VILLAGE OF BARRINGTON HILLS
Minutes of the Regular Meeting March 19, 2007
President Abboud called the Regular Meeting to order at 6:37 pm. Roll Call.
Robert G. Abboud, President Tom Lidbury, resident
Fritz H. Gohl, Pro-Tem Mel Motley, American Tower Corp.
Steven E. Knoop, Trustee Liz Hill, American Tower Corp.
George L. Schueppert, Trustee Don Ciaglia, Homes by Pinnacle
Julie McKevitt, Trustee Mark Harris, Harris Builders
Walter E. Smithe, Trustee Jerry Callaghan, Special Counsel
Theodore L. Horne, Trustee Kevin Colosia, Tech Commission
Douglas Wambach, Village Attorney Robert Best, Attorney
Robert Kosin, Director of Administration Mike Zachar, resident
Michael N. Murphy, Police Chief Benjamin LeCompte, resident
Elaine M. Ramesh, Village Clerk Dan Strahan, Village Engineer
Maureen Duffy, resident Linda Cools, resident
Frank Cools, resident
Judy Freeman, resident
Trustee Horne motioned to adjourn to Executive Session to discuss legal matters at 6:38 pm. Trustee Schueppert 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 7:42 pm.
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March 19, 2007 – page 2
MINUTES
Trustee Schueppert motioned to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of February 26, 2007 with certain corrections. Trustee Gohl seconded. All present said aye.
Motion Approved
Trustee Gohl motioned to approve the minutes of the Executive Session of February 26, 2007. Trustee Schueppert seconded. All present said aye, except Trustees Knoop and McKevitt, who abstained from the vote.
Motion Approved
Trustee McKevitt motioned to approve destruction of the audio recording of the executive session of the Village Board meeting of June 27, 2005. The minutes of this executive session had previously been approved. Trustee Knoop seconded. All present said aye, except Trustees Smithe and Schueppert who voted against the motion.
Motion Approved
Trustee Gohl made a motion to recognize Trustee Horne for his service to the Village since April 22, 1985. Trustee Smithe seconded the motion. Trustee Horne said that it had been twenty-two interesting years. President Abboud thanked Trustee Horne for his service.
Public Hearing – Flint Creek Reserves Special Service Area #1
Trustee Gohl motioned to open the public hearing on the special service area for taxpayer comment. The date and time of the public hearing concerning the Flint Creek Reserves Special Service Area #1 for the 2007 fiscal year was previously announced. The creation of the special service area enables the Village to levy a tax on properties within the special service area to maintain the conservation area if the owners do not maintain it. Trustee Horne seconded. All present said aye.
Motion Approved
Attorney Jerry Callaghan spoke about the process. After the public hearing has taken place and sixty days have passed, the special services area can be established. However, during the sixty day period a petition of protest can be filed.
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March 19, 2007 – page 3
No member of the audience made any comments concerning the ordinance. Since no public comments were made, Trustee Schueppert motioned to close the public hearing on the special service area. Trustee McKevitt seconded. All present said aye.
Motion Approved
PUBLIC COMMENTS
President Abboud opened a thirty-five minute session for public comments at 7:54 pm.
Barrington Hills residents Judy Freeman and Tom Lidbury are candidates for the Unit School District 220 school board. Four of seven school board seats are subject to the April election. They spoke about District 220 matters as they pertain to Barrington Hills residents within USD220; indicating their concern for how the school district interacts with the Village, and also stating that they didn’t think the school districts initiatives were in accord with community values. President Abboud inquired about the possibility of broadcasting the school board meetings, or posting a video of the meeting on the Internet. Opening communication between the Village and the school board rather than between the Village and the superintendent was also discussed. Concern was also expressed that USD220 advocacy groups do not currently include Barrington Hills residents. Trustee Knoop thanked Judy Freeman and Tom Lidbury for their initiative to represent Barrington Hills residents with respect to USD220.
Resident Pam Cools thanked Judy Freeman and the Village President for considering the Barrington Hills residents currently within USD300 who would like to be unified with other Barrington Hills residents who are in USD220. They were of the opinion that the division created by the boundary between the two school districts causes an artificial division within the Village.
Resident Mike Zachar addressed the Village Board next, on the subject of cell towers.
He indicated that he is an expert in the development of surveys, and stated that he was concerned with the Village’s survey on quality of cell service. President Abboud asked if Mr. Zachar could lend his expertise to assist with the creation of future surveys for the Village.
Resident Benjamin LeCompte inquired about engineering studies on DAS systems (distributed antenna systems). This option is under consideration by the Technology Committee.
As there were no further remarks, the public comments session ended at 8:37 pm.
