VILLAGE OF BARRINGTON HILLS

Minutes of the Regular Meeting February 27, 2006

President Abboud called the Regular Meeting to order at 6:33 p.m.  Roll Call.

Present Guests 

Robert G. Abboud, President                                       Susan Hanson, Resident                       

Fritz H. Gohl, Pro-Tem                                     Dan Lundmark, Equestrian Comm.

Theodore L. Horne, Trustee                                         Ginger Underwood, Resident               

Walter E. Smithe, Trustee                                             Judy Freeman, Resident

Julie McKevitt, Trustee                                     Karen Rosene, Resident

Steven E. Knoop, Trustee                                             Peter Wessel, B.C.P.D.

George E. Schueppert, Trustee                         Kim Keper, Resident

Douglas Wambach, Village Attorney                             Neal Waltmire, P&Z Coordinator

Todd Gordon, Village Engineer                         Officer Joseph Colditz, B.H.P.D.

Michael N. Murphy, Police Chief                                  Officer Todd Borck, B.H.P.D.

Elaine M. Ramesh, Village Clerk                                   Peter Tillman, APS Representative

                                                                                    Thomas Cafcas, Attorney

                                                                                    James Kelly, Attorney

Trustee Schueppert motioned to adjourn to Executive Session to discuss legal matters at 6:34 pm.  Trustee McKevitt seconded.  Roll Call.

Ayes:     7 (Schueppert, Knoop, McKevitt, Smithe, Horne, Gohl, Abboud)

Nays:     0

Absent:  0

Meeting Adjourned

EXECUTIVE SESSION

PUBLIC SESSION

President Abboud called the Public Session to order at 7:38 pm. 

MINUTES

Trustee Horne motioned to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of January 23, 2006.  Trustee Knoop seconded.   All present said aye.

Motion Approved

Trustee Knoop motioned to approve the minutes of the Executive Session of January 23, 2006 as presented.  Trustee Schueppert seconded.   All present said aye.

Motion Approved

PUBLIC COMMENTS

President Abboud opened a thirty-five minute session for public comments at 7:43 p.m.

Resident and artist Susan Hanson presented her ideas for a new design for the Village’s vehicle stickers.   A suggestion was made that Susan work with the Communications Committee to post the designs on the website to obtain residents’ feedback. 

Resident and District 220 School Board member Judy Freeman spoke about the school district’s March ballot referenda.  Board members expressed concern over the effect of the location of the proposed new schools on traffic in the Village.  

As there were no further remarks, the public comments session ended at 8:31 pm.

FINANCE – Walter E. Smithe

Treasurer’s Report – Trustee Smithe presented the Treasurer’s report for the month of January 2006.   Trustee Smithe motioned to accept the Treasurer’s Report as presented.  Trustee Schueppert seconded.  Roll Call.

Ayes:     7  (Schueppert, Knoop, McKevitt, Smithe, Horne, Gohl, Abboud)

Nays:     0

Absent:  0 

Motion Approved

Police Pension Board Report –Trustee Smithe motioned to accept the financial report of the Police Pension Board through December 2005 and Summary of Activity as presented.  Trustee Gohl seconded.  All present said aye.

Motion Approved

Presentation of Bills – Trustee Smithe motioned to approve the payment of the bills for the month of February in the amount of  $325,686.89. Trustee Knoop seconded.  Roll Call:

Ayes:     7  (Schueppert, Knoop, McKevitt, Smithe, Horne, Gohl, Abboud)

Nays:     0

Absent:  0 

Motion Approved

Overtime Reports – Trustee Smithe motioned to approve $2,314.31 in overtime expenses for January 16 through 31, 2006 and $3,135.43 for February 1 through 15, 2006.  Trustee Gohl seconded.  Roll Call.

Ayes:     7  (Schueppert, Knoop, McKevitt, Smithe, Horne, Gohl, Abboud)

Nays:     0

Absent:  0

Motion Approved

Authorization for Travel Reimbursement – Trustee Smithe motioned that the Village President be reimbursed up to $250.00 for the cost of airline travel to attend the upcoming Mayor’s Conference.  Trustee Gohl seconded.  Roll Call.

