HOMER TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING MINUTES STATE OF ILLINOIS MONTHLY BUSINESS Will County, ss. AND PLANNING MEETING Town of Homer April 13, 2015 DRAFT THE BOARD OF TOWN TRUSTEES met at the Homer Township Old Town Hall, 16057 Cedar Rd. Lockport, IL. 60491 on April 13th, 2015. Meeting began at 7:30pm with the Pledge, and ended at 9:20pm PRESENT: Pam Meyers Supervisor Linsey Sowa Town Clerk Ed Kalas Trustee John Kruczek Trustee Vicki Bozen Trustee ABSENT: Christina Neitzke Trustee Supervisor Pam Meyers and Linsey Sowa, Township Clerk conducted the Meeting of Township Board where the following official business was transacted. The meeting was called to order at 7:30pm by Supervisor Meyers with the pledge to the flag. Also present was Attorney Sramek and Commissioner DeVivo. 1. Call to order 2. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America 3. Roll Call 4. Matters from the Public: A. Public Hearing: 1) Motion to enter Public Hearing to consider Homer Township 2015 Community Development Block Grant Application for Lockport Heights Subdivision Phase VI Water Main Replacement Program by Trustee Kruczek, Second by Trustee Kalas. ALL-YES, Motion Carries. 2) Public Hearing participation and input: a) Paul St. Aubyn, PE; AECOM Water representing Lockport Heights Sanitary District, asked the board to continue supporting the grant application for the LHSD. b) No public comment was made 3) Motion to close Public Hearing by Trustee Bozen. Second by Trustee Kruczek. ALL-YES. 4) Motion by Supervisor Meyers, Second by Trustee Kalas, to approve Homer Township 2015 Community Development Block Grant Application for Lockport Heights Subdivision Water Main Replacement Phase VI project. ALL-YES, Motion Carries. B. Public Input
1) Members and Participants form the Homer Soccer Club spoke regarding the residency requirements for priority use of the fields at Morris Park. Soccer Club President Bill O Connell formally requested that the Board consider waiving the 90% residency requirement. 5. Accounting: A. March, 2015 accounts payable and receivable 1.) Motion to approve payment of March, 2015 bills from the following funds as presented by Trustee Bozen,. Second by Trustee Kruczek. ALL-YES, Motion Carries. B. Line Item Transfer 1) None submitted or pending. C. Requests for funding contributions 1) None submitted or pending 6. Plan Commission: Chairman Tom Fijan- Nothing pending, no report given 7. Highway Commissioner Mike DeVivo Report: A. Road District TENTATIVE Budgets (Road & Bridge, Equipment & Building Funds) for fiscal year April 1, 2015 thru March 31, 2016. Commissioner DeVivo explained that he has changed his budget, eliminating some line items, and some funding, and handed responsibility for funds to the Village of Homer Glen. Road District cannot continue to pay over time for staff to assist at community events. For the Community Fest, beginning in 2016, overtime from Road district staff will be billed to the event. Road district will continue to provide assistance this year, the future will need to be discussed. Commissioner DeVivo also stated that the Township will need to take over the cost for Pace Bus Services. Commissioner DeVivo stated that not raising the taxes in five years has been a strain on the department, and that in order to get the needed addition; he needed to make these adjustments. Supervisor Meyers explained that for these reasons there is no Tentative Budget for the Township accounts, as adjustments now must be made based on the Road District changes. B. Commissioner Devivo discussed construction projects. 159 th street work will begin this summer and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2017. Parker Road will be closed between 131 st and 135 th for about 4 weeks for construction, and message boards notifying drivers of the closures will go up two weeks prior to the closure. The intersection at 151 st and Parker is near completion, paving will take place next month, lights should be up Mid May. The Gougar road project the City of Lockport and the County are working on has been delayed because of land acquisition issues. 8. Assessor Karen Szynkowski Report: Assessor was absent, no report was given 9. Clerk Linsey Sowa Report : A. Minutes: 1) Motion to approve Regular Board Meeting minutes with Trustee Bozen s requested amendments ( removing the sentence regarding Assessor Szynkowski waiting to view the Rauner letter, and changing the section regarding spelling errors to read, Correct the spelling of names ) by Supervisor Meyers, second by Trustee Bozen. ALL-YES, Motion Carries. 2) TABLED from FEB. 9, 2015 MEETING: Evaluate releasing to the public Executive Session meeting minutes which were previously approved, but not released. (Clerk recommends discussion of specifics occur in Executive
