

Nays: (0) None.

Motion Carried.

Trustee Kraus made a motion to go into Executive Session at 8:05 p.m. to review the terms of a collective bargaining agreement with Teamsters Local #700. Trustee Wehling seconded the motion.

Ayes: (6) Trustees Basile, Meyer, Kraus, Mazurek, Kypuros and Wehling.

Nays: (0) None.

Motion Carried.

Trustee Kraus made a motion to return to regular session at 9:00 p.m. Trustee Wehling seconded the motion.

Ayes: (6) Trustees Basile, Meyer, Kraus, Mazurek, Kypuros and Wehling.

Nays: (0) None.

Motion Carried.

Ordinance #1287 — An Ordinance approving a collective bargaining agreement with Teamsters Local #700. Trustee Kraus made a motion to approve Ordinance #1287. Trustee Kypuros seconded the motion.

Ayes: (6) Trustees Basile, Meyer, Kraus, Mazurek, Kypuros and Wehling.

Nays: (0) None.

Motion Carried.

Trustee Kraus made a motion to rescind a memorandum of understanding with Rick Emerson effective immediately with the amendment for employee to pay 20% of dependent coverage, same as all union contract employees, until the employee personnel policy manual is amended. Trustee Kypuros seconded the motion.

Ayes: (6) Trustees Basile, Meyer, Kraus, Mazurek, Kypuros and Wehling.

Nays: (0) None.

Motion Carried.

Trustee Kypuros requested an amendment to the personnel policy manual to reflect Tier 2 status only for new employees eliminating seniority pay and putting a maximum of three weeks of vacation. He wants to put it into place for future bargaining of union contracts. Trustee Kypuros wants to have something drafted regarding this. Administrator Barber also asked that comp time be eliminated and overtime be paid instead. The sick time cap should be changed to 360, from 240.

Trustee Kypuros asked the Board if the Village should repair old sidewalks or spend money adding new sidewalks where there is none across empty lots. The Board discussed that the Village should do a combination of both.

Chief Smith requested the consensus of the Board to be able to move forward with the purchase of a new squad car, which is budgeted and approved. The squad is at Terry's Ford and is below the state bid amount for less than the state bid squad for a Ford Interceptor. There were no objections from the Board.

Committee reports will be made at the June 11th Board meeting, since there is no second meeting in May.

There being no further business, President Szymanski asked for a motion to adjourn. Trustee Kraus made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Trustee Mazurek seconded the motion.

Ayes: (6) Trustees Basile, Meyer, Kraus, Mazurek, Kypuros and Wehling.

Nays: (0) None.

Motion Carried.

Meeting adjourned at 9:22 p.m.

http://www.villageofbeecher.org/administrator/components/com_webfoot_minutes_and_agendas/upload/918d7d1f7bb0d5f790deba9ac6c0f3aa-m2018-05-14.pdf