North Cook News

Village of Northbrook Committee of the Whole met July 23

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

1. ROLL CALL

Attendee Name Title Status

Kathryn Ciesla Village President Present

Robert Israel Trustee Present

Heather Ross Trustee Present

Daniel Pepoon Trustee Absent

Johannah Hebl Trustee Present

Joy Ebhomielen Trustee Absent

Michelle Kohler Trustee Present

Also Present: Village Manager, Cara Pavlicek

Deputy Village Manager, Madeline Farrell

Director of Public Works, Kelly Hamill

Assistant Village Attorneys, Caitlyn Culbertson & Greg Smith

2. MINUTES APPROVAL

A. July 9, 2024 Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes for Approval

RESULT: APPROVED [4 – 0]

MOVER: Heather Ross, Trustee

SECONDER: Robert Israel, Trustee

AYES: Israel, Ross, Hebl, Kohler

NAYES: None

ABSTAIN: Kathryn Ciesla, President

ABSENT: Daniel Pepoon, Trustee and Joy Ebhomielen, Trustee

3. DISCUSSION TOPICS

A. Discussion on Policies for the Automated Meter Replacement Project

Deputy Director Matt Morrison gave a presentation on the Automated Water Meter Project. Staff presented a series of policy-related questions about the automated meter project regarding inaccessible water meters. Deputy Director Morrison gave examples of some water meters being inaccessible.

Trustee Hebl asked if new meters could be installed in more accessible areas negating the need to access the inaccessible meters. Deputy Director Morrison said technically yes, but that the current meter can't be disconnected so there would always be a risk of a leak. 

Deputy Director Morrison asked a series of policy related questions related to the cost of installing accessible meters, specifically if property owners should be required to make their own meter accessible and whether the Village should reimburse any costs related to restoration or walls or ceilings.

Trustee Ross asked what other communities have done. Deputy Director Morrison said that other municipalities require property owners make the change at their expense.

Trustee Kohler asked if people would face code violations for inaccessible readers noting that residents could face the cost of the installation of the new meter and then code violation fees.

Manager Pavlicek recommended that code enforcement and the upgrades to meters be separated, although an amnesty period could be possible in consultation with the vendor.

Trustees had a consensus that property owners should be required to make their meters accessible and that the Village should not reimburse restoration work associated with the changes.

Trustee Ross asked if a hardship program could be implemented for those who could not afford the upgrades. Manager Pavlicek stated that the Village would need to reach out to the vendor for their recommendation.

Deputy Director Morrison presented further policy-related questions regarding the upgrades to inoperable B-boxes.

Trustee Ross asked if there were cost estimates for upgrades to B-box. Deputy Director Morrison said he could not get a price estimate before the meeting. Trustee Hebl asked if we know how many B-boxes are not operable. The Village did not have an estimated number. Trustees determined that they needed more information before giving policy direction regarding b-box repairs.

Deputy Director Morrison then asked a series of policy-related questions involving whether the Village should pursue shutting off water to properties that refuse the meter replacement and if the property should incur a fee for each time a meter reader had to read the water meter.

Trustees had a consensus that property owners should not face water shut-off, but that an escalating meter reader fee should be implemented.

Trustee Hebl asked what communications would be sent out. Communications Manager Glenn said that a video was being developed to communicate this change.

4. REMARKS FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER - None

5. CLOSED SESSION

A motion by Trustee Hebl and seconded by Trustee Kohler to go into closed session to discuss minutes pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/(c) (21), discuss the purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/(c) (5), discuss the regarding the sale of real property owned by the public body pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/(c) (6), discuss litigation pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/(c) (11), and discuss personnel pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/(c) (1)

RESULT: CONVENE INTO CLOSED SESSION AT 6:45 P.M. [4 – 0]

MOVER: Johannah Hebl, Trustee

SECONDER: Michelle Kohler, Trustee

AYES: Israel, Ross, Hebl, Kohler

NAYES: None

ABSTAIN: Kathryn Ciesla, President

ABSENT: Daniel Pepoon, Trustee and Joy Ebhomielen, Trustee

RESULT: RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION AT 7:30 P.M. [4 – 0]

MOVER: Heather Ross, Trustee

SECONDER: Michelle Kohler, Trustee

AYES: Israel, Ross, Hebl, Kohler

NAYES: None

ABSTAIN: Kathryn Ciesla, President

ABSENT: Daniel Pepoon, Trustee and Joy Ebhomielen, Trustee

11. ADJOURN

RESULT: ADJOURN AT 7:31 P.M. [4 – 0]

MOVER: Heather Ross, Trustee

SECONDER: Robert Israel, Trustee

AYES: Israel, Ross, Hebl, Kohler

NAYES: None

ABSTAIN: Kathryn Ciesla, President

ABSENT: Daniel Pepoon, Trustee and Joy Ebhomielen, Trustee

https://northbrook-il.granicus.com/DocumentViewer.php?file=northbrook-il_4aba23553bc312fc2af32682588f2bc3.pdf&view=1