Grundy Reporter

Maine Township Board met April 23.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

Board Members Present: Clerk Gialamas, Assessor Moylan Krey, Highway Commissioner Kazmierczak, Trustees Jones, Carrabotta, McKenzie and Sweeney

Other in attendance: Keri-Lyn Krafthefer, Doriene Prorak, Victoria Rizzo, Marie Dachniwsky, Denise Jajko, Michael Samaan, Richard Lyon, Austin Kelso, Diane Carrabotta, Donna Adam, Catherine Sbarra, Beth Penesis, Dick Barton, Carolyn Drblik, Nader Ghazaleh and Wiesia Tytko.

Clerk Gialamas called the meeting to order at 7:31 p.m., led the Pledge of Allegiance and called the roll.

Agenda Item: Approval of participation by electronic means of Board Member Morask

Clerk Gialamas stated that the Township Board has a policy permitting attendance of Township Board member at meetings from a remote location. He added that Supervisor Morask asked to attend this meeting vial telephone due to being hospitalized

Trustee Sweeney Motion to permit via remote attendance at the April 23rd Board

meeting for Supervisor Morask.

Trustee Carrabotta Second.

Motion on a roll call vote as follows:

Supervisor Morask Absent

Trustee Jones Yes

Trustee McKenzie Yes

Trustee Carrabotta Yes

Trustee Sweeney Yes

Motion carried.

Clerk Gialamas stated that Supervisor Morask is attending the April 23rd Board meeting vial telephone.

Agenda Item: Motion to select Acting Chairman

Trustee Jones Motion to nominate Trustee McKenzie as Acting Chairman for the April 23rd Board meeting.

Trustee Sweeney Second.

Motion on a roll call vote as follows:

Supervisor Morask Yes

Trustee Jones Yes

Trustee McKenzie Yes

Trustee Carrabotta Yes

Trustee Sweeney Yes

Motion carried.

Agenda Item: Approval of Minutes of March 26, 2019 Bill Pay Review

Supervisor Morask Motion to waive the reading and approve the minutes of the March 26, 2019 Bill Pay Review.

Trustee Carrabotta Second.

Motion on a roll call vote as follows:

Supervisor Morask Yes

Trustee Jones Yes

Trustee McKenzie Yes

Trustee Carrabotta Yes

Trustee Sweeney Yes

Motion carried.

Agenda Item: Approval of Minutes of March 26, 2019 Board Meeting

Trustee Sweeney Motion to waive the reading and approve the minutes of the March 26, 2019 Board Meeting.

Trustee Jones Second.

Motion on a roll call vote as follows:

Supervisor Morask Yes

Trustee Jones Yes

Trustee McKenzie Yes

Trustee Carrabotta Yes

Trustee Sweeney Yes

Motion carried.

Agenda Item: Approval of Minutes April 2, 2019 Supervisor’s Annual Financial Statement Meeting

Trustee Jones Motion to waive the reading and approve the minutes of the April 2, 2019 Supervisor’s Annual Financial Statement Meeting.

Trustee Carrabotta Second.

Motion on a roll call vote as follows:

Supervisor Morask Yes

Trustee Jones Yes

Trustee McKenzie Yes

Trustee Carrabotta Yes

Trustee Sweeney Yes

Motion carried.

Agenda Item: Public Participation

Beth Penesis North Area Manager for Aqua Illinois, stated that Aqua IL has a new program called Aqua Aid - Neighbors Helping Neighbors. Aqua Aid is an assistance program designed to enable customers in need to receive uninterrupted water service. The program is focused on customers within communities and is funded by donations from Aqua customers. To make donation anybody can visit: www.AquaAmericqa.com/our-states/Illinois/Aqua-Aid.

See video at 5:52.

Agenda Item: Approval of General Assistance Expenditures

Payrolls dated April 5, 2019 and April 19, 2019 and General Assistance checks #51896 through check #51950 in the amount of $53,858.47.

Trustee Sweeney Motion to approve. 

Trustee Carrabotta Second

Trustee Sweeney stated that check #51919 in amount of $160.00 for April Personal Essential Assistance should reflect that it is one payment for March and one payment for April.

Motion on a roll call vote as follows:

Supervisor Morask Yes

Trustee Jones Yes

Trustee McKenzie Yes

Trustee Carrabotta Yes

Trustee Sweeney Yes

Motion carried.

Agenda Item: Approval of Road District Expenditures

Payrolls dated April 5, 2019 and April 19, 2019 and Road District checks #20850 through check #20884 in the amount of $71,365.52.

Trustee Carrabotta Motion to approve.

Trustee Jones Second.

Trustee Carrabotta stated that check #20882 in amount of $3,365.00 for Spaceco Inc., Engineering Services, was explained by Highway Commissioner Kazmierczak that most of the money came back to the township by payment from School District.

Trustee Carrabotta stated that check #20884 in amount of $2,860.29 for MacMunnis Inc., Offsite Storage/Building, was explained by Highway Commissioner Kazmierczak that this invoice is higher due to it included the monthly rental and property tax. The future invoice won’t include the Real Estate taxes.

