MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COUNTRYSIDE, ILLINOIS
HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2006

1. After the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, Mayor LeGant called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. City Clerk Herberts was absent: Attorney Lanzilotti called the Roll which was as follows:

PRESENT: Mayor Carl LeGant, Aldermen Robert Conrad, Wayne Straza, Karen Michalczyk, John Von Drasek, Michael Smetana, Robert Pondelicek

ABSENT: City Clerk Herberts, City Admin. Bailey

ALSO PRESENT: City Treasurer Stoffels, City Atty. Michael Anne Lanzilotti, City Engineer Fitzgerald, Fin. Director Filinovich, Police Chief Swanson

OMNIBUS AGENDA

2. Approval of Minutes of September 20 and September 27, 2006.

3. Statement of Bills for the period ending, September 27, 2006: $100,884.53.

4. Application for a general business license from COSMETIC LASER CENTER, 6572 Joliet Road. Type: Cosmetic laser services. Applicant: John Awah.

5. From Robert E. Coulter Jr. Post #1941, The American Legion, requesting permission to solicit at various locations on November 4 and 18, 2006, to conduct the annual Gifts to the Yanks campaign.

6. Membership: AMERICAN PLANNING ASSN. – Planner – Cost: $298.

7. Ald. Straza moved to approve the Omnibus Agenda as presented, seconded by Ald. Pondelicek and carried unanimously.

ADDITIONS TO AND/OR DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA- none

QUESTIONS AND/OR COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE

8. Resident Roger Marenkov, 7424 Prescott Lane, praised the City Council members individually for the swift and decisive action taken on behalf of the residents of the 5th Avenue Cutoff regarding the continuance of use issue; it was a monumental task but was undertaken for the greater good of the City. The second thank you is for the speedy emergency response from City workers and DPW employees during the recent storm. Finally the debris was cleaned up in record time; not so in other communities. Aldermen thanked Bob Fullar and the DPW employees for their tremendous response.

9. Frank Zickus, 7375 Prescott Lane, echoed the words of the above speaker. The City did a fantastic job; the only complaints were regarding the power outage, which is ComEd’s responsibility, not the City’s. Many thanks again. Ald. Straza stated that thanks are due to the WCMC efforts in realigning priorities that benefited Countryside as a whole.

MAYOR’S REPORT

10. Mayor LeGant introduced the City’s newest patrol officer, Augustino Alonzo. Council members congratulated the officer and welcomed him to Countryside. His father is a retired Hillside police officer and present Administrator for IHP.

11. Police Chief Swanson introduced the new Deputy Police Chief – Scott Novak, to the City Council. He was appointed to replace of Deputy Chief Paul Mallon, who retired. Council members congratulated the Deputy Chief and wished him success.

12. Mayor LeGant presented the application for a Class T liquor license (beer and wine) from BP,Countryside Gas Corp., 5330 LaGrange Road. No license is available; one must be created. Ald. Michalczyk moved to create a new Class T liquor license for BP Countryside, seconded by Ald. Straza and carried by Roll Call vote.

AYES: Ald. Pondelicek, Smetana, Von Drasek, Michalczyk, Straza

NAYS: Ald. Conrad

This will be known as Ordinance 06-42-0.

TREASURER’S REPORT

13. Treasurer Stoffels sought a motion to approve the expenditures on the Statement of Bills. Ald. Straza moved to approve, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk and carried unanimously.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

14. FINANCE COMMITTEE – TREASURER STOFFELS, CHAIRMAN, stated that no action has been taken on any agenda items until further information is provided.

15. RECREATION COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN CONRAD, CHAIRMAN presented approval of a revised 2006 Holiday decoration proposal from McFarland Douglass in the amount of $12,575 for removal and rental of holiday decoration display. Ald. Conrad moved to approve the expenditure, seconded by Ald. Smetana. Ald. Pondelicek believes that the expenditure is excessive; the DPW could do a very nice job for a lot less money. Mayor LeGant stated that it involves storage of several large items. Motion carried by Roll Call vote – 4/3.

AYES: Ald. Smetana, Michalczyk, Conrad, Mayor LeGant

NAYS: Ald. Pondelicek, Von Drasek, Straza

16. Ald. Conrad presented the recommendation to approve the purchase of a Community Tree Trim during Holiday magic at Brookfield Zoo during the Christmas Season at a cost of $125. Ald. Conrad moved to approve the expense, seconded by Ald. Smetana and carried unanimously.

17. POLICE COMMITTEE – ALDERMAN CONRAD, CHAIRMAN, presented the request of a Police & Fire Commissioner to attend the Fall Seminar to be held at Pheasant Run, at a cost of $325 plus expenses. Ald. Conrad moved to approve the request, seconded by Ald. Straza and carried unanimously.

LEGAL REPORT

18. Attorney Lanzilotti presented the draft ordinance revising the real estate transfer fee to $50. If adopted this ordinance will rescind Ordinance 05-38-O listing $250 as the fee. The State legislature amended the law prohibiting the increase of a transfer tax without going to a referendum. If Council wishes to proceed with the increase, the resolution must pass directing that the question of an increase appear on the ballot in the next election in the form of a referendum. Ald. Von Drasek moved to rescind Ordinance 05-38-O, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk.

Mayor LeGant declared that this will be known as ORDINANCE 06-43-O.

19. Ald. Von Drasek moved to authorize the attorney to prepare a Resolution that will be added to the referendum on the Spring ballot, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk and carried unanimously.

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

20. Mayor LeGant presented engineer’s pay estimate #3 – emergency generator replacement – in the amount of $77,180 to Richmond Electric Company of Berwyn, IL Ald. Smetana moved to approve payment, seconded by Ald. Pondelicek and carried unanimously.

OLD AND NEW BUSINESS

21. Mayor LeGant invited all present to watch him knock down the sign in front of Tooters at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow. He also advised that proceedings were initiated by the City to annex the narrow strips of land that lie between Hope Lutheran Church and the indoor tennis court.

ADJOURNMENT

22. There being no further business to discuss, Ald. Straza moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Ald. Michalczyk and carried unanimously.

Mayor LeGant declared the meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.