East Central Reporter

Village of Montgomery Village Board met Nov. 25.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

President Brolley called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll Call

Trustee Gier Yea                      Trustee Betsinger Yea 

Trustee Sperling Yea               Trustee Jungermann Yea 

Trustee Lee Yea                      Trustee Marecek Yea

Also present: Administrator Jeff Zoephel, Attorney Laura Julien, Chief of Police Phillip Smith, Director of Public Works Mark Wolf, Director of Finance Justin VanVooren, Engineer Peter Wallers, Clerk Penny Fitzpatrick, Members of the Press and others.

Public Participation

A. Public Comments. 

There were no Public Comments shared.

B. Public Hearing for 2019 Tax Levy. 

President Brolley opened the Public Hearing for the 2019 Tax Levy at 7:03 p.m. After hearing no comments, he closed the Public Hearing at 7:04 p.m.

C. MEDC Update. 

Charlene Coulombe-Fiore, MEDC Executive Director, presented the Board with a 2019 Corporate Investment & Community Impact Award for their work in helping to bring Carl Buddig and Company to Montgomery. She invited President Brolley to accept the award and had a photo taken with him. Director Fiore also shared a brief overview and summary of the MEDC’s history and noted the networking events and marketing services they provided to the community. She discussed how their business partnerships, trade show participation, social media presence and showcase tour advertising events helped to attract and develop new businesses, service and support existing businesses and repurpose existing properties in Montgomery.

Trustee Jungermann inquired and Director Fiore shared a pending business closing was anticipated in the Aucutt Road business corridor. She noted updates and details regarding the opportunity could be shared with the Board once the closing was finalized. Trustees Marecek and Lee thanked Director Fiore for the hard work, dedication, training and support she continually provides to local businesses and the Village of Montgomery.

Consent Agenda

A. Minutes of the Village Board Meeting of November 12, 2019. 

B. Accounts Payable through November 21, 2019 in the Amount of $2,951,199.18. 

C. Accounts Receivable Report for October 2019.

Trustee Jungermann moved to approve Items A-C on the Consent Agenda. Trustee Gier seconded this motion.

6 Yea. 0 No. Motion carried. Trustee Jungermann, Trustee Marecek, Trustee Gier, Trustee Sperling, Trustee Lee and Trustee Betsinger voting yea.

Items for Separate Action

A. Ordinance 1869 Adopting the Tax Levy for 2019 (First Reading). President Brolley noted this was First Reading for Ordinance 1869 Adopting the 2019 Tax Levy. Director VanVooren summarized this item, noted the tax levy increases for new properties and shared the Board’s decision not to apply the tax levy increases on existing properties. President Brolley requested that the Board’s direction be clearly notated in the ordinance summary regarding the tax levy and after discussion, he requested this item be added to the Consent Agenda at a future meeting.

B. Ordinance 1867 Approving a Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment Regarding Cannabis (Second Reading). President Brolley summarized that Ordinances 1867, 1868 and 1874 all deal with cannabis. He explained that these ordinances would be discussed together and acted on separately. He amended the order of the agenda slightly and asked Attorney Julien for a summary of Ordinance 1874 Regarding Cannabis Regulations (First Reading). She discussed and noted this item aligned Village Code to be consistent with State Statute language regarding cannabis regulations.

President Brolley shared Ordinances 1867 and 1868 regarding cannabis had been tabled from previous meetings for further discussion. Trustees Sperling and Lee discussed concerns and Attorney Julien shared staff recommendations regarding possible changes to State statute in regard to onsite consumption of cannabis products. She outlined the process and recourse of whether a cannabis license could be revoked once it had been approved and noted the Board could choose to exclude onsite consumption of cannabis products until state Statute requirements were finalized. President Brolley asked for Board feedback on how to proceed with Ordinances 1867 and 1868 regarding cannabis.

Board discussion was had and consensus was reached to take action on Ordinance 1867 and prohibit all onsite consumption of cannabis uses for the time being. President Brolley inquired and Administrator Zoephel clarified how setback requirements would be addressed for this ordinance and he shared any pertinent State statute changes would be shared with the Board once received. President Brolley clarified that Ordinances 1867 and 1868 would be acted on separately and Attorney Julien commented that Ordinance 1867 would need be to approved with revision.

Trustee Marecek moved to approve Ordinance 1867 Approving a Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment Regarding Cannabis With Revision (Second Reading). Trustee Betsinger seconded this motion.

