Village of Montgomery Village Board met Nov. 12.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
President Brolley called the meeting to order at 7:09 p.m. followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call
Trustee Gier Yea Trustee Betsinger Yea
Trustee Sperling Absent Trustee Jungermann Yea
Trustee Lee Yea Trustee Marecek Yea
Also present: Administrator Jeff Zoephel, Attorney Laura Julien, Deputy Chief of Police Armando Sanders, Director of Public Works Mark Wolf, Director of Community Development Rich Young, Director of Finance Justin VanVooren, Engineer Peter Wallers, Clerk Penny Fitzpatrick, Members of the Press and others.
Public Participation
A. Public Comments. Resident Judy Bush requested that the Village’s convenience fee policy for water bill payments made with a credit or debit card be removed. Board discussion was had and questions were asked regarding what the annual convenience fee amounts charged to the Village were and whether neighboring communities passed along similar fees for these types of payments. Director VanVooren addressed the issue and clarified that residents could choose to pay their water bill by check, cash or direct debit withdrawal without a convenience fee charge.
Consent Agenda
A. Minutes of the Village Board Meeting of October 28, 2019.
B. Executive Session Minutes of October 28, 2019.
C. Building Report for October 2019.
D. Water Production Report for October 2019.
E. Accounts Payable through November 7, 2019 in the Amount of $597,127.10.
F. Cancellation of November 19, 2019 Committee of the Whole Meeting.
Trustee Jungermann moved to approve Items A-F on the Consent Agenda. Trustee Marecek seconded this motion.
5 Yea. 0 No. Motion carried. Trustee Jungermann, Trustee Marecek, Trustee Gier, Trustee Lee and Trustee Betsinger voting yea.
Items for Separate Action
A. Ordinance 1867 Proposing a Text Amendment Regarding Cannabis Related Business Regulations (Second Reading). President Brolley noted Ordinances 1867 and 1868 Regarding Cannabis Related Business Regulations and a Municipal Cannabis Retailers’ Occupation Tax would be discussed together and acted on separately. Director Young summarized the text amendment change to the ordinance noting an exception regarding the consumption of adult cannabis infused beverages at licensed restaurants. He shared a potential cannabis related business with a plant cultivation center, restaurant and brewery with cannabis infused beverages was being considered.
President Brolley proposed the amended ordinance be discussed and final action be taken at a future meeting to allow Trustee Sperling and the public time to review the text amendment changes. Director Young reiterated that cannabis related business applicants would have to secure a cannabis license from the State of Illinois and go through the Village’s special use procedure to determine whether or not they met the needed licensing requirements for approval. He further shared that no other onsite consumption of smoked or edible cannabis products would be permitted as a special use in the ordinance.
Trustees Gier, Lee and Jungermann shared questions and concerns regarding what impairment effects these combined cannabis and alcohol products would have on patrons and how field sobriety testing would be handled by the Police Department. It was also asked how cannabis infused products would be licensed, approved and taxed for potential businesses and whether this proposed business model was desirable for the community. Trustee Gier inquired and Attorney Julien noted consumption thresholds and maximum cannabis percentages by volume could be looked into by state statute for these products. President Brolley summarized the ordinance could reflect the existing state limitations and regulations regarding cannabis infused beverages.
B. Ordinance 1868 Amending the Municipal Code by the Addition of Chapter 18, Article VI Imposing a Municipal Cannabis Retailers’ Occupation Tax (Waiver of First and Passage on Second Reading). President Brolley summarized additional information would be gathered regarding Ordinances 1867 and 1868 and staff would report back with their findings for further discussion and possible action at a future meeting.
C. Announcement of 2019 Tax Levy. Director VanVooren announced the proposed the 2019 Property Tax Levy amounts and noted this item would come back before the Board for approval in December. He summarized the recommended property tax cap percentage and shared how various property types would be affected by this change. Trustee Jungermann inquired and Administrator Zoephel discussed how the increases would apply to new growth and not apply to existing homes.
President Brolley questioned and Director VanVooren approximated the tax levy dollar amount for existing homes in the budget and noted it had been frozen for the past seven years. Trustee Betsinger inquired and Administrator Zoephel discussed whether specific projects would be adversely affected by freezing the tax levy for another year. President Brolley clarified that action would not be taken at this time and this item would come back for a public hearing, discussion and approval at a future meeting.
D. Professional Services Agreement with Engineering Enterprises Inc. for GIS Utility Map Conversion. Director Wolf summarized the Professional Services Agreement with EEI Inc. for GIS Utility Map Conversion and requested approval of this item. He noted this map conversion agreement would provide the Public Works and Community Development Departments with more detailed and accurate maps for their daily use. Trustee Marecek inquired and Director Wolf shared that no additional software or equipment costs would be generated from this change.
Trustee Gier moved to approve the Professional Services Agreement with Engineering Enterprises Inc. for GIS Utility Map Conversion. Trustee Betsinger seconded this motion.
5 Yea. 0 No. Motion carried. Trustee Gier, Trustee Lee, Trustee Betsinger, Trustee Jungermann and Trustee Marecek voting yea.
