Village of Montgomery Village Board met March 9.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
President Brolley called the meeting to order at 7:05 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: Attorney Laura Julien, Administrator Jeff Zoephel, Engineer Peter Wallers, Director of Community Development Rich Young, Director of Public Works Mark Wolf, Director of Finance Justin VanVooren, Chief of Police Phillip Smith, Clerk Penny Fitzpatrick, Human Resources Manager Meghan Ostreko, Members of the Press and others.
Public Participation
A. Public Comments.
No Public Comments were shared.
B. Public Hearing for the Budget.
President Brolley opened the Public Hearing for the Budget at 7:06 p.m. Hearing no comments, he closed the Public Hearing at 7:06 p.m.
President Brolley noted Trustee Gier requested Consent Agenda Item B., Minutes of the Village Board Meeting of February 24, 2020, be removed from the Consent Agenda and handled separately Under Items for Separate Action.
Consent Agenda
A. Minutes of the Committee of the Whole Meeting of February 24, 2020. C. Building Report for February 2020.
D. Accounts Receivable Report for February 2020.
E. Accounts Payable through March 5, 2020 in the Amount of $422,251.00. F. Cancellation of the March 17, 2020 Committee of the Whole Meeting.
Trustee Jungermann moved to approve Items A, C-F on the Consent Agenda. Trustee Gier 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. Annexation Agreement Amendment Request in the Blackberry Crossing Subdivision Pertaining to the Fence Standard Located at 2460 Deerpoint Drive – Curtis Kiebles.
Director Young summarized this text amendment request for a five foot, white vinyl fence in the Blackberry Crossing Subdivision. He discussed current fence design standards and noted other requests for fences over four feet in height had previously been denied. Director Young and Attorney Julien summarized how the annexation agreement in question uniquely addressed this request and noted a supermajority Board vote would be required to approve this item.
Resident Curtis Kiebles, explained the various privacy, safety and maintenance reasons for his request. He further noted Montgomery Crossings, connected to his backyard, allowed for six foot fences to be constructed out of various materials and many existing wooden fences in his community were not properly maintained. Director Young noted numerous annexation agreements would be expiring over the next few years and would be subject to existing Code Standards or the Unified Development Code once they expired. He cautioned that code enforcement, permitting issues, neighborhood aesthetics and future fence variance requests may be affected if this text amendment request was approved before a unified code was developed and adopted.
Board discussion was had and questions were raised regarding what homeowner’s association, Village Code or unified development code standards would apply once the annexation agreements in these west side communities expire. Attorney Julien commented on whether a newly adopted Unified Development Code Fence Standard would supersede the existing annexation agreement in this community and advised how a newly adopted standard could be applied to future fence requests. President Brolley asked and Director Young noted staff recommended denial of this request.
President Brolley noted, after significant discussion, that Board support was shown for this request and clarified that this item would not be voted on this evening. Administrator Zoephel shared staff would draft an ordinance for this request and have it brought back for approval as Waiver of First and Passage on Second Reading at a future meeting under Items for Separate Action. It was noted that this request would be subject to written confirmation from the applicant’s neighbors that this fence request was acceptable as proposed. Trustee Gier inquired and Director Young noted he could forward the Blackberry Crossing Subdivision’s Annexation Agreement to the Board for additional review.
B. Minutes of the Village Board Meeting of February 24, 2020.
President Brolley asked that previous Consent Agenda Item B. be discussed next under Items for Separate Action. Trustee Gier requested that the previous minutes be slightly amended prior to being approved. He asked that Items for Discussion B. Unincorporated Water Tap Policy be amended to have the last sentence of the second paragraph read as follows: “He also inquired if the road, tap, meter and annexation fees could be waived, once annexation was granted, to provide residents with wells an incentive to request and receive clean, safe drinking water service”.
Trustee Gier moved to approve Minutes of the Village Board Meeting of February 24, 2020 With a Slight Amendment. Trustee Betsinger seconded this motion.
5 Yea. 0 No. Motion carried. Trustee Gier, Trustee Lee, Trustee Betsinger, Trustee Jungermann and Trustee Marecek voting yea.
C. Classification and Compensation Study.
President Brolley noted the final Item for Separate Action discussion would be the Classification and Compensation Study. Administrator Zoephel addressed and answered previous Board questions regarding the GovHR Study. He discussed the classification scoring and pay ranges for specific jobs in the Public Works Department and commented on the licensing, training, supervision and experience required for those positions. Board concerns were shared regarding how to properly compensate uniquely trained and licensed positions and how midyear raises and bonus dispersements would be handled going forward.
Administrator Zoephel noted a Lunch and Learn Event was conducted to inform and advise employees about the results and implications of this compensation study. Additional Board questions included whether employees with five or more years’ experience would be compensated to account for their on the job experience. After significant discussion was had and concerns were shared, Board consensus was achieved to accept the GovHR’s Classification and Compensation Study recommendations using the 60% percentile for pay ranges. President Brolley asked and Administrator Zoephel summarized how and effective what date employees currently below their pay ranges would be brought up to be within their newly determined ranges.
Trustee Marecek moved to approve the Classification and Compensation Study. Trustee Betsinger seconded this motion.