Session, copies of all minutes are included in sealed executive session packet.) 3) Motion to release/not release executive session minutes on an individual basis by Supervisor Meyers, Second by Trustee Bozen. ALL-YES, Motion Carries. A. Motion to release the following Executive Session Minutes (SEE CHART BELOW) by Supervisor Meyers, Second by Trustee Bozen. ALL-YES, Motion Carries. June 6, 2011 Aug 1, 2011 Sept 12, 2011 Nov 14, 2011 Mar 12, 2012 May 14, 2012 Aug 13, 2012 Sept 10, 2012 Feb 11, 2013 Mar11, 2013 June 10, 2013 July 8, 2013 Aug 12, 2013 Sept 9, 2013 Nov 18, 2013 April 7, 2014 May 12, 2014 June 9, 2014 NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT B. Election/Voting Status Report: 1) April 7 th election- Early Voting. Clerk Sowa reported that early voting continues to gain popularity. Clerk may need to consider adding additional hours, and bringing in additional help from staff or other trained individuals to meet the needs of the residents. Clerk Sowa reported that the Village is considering no longer offering early voting, and this would have a great impact on demand at the Township. C. Statement of Economic Interests: 1) Due to Will County Clerk s Office no later than May 1 D. Newsletter Status Report: 1) Pending: Research in place to modernize the communicator newsletter. 10. Supervisor Pam Meyers Report A. Status Report Audit/Financial Reporting: 1) Hearne and Assoc is beginning the audit process gathering verfication statements from the Township s financial & legal relationships. B. Status Report FY 2015-16 Budgets: 1) Homer Township DRAFT Tentative Budgets (General Assistance; Founders Operating; Founders Bonds; Open Space Operating; Open Space Bonds; Park; Park Developer Contributions and Town Funds) for fiscal year April 1, 2015 thru March 31, 2016 was not available due to road district changes, Supervisor will email budget in advance of packets and meeting. C. Status Report Office Administration/Human Resource: 1) Completed Supervisor s reports for Annual Town meeting. 2) Supervisor recommends Town Board conduct annual employee reviews at May Meeting.
3) Various Assessor employee issues involving IDES and IMRF requiring follow up/ consultation with Attorney Vanderlaan (Supervisor recommends specifics occur in Executive Session). D. Status Report Senior Housing Facility: 1) Full occupancy status. E. Status Report Facilities Management: 1) Pending: Township Comprehensive Facilities Use Policy: a) Supervisor working with Park & Recreation Committee to prepare drafts for Board review addressing organizational and general public use of township facilities and park properties to coordinate rules, maintenance, fees and enforcement policies. 11. TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE REPORTS : A. Events Committee: Chairman Clerk Linsey Sowa 1) Status Report Homer Harvest Days: a) IGA Update b) Sponsorship Letters to be mailed out next week 2) Status Report Community Festival & Parade: a) Application for Non Profit Organizations to be considered for beer tent operations to go out next week. B. Military: Chairman, Assessor Karen Szynkowski was absent, no report given C. Open Space Planning & Operations: Chairman, Supervisor Pam Meyers 1) Committee Status Report: a) Members will participate at Homer Glen Earth/Arbor Day event on behalf of Township Open Space Program. b) Members are planning to continue with Root Beer sales fundraising at Homer Harvest Days. 2) Status Report Trantina Parcel: a) Rental Unit: New tenant began occupancy. b) Requests for facility use: 1. Annual Star Gazing events scheduled in July & October, 2015. c) Austin-Welter Historic Barn: 1. Will County Historic Preservation Commission Landmark Nomination of barn a. Committee made motion to advise Town Board to approve making the Landmark Nomination for consideration of the historic barn. b. Motion by Supervisor Meyers, Second by Trustee Bozen to approve submittal of Landmark Nomination application to Will County.ALL-YES, Motion Carries. d) Farmhouse renovation: 1. After a great deal of investigations from the committee, it appears there are foundation issues in the building whereby repairs may exceed the $20,000 bid threshold as required by law. In order to get an exact price from the JOC program, the designs for the work would be needed first. Motion from Committee to recommend the Board accept the proposal from SRI in the amount of $3,000 to perform scope of work required in order to solicit proposal/bids to repair foundation issues. 2. Motion by Supervisor Meyers, Second by Trustee Kruczek to approve committee recommendations to approve proposal from SRI to design and