Motion on a roll call vote as follows:

Supervisor Morask Yes

Trustee Jones Yes

Trustee McKenzie Yes

Trustee Carrabotta Yes

Trustee Sweeney Yes

Motion carried

Agenda Item: Approval of General Town Fund Expenditures

Payrolls dated April 5, 2019 and April 19, 2019 and General Town Fund checks #56705 through check #56791 in the amount of $313,303.44.

Trustee Jones Motion to approve.

Supervisor Morask Second.

Trustee McKenzie stated that check #56764 in amount of $225.00 for Assessor Moylan Krey, Property Assessment Institute Class, will be void subject to submission of required documentation. She added that the total amount for General Town Fund Payroll will be $313,078.44.

Supervisor Morask Motion to amend the approval of General Town Fund Expenditures in the amount of $313,078.44.

Trustee Sweeney Second.

Motion on a roll call vote as follows:

Supervisor Morask Yes

Trustee Jones Yes

Trustee McKenzie Yes

Trustee Carrabotta Yes

Trustee Sweeney Yes

Motion carried.

Agenda Item: Brief Presentation Catherine Sbarra/HRB Solutions, regarding Health Insurance Catherine Sbarra, CEO/Senior Benefits/Facility Advisor from HRB Solutions reported that the Maine Township and Maine Township Highway Department Health Insurance is up for renewal and she is still negotiating the rates. She explained BlueCross BlueShield options for PPO and HMO Grandfathered Rates, the Renewal and Large Claim Data and Marketing. Ms. Sbarra also mentioned other carriers plans.

There were numerous questions and requests for more research on the health insurance renewal. The Board thanked Ms. Sbarra for her representation.

See video at 17:05.

Agenda Item: New Business, Adoption of Tentative Budget Town Fund & GA for Public Inspection Trustee McKenzie stated that by law the tentative budgets for General Town Fund & General Assistance and Road District need to be adopted for public inspection and filed with the Clerk’s office 30 days before the Budget Hearings and approval of the final budgets. She added that the Board needs to select a date for the Special Budget Workshop. Trustee McKenzie stated that she was informed by our attorneys that most townships post their current budgets and place them on file as tentative budgets. She suggested to use that method and have public conversation at the Special Budget Workshop.

Supervisor Morask Motion to adopt figures from the Amended Budget, Ordinance 2018-1 (passed on August 28, 2018) and placed on file as the Tentative Budget & Appropriation Ordinance 2019-4. 

Trustee Jones Second.

See video at 52:56 for detailed discussions. Discussion.

Trustee Sweeney Motion to amend the previous motion to use the actual numbers from last year as opposed to the budgeted numbers.

Trustee Carrabotta Second.

Extended discussion on same subject matter.

After lengthy discussion Trustee Sweeney withdrawn her motion.

Trustee McKenzie stated that Supervisor Morask’s motion is on table for voting.

Motion on a roll call vote as follows:

Supervisor Morask Yes

Trustee Jones Yes

Trustee McKenzie Yes

Trustee Carrabotta Yes

Trustee Sweeney Yes

Motion carried.

Trustee Sweeney clarified that the Board adopts tentative budget as General Town Fund in amount of $4,590,121.00, General Assistance Fund in amount of $830,891.00 with Total Appropriations in amount of $5,421,012.00. She added that the Board anticipates significantly reducing the General Assistance Fund for the 2019-2020 budget.

Agenda Item: New Business, Adoption of Tentative Budget Highway for Public Inspection

Trustee Jones Motion to adopt the Maine Township Road District Tentative Budget & Appropriation for 2019-2020, Ordinance 2019-RB-1 as proposed. 

Supervisor Morask Second.

Highway Commissioner Kazmierczak stated that his proposed tentative budget is a starting point for discussion for the Budget Workshop. It reflects lower labor costs and shores up some underfunded line item.

Discussion.

See video at 1:35:42.

Trustee McKenzie Motion to amend adopting the Road District Tentative Budget Ordinance 2019-RB-1, with the total appropriations of $1,984,707.00 with numbers 1 through 6 noted on page 7.

Trustee Carrabotta Second.

Attorney Krafthefer stated that Section 3 of the Illinois Municipal Budget Law doesn’t require Township Board to vote on this. It requires Highway Commissioner establishing tentative budget, follow the code and file the tentative budget with the Clerk’s office for public inspection.

Supervisor Morask withdrew the original motion and Trustee Jones seconded it.

Agenda Item: New Business, Resolution 2019-RB-2 to Dispose of Equipment

Attorney Krafthefer stated that the proposed Road District resolutions number should be corrected as the Maine Township resolution for the Board approval.

The Resolution 2019-RB-2 was changed to the Resolution 2019-4.

Trustee Jones Motion to approve the Resolution 2019-4, Resolution of the Maine Township Board to Sell or Dispose of Surplus Vehicles and Equipment.

