McHenry Times

City of Harvard City Council met Sept. 27.

Here is the agenda provided by the council:

Mayor Kelly called the Regular City Council Meeting to order and led the pledge to the flag at 7:00 pm. City Clerk Moller called roll to establish a quorum. Aldermen present: Haderlein, Schulz, Carncross, Gorman, Meza, Perkins and Luna. Alderman Lavallee was absent. Also present: City Administrator Nelson, Treasurer/Finance Director Bejot, Code Enforcement Officer Nutley, Deputy Chief Sacco, Supt. Parks & Rec Knop, Supt. Public Works Kruckenberg, Supt. Utilities Grant, City Attorney TJ Clifton and members of the

audience.

PUBLIC COMMENT

None

ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES - APPROVED

A motion was made by Alderwoman Haderlein, seconded by Alderman Carncross to approve the Administration Committee Meeting Minutes of September 14, 2022, as presented. Roll call vote: Haderlein, aye; Carncross, aye and Perkins, aye. Motion approved three to zero.

COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES - APPROVED

A motion was made by Alderman Schulz, seconded by Alderman Carncross to approve the Community and Economic Development Committee Meeting Minutes of September 21, 2022, as presented. Roll call vote: Schulz, aye; Carncross, aye; Meza aye and Luna, aye. Motion approved four to zero.

CONSENT AGENDA - APPROVED

The items under the Consent Agenda are acted upon in a single motion. There is no separate discussion of these items prior to the Council vote unless a Council Member requests that an item be removed from the Consent Agenda for separate action.

a. Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of August 23, 2022 and Special City Council Meeting of September 13, 2022

b. Planning & Zoning Committee Meeting Minutes of September 6, 2022

c. Administration Committee Meeting Minutes of September 14, 2022

d. Community & Economic Development Committee Meeting Minutes of September 21, 2022

e. Administrators Report

f. Building & Grounds Report

g. Community Development Department Report

h. Harvard Diggins Library Directors Report

i. Parks & Recreation Report

j. Police Department Report

k. Public Works Department Report

l. Utilities Department Report

m. Accept Jim Hutchinson’s Letter of Resignation from the Planning & Zoning Commission

n. Chris Czarnowski, Ben’s Christmas Tree Farm, is requesting permission to place temporary directional signs at the intersections of Routes 14/173 and Routes 23/14 from November 15- December 21, 2022, with the permit fee waived in exchange for the Christmas tree that will be displayed at Five Points.

o. Halloween Trick-or-Treat Hours Monday, October 31, 2022, from 4-8 pm

A motion was made by Alderman Meza, seconded by Alderwoman Haderlein to remove Item 6o, Halloween Trick-or-Treat Hours, from the Consent Agenda. Aldermen voting aye: Haderlein, Schulz, Carncross, Meza, Perkins and Luna. All ayes. Motion carried.

A motion was made by Alderman Schulz, seconded by Alderman Carncross to approve the Consent Agenda, items 6a-n, as presented. Roll call vote: Carncross, aye; Meza, aye; Perkins, aye; Luna, aye; Haderlein, aye and Schulz, aye. Motion approved six to zero.

INDIVIDUAL ACTION CONSENT AGENDA ITEM – HALLOWEEN TRICK-OR-TREAT HOURS

A motion was made by Alderman Carncross, seconded by Alderwoman Haderlein to change the Halloween Trick or Treat Hours on Monday, October 31st to 4-7 pm. Mayor Kelly related he has heard from some of the mothers in the community that they would appreciate the hours being changed to 4-7 pm. At Alderman Perkins’ inquiry, Deputy Chief Sacco noted that while there have been one or two instances involving children on Halloween, there hasn’t been anything memorable. Several aldermen commented there are a lot of working parents who won’t appreciate it being done early as they don’t get home til later. It was also noted that residents can turn their lights off if they don’t want to receive any trick or treaters; the City can make a posting to that effect.

Alderman Gorman joined the meeting at 7:05 pm.

Roll call vote: Carncross, no; Gorman, aye; Meza, aye; Perkins, no; Luna, no; Haderlein, aye and Schulz, no. Motion denied three to four.