E. Award of a Contract to Cornerstone Partners for Landscape Maintenance Services. Director Wolf summarized the proposed Award of a Contract for the 2020 Landscape Maintenance Services. He noted the bidding results, contract changes and proposed costs for these services and requested approval of this item. Director Wolf also shared that Cornerstone Partners had provided a high standard of service and appropriately met the timeline requirements for their contract.
Trustee Jungermann inquired and Director Wolf clarified the pruning maintenance costs had been removed from this contract, which allowed staff to better monitor and schedule needed pruning throughout the year. Trustees Jungermann, Marecek, Betsinger and Lee inquired what the annual cost for general pruning, mulching and dandelion treatment had been in previous contracts and questioned why only one completed bid had been received for this contract. Director Wolf shared he would review the previous pruning contract costs and bid timeline process, separately bid the pruning maintenance costs for this year and report back with additional information regarding this item at a future meeting.
Trustee Marecek moved to approve the Award of a Contract to Cornerstone Partners for Landscape Maintenance Services. Trustee Lee seconded this motion.
4 Yea. 1 No. Motion carried. Trustee Marecek, Trustee Gier, Trustee Lee and Trustee Betsinger voting yea. Trustee Jungermann voting no.
F. 2019/2020 Snow and Ice Control Plan. Director Wolf summarized the 2019/2020 Snow and Ice Control Plan and discussed staffing changes and training, scheduled route planning, equipment maintenance and anti-icing, de-icing and rock salt application options. Director Wolf shared challenges with weather forecasting, staffing licensing, facilities clearing, water main break repairs and traffic challenges and thanked the Board for their support in providing the needed plowing equipment for snow and ice removal.
Trustee Jungermann inquired and Director Wolf discussed the increased cost of salt per ton, amount of surplus salt left over from last year and confirmed a continued shared service agreement with Oswego. President Brolley requested and Director Wolf discussed tracking the staff overtime hours needed to service and prepare equipment and facilitate snow plowing operations. Trustees Marecek and Gier thanked Village Fleet Mechanic, Pat Willis, and the Public Works Department for their hard work servicing and maintaining the fleet to effectively clear the roadways during snow events.
Trustee Jungermann inquired and Director Wolf noted the Public Works, Fire and Police Departments have an emergency management plan in effect to handle extreme snow events. Trustee Jungermann also requested and Director Wolf and Attorney Julien addressed safety and liability issues with having Public Works trucks plow and clear State Highway Route 30 during snow storms. Trustee Gier and Director Wolf shared support and appreciation for coordinated tandem truck snow plowing of routes during storm events to improve staff safety and road clearance.
Items for Discussion
A. Liquor License Request from May’s Lounge. Amanda Bailey, Representative for May’s Lounge, proposed an upscale lounge which would serve tapas style food, beer and wine and offer gaming entertainment. She requested approval for a Class F Liquor License and permission to move forward with their business proposal. Ms. Bailey shared there were twelve other May’s Lounge locations currently operational and outlined the conceptual floorplan, square footage, lease term, seasonal menu, number of employees, adult age restrictions and build out investments planned for this proposed location.
Board discussion included questions regarding what liquor license was appropriate for this proposal and where the kitchen space would be located in the floor plan. Also discussed were hours of operation, other locations and how many gaming machines were planned. Some Board concerns was shared regarding whether this proposed gaming lounge appropriately fit the economic plan for the community and how approval of this request would affect other businesses who had previously been declined approval for similar business requests.
Administrator Zoephel discussed the food and beverage sales requirements and restrictions for Class F versus Class G Liquor Licenses. President Brolley requested direction on whether the Board was in favor of this concept plan or not and whether they needed more information to make a decision. Trustees Lee and Gier shared they were not in favor of this proposed use, Trustees Jungermann and Marecek requested additional information to make a decision and Trustee Betsinger showed interest in this proposed use. Trustee Gier left the meeting briefly at 8:49 p.m. and returned at 8:51 p.m.
President Brolley summarized support for family friendly restaurants with G Liquor Licenses which included a small percentage of gaming. After Board discussion, he requested that Ms. Bailey come back with additional information regarding projected revenues and an updated floor plan showing a kitchen space for further consideration. President Brolley asked the Board to do further research, visit other May’s lounge locations and be ready for additional discussion and possible action on this item at a future meeting.
New or Unfinished Business
There was no New or Unfinished Business shared.
Future Meetings
A. Committee of the Whole Meeting – Tuesday, November 19, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. (Canceled). B. Intergovernmental Committee—Monday, November 25, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. (May Be Canceled). C. Village Board Meeting—Monday, November 25, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.
Executive Session: None
Adjournment: 8:55 p.m.
Seeking no further business to come before the Board, it was moved by Trustee Jungermann and seconded by Trustee Gier to adjourn the meeting.
5 Yea. 0 No. Motion carried. Trustee Jungermann, Trustee Marecek, Trustee Gier, Trustee Lee and Trustee Betsinger voting yea.
https://ci.montgomery.il.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_11122019-449
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