Supervisor Morask Second.

Discussion regarding vehicles to be sold or disposed of. See video at 2:00:12.

Motion on a roll call vote as follows:

Supervisor Morask Yes

Trustee Jones Yes

Trustee McKenzie Yes

Trustee Carrabotta Yes

Trustee Sweeney Yes

Motion carried.

Agenda Item: New Business, Lawn Service Proposal Renewal, Contract Term: 4/19-11/19

Trustee McKenzie stated that our current lawn service, All Season Maintenance Inc. provided the 2019 Lawn Service Proposal Renewal for the term from April 2019 through November 2019. Trustee

McKenzie read the proposed renewal contract.

Supervisor Morask Motion to accept All Season Maintenance Inc. contract for monthly lawn service in amount of $1,350.00, from April 2019 through November 2019. 

Trustee Jones Second.

Trustee Sweeney asked how long Maine Township has used All Season Maintenance Inc. Supervisor Morask responded that we are using their services since 1999.

Michael Samaan stated that All Season Maintenance Inc. does a great job since 1999 and he has nothing bad to say about this company. He added that last year three other companies came in to look at this job but there were no responses from any of them.

Trustee Sweeney asked about bidding process and Supervisor Morask responded that if the proposed service in under $20,000.00 it doesn’t require bidding.

Trustee Sweeney suggested that as a good business practice the Township should allow to go for bids for any job opportunities.

Motion on a roll call vote as follows:

Supervisor Morask Yes

Trustee Jones Yes

Trustee McKenzie Yes

Trustee Carrabotta Yes

Trustee Sweeney Yes

Motion carried.

Agenda Item: New Business, Date Selection for Special Budget Workshop

Trustee McKenzie asked for choosing a date for the Special Board Meeting Budget Workshop. The Board agreed to schedule the Budget Workshop on Tuesday, May 14th at 7:00 p.m.

Trustee McKenzie requested that any additional support for any line items need to be provided and delivered by May 7th with the special board distribution for the discussion at the Budget Workshop. Discussion.

See video at 2:12:46.

Agenda Item: Old Business

Trustee Sweeney questioned an add recruiting a director position in General Assistance. Supervisor Morask responded that this matter was mentioned and Supervisor can hire in General

Assistance without a posting. She added that three people were interviewed for this position and she recommended the acting General Assistance Director, Austin Kelso for General Assistance Director as the best candidate.

Trustee Sweeney pointed out that she doesn’t recall having any discussion regarding this matter and she was in understanding that the General Assistance Director position was cut due to reducing the budget.

For more detailed discussion and explanations see video at 2:25:30.

Supervisor Morask stated that Mr. Kelso’s resume was distributed and she announced that Austin Kelso is the General Assistance Director.

Agenda Item: Officials’ Reports

The Elected Officials waived their reports.

Assessor Moylan Krey reported that the Assessor’s office is sponsoring two outreach programs for the triennial assessment on May 6th at the Park Ridge Library at 6:30 p.m. and May 15th at the Maine Township Town Hall at 6:00 p.m. The reassessment begins on May 3rd.

Agenda Item: None.

Agenda Item:

Administrator’s Report

Closed Session, FOIA Settlement Agreement

Trustee McKenzie Motion to go to the Closed Session under Section 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (11) for the sole purpose of discussion of pending litigation.

Trustee Carrabotta Second.

Motion on a roll call vote as follows:

Supervisor Morask Yes

Trustee Jones Yes

Trustee McKenzie Yes

Trustee Carrabotta Yes

Trustee Sweeney Yes

Motion carried.

The Board re-convened in Open Session at 10:13 p.m.

Trustee McKenzie Motion to re-convene in Open Session.

Trustee Carrabotta Second.

Motion on a roll call vote as follows:

Supervisor Morask Yes

Trustee Jones Yes

Trustee McKenzie Yes

Trustee Carrabotta Yes

Trustee Sweeney Yes

Motion carried.

Agenda Item: Vote on FOIA Settlement Agreement

Attorney Krafthefer stated that the Board went to the Closed Session to discuss pending litigation case: Kirk Allen vs. Maine Township, Illinois Department of Employment Security, 18 CH 15097 in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois. She stated that the Release and Settlement Agreement for FOIA law suit will be proposed to settle for $4,000.00 as the dismissed with prejudice settlement and Maine Township is not admitting any liabilities.

Trustee Carrabotta Motion to approve Release and Settlement Agreement as presented.

Trustee Jones Second.

Motion on a roll call vote as follows:

Supervisor Morask Yes

Trustee Jones Yes

Trustee McKenzie Yes

Trustee Carrabotta Yes

Trustee Sweeney Yes

Motion carried.

Agenda Item: Adjournment

Supervisor Morask Motion to adjourn.

Trustee Jones Second.

All in favor.

Motion carried on a voice vote.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 p.m.

https://mainetown.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/minutes_19-04-23.pdf