McHenry Times

Village of Richmond Village Board met May 7.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

Village President Craig Kunz called the Board Meeting to order at 7:00 PM via Remote Web Meeting held on Zoom, in Richmond, Illinois.

ROLL CALL:

PRESENT REMOTELY: Village President Craig Kunz; Trustees Robert Elliott, TJ Fulmer, Gina Garbis, Frank Peiler, Tom Van Daele and Toni Wardanian.

ABSENT: None

OTHERS PRESENT REMOTELY: Police Chief Ciro Cetrangolo, Attorney David McArdle and Village Clerk Karla Thomas.

PUBLIC IN ATTENDANCE REMOTELY INCLUDED: James Gerasco, Lauri Olson and Julie Treger.

ANNOUNCEMENT/REQUESTS: None

UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: Clerk Thomas read into the record an email received from James Gerasco as follows “I have been speaking with all my neighbors about a vacant property in the neighborhood, we are hoping for permission to put a community garden on the property, the address is 5218 Nippersink Dr. We have talked about the size being approximately 28 x 28 to start with.” President Kunz asked Mr. Gerasco if he wished to add any further comment. Mr. Gerasco responded that the request for the use of the Village lots for community gardens would be open to anyone in the community and the intention would be to plant vegetables and flowers; however need permission. President Kunz stated that he would support and liked the idea and will speak with legal regarding potential liability.

CONSENT AGENDA: The Board reviewed the items on the consent agenda.

a. Approval of Regular Board Minutes for April 16, 2020

b. Approve Authorization for the Police Chief to purchase Police Vehicles not to exceed $103,691.00 and waive formal bid process

c. Approve Authorization for the Village Clerk to expend funds for items, within budget, that exceeds purchasing authority:

• $5,500.00 for Nixle Software

• $5,556.00 for Asyst Software

• $15,000.00 for Phone System

d. Approve Authorization for the Director of Public Works to purchase the following items/services, at a not to exceed amount and waive formal bid process:

• $37,500.00 for Mini-Excavator & Trailer (Streets)

• $50,000.00 for Water Main Breaks (Water)

• $32,500.00 for Mini-Excavator & Trailer (Water)

• $32,500.00 for Meter Replacements (Water)

• $31,200.00 for Sludge Removal (Sewer)

• $59,000.00 for Lift Station Repairs (Sewer)

e. Approve Authorization for the Director of Public Works to expend funds for item, within budget, that exceeds purchasing authority:

• $23,800.00 for Operating Supplies (Streets)

• $20,000.00 for Fine Screen Building Modifications (Sewer)

• $20,000.00 for SCADA Install at Ami Road Sanitary Sewer Lift Station (Sewer)

f. Approve Authorization for Trustee Elliott (Community Development) to expend funds for items, within budget, that exceeds purchasing authority:

• $2,000.00 for Visit McHenry County Membership Dues

• $7,800.00 for (5) Community Events @ $1,560.00 each

• $2,000.00 for Downtown Banners

Trustee Elliott disagreed with the terminology in the 1st paragraph under New Business of the April 16th Board minutes regarding “deficit budget”. He questioned the $592,000 figure and request clarification on what that figure represented. President Kunz explained that it reflects all salaries, purchases in the General and Water/Sewer Funds including the IEPA principal and interest payment of approximately $380.000.00 and the South Water Tower Capital Improvement Project of approximately $366,000.00. President Kunz noted that fiscal year expenditures will exceed anticipated fiscal year revenues. Trustee Elliott voiced concerns that people two years from now will not understand why the Village budgeted as a deficit, especially when cash on hand is being used to pay for capital expenditures. President Kunz suggested that Trustee Elliott speak with the Village’s auditor who can explained why the budget is referred to as a “deficit” situation. Trustee Fulmer agreed with Trustee Elliott. Atty. McArdle provided the definition for the word “deficit” and after further debate, Atty. McArdle made the suggestion to hold the minutes until the next Board meeting so he could call the Village Auditor the next day to see what other terminology could be used.

Trustee Fulmer moved, seconded by Trustee Peiler to approve the consent agenda with the exception of the approval of the Regular Board Minutes of April 16, 2020, which were tabled; approve authorization for the Police Chief to purchase Police Vehicles not to exceed $103,691.00 and waive formal bid process; approve authorization for the Village Clerk, Director of Public Works and Trustee Elliott to expend funds for items within the budget but exceeds their purchasing authority; approve authorization for the Director Public Works to purchase items and services not to exceed the amounts provided and waive the formal bid process as presented. ROLL CALL: AYES: ELLIOTT, FULMER, GARBIS, PEILER, VAN DAELE and WARDANIAN. NAYS: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. The motion carried.