Ayes:     6  (Schueppert, Knoop, McKevitt, Smithe, Horne, Gohl)

Nays:     0

Abstention:  1 (Abboud)

Motion Approved

Communications Committee – Positive comments were received on the most recently-issued Village newsletter.  The committee is focusing on Internet-based initiatives.  For example, a second website to obtain feedback may be set up.  Planning for the Village’s 50^th Anniversary is underway.  The committee had been charged with improving cell phone coverage in the Village, but this responsibility may be handled by a separate committee, to be formed in the future. 

RFP Solicitation - Trustee Smithe inquired as to why the request for bids for audit services had not yet gone out.  The need for a formal delegation of signatories/authorized agents for service contracts was also discussed.

ROADS AND BRIDGES – Julie McKevitt

Monthly Report – Trustee McKevitt reported that bids will be solicited for the 2006 road work (on Honeycutt, Hills N’Dales, Ridge, Spring, Little Bend and the Cuba Road bridge) in mid-April.   The price of asphalt has gone up 20%, so it is expected that costs for road repairs will increase this year.  Trustee McKevitt also indicated that weight limit signs may be posted soon, and the culvert inspection project continues. 

Riding Trails -Trustee McKevitt is working with the Equestrian Commission to identify locations to install caution signs where riding trails cross Village roads.  The Village Attorney will explore whether any legal issues are associated with such signage, and the Police Chief will also be consulted on the matter.    

PUBLIC SAFETY – Fritz H. Gohl

Monthly Report – Trustee Gohl deferred to Chief Murphy who presented the Police Report for activity in the month of January 2006.   Members of the Police Department completed more than 150 hours of training during the past month.  In April, officers will receive training on handling horses in case of equine-related emergencies.   The Chief also reported that the Village’s patrol cars have been re-designed to have a black color scheme with silver striping.   Three cars have been received already and the whole fleet will be changed to the new design within a year.

Virtual Partner Equipment Purchase – Peter Tillman of Advanced Public Safety, Inc. (APS) demonstrated the Virtual Partner software and products.  The equipment allows an officer to make verbal queries and receive answers verbally, as well as provide a mobile computer ticketing system that automatically generates tickets.  A terminal would be installed in each squad car to help improve safety, productivity and accuracy.  Trustee Gohl motioned to authorize the use of $25,000 from the Drug/DUI/Gang Fund for the purchase of Virtual Partner equipment.   Trustee McKevitt seconded.  Roll Call.

Ayes:     7  (Schueppert, Knoop, McKevitt, Smithe, Horne, Gohl, Abboud)

Nays:     0

Absent:  0

Resolution 06-2

CABS Partnership – Trustee Gohl motioned to authorize and approve an intergovernmental agreement by and between the Village of Barrington Hills and Cook County for the provision of wide area equipment and connectivity.  The agreement would allow the Village to become a partner in the county-wide criminal apprehensive booking system (CABS).  Trustee Smithe seconded.  Roll Call.

Ayes:     7  (Schueppert, Knoop, McKevitt, Smithe, Horne, Gohl, Abboud)

Nays:     0

Absent:  0

Resolution 06-3

Weapons Exchange – The Police Department has requested approval to exchange some of its weapons.   Officers Borck and Colditz explained the disadvantages of the weapons to be exchanged and the advantages of the replacement weapons.  Trustee Gohl motioned to authorize the exchange of carbines.  Trustee Smithe seconded.  Roll Call.

Ayes:     7  (Schueppert, Knoop, McKevitt, Smithe, Horne, Gohl, Abboud)

Nays:     0

Absent:  0

Resolution 06-4

Community Drug Prevention Coalition Survey – Trustee Gohl motioned authorization of expenditure of $250.00 from the Drug/DUI/Gang Fund for a contribution to the cost of a Community Drug Prevention Coalition survey to be distributed through BACOG.   Trustee Horne seconded.  Roll Call.

