Will County Gazette

City of Braidwood City Council met Nov. 12.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

Call to Order: The Regular Meeting of the Braidwood City Council on November 12th, 2019 was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Jones in the Council Chambers of the Braidwood City Hall.

Pledge of Allegiance: Mayor Jones requested all rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll Call: Upon Roll Call by the Clerk, the following members of the corporate authorities answered

“Here” or “Present”;

Elected Officials;

Present: Commissioner Saltzman, Commissioner Money, Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Hart and Mayor Jones

Absent:

Appointed Officials;

Present: City Attorney Wellner, City Administrator Altiery, Chief Lyons, City Engineer Weber and City Clerk Fisher

Absent:

Quorum: There being sufficient members of the corporate authorities in attendance to constitute a quorum, the meeting was declared in order.

Public Comment: Donn Kaminski, sitting Police Pension Board Member, spoke of pension issues and the fact that there has been no City representation at the Pension Board meetings. Commissioner Saltzman responded that he will start attending. Kaminski stated that the pension is funded at 66% and the City may want to check into a tax levy to lighten the financial burden of the pension payments. He is grateful for the City’s contributions and hopes it can continue to be solvent and grow.

Approval of Minutes: Commissioner Saltzman made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Money, to approve meeting minutes from the October 22nd, 2019 Regular Council Meeting. Motion carried with 5 ayes; 0 nays. (Saltzman, Money, Smith, Hart and Jones)

Mayor’s Report: Special Presentation: Master Sergeant of the Joliet Metropolitan Area Narcotics Squad awarded Detective Chris Altiery with 2 articles of recognition for his work in the specialized unit. Mayor Jones responded to recent items published in the Braidwood Journal Sound-off section.

Administrator Report: Administrator Altiery advised that Senior Services was partnering with the City in the Pace program Barry Kolanowski, of Will County Senior Services spoke to Council and audience on the Grant they are allocating to the City to assist funding the Pace program. Administrator Altiery reported that he had spoken with the Mr. Foley reference the alley and he would be willing to sell the alleyway back to the City for $6,000.00. After discussion, and input from City Attorney Wellner it was decided to attempt to confirm a clear title to the property before moving forward. Lastly, he discussed an Ordinance to Amend Section 15-40, Licensed Video Gaming, in the City of Braidwood, IL, Code of Ordinances, to allow no more than six video terminals. Commissioner Hart made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Money to approve said Ordinance. Motion carried with 4 ayes; 0 nays; 1 abstain. (ayes; Hart, Money, Saltzman, Smith: abstain; Jones)

City Clerk Report: 

Engineer Report:

Chief of Police: Chief Lyons requests purchasing a new police squad utilizing TIF funds Commissioner Hart made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Money, to Approve the Purchase of a Police Department Squad Car for $33,000 with TIF and Asset Forfeiture Funding, as requested by the Chief of Police. Motion carried with 5 ayes; 0 nays. (Hart, Money, Smith, Saltzman, and Jones) Chief advised that he is seeking to return to WESCOM for dispatching services due to concerns with dispatch timeliness and cost effectiveness and that members of the Police and Fire Board have attended, and will continue to attend formal training.

City Attorney Report: Attorney Wellner advised that he and City Engineer Weber held a workshop for the members of the Planning and Zoning board.

Accounts & Finance Report: Commissioner Saltzman advised the City Treasurer will start on the 18th as will the Auditors. He further stated he was concerned with the payments of the EPA loan. Commissioner Saltzman made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Smith, to approve the Accounts Payable Report in the amount of $477,148.39 as identified in the Accounts Payable General Ledger dated 11/12/19. Motion carried with 5 ayes; 0 nays. (Saltzman, Smith, Money, Hart, and Jones) Commissioner Saltzman made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Hart, Commissioner Saltzman made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Smith, to approve the Payroll Report, in the amount of $120,618.35, as identified in the Payroll General Ledger dated 10/29 and 11/01/2019. Motion carried with 5 ayes; 0 nays. (Saltzman, Hart, Money, Smith, and Jones)

Streets & Public Improvement Report: Commissioner Smith asked the Council to obey that he is over the Wastewater Plant. He further commented on gates down around a pond and he wants the gates back up.

Public Property Report: Commissioner Money reports the annual inspection of the Sewer Plant went well and listed the activities of the City Crews over the last 2 weeks. Commissioner Money then made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Hart, to Approve an Ordinance to Dispose of Personal Property Owned by the City of Braidwood. Motion carried with 5 ayes; 0 nays. (Money, Hart, Smith, Saltzman, and Jones.

Public Health & Safety Report: Commissioner Hart advises that in the last 2 weeks, there were 268 Calls for Service and 6 arrests.

Planning & Zoning Report: Mike Celvecci reported that, at the November 4th, 2019 meeting, the Planning and Zoning Commission approved a Map Amendment as well as request to vacate First Street, East of S. Will and West of I-55. Commissioner Saltzman made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Hart, to Approve a Map Amendment to Route 66 Business Park, Assigned PIN 02-24-17-103-018-0000, from B-2 Outlying Business District to I-2 Industrial District as Defined by the City of Braidwood Code of Ordinances and the Approval of the Plat of Resubdivision, Plat of Vacation, Plat of Abrogation (Easements), and Plat of Abrogation (Building Lines). Motion carried with 5 ayes; 0 nays. (Saltzman, Hart, Money, Smith and Jones) Commissioner Hart made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Money to Approve an Ordinance Vacating First Street, Located East of S. Will Road and West of Interstate 55 within the City of Braidwood. Motion carried with 4 ayes, 1 nay. (Ayes - Hart, Money, Saltzman and Jones; nay – Smith)

Old Business: 

New Business:

Adjournment: Commissioner Saltzman made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Smith , to adjourn the November 12th, 2019, regular meeting of the Braidwood City Council. Motion carried with 5 ayes; 0 nays. (Saltzman, Smith, Hart, Money and Jones) The next regularly scheduled meeting is November 26th, 2019.

https://braidwood.us/download/meetings/minutes/Minutes111122019.pdf