MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING

CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COUNTRYSIDE, ILLINOIS

HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015

CALL TO ORDER – Pledge of Allegiance

Mayor Krzeminski called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. City Clerk Sweeney called the Roll of those physically present as follows:

ROLL CALL

Present: Mayor Krzeminski

Alderman Pondelicek Alderman Jasinski

Alderman Michalczyk Alderman Von Drasek

Alderman McDermott Alderman Musillami Clerk Sweeney

Acting Treasurer Drazner

Also Present: City Admin. Paul, Police Chief Ford, City Attorney Peck, Atty. Stein, Asst. Admin. Peterson, ESDA Coord. Norman.

OMNIBUS AGENDA

1. Regular City Council Meeting – December 10, 2014.

2. Statement of Bills submitted for payment through January 14, 2015: $1,932,107.03.

3. Ald. Musillami moved to approve the Statement of Bills through 1-14-15, seconded by Ald. Jasinski and carried by Roll Call vote – 6/0/0.

4. Mayor Krzeminski made corrections to the December 10, 2014 minutes. Page 2, Item #10, fourth line from bottom, change the word applicant to candidates. Add at the end – The Mayor agreed – for the Chairman to interview the three candidates and give him two recommendations.

4A. Ald. Michalczyk asked for the names of the candidates. The Mayor stated Dan Dziennik, Pat Hannigan and Ron Ward are the three applications on file; the PC/ZBA Chairman will meet with them and provide two recommendations to the Mayor. Ald.

Jasinski moved to approve the minutes as corrected, seconded by Ald. Musillami and carried by Roll Call vote – 6/0/0.

COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC

5. Don McGoordy, 5602 Ashland Ave., stated his opposition to the increase in the water rates; he doesn’t believe residents should pay the entire 54 cents. The City has a cushion it can use.

6. Russ Nicoletti, Countryside resident, thanked City Council members for supporting the Thanksgiving Dinner for four years and helping serve meals. It began with 150 Countryside residents; this year there were 379 meals served. Carm Scarpace, the VP, thanks everyone; only one person was against it. He asked if the Mayor attended. The Mayor stated he was not present; he had 35 people at his house this year. He couldn’t make it last year either but has always been a supporter of the program, as stated in the minutes.

MAYOR’S REPORT.

7. Notice of Appointment: Flagg Creek Golf Course Administrative Board:

Bob Picek, 6908 Parkside Avenue.

8. Notice of Reappointment: Flagg Creek Golf Course Administrative Board:

Thomas Michalczyk, 6831 Golfview Road and John Von Drasek, 6726 Lorraine Drive

(Annual Appointments). Mayor Krzeminski administered the Oath of Office to all three individuals simultaneously, after which time they were congratulated by the City Council and the audience. The Mayor thanked them for serving.

9. Mayor Krzeminski presented consideration of an ordinance amending the

Class R Liquor License hours of operation for the Flagg Creek Golf Course. The golf course is the only Class R Liquor License holder; there is a change in the hours of operation. The Class R specifies that no alcoholic liquor may be sold between the hours of 12 midnight and 9 a.m. The request is to modify the wording to accommodate the earlier golf course opening time of 6 a.m. This recommendation comes from the golf course Board and also the Staff. Ald. Michalczyk moved to adopt the ordinance as presented, seconded by Ald. Von Drasek and carried by Roll Call vote – 6/0/0.

Clerk Sweeney declared that this will be known as ORDINANCE 15-01-O.

CITY CLERK’S REPORT

10. City Clerk Sweeney presented a recommendation to adopt a resolution approving Executive Session Minutes for release. Ald. McDermott moved to adopt the Resolution as presented, seconded by Ald. Musillami and carried by Roll Call vote – 6/0/0.

Clerk Sweeney declared that this will be known as RESOLUTION 15-01-R.

TREASURER’S REPORT

11. Acting Treasurer Drazner presented the communication of Municipal Compliance Report as of 4/30/14 from Police Pension Fund to the City. This action is required by public statute per Public Act 95-950 on an annual basis. It is basically a summary of financial action for the most recent actuarial evaluation from the Police Pension Board. No action is required; it is informational only. The Mayor noted that per the Pension Board’s actuary the City is funded at 60.7%. The City actuary’s funding ratio is much higher.

12. Acting Treasurer Drazner sought consideration to approve two additional abatement ordinances as required to eliminate City property tax levy in FY 2016. The first abatement is for Series 2008 Bonds in the amount of $440,987.50. Ald. McDermott moved to approve the abatement of the Series 2008 Bonds, seconded by Ald. Musillami and carried by Roll Call vote – 6/0/0.

Clerk Sweeney declared that this will be known as ORDINANCE 15-02-O.

13. Acting Treasurer Drazner sought consideration to approve the abatement for the Series 2014 Bonds in the amount of $940,414.78. Ald. McDermott moved to approve the abatement of the Series 2014 Bonds, seconded by Ald. Jasinski and carried by Roll

Call vote – 6/0/0. Ald. Von Drasek stated that it was very difficult for the City Council to levy the property tax on the residents. He thanks City Admin. Ms. Paul for all the hard work she put into the project, also Acting Treasurer Drazner, Eng. Fitzgerald, Asst. Admin. Ms. Peterson, and PW Director Essig. This project was quite an undertaking but it was the right thing to do at the time. The current car dealerships would not be reinvesting in the City as they are doing now – Westfield Ford and the other dealers have invested millions of dollars into the City to keep us moving forward. Council members did what they promised to do when they levied the tax, to relieve the residents of that tax. This is a really proud moment for the Council members who agonized over that decision.

Clerk Sweeney declared that this will be known as ORDINANCE 15-03-O.

