Regular Meeting
City Council
June 5, 2007
Mayor Roy Strong, presiding
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. with the pledge to the flag.
The clerk called the roll finding the following Aldermen physically present: Mietzner, Orr, Hall, Combes, Hermes, Hoppe, Studer and Gilmour.
Public Hearing - Deer Ridge Special Service Area:
Alderman Gilmour made a motion and Alderman Orr seconded to Open the Public Hearing for comments on the Deer Ridge Special Service Area. All yes. Motion passed.
City Attorney George Mahoney suggested the council continue the Public Hearing until July 3, 2007 so he can confirm that the figures were correct and the city could do what they need to do and check with the funds that were available.
Alderman Mietzner made a motion and Alderman Combes seconded to Continue the Public Hearing on the Deer Ridge Special Service Area until June 19, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. All yes. Motion passed.
Beth Tryon was present for the meeting and stated she didn’t understand why the hearing was continued. The ordinance was passed, the notices went out and the residences voted yes. Mayor Strong stated that the time factor was not a problem, the attorney just wanted to make sure there were no hidden costs to the City.
Mayor’s Report: Alderman Mietzner made a motion and Alderman Hoppe seconded to Accept the Mayor’s Recommended Appointment of Don Friddle as Building Inspector for a 1 year term. All yes. Motion passed.
Alderman Mietzner made a motion and Alderman Gilmour seconded to Accept the Mayor’s Recommended Appointment of Jay Plese as Police Commissioner for a 3 year term. All yes. Motion passed.
Alderman Mietzner made a motion and Alderman Hoppe seconded to Accept the Mayor’s Recommended Appointment of Don Duffy as Planning and Zoning Commissioner for a 5 year term. All yes. Motion passed.
Alderman Hall made a motion and Alderman Gilmour seconded to Appoint Sheryl Puracchio as City Administrator effective June 1, 2007. 6 yes. 2 No (Alderman Orr and Hoppe). Motion passed.
Alderman Gilmour made a motion
and Alderman Mietzner seconded to Approve
the 2007-2008 Standing Committee Assignments as presented:
1. Alderman Orr and Alderman
Hoppe will co-chair the ordinance and license committee.
2. Alderman Mietzner and Alderman Hermes will head the finance,
administration and land acquisition committee.
3. Alderman Hermes and Alderman
Gilmour are the co-chairmen of the police and ESDA committee.
4. Alderman Mietzner and
Alderman Orr are co-chairmen of the personnel and collective bargaining
committee.
5. Alderman Combes and Alderman
Hall are co-chairmen for the health, safety, grounds and building committees.
6. Alderman Gilmour and Alderman Studer are co-chairmen of the water, sewer, streets and alleys committee. All yes. Motion passed.
Citizen’s Comments: Residents from Water’s Edge were present in the audience and had some concerns. Concerns were the lighting in the subdivision, since some of the street lights were out and some stay on continuously; the berm has animals living in there and the weeds are 5 feet high; and asked if there was any was that a lock box could be put on the gate off Route 53 at the dead end. It would alleviate concern if there was an emergency and the residence could not get out of if there was an emergency. They also had a concern about the engine breaking from the semi trucks and asked if signs could be put up for River Road. Mayor Strong agreed and will seek permission from IDOT to move the signs further north on RT 53. It was also stated that there were some concerns regarding residence driving golf carts around the subdivision. They are to contact the police department regarding this issue. Mayor Strong stated he would look into these issues.
Planning and Zoning Committee: The next scheduled meeting is Thursday, June 14, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.
Health, Safety, Buildings, Grounds & Parks Committee: Nothing to report at this time.
Water, Sewer, Streets & Alleys Committee: Alderman Combes made a motion and Alderman Hermes seconded to Accept the Bid from Insituform Technologies for the CDBG slip lining project not to exceed $105,170.25. All yes. Motion passed.
Next scheduled meeting is set for Wednesday, June 13, 2007 at 5:30 p.m.
Police and ESDA Committee: Nothing to report at this time.
Next scheduled meeting on Monday, June 11, 2007 at 5:30 p.m. Alderman Hermes asked if there was anything on the agenda at this time. Since there were none the meeting was canceled.
Finance/Administration/Land Acquisition Committee: Alderman Hermes made a motion and Alderman Hall seconded to Approve the May Payables in the amount of $138,516.30. All yes. Motion passed.
Alderman Studer made a motion and Alderman Gilmour seconded to Approve Ordinance #07-06-05-01, an Ordinance Authorizing the Execution of a Loan Agreement between the City of Wilmington, Illinois Municipal Corporation and the State of Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and other Construction Related Documents. All yes. Motion passed.
Next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, June 19, 2007 at 6:30 p.m.
Ordinance and License Committee: Next scheduled meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 12, 2007 at 6:00 p.m.
Personnel and Collective Bargaining Committee:. Alderman Orr stated that all the officers are qualified and to single out two officers (Canine and Investigator) is not appropriate. He felt that the incentive pay should be granted to all officers.
Alderman Hall also expressed his concerns stating that he felt the department was too small for such high raises and it costs too much money.
Alderman Hermes made a motion and Alderman Mietzner seconded to Authorize the Mayor to Execute the Metropolitan Alliance of Police, Wilmington Police Chapter #129 Agreement. 5 yes. 3 no (Alderman Orr, Hall and Hoppe). Motion passed.
Alderman Hall made a motion and Alder Gilmour seconded to Accept the Resignation of John McIntyre and the Settlement and Release Agreement between the City of Wilmington and John McIntyre. All yes. Motion passed.
Alderman Mietzner made a motion and Alderman Gilmour seconded to Approve Ordinance #07-06-05-02, an Ordinance Authorizing the Execution of a City Administrator Employment agreement between the City of Wilmington and Sheryl Puracchio 6 yes. 2 no (Alderman Orr and Hoppe). Motion passed.
Alderman Orr expressed his opinion stating that it is nothing personal against Sheryl, but he feels that even though Sheryl does do a good job at this position, she is not qualified for the position. Other employees are also good at their positions and he expressed that the position should be posted and does not like the way it is being filled. He feels the person who fills this position should have the qualifications to handle the job.
Alderman Hoppe also expressed her concerns stating the it to is nothing against Sheryl, but she also feels that the person needs to be experienced and hoped that this does not set a precedence for the future.
Mayor Strong commented that Sheryl is the right person for the position and that she has worked hard and has received on the job training and he feels that she will continue to do a good job as the City Administrator.
City Administrator Report: Sheryl Puracchio announced that the ground breaking ceremony for ProLogis will be on Monday, June 11, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. and asked who could be present for this. She also announced that she has distributed the second sewer plant report to all the aldermen.
Attorney’s Report: Attorney George Mahoney had nothing to report at this time.
Executive Session: Nothing at this time.
Next regular City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 19, 2007.
Alderman Gilmour made a motion and Alderman Hermes seconded to Adjourn the Meeting at 7:40p.m. All yes. Motion passed.
Sheila Long,
City Clerk