Village of Buffalo Grove President and Board of Trustees Committee of Whole met March 2
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
CALL TO ORDER
President Smith called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. Those present stood and pledged allegiance to the Flag.
ROLL CALL
Roll call indicated the following present: President Smith; Trustees Johnson, Richards, Cesario, Ottenheimer, Bocek and Weidenfeld
Also present were: Dane Bragg, Village Manager; Patrick Brankin, Village Attorney; Chris Stilling, Deputy Village Manager; Mike Skibbe, Deputy Village Manager/Director of Public Works; Tyler Grace, Assistant Village Manager – Administrative Services; Katie Golbach, Director of Human Resources; Chris Black, Finance Director; Nicole Woods, Director of Community Development; Molly Gillespie, Communications Director; Tim Kirsininkas, Communications Coordinator; Briget Schwab, Village Engineer; Geoff Tollefson, Director Golf Operations; Police Chief Budds; Fire Chief Kane.
The Committee of the Whole Meeting consisted of staff reports and Board discussion on the listed topics, with staff answering questions from the Board on each topic.
VILLAGE PRESIDENT’S REPORT
President Smith thanked our Public Works Department for all of the hard work that they have done over these last winter months to keep our streets clean and safe for our residents.
President Smith noted that several elected officials and staff members recently traveled to Springfield and met with about a dozen legislators to advocate for our residents, and he thanked everyone for their participation and their hospitality.
President Smith and Trustee Weidenfeld were proud to recognize three teams of Aptakisic-Tripp School District 102 students who will represent Illinois in the first World Robotics Championships in the spring. Trustee Weidenfeld reviewed the competition categories, after which their sponsor and each of the students spoke about their experience and thanked the Board for this recognition and support. Congratulations to the Lego Robotics Teams from Meridian Middle School and Aptakisic Jr. High School on their top finishes at state.
TRUSTEE REPORTS
Trustee Richards reported that there will be a Community Blood Drive on March 7, 2026 at the Alcott Center, noting the importance of this life-saving need, and urging all residents who are able to take a few minutes and donate blood to this cause.
The Village Clerk reminded residents of the upcoming General Election on March 17, 2026 and urged everyone to take advantage of the privilege of voting, either in person, by mail or early voting.
NEWEST POLICE OFFICER
Chief Budds introduced the Buffalo Grove Police Department’s newest Police Officer, Jacob Simon, an alumnus of Stevenson High School, and presented a brief background of the credentials of Officer Simon.
Officer Simon thanked his family for their support and the Board and the Buffalo Grove Police Department for this opportunity and noted that he is excited to face new challenges and happy to be back “home”, as he was welcomed and congratulated by the audience and the Board.
POLICE OFFICER OF THE YEAR
Chief Budds reviewed the Police Department Officer of the Year Award and the Special Commendation Award to be presented tonight. Chief Budds thanked the Police Awards Committee and the Rotary Club, sponsor of these awards.
Chief Budds reviewed the accomplishments of this year’s Special Commendation Award recipient, Officer Aeden Young, who earned this award for his continued dedication and outstanding performance in the Department. Officer Young was congratulated by the audience and the Board as he thanked Rotary and his coworkers for this recognition.
Rotary Club President Juliet Ziak presented a brief overview of the Buffalo Grove Rotary Club and its goals and accomplishments, after which she reviewed the achievements of Officer Edwin Zuniga, who received the Police Department’s highest honor as Officer of the Year for 2025. Officer Zuniga was nominated by his peers for his excellent performance in various roles with the Department over the course of the past year, including his exceptional dedication and leadership. As he was congratulated by the audience and the Board, Officer Zuniga thanked the Rotary Club, and his coworkers for this recognition.
CCSD21
Cassandra Young, Director of Community Engagement for Community Consolidated School District 21, introduced Dr. Michael Connolly, District Superintendent, and Dr. Erica Slack, Nurse Practitioner at the Health Center.
Dr. Connolly reviewed the concept of the School Based Health Center, which is affiliated with Advocate Children’s Hospital, and provided a virtual tour of the facility, highlighting the benefits this facility provides to the community.
Dr. Slack then provided more detail on the procedures and services provided by the Center. Dr. Slack noted that they have provided care to over 4,000 individuals since opening in July of 2025, referencing charts with breakdowns of the type of care given to those individuals.
Dr. Connolly reviewed various grants and types of funding that have been provided to date to operate this facility with the hope that by showing the impact that the facility has on the community the funding will continue.
BRANDED SIGNAGE UPDATE
Using a PowerPoint presentation, Ms. Gillespie reviewed the signage that will reflect the Village’s new logo, smart. with heart. The presentation highlighted locations for gateway signs, overpass signs, Village facility signs, Village campus signs, and street signs. It is anticipated that the new signs will be in place by the end of this year.
PUBLIC COMMENT
President Smith reviewed the parameters to be followed by speakers and asked if there were any questions from the audience on items not on tonight’s agenda; there were no such questions.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Moved by Johnson, seconded by Ottenheimer, to move to Executive Session to discuss Section 2(C)(5) of the Illinois Open Meetings Act: (5) the Purchase or Lease of Real Property for the Use of the Public Body, including meetings held for the purpose of discussing whether a particular parcel should be Acquired, and Section 2(C)(1) of the Illinois Open Meetings Act: the Appointment, Employment, Compensation, Discipline, Performance, or Dismissal of Specific Employees of the Public Body or Legal Counsel for the Public Body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an Employee of the Public Body or against Legal Counsel for the Public Body to Determine Its Validity. Upon roll call, Trustees voted as follows:
AYES: 6 – Johnson, Richards, Cesario, Ottenheimer, Bocek, Weidenfeld
NAYS: 0 – None
Motion declared carried.
The Board moved to Executive Session from 8:01 P.M. until 9:13 P.M.
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Cesario, seconded by Bocek, to adjourn the meeting. Upon voice vote, the motion was unanimously declared carried. The meeting was adjourned at 9:14 P.M.
https://buffalogroveil.portal.civicclerk.com/event/843/files/attachment/1881