5 Yea. 0 No. Motion carried. Trustee Marecek, Trustee Gier, Trustee Lee, Trustee Betsinger and Trustee Jungermann voting yea.
Items for Discussion
A. Household Hazardous Waste and Electronic Waste Recycling Program.
Director Wolf summarized changes to these refuse recycling programs and discussed why these procedural changes were being suggested. Josh Connell, Lakeshore Recycling System Managing Partner, described where, when and how often the electronic and household waste collection events would be handled. He hoped the changes would increase and assist resident participation and noted further details and sign up for at home recycling collection could be accessed online or via their customer service line. Trustees Betsinger and Lee questioned and Director Wolf and Mr. Connell addressed whether a per resident item limit existed for the current program, whether any recycling items would no longer be accepted and it was clarified that medications would continue to not be accepted for disposal.
Also asked was whether household hazard waste was collected separately by Lakeshore Recycling System’s waste hauling partners, USA Ecology Group and Clean Harbors. President Brolley asked and Mr. Connell clarified how weather or holidays could affect collection pickup dates and how these changes could be more readily communicated to residents. President Brolley inquired and Director Wolf addressed whether these changes amended the current recycling program contract and noted he could report back on when the current refuse contract was expected to expire. Trustee Marecek shared residents had expressed appreciation for the current waste services contract and noted that at home recycling collection for these items should be a significant benefit to residents.
Trustee Jungermann left the meeting briefly at 8:17 p.m. and returned at 8:19 p.m.
B. Budget Review: Capital Improvement, Infrastructure Improvement, TIF #2, Debt Service and Water Funds.
Director VanVooren summarized details regarding the Capital Improvement, Infrastructure Improvement, TIF #2, Debt Service and Water Funds Budget. He noted how electric, natural gas and telecommunications taxes were affected by weather, climate change and by a reduction in the use of land line phone service. He shared a Space Needs Analysis Study would be completed to plan for the design and construction of a new Public Works Building.
Director VanVooren also summarized that the TIF #2 Aucutt Road improvements would include a transportation study, design concepts, project engineering and construction plans. He further discussed details regarding the lead service line replacement project, water meter replacement program and Route 31 water main and Well 14 rehabilitation projects. Trustee Betsinger requested clarification and Director Wolf explained the specifics regarding the Vehicle and Equipment Replacement Fund. President Brolley inquired and Director VanVooren outlined details regarding the telecommunication taxes and how funding for the Vehicle and Equipment Replacement Fund was provided.
Director VanVooren noted the Public Hearing for the Budget took place earlier in the meeting, a First Reading of the Budget Ordinance would be presented at the March 23rd meeting and the Second Reading of the Budget Ordinance would take place at the April 13th meeting for approval. President Brolley inquired and Administrator Zoephel explained what the Water Fund Rate Schedule percentage increase was projected to be for the year. Trustees Gier and Lee inquired and Director Wolf and Engineer Wallers explained the extent, process and time frame expected to handle the Route 31 water main servicing and reasons why the Well 14 rehabilitation project and scheduling changes were being handled this year.
New or Unfinished Business
Trustee Marecek shared he participated in the Polar Plunge Charity Event on Sunday, March 8, 2020 and noted it was a well-attended, enjoyable and successful community event. He thanked Chief Smith, Commander Palko and the Montgomery Police Department for their teamwork and comradery in working together to raise money for the Special Olympics. Trustee Betsinger inquired and Trustee Marecek noted who the fundraising leader for their team had been.
Future Meetings
A. Beautification Committee—Tuesday, March 10, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. (Moved from Wednesday, March 11, 2020).
B. Historic Preservation Commission – Monday, March 16, 2020 at 6:30 p.m.
C. Committee of the Whole Meeting – Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. (Canceled).
D. Intergovernmental Committee Meeting—Monday, March 23, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.
E. Village Board Meeting—Monday, March 23, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.
Executive Session: 8:40 – 9:05 p.m.
A. To Discuss the Minutes of Meetings for the Purposes of Approval by the Body of the Minutes as Mandated by Section 2.06 Pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21).
B. To Discuss the Employment of an Employee Pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(1).
Trustee Marecek inquired and President Brolley clarified the Board would be reconvening after Executive Session to take action on the Release of Executive Session Minutes.
Trustee Jungermann moved to go into Executive Session To Discuss the Minutes of Meetings for the Purposes of Approval by the Body of the Minutes as Mandated by Section 2.06 Pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21) and To Discuss the Employment of an Employee Pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(1). 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. Release of Executive Session Minutes.
Attorney Julien requested a motion for approval to release the Executive Session Minutes from September 9, 2019 and only the Employment of an Employee section from the September 23, 2019 meeting.
Trustee Lee moved to accept the Release of Executive Session Minutes. Trustee Gier seconded this motion.
5 Yea. 0 No. Motion carried. Trustee Lee, Trustee Betsinger, Trustee Jungermann, Trustee Marecek and Trustee Gier voting yea.
Adjournment: 9:07 p.m.
Seeking no further business to come before the Board, it was moved by Trustee Jungermann and seconded by Trustee Marecek 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/_03092020-461
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