6 Yea. 0 No. Motion carried. Trustee Marecek, Trustee Gier, Trustee Sperling, Trustee Lee, Trustee Betsinger and Trustee Jungermann voting yea.

C. Ordinance 1868 Amending the Municipal Code by the Addition of Chapter 18, Article VI Imposing a Municipal Cannabis Retailers’ Occupation Tax (Second Reading). President Brolley noted no changes were discussed regarding Ordinance 1868 and requested a motion for this item.

Trustee Marecek moved to approve Ordinance 1868 Amending the Municipal Code by the Addition of Chapter 18, Article VI Imposing a Municipal Cannabis Retailers’ Occupation Tax (Second Reading). Trustee Jungermann seconded this motion.

6 Yea. 0 No. Motion carried. Trustee Marecek, Trustee Gier, Trustee Sperling, Trustee Lee, Trustee Betsinger and Trustee Jungermann voting yea.

D. Ordinance 1874 Amending Chapters 2 1⁄2, 11 and 12 of the Village Code Regarding Cannabis Regulations (First Reading). President Brolley noted after discussion that there was consensus to place this item on the Consent Agenda at a future meeting.

E. Waiver of Bid and Award of a Contract for Traffic Signal Maintenance. Director Wolf summarized a request for a Waiver of Bid and Award of a Contract for Traffic Signal Maintenance updates with Meade Electric. He noted the signal controller had failed at the Seasons Ridge Boulevard and Douglas Road intersection. Temporary equipment was installed and maintenance upgrades were necessary to make the traffic signal operational again. Trustees Gier and Jungermann inquired and Director Wolf noted the costs and scope of the work needed to make this signal operational and discussed that additional battery backup and preemptive emergency signal lighting would be addressed at a later date once additional funding could be budgeted for that work.

Trustee Gier moved to approve the Waiver of Bid and Award of a Contract for Traffic Signal Maintenance. Trustee Marecek seconded this motion.

6 Yea. 0 No. Motion carried. Trustee Gier, Trustee Sperling, Trustee Lee, Trustee Betsinger, Trustee Jungermann and Trustee Marecek voting yea.

Items for Discussion

A. Liquor License Request from May’s Lounge. May’s Lounge representative, Amanda Bailey, provided an updated business proposal and concept drawing for review. She noted prepackaged food dishes would be served using a programmable convection oven and she discussed projected gaming sales for this location. President Brolley asked for Board direction on whether they wanted to proceed with this request for a Class F Liquor License for Beer and Wine. Board discussion was had regarding whether food would be offered at this location, whether a high end gaming facility was desirable for the community and whether twenty-one and older age limit signage would be properly displayed on the door and host stand.

Trustees Lee, Sperling and Gier shared concerns with allowing a gaming hall facility that was not a family friendly business in the community and noted other gaming facility requests had been denied in the past. Trustees Betsinger, Marecek and Jungermann and President Brolley noted support for this established, upscale, casino lounge business model. President Brolley clarified after discussion that gaming was already permitted in the Village, the hours of operation would follow the liquor license laws and majority consensus was achieved to move forward with this proposal. He asked that the applicant work with Staff and the Police Department to move forward with this Class F Liquor License request.

New or Unfinished Business

Trustee Marecek thanked the Public Works Department for their extended leaf pickup date. Director Wolf encouraged residents to secure additional leaves that continued to fall in yard waste bags so they could be handled with the regular garbage pickup.

Future Meetings

A. Plan Commission – Thursday, December 5, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. B. Village Board Meeting—Monday, December 9, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. C. Beautification Committee—Wednesday, December 11, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. D. Committee of the Whole Meeting – Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. (May Be Canceled). E. Village Board Meeting—Monday, December 23, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. (May Be Canceled).

Adjourn to Executive Session: 8:11 p.m.

A. To Discuss the Employment of an Employee Pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(1).

Trustee Jungermann moved to Adjourn to Executive Session To Discuss the Employment of an Employee Pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(1). Trustee Marecek seconded this motion.

6 Yea. 0 No. Motion carried. Trustee Jungermann, Trustee Marecek, Trustee Gier, Trustee Sperling, Trustee Lee and Trustee Betsinger voting yea.

With no further business to come before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 8:11 p.m.

https://ci.montgomery.il.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_11252019-450