VILLAGE OF PORT BYRON
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
120 S. Main Street
Port Byron, Illinois 61275
NOVEMBER 6, 2006
The Committee of the Whole meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. on November 6, 2006, by Mayor Mike Ferretti. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Roll Call #1: Present: Trustees Courtland Pieper, Jeanine Ingalls and Jerry Conner, Judy VanPaemel, Dennis Healy and Terry Sorensen
Absent: None
A quorum was declared
Also present: Janet Fletcher, Village Clerk; Kevin Farrell, EMC Representative; Nancy Searl, Deputy Clerk; Donna McCormick, Treasurer; Bob Ellis, Police Chief; Scott Kammerman, Missman Stanley & Associates Engineer; and Graham Lee, Attorney.
Mayor Ferretti stated that, in an effort to keep the meeting time at a minimum, once the gallery has had an opportunity to comment at the beginning of the meeting, he will not accept gallery comments or questions during the remainder of the committee reports. At the end of the meeting he will again ask for gallery questions or comments for a limited period.
GALLERY:
Mr. Tim Ryer, representing Mr. Tom Doyle, addressed the board concerning a request for a liquor license. He stated that the establishment in question would have a small bar (8 to 10 seats) serving wine, beer and some hard liquor. It would be open no later than 12:00 midnight on weekends and youngsters would have to be accompanied by an adult. The request is for a Class “D” license, which would require the board to amend the village liquor ordinance to include one more license. The residency requirement would be waived since the owners are a LLC Corporation. A straw pole of the board indicated some concern regarding the sale of liquor in a family setting and parking available. Trustee VanPaemel suggested that the establishment consider selling just wine and beer to begin with. Several trustees felt there would be no problem with the additional license and Trustee Pieper asked that the approval be placed on the Consent Agenda for the 11/13/06 meeting.
Mr. Mark Brockway, who stated he has a planning director background, spoke from the gallery in favor of the project. He stated the board should consider the overall economic impact of this establishment for the community. Several others from the gallery indicated their support for this project and for the future development with projects of this type. The gallery indicated their support of these statements.
FINANCE
1. Treasurer’s report for October was presented and reviewed.
2. There were no new purchase order requests.
3. The yearly Risk Management bill has been paid.
4. Trustee Healy presented information regarding the upcoming Tax Levy. The board reviewed information presented and will be asked to give their input at the next meeting. If necessary, a Truth in Taxation Meeting will be held before the December 11 Board Meeting.
TIF DISCUSSION
1. Trustee VanPaemel reviewed the special meeting held with Beth Reuyl from Ehlers and Associates on 10/19/06. She asked that each department, as requested by Beth, review their needs for the next 10 years and give the information to her. She will forward the reports to Beth.
2. A YTD report of TIF funds was presented for review.
3. An invoice for $231.00 was presented from Kathleen Orr for professional services 9/20 and 9/22/06.
4. There was a great deal of discussion on the payment of TIF funds to Riverdale Schools. A spreadsheet was presented by Trustee VanPaemel indicating the excess funds that would need to be declared to provide the 20% off-the-top TIF funds negotiated in the original contract. To give the schools 20% off the top has been determined to be against TIF laws. Trustee VanPaemel said it is up to the board to decide what to declare as surplus funds to go back to the county which, in turn, will determine what the schools will receive. Trustee Healy suggested that the 20% off-the-top funds be placed in an account, to be made available to the schools when they have a positive student enrollment from the TIF areas (pay forward). Trustee VanPaemel would like to meet with one school board member and the new administrator to discuss this situation and get their input. A new contract was suggested as one solution to the problem.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
A. PUBLIC FINANCE COMMITTEE
1. Zoning
a. The parking situation for 106 N. Main owned by R. Bowers has not been resolved.
b. An invoice has been sent from the Clerk’s office to Mr. Robert Normoyle, (Windmill Estates). The invoice states that the Zoning Ordinance for the Village, Article XVII, Section 170 prescribes that “the actual costs of any necessary engineering consultation … be invoiced to the party applying for the zoning request.” An invoice to the village for engineering on Windmill Estates for $404 was received from Missman, Stanley & Associates. Mr. Normoyle is requesting that half the fee be waived since he was not previously informed of the ordinance. The board indicated that half the fee will not be waived and that the full amount is due and payable from Mr. Normoyle.
c. Larry Molitor, Building Inspector, reported that the Sharp residence on High Street will soon be demolished since insurance money has been received for rebuilding.
d. The Wilson property has been purchased by a neighbor and has been demolished. Mr. Molitor suggested that the board waive the demolition fee in this instance.
e. Mr. Molitor suggested that the board rethink how to handle demolitions in the future and suggested that the demolition fee be waived to encourage people to get rid of deteriorating buildings within the village.
f. A question was raised concerning the zoning of the old library on High Street. Larry Molitor will investigate the current zoning and report back to the board.
