Will County Gazette

Village of New Lenox Board of Trustees met Aug. 26.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

CALL TO ORDER

The Regular Meeting of the New Lenox Village Board of Trustees was called to order at 7:00p.m. by Trustee Smith in the Council Chambers of the New Lenox Village Hall.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

ROLL CALL

Upon Roll Call by the Clerk, the following members of the corporate authorities answered “Here” or “Present”:

Trustees Wilson, Christopherson, Smith and Scalise, Madsen, Gugliuzza and Mayor Baldermann

QUORUM

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

OTHER OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE

Also, in attendance were the Village Administrator Kurt Carroll, Deputy Village Clerk Megan Applegate, Community Development Director/Assistant Village Administrator Robin Ellis, Police Chief Lou Alessandrini, Finance Director Kim Auchstetter and Village Attorney Chris Spesia

CONSENT AGENDA

Motion to approve the 8 items of the #24-22 Consent Agenda was made by Trustee Smith and seconded by Trustee Scalise

A - Minutes of the Regular Meeting – August 12, 2024

B - Proclamation – National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month C - Proclamation – National Suicide Prevention Month

D - Proclamation – Payroll Week 2024

E - Ordinance #3124 Authorizing the Execution of an Annexation Agreement – Cherry Hill Triangle / Southwest Corner of Gougar Road and Spencer Road– 2nd Read

F - Ordinance #3125 Annexing Certain Property – Cherry Hill Triangle / Southwest Corner of Gougar Road and Spencer Road – 2nd Read

G - Ordinance #3126 Rezoning Property – Cherry Hill Triangle / Southwest Corner of Gougar Road and Spencer Road – 2nd Read

H - Resolution #24-34 Declaring Unclaimed Bicycles as Surplus and Authorizing their Allocation to Recycle your Bicycle

Upon roll call, the vote was:

AYES: 7 Trustees Wilson, Smith, Christopherson, Madsen, Gugliuzza, Scalise and Mayor

Baldermann

ABSTAIN: 2 Trustees Gugliuzza and Madsen - Item A

NAYS: 0

ABSENT: 0 The motion carried.

ORDER OF BUSINESS

Consideration for Approval of a Request for County Special Use for a Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit - 1801 Pennington Court Ms. Ellis reported Audrius Spucys agent for Darius Marciukaitis, property owner, is requesting Village review of a County Special Use for a 3,280-square foot accessory structure in the back of their property to be used as a pool house with a bathroom and kitchen. The subject 1.477-acre site, is located in the Chartwell Downs Subdivision. The Plan Commission reviewed the County Special Use request at the August 20, 2024 meeting and voted to recommend that the Village Board object to the County Special Use request for an accessory dwelling unit on the subject site located at 1801 Pennington Court.

Mayor Baldermann discussed some of the concerns that the neighbors have had with this structure that has been under construction for quite some time, now the homeowner wants to build a new structure. He went on to say there have been a number of concern and our Plan Commission does not support this and are looking for us to object to the request. Mayor Baldermann stated he is inclined to agree with the Plan Commission’s recommendation.

Trustee Smith asked how many bedrooms and bathrooms this home has.

Mr. Spucy’s stated there are 5-bedrooms and 8-bathrooms and 2-kitchen between both structures.

Trustee Smith went on to discuss the second structure.

Mayor Baldermann stated the bottom line is the county can make their own decisions with this plan but we have had a number of people from that area with concerns. Our Plan Commission recommended that we object to this county special use, however the county can do what they want. The Village of New Lenox has different ordinances and would not allow this special use.

Motion to object to the request was made by Trustee Smith and seconded by Trustee Scalise

Upon roll call, the vote was:

AYES: 7 Trustees Wilson, Christopherson, Scalise, Gugliuzza, Madsen, Smith and Mayor Baldermann

ABSTAIN: 0

NAYS: 0

ABSENT: 0

The motion carried.

Consideration of an Ordinance Amending Certain Provisions of the Personnel Manual – Vacations - 1st Read

Mayor Baldermann reported this is a revision to our vacation policy (Section 10.2 of the Policy & Procedure Manual) for Department Heads and Supervisors.

No comments or questions from the Village Board.

Consideration of an Ordinance Amending Village Code – Automobile Gasoline and Diesel Fueling Stations – 1st Read

Ms. Ellis reported this ordinance is based upon the Gas Station Market Analysis engaged by the Village. The findings recommended new gas stations be limited only to properties along the U.S. Route 6 corridor. Ms. Ellis stated this was discussed at the Plan Commission where they asked if there should have a number of stations allowed.

Mayor Baldermann stated this will have a lot to do with what develops up north. Trustee Smith asked about charging stations.

Ms. Ellis stated that would be separate.

No comments or questions from the Village Board.