A motion was made by Alderman Carncross, seconded by Alderwoman Luna that Halloween Trick or Treat Hours be held on Monday, October 31st from 4-8 pm. Roll call vote: Schulz, aye; Carncross, aye; Gorman, aye; Meza, no; Perkins, aye; Luna, aye and Haderlein, no. Motion approved five to two.

PLAQUE PRESENTATION TO OUTGOING PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION MEMBER JIM HUTCHINSON

Jim Hutchinson was not in attendance. The plaque will either be mailed or hand delivered.

PAYMENT OF BILLS

A motion was made by Alderwoman Haderlein, seconded by Alderman Meza to approve payment of the bills as presented in the amount of $1,368,413.84. Roll call vote: Gorman, aye; Meza, aye; Perkins, aye; Luna, aye; Haderlein, aye; Schulz, aye and Carncross, aye. Motion approved seven to zero.

PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION – SEPTEMBER 6, 2022

Dunham Township, Accessory Use Size & Height Variation, 107 Airport Rd. - Ordinance 2022-125 Approved The petitioner is seeking relief from the accessory size and height requirements pursuant to Section 9.3A.4&5, Accessory Structures and Uses, General Regulations for Accessory Structure of the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to build an accessory structure. Subject property is located at 107 Airport Rd., Harvard. The petitioner was in attendance. Mayor Kelly opened the floor to comments from the City Council. There were no comments.

A motion was made Alderwoman Haderlein, seconded by Alderman Gorman to approve the Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation to approve the petition as presented. Roll call vote: Meza, aye; Perkins, aye; Luna, aye; Haderlein, aye; Schulz, aye; Carncross, aye and Gorman, aye. Ordinance 2022- 125 approved seven to zero.

HOME OCCUPATION PERMIT APPLICATION

Guadalupe Caballero d/b/a Victoria’s, 717 E. Dewey St. - Approved

The City Council reviewed a Home Occupation Permit application submitted by Guadalupe Caballero, d/b/a Victoria’s, to operate a beauty salon at her residence located at 717 Dewey St., Harvard. The petitioner was in attendance. The requisite notice was sent to adjoining property owners and no objections were received. Alderman Meza acted as a translator for the petitioner. At Alderman Carncross’ inquiry, the petitioner indicated that she doesn’t expect a lot of appointments and should have plenty of space for clients in the driveway.

A motion was made by Alderwoman Haderlein, seconded by Alderman Perkins to approve the Home Occupation Permit application as presented. Roll call vote: Perkins, aye; Luna, aye; Haderlein, aye; Schulz, aye; Carncross, aye; Gorman, aye and Meza, aye. Motion approved seven to zero.

Alderman Schulz recused himself from the meeting at 7:13 pm.

SPECIAL EVENT LIQUOR LICENSE APPLICATION - APPROVED

Samantha Roesner, Bopps Bar & Grill, 103 E. Front St., is requesting a Special Event Liquor License on October 22, 2022. The petitioner has received permission to use the vacant lot adjoining Bopps located at 7 North Ayer St. The fees have been paid. A motion was made by Alderman Perkins, seconded by Alderman Carncross to approve the Special Event Liquor License Application as presented. Roll call vote: Luna, aye; Haderlein, aye; Carncross, aye; Gorman, aye; Meza, aye and Perkins, aye. Motion approved six to zero.

Alderman Schulz returned to the meeting at 7:15 pm.

ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION - APPROVED

A motion was made by Alderman Carncross, seconded by Alderman Schulz to approve the Administration Committee’s recommendation to accept the Audit for Fiscal Year Ending April 30, 2022, as submitted by Lauterbach and Amen LLP Accountants. Roll call vote: Haderlein, aye; Schulz, aye; Carncross, aye; Gorman, aye; Meza, aye; Perkins, aye and Luna, aye. Motion approved seven to zero.

COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FY2022/2023 BUDGET TO CREATE A BUDGET FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - ORD. 2022-126 APPROVED

A motion was made by Alderman Perkins, seconded by Alderman Carncross to adopt the ordinance as presented. Alderman Meza inquired if there should be a limit on expenses. City Administrator Nelson replied that he and the Mayor had a conversation with Charlie Eldredge to follow normal procedures which the City has a separate ordinance for. In the short term, expenses would be approved by the Mayor and afterwards by the new City Administrator. This would be for expenses above and beyond day-to-day expenses, i.e. travel, and would need to be pre-approved. Roll call vote: Schulz, aye; Carncross, aye; Gorman, aye; Meza, aye; Perkins, aye; Luna, aye and Haderlein, aye. Ordinance 2022-126 approved seven to zero.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR CANDIDATES

Mayor Kelly informed the City Council that the list for City Administrator candidates has been narrowed down to four finalists. Administration Committee Meetings have been set to conduct interviews on September 28th, September 29th and October 5th. A Closed Session Meeting is scheduled for October 6th.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

ALDERWOMAN HADERLEIN

Alderwoman Haderlein indicated that the full City Council is welcome to join the Administration Committee for the upcoming interviews. Mayor Kelly reported that there 19 total candidates who applied for the position which was narrowed down to 10 for interviews and five finalists, one of which withdrew as he took another position.

ALDERWOMAN LUNA

Alderwoman Luna inquired as to the status of the brewery. Mayor Kelly was unaware of any additional status beyond their zoning approval. City Administrator Nelson related that the petitioners have obtained a demolition permit.

ALDERMAN MEZA

Alderman Meza inquired if Charlie Eldredge, Economic Development would he be able to reach out to state reps for issues relating to the viaduct on Route 14 (snow removal and getting lights put up). Mayor Kelly and City Administrator Nelson related those issues wouldn’t be considered economic development and that the best route would be through our elected state representatives.

NO REPORT

City Attorney Clifton, City Administrator Nelson and Aldermen Schulz, Perkins, Carncross and Gorman had no additional report.

TREASURER’S REPORT

Report as submitted.

CLERK’S REPORT – UPCOMING MEETING DATES

September 28 Administration Committee Meeting – 6:30 pm

September 29 Administration Committee Meeting – 6:30 pm

October 4 Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting – 7 pm

October 5 Administration Committee Meeting – 6 pm

October 6 Administration Committee Meeting – 6:30 pm

October 11 Administration Committee Meeting – 6:30 pm

October 17 Park Board Meeting – 6 pm

October 20 Community & Economic Development Committee Meeting – 6:30 pm

October 25 Regular City Council Meeting – 7 pm

Candidate Packets for the April 4, 2023, Consolidated Election are available for pickup at City Hall and are also posted on the City Website.

MAYOR’S REPORT

• Mayor Kelly related there is one seat from each ward up for election on April 4, 2023.

• With Jim Hutchinson’s resignation, there is a vacancy on the Planning & Zoning Commission that the Mayor is looking to fill.

• Mayor Kelly gave a brief update on the City Administrator search. He appreciates the City Council’s indulgence as we go through the process and gave kudos to City staffing. He related that he asked Deb to sit in on the interviews as another set of ears and conducted hours interviewing the different candidates One of the key things learned out of this is that the City Council is part of a very well-run organization which has been noted by the candidates who are applying for the position. They all researched our community and our City staffing and things that this body has done to try and move things forward as a community and they were all very impressed. Some of the candidates have significant amounts of public service experience. Mayor Kelly noted we shine as a community and he is proud to serve as Mayor of this organization that’s in no small part due to City Council engagement and City staff.

Alderman Schulz noted that Department Head Reports was omitted from the agenda and inquired as to any update on Starbucks and Popeyes. Mayor Kelly related that the petitioners are currently working with the county on water retention.

A motion was made by Alderman Perkins, seconded by Alderman Carncross to adjourn the meeting. Aldermen voting aye: Haderlein, Schulz, Carncross, Gorman, Meza, Perkins and Luna. All ayes. Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned at 7:30 pm.

https://www.cityofharvard.org/sites/default/files/fileattachments/city_council/meeting/14538/ccminutes2022-09-27.pdf