NEW BUSINESS: President Kunz announced his Fiscal Year 2021 Appointments.

Trustee Van Daele moved, seconded by Trustee Peiler to approve the Fiscal Year 2021 Village President’s Appointments as presented. ROLL CALL: AYES: ELLIOTT, FULMER, GARBIS, PEILER, VAN DAELE AND WARDANIAN. NAYS: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. The motion carried.

President Kunz presented the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) for Police Department Dispatch Service between the Village of Richmond and McHenry County. He noted that the IGA was in the amount of $71,912.75 for the first year, thereafter the amount increases by 2.5% annually. The term of the agreement is for the period of May 1, 2020 through April 30, 2024.

Trustee Van Daele moved, seconded by Trustee Garbis to approve entering into the Intergovernmental Agreement for Police Department Dispatch between the Village of Richmond and McHenry County as presented. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: ELLIOTT, FULMER, GARBIS, PEILER, VAN DAELE and WARDANIAN. NAYS: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. The motion carried.

President Kunz presented the proposal from Piqued Interest Consulting for Economic Development Services not to exceed $14,400.00 for Fiscal Year 2021. He explained that the proposal is for $85 per hour not to exceed $1,200.00 per month and additional work will be billed at $85.00 per hour. Trustee Attorney McArdle made a disclaimer that the owner of Piqued Interest Consulting is his sister-in-law and that she was approached by the Village four to five years ago without either of them knowing that the other would be providing services to the Village.

Trustee Elliott moved, seconded by Trustee Fulmer to approve the Piqued Interest Consulting proposal for economic development services not to exceed $14,400.00 for Fiscal Year 2021 as presented. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: ELLIOTT, FULMER, GARBIS, PEILER, VAN DAELE, and WARDANIAN. NAYS: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. The motion carried.

COMMITTEE/DEPARTMENT REPORTS: FINANCE: None.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: None. POLICE: None.

PUBLIC WORKS: None. ENGINEERING: None.

VILLAGE CLERK: None.

ATTORNEY: Atty. McArdle reported that his office is running a formal title policy to give the Village title for Magnolia’s, although we have a deed.

President Kunz reported that the fee has been paid.

PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS: None.

TRUSTEE COMMENTS: Trustee Van Daele voiced concerns that Village revenues are going to be down; therefore, the budget isn’t going to be close to accurate. Trustee Fulmer questioned whether Trustee Van Daele had explored the budget. Trustee Van Daele reported that he had and that the Village’s revenues are not going to be like the previous year. In business, if revenues are not coming in to meet the percentage of wages then sales need to increase or wages need to be cut. Trustee Wardanian reported that at some point decisions will need to be made due to the pandemics impact on the budget. At the current time, the budget is up in the air and at some point in the future the Village will need to tackle the problem. Trustee Fulmer noted that it is a good thing that the Village has emergency reserves for this type of situation.

Trustee Wardanian requested that Village eblasts be limited to once a day. On occasion multiple eblasts were being sent out daily, which is not effective and will result in people not opening them. It was suggested that eblast information be compiled throughout the day and then posted at the end of the day. President Kunz will mentioned it to the staff member responsible for the eblasts and limiting them to once a day.

Trustee Elliott inquired into whether the Village has a general plan for reopening businesses. President Kunz stated that the Village will follow the Governor’s orders and that he has been sending the Illinois Municipal League emails to the Trustees with information to keep them informed on the COVID-19 issues and directives. He reported that he had recently participated in a conference call with several Mayors including Jack Franks to discuss the Governor’s five-phase plan and request that the Governor reconsider separating areas within McHenry County from Cook County. Atty. McArdle announced that his office is working with Jack Franks on this matter and will be providing the Governor with local hospital statistics indicating that some areas of McHenry County should be opened up earlier than others. Trustee Van Daele expressed fears that not everything is going to come back right away and it may take a while, which is unfortunate.

With no further business, Trustee Wardanian moved to adjourn the Remote Board meeting, seconded by Trustee Garbis. The motion was approved by voice vote.

Meeting adjourned at 7:36 PM.

https://richmond-il.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/05-07-2020-Board-Minutes.pdf