Consideration for Approval of Residential Market Analysis and Strategy Planning Guidelines

Ms. Ellis reported this housing study completed by Tracy Cross and Associates. The study analyzed the residential market and they have recommended a strategy for planning guidelines. She said they found there is a very strong demand for new residential units of all types over the next 5-years. They estimate our primary market area, which includes Homer Glen, Frankfort, Green Garden, Manhattan Township in Will County and they Lemont, Orland Park and Palos Townships in Cook County. There is a need for about 625 for sale units per year and 250 rental units per year in that geographic area. Based on our demographics puts us in a position to attract a higher proportion of those new units per year. Ms. Ellis discussed the different housing products such as single-family homes, ranch villas and rental property. She went on to say the analysis also recommended we give consideration to the first-floor brick and slab on grade construction requirement. Ms. Ellis stated overall this is a very positive report and as we go forward it gives us a lot of justification on working with developers to try and get all facets of these housing products.

Mayor Baldermann commented New Lenox has 43-square miles that can be developed and there is a lot of growth all over town. He went to talk about the first floor brick requirement, saying there are a lot of very nice communities that have gone away from the first-floor brick and are still building a great product. Maybe this is something we need to look at. Mayor Baldermann stated he has some concerns with rental properties saying if they are building a product that is less expensive then you can charge less for rent and you tend to see a more transited community.

Ms. Ellis said if you look at what the analysis is suggesting the base monthly rent and the price per square-foot these are not inexpensive units.

Trustee Smith stated wants to focus on quality.

Motion to approve the market analysis and guidelines with the comments from the Village Board was made by Trustee Scalise and seconded by Trustee Gugliuzza

Upon roll call, the vote was:

AYES: 7 Trustees Wilson, Christopherson, Scalise, Gugliuzza, Madsen, Smith and Mayor Baldermann

ABSTAIN: 0

NAYS: 0

ABSENT: 0

The motion carried.

Consideration for Approval of a Tentative Agreement Between the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police and the Village of New Lenox Mayor Baldermann reported the attached tentative agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) representing the Village’s Patrol Unit. The FOP has already ratified the tentative agreements and there will be a delay in the formal contract coming to the Village Board seeking your passage. In an act of good faith, Staff seeks the Village Board’s approval to move forward on the tentative agreement which contains the business decisions of the agreement and proceed to allow Staff to reimburse the patrol officers the retroactive pay dictated under the tentative agreement.

Motion to approve the tentative agreement was made by Trustee Madsen and seconded by Trustee Smith

Upon roll call, the vote was:

AYES: 7 Trustees Wilson, Christopherson, Scalise, Gugliuzza, Madsen, Smith and Mayor Baldermann

ABSTAIN: 0

NAYS: 0

ABSENT: 0

The motion carried.

REPORTS AND COMMUNICATION FROM VILLAGE OFFICIALS MAYOR

Mayor Baldermann commented that Bill Walter passed away, Bill will be missed. Mayor Baldermann thanked Trustee Madsen for being such a good friend to Bill and helping Bill when he really needed him.

Mayor Baldermann announced Tuesday, September 3rd through Tuesday September 10th is restaurant week in New Lenox.

VILLAGE ATTORNEY

No report.

VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR

No report.

PAYROLL & DISBURSEMENTS

Trustee Madsen made the motion to approve our bi-monthly disbursements in the amount of $798,164.18. In addition to these disbursements, approval is needed for a payroll in the amount of $479,978.22 paid on August 23, 2024.

Trustee Scalise seconded the motion.

Upon roll call, the vote was:

AYES: 7 Trustees Wilson, Christopherson, Scalise, Gugliuzza, Madsen, Smith and Mayor Baldermann

ABSTAIN: 0

NAYS: 0

ABSENT: 0

The motion carried.

QUESTIONS AND/OR COMMENTS FROM THE FLOOR No questions from the floor.

TRUSTEE COMMENTS

Trustee Smith

Trustee Smith commented that Bill Walter will be missed.

Trustee Madsen

Trustee Madsen commented that he has attended Bill Walter’s funeral at the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Cemetery.

Trustee Madsen wished everyone a safe Labor Day weekend.

Trustee Christopherson

Trustee Christopherson commented on the passing of Bill Walter, he will be missed.

Trustee Christopherson commented on the extremely hot weather and to be careful.

Trustee Gugliuzza

Trustee Gugliuzza commented on the passing of Bill Walter, he will be missed. Trustee Gugliuzza asked for people to slow down driving near schools.

Trustee Wilson

Trustee Wilson had no comments.

Trustee Scalise

Trustee Scalise had no comments.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

No Executive Session

ADJOURNMENT

Motion to adjourn the meeting made by Trustee Smith and seconded by Trustee Scalise. Upon voice vote, the motion carried. The Regular Meeting of the Village of New Lenox Board of Trustees held on August 12, 2024 adjourned at 7:49pm.

https://www.newlenox.net/files/documents/VillageBoardofTrusteesMinutes08-26-24101234091024AM1348.pdf