Village of Wheeling President Board of Trustees met Jan. 15

Wheeling Village President Patrick Horcher | Village of Wheeling Website

By Angelica Saylo Pilo

Feb 14, 2024

Village of Wheeling President Board of Trustees met Jan. 15.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

1. President Horcher called the meeting to order at 6:34 pm

2. Pledge of Allegiance-N/A

3. Roll Call Led by Village Clerk Kathryn M. Brady

Present: Pat Horcher, Mary Krueger, Ray Lang, Mary Papantos, Jim Ruffatto, Joe Vito

Absent: Dave Vogel

Trustee Vogel was absent with prior notice.

4. Approval of Minutes

Approval of Minutes of the Regular Meeting of December 4, 2023

President Horcher asked for a motion to approve the Minutes as presented.

Motion by Mary Krueger, second by Mary Papantos.

Yes: Pat Horcher, Mary Krueger, Ray Lang, Mary Papantos, Jim Ruffatto, Joe Vito

Absent: Dave Vogel

5. Changes to the Agenda - None

6. Proclamations

Clerk Brady read the following Proclamation into the record.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service - January 15, 2024

Recognition-Retired Fire Chief Michael McGreal

Village Manager Jon Sfondilis recognized the retirement of Fire Department Chief Michael McGreal which occurred on January 12, 2024, and highlighted his successes at Wheeling and thanked him for his contributions. Deputy Fire Chief Steve Mella made a brief speech and presented him with a retirement badge. Mr. McGreal thanked former Chief Keith MacIsaac, the Board, staff, and his wife.

REFRESHMENT BREAK

President Horcher asked for a motion to recess for refreshments.

Motion by Mary Krueger, second by Mary Papantos.

Motion carried by Voice Vote, all ayes, the meeting recessed at 6:43 p.m.

RECONVENE OPEN SESSION

President Horcher asked for a Motion to reconvene the Regular meeting.

Motion by Jim Ruffatto, second by Mary Papantos.

Clerk Brady called the Roll:

Yes: Pat Horcher, Mary Krueger, Ray Lang, Mary Papantos, Jim Ruffatto, Joe Vito

Absent: Dave Vogel

Final Resolution: Motion Approved, the meeting reconvened at 7:00 p.m.

7. Appointments and Confirmations - None

8. Administration of Oaths-N/A

9. Citizen Concerns and Comments - None

10. Staff Reports

Village Attorney James Ferolo delivered updates on new or amended laws that went into effect on January 1, 2024, including FOIA, the Prevailing Wage Act, the Paid Leave for All Workers Act, the Public Employee Disability Act, and license plate readers (ALPRs). Police Chief James Dunne provided clarification on how the plate readers work and announced a weapons ban signed by Governor Pritzker requiring anyone in possession of an assault weapon to register the weapon before January 1, 2024, which can be done on the State Police, or FOID websites. Chief Dunne reviewed details on changes to the Smoke-Free Illinois Act which now includes E-Cigarettes as being banned indoors and in public spaces, and the addition of video conferencing, video streaming, and social media while driving which are now also banned. Chief Dunne stated that while it is illegal to have an object hanging from a rear-view mirror, law enforcement can no longer use that as a reason to stop a driver to issue and ticket or search a vehicle. In response to a question from Trustee Papantos, Chief Dunne said he is not aware of any fine associated with someone late registering their assault weapon, and announced the Arrest Hunger food drive at Jimenez Market ends January 16 at 11:00 a.m.

11. Consent Agenda-All items listed on the Consent Agenda are considered to be routine by the Village Board and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Board member or citizen so requests, in which event the item will be removed from the general order of business and considered after all other Agenda items.

Clerk Brady read the Consent Agenda into the record.

A. Resolution 24-001 Accepting a Proposal and Authorizing the Approval of an Annual Maintenance Contract with Fulton Siren Services for an Outdoor Alerting System in an Amount Not to Exceed $39,400 in FY2024

B. Resolution 24-002 Authorizing the Approval of an Annual Astro Infrastructure Service Agreement with Motorola Solutions Related to the Dispatch Capabilities within the 9-1-1 Center in an Amount Not to Exceed $42,105 in FY2024

C. Resolution 24-003 Authorizing the Village Manager to Execute a Voluntary Separation Agreement and Release of All Claims in the Amount of $39,669.67

D. Resolution 24-004 Approving a Contract with Utility Dynamics Corp. for the 2024 Streetlight Replacement Project in the Amount of $545,605.50 in FY 2024

E. Resolution 24-005 Approving an Agreement with the Ciorba Group Inc. for Construction Engineering Services for the 2024 Streetlight Replacement Project in the Amount of $39,884

F. Resolution 24-006 Approving a Contract with RJN Group, Inc. for Sanitary Sewer Evaluation Services (SSES) in an Amount Not to Exceed $40,000 for FY 2024

G. Resolution 24-007 Approving a Resolution for Improvement under the Illinois Highway Code and a Local Public Agency Engineering Services Agreement with Chastain and Associates, LLC for Lexington Drive Improvements Using Rebuild Illinois Funds in the Amount of $47,380

H. Resolution 24-008 Waiving Competitive Bidding and Accepting a Proposal from Core & Main for Sensus Omni Registers and Measuring Chambers in an Amount Not to Exceed $50,116 in FY 2024

