McHenry Times

Village of Richmond Village Board met Nov. 13.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

Village President Craig Kunz called the Emergency 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 and Tons Wardanian.

ABSENT: None

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

PUBLIC IN ATTENDANCE REMOTELY INCLUDED: None.

STATEMENT BY VILLAGE PRESIDENT OF BONAFIDE EMERGENCY FINDING: Motion to find that there is a bonafide emergency, pursuant to the Open Meetings Act, 5 ILCS 120/2.02(a), warranting this special meeting of the Village Board based on the following findings of fact:

• Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a potentially severe acute respiratory infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus was first identified as the cause of an outbreak of pneumonia of unknown cause in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, in December 2019; and

• On March 9,2020, Governor J.B, Pritzker declared al! counties in the State of Illinois as a disaster area; and

• On March 11 , 2020, the World Health Organization characterized the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic; and

• On March 11, 2020, McHenry County Board Chair Jack D. Franks proclaimed that a disaster emergency exists for the County of McHenry; and

• Following these actions. President Craig Kunz issued a Proclamation of Local Disaster Emergency for the Village of Richmond on March 16,2020; and

• Governor Pritzker has issued 65 Executive Orders relating to COVID-19, which have included Executive Order 2020-10 (COViD-19 Executive Order No. 8). Executive Order 2020-18 (COVID-19 Executive Order No. 16), and Executive Order No. 2020-32 (COVID-19 Executive Order No. 30), issuing a stay at home order for state residents, restricting the operations of non-essential businesses, and mandating limitations on public and private gatherings in the State of Illinois; and

• On May 5,2020, Governor Pritzker issued the Restore Illinois Plan, a public health approach to safely reopen Illinois, which included dividing Illinois into health regions and implementing a 5-phase plan: Phase 1-Rapid Spread, Phase 2-Flattening, Phase 3-Recovery, Phase 4-Revilalization, and Phase 5-iilinois Restored; and

• The North Suburban Health Region, of which the Village of Richmond is a part, is in Phase 4- Revitalizalion with Governor Pritzker's issuance of Executive Order No. 2020-43 (COVID-19 Executive Order No, 41), requiring social distancing, wearing face coverings in public places, and limiting gatherings; and

• The North Suburban Health Region has Tier 1 mitigations in place further restricting bars and restaurants, meetings, social events and gatherings, and organized group recreational activities; and

• The current projections regarding positivity rates are that they will continue to increase causing further mitigations to be implemented by the State of Illinois.

Trustee Garbis moved, seconded by Trustee Peiler to find that there is a bonafide emergency, pursuant to the Open Meetings Act, 5 ILCS 120/2.02{a), warranting this special meeting of the Village Board as presented. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES; ELUOn, FULMER, GARBIS, PEILER AND WARDANIAN. NAYS: NONE. ABSENT: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. The motion earned.

DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING PROPOSED COVID.19 MITIGATION MEASURES: President Kunz reported that he had attended a phone conference with McHenry County Mayors regarding proposed COV8D-19 mitigation measures. At that time, most Mayors agreed to enforce the proposed mitigation measures discussed, which would defy the Governor's order to allow indoor dining. Municipal leaders were informed that they could not trump the McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) or the Governor's Order. He announced that he had sent a modified draft of the City of Woodstock's position regarding Best Practices/Mitigation Steps Under Tier 1 Enhanced Mitigation to the Board members to review and decide whether they would like to implement them for the Village. He reported that it appears that only two municipalities will be enforcing the measures. This will not stop citations being issued by the MCDH. He reported that MCDH is performing random Inspections of businesses, currently one Richmond restaurant was inspected and found to not be in compliance. A re-lnspection has been scheduled.

There was a unanimous Board consensus to take no action and leave it to the State and Health Department to enforce,

PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.

With no further business, Trustee Futmer moved to adjourn the November 13, 2020, Emergency Board meeting held remotely on Zoom, seconded by Trustee Wardanian. The motion was approved by voice vote.

Meeting adjourned at 7:28 PM.

https://richmond-il.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/11-13-2020-Emergency-Board-Minutes-1.pdf