2. Planning
a. Mr. Bruce Petersen representing the Planning Committee presented a report of the 10/23/06 meeting.
a) Request from R. Bowers for parking rezoning 106 N. Main Street was tabled since he was not available for questioning.
b) Rezoning of 118 N. Main from C2 to C1 received no objection from the Planning Commission and will be presented to the village board for approval. Any variances required will have to go to the zoning board for approval.
c) Vicki Damewood was directed to go to R.I. County Health Department concerning the Turkey Hollow subdivision project.
d) The Planning Commission would like guidance from the village board concerning their request for a comprehensive plan in conjunction with Bi-State. Since Bi-State already has some information available, the cost of the comprehensive plan may be lowered and spread over the two years it would take to complete the entire study. A listing of historical reports has been received from Bi-State and Trustee VanPaemel suggested the Planning Commission review all these reports to see what has been done in the past.
3. Ordinance
a. Copy of AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING LOAN AGREEMENT (061311) was given to the board for review.
b. An final ordinance REQUIRING NUMBER OF HOUSING will be presented for approval at the next board meeting.
4. Grants & Audits – No report
5. Personnel
a. Mike Ferretti will present more information to the board regarding approval of William Bradshaw as Treasurer for the village.
b. Donna McCormick has resigned her position as Treasurer effective 12/1/06.
B. PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
1. Police
a. Monthly report for October was presented.
b. New part-time officers will be sworn in at the start of the 11/13/06 meeting. Chief Ellis has a copy of their resumes if the board wishes to review them.
c. Chief Ellis stated that activity on the weekends covered by the county will be reported to the village board.
d. Chief Ellis is requesting that Paul Garza be officially given the Lieutenant status with a $2 increase in hourly wages retroactive to August 1, 2006. A closed executive session at the next meeting may be requested if the board wishes to discuss this further.
e. The Chief stated that his office will use an “open door” policy and he wants everyone on the board to be informed of what is going on in the village.
2. FIRE
a. October 2006 report was reviewed.
b. Trustee Sorensen noted that he would like to meet with representatives of the RCFPD regarding compliance with the 1988 contract. The contract needs to be reviewed and perhaps rewritten. Mr. Sorensen will try to meet with Mr. Albright on Tuesday evening before the RCFPD meeting.
3. Ambulance - None
4. Public Health - None
C. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
1. EMC – The monthly report for September 2006 was presented and reviewed.
2. Water & Sewer
a. The $100,000 grant for the new well from Boland’s office has been awarded to the village, but the timing is uncertain for obtaining the actual funds.
b. Bids have been received for surveying 8 points on Cherry Street with costs from $750 to $2,600. The $750 bid from MJH Engineering & Surveying will be on the consent agenda at the 11/13/06 meeting for approval.
c. A bid to clean the interior and exterior of the water tower for $5,600 has been received from Water Tower Paint & Repair.
d. Three bids were received for the test pumping, straightness test and disinfection of Well #4. The low bid was Peerless Services at $6,950. The funds will come out of the water/sewer account as this is not loan or grant eligible.
3. Buildings & Grounds - No report
4. Streets & Street Lights – A light on the north side of the village hall needs to be repaired.
5. Cemetery – No report
CORRESPONDENCE
Mayor Ferretti reported having the following information available for review by the board:
a. Youth Services Bureau will have an open house on 11/16/06 from 3:30 to 6:00. The building is located at 4709 44th Street, Rock Island.
b. The Q.C. Police Sr. Christmas Tour will be held again this year, but they will not be loading people on the bus at The Heights.
c. Riverdale Project Graduation 2007 was mentioned.
OLD BUSINESS - Attorney Lee reported that the opinion letter he requested should be available within the next week.
NEW BUSINESS
a. A sample application for liquor license renewal was presented for review by the board. If approved at the next meeting, the forms will be sent to liquor license holders in March 2007 for completion before a new license is issued. The form would be used yearly to keep the village records as up to date as possible regarding the license holders.
b. A Special Events Permit has been signed for a Christmas Walk 12/2/06 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
GALLERY – None
A5 9:00 p.m., Trustee Pieper moved, seconded by Trustee Healy, that the committee of the whole meeting enter into Executive Session to discuss a probable litigation 5 ILCS 120/2(c)
ROLL CALL #2: Ayes: Ingalls, , Pieper, Conner, VanPaemel, Healy
Sorensen
Nays: None
Absent: None
At 9:08 p.m. the board reconvened into open session. Mayor Ferretti stated that a probable litigation was discussed but no new action is to be taken at this time.
There being no further business, at 9:09 p.m. Trustee Conner moved, seconded by Trustee Ingalls to adjourn the board meeting.
Roll Call #3
Chairman declared motion carried.
_________________ ________________________
Approved (Date) Mayor Mike Ferretti
_________________________
Janet Fletcher, Village Clerk
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