I. Resolution 24-009 Approving a Resolution for Improvement under the Illinois Highway Code and a Local Public Agency Engineering Services Agreement with Chastain and Associates, LLC for Strong Avenue Improvements Using Rebuild Illinois Funds in the Amount of $83,872

J. Resolution 24-010 Authorizing and Directing the Village Manager to Execute a Service Provider Contract Renewal with Municipal GIS Partners, Inc. in the Amount of $161,086.80 for GIS Support Services in FY2024 as Part of the Ongoing GIS Consortium Initiative

K. Ordinance 5633 Declaring a Conflict with the Cook County Paid Leave Ordinance with Respect to Paid Leave Requirements for Village Employees

L. Resolution 24-011 Approving a Bond Record-Keeping Report

M. Resolution 24-0012 Waiving Competitive Bidding and Approving a Professional Services Proposal from Encore Communications, LLC d/b/a EDSuite to Develop a New Economic Development and Business Recruitment Website in the Amount of $31,800

President Horcher asked for a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.

Motion by Jim Ruffatto, second by Ray Lang.

Final Resolution: Motion Approved

Yes: Pat Horcher, Mary Krueger, Ray Lang, Mary Papantos, Jim Ruffatto, Joe Vito

Absent: Dave Vogel

12. Old Business - None

13. New Business - All Listed Items for Discussion and Possible Action

A. Ordinance 5634 Granting a Variation from Title 19, Zoning, to Permit an Increase in the Maximum Fence Height, 555 Briarwood Drive (Michael Torssell) [Docket No. PV23-0008]

Clerk Brady read the title into the record. Community Development Director Ross Klicker introduced the item. There were no questions from the Board.

Motion by Mary Papantos, second by Mary Krueger.

Final Resolution: Motion Approved

Yes: Pat Horcher, Mary Krueger, Ray Lang, Mary Papantos, Jim Ruffatto, Joe Vito

Absent: Dave Vogel

B. Resolution 24-013 Granting a Restaurant and Retail Build-Out Assistance Grant for Pirosmani Georgian Food Art, LLC at 847 W. Dundee Road in an Amount Not to Exceed $21,166.37

Clerk Brady read the title into the record. Economic Development Director Len Becker introduced the item. Petitioner

Bidzina Bregadze was present and commended Wheeling on helping small businesses. Trustee Papantos thanked them for staying in Wheeling.

Motion by Ray Lang, second by Jim Ruffatto.

Final Resolution: Motion Approved

Yes: Pat Horcher, Mary Krueger, Ray Lang, Mary Papantos, Jim Ruffatto, Joe Vito

Absent: Dave Vogel

C. Ordinance 5635 Amending the Wheeling Municipal Code Relative to Chartered Transportation and

Unscheduled Stops

Clerk Brady read the title into the record. Manager Sfondilis provided an overview of the legislation and read the stipulations for Board approval:

1) A Village permit will be required for privately chartered bus services where services include disembarking ten or more passengers within Wheeling who will not re-board;

2) Applications for a permit will require contact information for the owner, operator, and driver of the motor vehicle as well as contact information for the passengers. The application will also require the date, time, and location for the unloading of passengers, as well as a plan identifying how the passengers will be cared for, housed, and fed, upon disembarking in the Village;

3) It will be unlawful for any person to offer or provide privately chartered services disembarking passengers without a valid Village permit;

4) Penalties for violations will be subject to fines of $750 per passenger and buses will also be subject to impoundment; and

5) Due to the urgency of the matter involving safety of individuals, the ordinance will take effect immediately upon approval by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the Village Board of Trustees, otherwise the ordinance will take effect ten days after publication.

Attorney Ferolo and Manager Sfondilis answered questions related to the possibility of litigation, drop-off times related to train schedules, plans for migrants who may be dropped off after the trains stop running, the necessity of this legislation, and the importance of communication related to this situation. Manager Sfondilis confirmed there are emergency contingencies in place should we receive migrants outside of train times, and that we have a contact in Texas and the Department of Emergency Management to whom we will report the passage of this ordinance.

Motion by Mary Krueger, second by Jim Ruffatto.

Final Resolution: Motion Approved

Yes: Pat Horcher, Mary Krueger, Ray Lang, Mary Papantos, Jim Ruffatto, Joe Vito

Absent: Dave Vogel

14. Official Communications

Trustee Ruffatto asked if the Village has been approached about adding fiber; Manager Sfondilis stated that some residential areas do have fiber and deferred to Director Klicker regarding any request for this that was denied. Director Klicker stated that this would require a permit but they have not denied any.

Trustee Papantos thanked Public Safety and Public Works personnel who are doing a great job keeping up with the recent weather situation and wished everyone a Happy New Year.

Manager Sfondilis stated that he believes we have the best staff in the Northwest Suburbs and recognized Public Safety and Public Works who were out all night fixing a water main break and thanked them for their dedication and efforts in the worst of conditions.

President Horcher wished everyone a Happy New Year.

15. Approval of Bills

Approval of Bills for December 14, 2023 - January 10, 2024, in the amount of $19,405,901.94¢

President Horcher asked for a motion to approve the Bills as presented.

Motion by Ray Lang, second by Jim Ruffatto.

Final Resolution: Motion Approved

Yes: Pat Horcher, Mary Krueger, Ray Lang, Mary Papantos, Jim Ruffatto, Joe Vito

Absent: Dave Vogel

16. Executive Session - None

17. Action on Executive Session Items - N/A

18. Adjournment

President Horcher asked for a motion to adjourn.