COMMITTEE AND COMMISSION REPORTS FOR DISCUSSION,

CONSIDERATION AND, IF SO DETERMINED, ACTION UPON:

14. Economic Development Committee – Alderman McDermott stated that the next EDC Committee Meeting will take place January 28, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. prior to the City Council Meeting. Ald. McDermott seeks Council support to direct the City Attorney to amend the Clean Air Indoor Ordinance to prohibit the use of E-cigarettes in all indoor places. There is growing evidence of the toxicity of this product. The FDA is still attempting to regulate the product. Numerous municipalities are acting independently to amend their ordinances to restricted use. Countryside should do the same. This matter should be put on the next agenda to draft that ordinance. Ald. Von Drasek moved to approve, seconded by Ald. Musillami and carried by Roll Call vote – 6/0/0.

Finance Committee – Interim Treasurer Drazner – no report.

Human Resources Committee – Alderman Pondelicek- no report.

Infrastructure Committee – Alderman Michalczyk – no report.

License Committee – Alderman Musillami – no report

Plan Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals – City Attorney Peck – no report.

15. Police Committee – Alderman Pondelicek sought consideration of request to waive the formal bid process and purchase a new Police Department vehicle from Westfield Ford for $31,016.27, which matches the state bid, to replace one of the vehicles damaged in a flood and totaled by the insurance company; they will provide $21,000 to offset the expense; funds have been budgeted in this fiscal year budget. Ald. Musillami moved to approve, seconded by Ald. Von Drasek and carried by Roll Call vote – 6/0/0.

16. Ald. Pondelicek sought consideration of request to waive formal bid process and purchase a replacement Moducom server from J & L Electronics for a cost not to exceed $21,000. This is a sole source vendor and this is an obsolete server that requires replacement. Ald. Jasinski moved to approve, seconded by Ald. McDermott and carried by Roll Call vote – 6/0/0.

17. Recreation Committee – Alderman Jasinski reported that the Easter Egg Hunt is scheduled for Saturday, April 4, 2015 at Countryside Park, 10:30 a.m. for children up to the age of 12, along with their parents. The Easter Bunny will be present, of course.

18. Ald. Jasinski stated that prior to this meeting the Recreation Committee met to discuss the upcoming Concert in the Park for 2015. Tentative plans are set for the Concert Series to begin on June 4; several groups are returning; we’re looking forward to an exceptional concert series this year – remember – only 65 days till Spring.

19. Water Committee – Alderman Von Drasek sought consideration to approve one of the two water rate adjustment ordinances as presented. The City of Chicago raised rates beginning in January 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 – four increases. At the 12-17-14 Water Committee meeting several options were presented by Acting Treas. Drazner re: the Village of McCook water rate increase of .54/1,000 gallons, or assess a higher rate of .59/1,000. After discussion it was decided to pass through 100% instead of the 110%. The City needs to keep revenue up in the event of water main replacement; several major projects are planned. The Mayor echoed the sentiments and noted further upsizing in supply line will be very costly. Ald. Michalczyk moved to approve, seconded by Ald. Pondelicek and carried by Roll Call vote – 6/0/0.

Clerk Sweeney declared that this will be known as ORDINANCE 15-04-O.

Flagg Creek Advisory Board- Alderman Von Drasek – no report.

CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT – no report.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

20. City Admin. Ms. Paul presented the first amendment to the existing agreement between the City of Countryside and Pearlshire Countryside Hotel, LLC (Holiday Inn). At purchase several major items needed correction. In order to facilitate the sale of property, the City entered into an agreement with Pearlshire to allow them six months to make the necessary repairs. At the last meeting Mr. Zaid came in to request an extension; there is still work to be completed in the West Wing which was vacant. The City negotiated an amendment to that agreement, stating that all work be completed within 90 days of execution of the agreement; if the work is not completed by that time, Pearlshire will forfeit the bond in the amount of $50,000 Ald. McDermott is concerned about monitoring their progress during the 90 days. Ms. Paul stated that inspections will be ongoing. Ald. McDermott is concerned about their ability to complete the sizable amount of work to be done. The City will stay on top of the situation. Ald. Michalczyk moved to approve, seconded by Ald. Jasinski and carried by Roll Call vote – 6/0/0.

STAFF REPORTS

21. Asst. Admin. Ms. Peterson presented consideration of engineer’s pay estimate #1 to Stip Brothers Excavating for $33,063.50 -drainage improvement on Terry Lane and work done on Ashland. Ald. McDermott thanks Eng. Fitzgerald and Novotny for hiring this contractor. He reviewed the site and couldn’t even tell that any project had been there; it was remarkable; Ald. Musillami shares the sentiments. They did an outstanding job and improved the quality of life for residents living there. Ald. Musillami moved to approve, seconded by Ald. McDermott and carried by Roll Call vote – 6/0/0.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

22. Mayor Krzeminski sought a motion to recess to Executive Session under Section 21c of the Open Meetings Act for the purpose of reviewing executive session minutes of 12-10-14, Section 2Ac to discuss real estate, and Section 2Ah, to discuss litigation. Ald. Musillami moved to recess to Executive Session, seconded by Ald. Pondelicek and carried by Roll Call vote – 6/0/0.

Mayor Krzeminski declared the meeting recessed at 8:01 p.m.

* * *

The Regular City Council meeting returned to Open Sessionwith the same members present at 8:57 p.m.

Ald. Jasinski moved to approve the Executive Session minutes of 12-10-14 as presented, seconded by Ald. Pondelicek and carried by Roll Call vote -6/0/0.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to discuss, Ald. Von Drasek moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Ald. Pondelicek and carried by Roll Call vote -6/0/0.

Mayor Krzeminski declared the meeting adjourned at 8:58 p.m.

fp SHARON SWEENEY, CITY CLERK