Village of Manhattan Board of Trustees met Feb. 17.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
A Regular Meeting of the Village of Manhattan President and Board of Trustees was held on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
CALL TO ORDER:
Mayor Adrieansen calls the Village of Manhattan Board meeting to order at 5:30 P.M.
AUTHORIZATION TO APPROVE ELECTRONIC ATTENDANCE OF A VILLAGE BOARD MEMBER:
Bahena motion to approve the electronic attendance of Village Board member, Justin Young. Boone Second. Roll Call: Bahena aye, Young aye, Dilling aye, Neighbors aye, Boone aye, Doyle absent. (5 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent, 0 abstain). Motion Carried.
ROLL CALL:
Bahena aye, Young aye, Dilling aye, Neighbors aye, Boone aye, Doyle absent, Adrieansen aye (6 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent)
Also present are Bouck, DiBenedetto, Nelson, VanVooren, Chief Gulli, Pintar, and Attorney Santschi
PUBLIC HEARING/RECOGNITIONS/SPECIAL ITEMS:
Neighbors motion to open a public hearing on the Intergovernmental Jurisdictional Boundary line agreement between the Village of New Lenox and the Village of Manhattan (Boundary Agreement) Dilling Second. Roll Call: Young aye, Dilling aye, Neighbors aye, Boone aye, Doyle absent, Bahena aye. (5 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent, 0 abstain). Motion Carried.
Dilling motion to close a Public Hearing on the intergovernmental Jurisdiction Boundary agreement between the Village of New Lenox and the Village of Manhattan. (Boundary
Agreement. Neighbors second. Roll Call: Dilling aye, Neighbors aye, Boone aye, Doyle absent, Bahena aye, Young aye. (5 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent, 0 abstain). Motion Carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
There are no Public Comments
CONSENT AGENDA:
Bahena motion to approve the Consent Agenda which consists of Approval of February 3, 2026, Village Board Meeting Minutes, February 17, 2026, Bills list, A Resolution authorizing the use of Foxford Drive and U.S. 52 on Saturday, June 20, 2026, for the annual D.A.D.’s Day Fundraiser (Dollars Against Diabetes) Dilling Second. Roll Call: Neighbors aye, Boone aye, Doyle absent, Bahena aye, Young aye, Dilling aye. (5 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent, 0 abstain). Motion Carried.
NEW BUSINESS:
Neighbors motion to approve a Resolution Authorizing the Village of Manhattan, Will County, Illinois to enter into an Intergovernmental Jurisdiction Boundary Line Agreement with the Village of New Lenox, Will County, Illinois. Dilling Second. Roll Call: Boone aye, Doyle absent, Bahena aye, Young aye, Dilling aye, Neighbors aye. (5 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent, 0 abstain). Motion Carried.
Neighbors motion to approve a Resolution approving an agreement for consulting services (Farnsworth Group – SS4A U.S. Route 52 Safety Action Plan) in the amount of $124,500.00. Boone second. Roll Call: Doyle absent, Bahena aye, Young aye, Dilling aye, Neighbors aye, Boone aye. (5 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent, 0 abstain). Motion Carried.
Bahena motion to Approve a Resolution approving Robinson Engineering to conduct Engineering services for U.S. 52 multi-use path in the amount not to exceed $25,000.00. Neighbors second. Roll Call: Bahena aye, Young aye, Dilling aye, Neighbors aye, Boone aye, Doyle absent. (5 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent, 0 abstain). Motion Carried.
FROM VILLAGE OFFICIALS:
Mayor Adrieansen informed everyone that the Village of Manhattan has been ranked the 6th safest city in Illinois by Safe wise. Mayor Adrieansen expressed his appreciation for the improved standing to the Police Department for their Continued efforts. Mayor Adrieansen updated the board that the Police Department was awarded a $20,000.00 grant that will help offset approximately $17,000.00 per year in data storage expenses. Mayor notified everyone that the speed limits on Route 52 have been lowered, and Police Chief Gulli is working to have updates to the GPS systems to reflect the changes. Lastly, Mayor Adrieansen informed everyone that new streetlights have been installed on Smith Road by the school to improve safety for pedestrians and students. The Village is also considering adding streetlights on Baker Rd., with installation timing dependent on ComEd.
Trustee Bahena thanked Chief Gulli and the Police Department for keeping our town safe and reminded everyone that February in Heart month.
Trustee Young informed the board that he appreciates them allowing him to call into the meeting since he had to be out of town for work. Trustee Young also thanked the Chief and the Police Department for keeping Manhattan safe.
Trustee Dilling had nothing to add at this time
Trustee Neighbors had nothing to add at this time
Trustee Boone had nothing to add at this time
Trustee Doyle was absent
Clerk Bouck reminded everyone of early voting at the Village Hall in the meeting room, Monday through Friday, March 2, 2026- March 13, 2026, from 8:30 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. This is open for Village of Manhattan and Manhattan Township Residents only.
REPORTS FROM VILLAGE STAFF:
Village Administrator DiBenedetto informed the board that herself and the staff are preparing for Irish Fest and she will be meeting individually with leaders of the other governmental bodies and that is going well. Village Administrator DiBenedetto also updated the board that they are continuing to review policies and I.T. Services. DiBenedetto has met with some of our residents addressing their concerns and has also met with our lobbyists last week to discuss the Village’s priorities.
VanVooren did not have anything to add at this time.
Nelson informed the board that they have his monthly report
VanVooren has nothing to add at this time
Tyk was absent due to being at a training conference
Pintar has nothing to add at this time.
Chief Gulli is happy that the officers received recognition and is happy that the Village is going in the right direction, being number 6 in the safest communities in Illinois. Gulli explained that we did have a 2.6% increase in crimes against property, which while not always a violent crime, it is
still a crime. Crimes against people were down over 10%. Chief Gulli explained that in his monthly report there were 15 accidents in January, that is concerning, considering the speed limits were lowered. Chief Gulli Asked the public to please follow the speed limit signs; they are there for all our safety.
Executive Session:
Neighbors motion at 5:45 P.M.to enter executive session for the Appointment, Employment, Compensation, Discipline, Performance, or Dismissal of Specific: Employees, Appointed, or Elected officials; and Collective Bargaining (5ILCS120/2(c)1-3). Bahena Second. Roll Call: Young aye, Dilling aye, Neighbors aye, Boone aye, Doyle absent, Bahena aye. (5 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent, 0 abstain). Motion Carried.
Neighbors motion to reopen regular session at 6:09 P.M. Boone Second. Roll Call: Boone aye, Doyle absent, Bahena aye, Young aye, Dilling aye, Neighbors aye. (5 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent, 0 abstain). Motion Carried.
Adjournment:
Dilling Motion to adjourn. Neighbors Second. All in Favor. Meeting Adjourned at 6:09 P.M.
https://www.villageofmanhattan.org/Agendas-Minutes/Village%20Board/2026/Minutes/02.17.2026.pdf?t=202603051013050