Ayes:     7  (Schueppert, Knoop, McKevitt, Smithe, Horne, Gohl, Abboud)

Nays:     0

Absent:  0

Motion Approved

BUILDING AND ZONING – George L. Schueppert

Building Permit Report – Trustee Schueppert reported that four building permits had been issued during the month of January 2006.  They included permits for one addition, two alterations, and one garage.

Trustee Schueppert indicated that he is following up on a resident’s information regarding deposit of fill on a home site on Little Bend Rd.

2006 Zoning Map Adoption – Trustee Schueppert motioned adoption of the 2006 Official Zoning Map.  Trustee Smithe seconded.  All present said aye.                                                                                                                                               

Resolution 06-5

Amendment to Zoning Code allowing Home Occupation Equestrian Use – Trustee Schueppert motioned acceptance of the ordinance amending the Village’s Zoning Code allowing boarding and training of horses within the Village under certain conditions.  The amendment is the culmination of approximately ten months of work by the ZBA, with public input, and codifies existing practices within the Village.  Trustee Knoop seconded.  All present said aye.

Ordinance 06-3

PLANNING – Steven E. Knoop

Monthly Report – The Plan Commission did not meet last month.  No report was given.

BoundaryAgreement - President Abboud requested a status update on the intergovernmental boundary agreement with Inverness.

Development Commission – Trustee Knoop reported that the Development Commission is preparing a mission statement.

INSURANCE – George L. Schueppert

Monthly Report – Trustee Schueppert reported that the renewal process is underway for the Village’s property and casualty insurance policies.  Premium increases may be in the 6-10 % range.   However, it is anticipated that there will be a much larger increase in the premium for the health insurance plan this year.  To explore solutions to controlling health care costs, a working committee of Board and staff members was proposed.  Committee composition of two village employees, the Police Chief, Trustee Smithe and Trustee Schueppert was suggested.  Trustee Schueppert will implement the committee.

2006 Illinois Public Risk Fund Amendments – Trustee Gohl motioned to authorize Trustee Schueppert to execute the 2006 amendments to the Illinois Public Risk Fund on behalf of the Village related to the Loss Control audit, after review with the Police Chief’s accreditation manager.  Trustee Smithe seconded.  All present said aye.

Motion Approved

HEALTH, BUILDINGS & GROUNDS, ENVIRONMENT – Theodore L. Horne

Solid Waste Management Report – Trustee Horne reported that approximately eleven percent of the residential waste collected in the month of December 2005 was recyclables diverted from landfills.

Open Burning – The Board discussed whether the provisions in the Village Code for open burning should be amended to address prohibition under adverse weather conditions.  No action was taken.

Strategic Plan for Village Hall – Trustee Horne is assessing current office furniture needs.  Meanwhile, long-term planning continues.

ATTORNEY – Douglas Wambach

Attorney Wambach stated that matters of litigation had been addressed in Executive Session.

ADMINISTRATION – Robert G. Abboud

Longmeadow Parkway Bridge Study – A proposed resolution to support a bridge study corridor and project in Dundee Township for construction of the Longmeadow Parkway (Bolz Road) Bridge was tabled until the next meeting so that the latest revision of the resolution could be evaluated by the Board.   Further information as to which properties in the Village might be affected by the project was requested by Trustee McKevitt.  

Service Contract Signatory Authority – The Village Attorney suggested that a formal document be created for the Village which defines what authority is delegated,and to whom, to sign contracts for what specific lengths of time.   A document may be presented at the next meeting.

Fox River Grove Boundary Agreement – President Abboud wishes to negotiate a boundary agreement prior to executing other agreements with Fox River Grove.

Spring Creek Forest Preserve – A 1957 resolution authorizing a committee of Forest Preserve Commissioners and Barrington Hills Trustees for management of the Spring Creek Valley Forest Preserve was brought to the attention of the Board.  President Abboud requested that the Village Attorney look into the viability of the document.  The Board re-affirmed interest in strengthening ties with the Forest Preserve.

Trustee Gohl motioned to adjourn the Public Session at 11:55 pm.  Trustee Horne seconded.   All present said aye.

Meeting Adjourned

Approved ________________