detail farmhouse foundation repairs in the amount of $3,000 per the scope of work identified in the proposal ALL-YES, Motion Carries, D. Park & Recreation: Chairmen, Trustees Ed Kalas and John Kruczek 1) Status Report Committee: a) Members discussed sports usage policies and potential changes. Trustee Kruczek is working on a draft of sports use policy. b) Committee continues to work on developing inventory, assessments and Master Planning documents. 2) Status Report Sendra Park: a) Preliminary cost estimates for playground equipment were provided by Clerk Sowa 3) Status Report Morris Park: a) Trustee Kalas and Committee will continue to cooperate with Will County Land Use, Health Department and Homer Township Fire District to bring site into compliance. 4) Status Report Sport Complexes: a) Sport Organizations Request for field use: 1. HAC are in compliance with Township policy agreements and have begun season. 2. HSC Requests for Morris Park sport field usage are contingent upon resolving issues remaining from the previous usage years (copy of 8-11-14 status report attached). a. HSC requested their original donor of the cargo container be provided an opportunity to work with Homer Township to have it removed in compliance with County regulations. No action to move forward with this proposal has been provided to the township. b. At the direction of the Board, the matter was referred to Attorney Sramek to attempt to move forward with compliance issues (attached copy of Sramek letter dated 3-26-15). No response from HSC at time of agenda preparation. c. Documents submitted from HSC prior to authorizing field usage did not meet the 90% residency requirements. Roster submitted with 48 non residents. To comply with rule, a maximum of 27 non residents is allowed; therefore, there are 21 nonresidents beyond compliance. b) Baseball irrigation: system issues regarding time & equipment replacement according to Illinois Sprinkler. Meeting with HAC, Illinois Sprinkler, Trustee Kalas and Supervisor Meyers resulted in HAC members agreed to bring the issue before their Board for consideration. Jim at Illinois Sprinkler was instructed to prepare a repair proposal to be presented to HAC for consideration. E. Seniors group: Chairman, Trustee Vicki Bozen 1) Status Report: Monthly newsletter 12. NEW BUSINESS A. With completion of Homer Glen village elections we anticipate vacant trustee position as Trustee Neitzke- Troike winning a position as village trustee. 1) Trustee Neitzke-Troike has indicated she will submit a formal resignation from township trustee position. 2) Town Board past vacancy procedure has been to accept interested parties to submit formal Letter of Interest/Qualifications for Board consideration 3) Supervisor recommends setting a submittal deadline of May 31, 2015 after which the qualified submittals will be provided to the Town Board for appointment consideration at the June 8, 2015 meeting (see attached Illinois Statute 60 ILCS 1-Vacancies in Township Offices).
13. OLD BUSINESS A. Status Report Homer Township Fire Board: 1) All applications submitted are attached. Two applicants did not meet the eligibility requirements as required and identified on attached summary sheet 2) Motion by Supervisor Meyers, Second by Trustee Kruczek to approve the appointment of Ken Fijan to the Homer Township Fire Protection District Board of Trustees for the term May 1, 2015 through 2018. Meyers, Kalas, Kruczek- YES, Bozen- No. Motion Carries. a) Supervisor Meyers commented that she was glad to see so many applicants for the position. Supervisor Meyers also formally thanked Vince Colabelli for his service, and stated that she was not converse to appointing him, but that based on qualifications set up by the board and according to the policy for appointments, as well as demographics, that as one board member is already from the Village, and one Already from the City, it would be proper to have someone from the township, as the statutes mention there shall not be too many representatives from one city or village. B. Status Report Caton Farm/Bruce Road SRA: 1) A meeting to reconvene the Transportation Corridor Committee has been called by Will County Executive Walsh on April 14, 2015 at 11a.m. at 302 N. Chicago St., Joliet, IL C. Status Report Annual Town Meeting: 1) Tomorrow April 14 th at 6pm. Girl Scout Troop #70589 to lead the pledge of Allegiance 14. EXECUTIVE SESSION: A. Motion by Trustee Bozen, Second by Trustee Kruczek to enter closed executive session permissible by Open Meetings Act, 5 ILCS 120/2 to discuss matters pertaining to permitted Exceptions Item(s) C-11 Litigation and C-1 Employment. A. Call to Order B. Roll Call C. Motion to adjourn Executive Session and return to regular meeting by Supervisor Meyers, second by Trustee Kruczek. ALL-YES. Motion Carries. 15. Action taken after Executive Session- None 16. Adjournment: A. Motion to adjourn at 9:20pm by Trustee Kruczek, Second by Trustee Bozen. ALL-YES, Meeting adjourn. Next Scheduled Meetings HOMER TOWNSHIP ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ELECTORS Date: April 14, 2015 at 6:00 PM HOMER TOWN BOARD REGULAR BUSINESS/PLANNING Date: May 11, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. Locations: Township Hall, 16057 S. Cedar Rd, Lockport, IL 60491