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FINANCE – Walter E. Smithe
Treasurer’s Report – Trustee Smithe presented the Treasurer’s report for the month of February 2007. Trustee Smithe motioned to accept the Treasurer’s report as presented. Trustee Horne 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 February 2007 and the year-to-date summary of activity prepared by Trustee Schueppert 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 March to date of $216,408.56 and supplemental bills of $30,041.77 for a total of $246,450.33. Trustee Schueppert 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 $2,121.31 in overtime expenses for February 1 through 15, 2007 and $2,609.28 for February 16 through 28, 2007. The reasons for the overtime expenses were discussed. Trustee Schueppert seconded. Roll Call.
Ayes: 7 (Schueppert, Knoop, McKevitt, Smithe, Horne, Gohl, Abboud)
Nays: 0
Absent: 0
Motion Approved
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Trustee Smithe indicated that the Finance Committee will review a report on internal controls for audits. Compliance issues regarding assets will be considered. After their review, the Finance Committee will prepare a report for the Board’s consideration.
ROADS AND BRIDGES – Julie McKevitt
Monthly Report – Trustee McKevitt indicated that in February, signage for the 25 mph speed limit was installed on the affected roads. Since the spring freeze/thaw cycle has created new potholes, cold patching has begun. Trustee McKevitt will follow up with Cook County regarding the speed limit for Otis Rd. She also met with Cuba and Algonquin Township officials during the past month, and is working on getting 2007 Roads and Bridges program out to bid.
Seasonal Road Posting Resolution – Trustee McKevitt motioned to approve Resolution 07-05 regarding authorization of the posting of signs temporarily prohibiting trucks exceeding 10 tons on Village-maintained roads. Trustee Smithe seconded. All present said aye.
Resolution 07-05 Approved
Equestrian Commission – Trustee McKevitt reported that at the most recent meeting, the Commission considered equestrian trail ordinance-related issues.
PLANNING – Steven E. Knoop
Monthly Report – Trustee Knoop reported that neither the Planning Commission nor the Development Committee met during the past month.
PUBLIC SAFETY – Fritz H. Gohl
Monthly Report – Trustee Gohl deferred to Chief Murphy who presented the Police Report for activity in the month of February 2007. Members of the Police Department completed several sessions of training during the past month.
BAAC Run Resolution – Trustee Gohl motioned to approve Resolution 07-06 regarding authorizing road closures associated with the Barrington Area Arts Council Fundraiser on Wednesday, July 4th, 2007. Trustee Smithe seconded. All present said aye.
Resolution 07-06 Approved
BUILDING AND ZONING – George L. Schueppert
Building Permit Report – Trustee Schueppert reported that thirteen building permits had been issued during the month of March 2007. They included permits for two residences,
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March 19, 2007 – page 6
three alterations, two accessory buildings, one pool, three demolitions, one elevator and one site development.
ZBA Report – Trustee Schueppert reported that at the most recent meeting, the ZBA
voted on the special use application for a cellular tower at 254 Bateman Rd. The ZBA voted 4-3 to recommend denial of the application to the Village Board. The Village Board will vote on the matter after the record, including public testimony, has been thoroughly examined. A list of the items on the ZBA’s agenda was provided to the Village Board.
Grading Standards – A memorandum from the Village Engineers regarding proposed site grading criteria was provided for the Village Board’s review. The Village Engineer has met with some of the local builders for their input regarding the proposal. The Village attorney will draft an ordinance.
INSURANCE – George L. Schueppert
Monthly Report – McHenry County’s health insurance program for group coverage of governmental employees is moving forward, so Trustee Schueppert plans to continue to monitor the progress closely.
HEALTH, BUILDINGS & GROUNDS, ENVIRONMENT – Theodore L. Horne
Solid Waste Management Report – Trustee Horne reported that approximately 19% percent of the residential waste collected in the month of February 2007 was recyclables diverted from landfills.
Strategic Plan for Village Building – Trustee Horne reported that the Department of Corrections has requested a modification in the lock-up area of the Police Department. He also indicated that a spring clean-up of the property may take place soon, and that work on the Village Hall’s canopy may begin shortly.
Mr. Kosin will meet with Groot regarding information needed to consider a uniform service provider for residential waste and dumpster pick up. The RFP can be posted in May. The Village Attorney will advise the Board as to creation of a process for transition from individual choice of service to a single chosen provider.
Board of Health – Trustee Horne indicated that a meeting was not held on March 14th. Instead, the Board will meet March 21st to decide upon their recommendation to the Village Board regarding an ordinance to prohibit smoking in enclosed public places and places of employment.
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ATTORNEY – Douglas Wambach
Attorney Wambach stated that matters of litigation had been addressed in Executive Session.
ADMINISTRATION – Robert G. Abboud
Municipal Services Ordinance – Trustee Smithe motioned to approve Ordinance 07-09 regarding the municipal services provided by the Village with certain modifications. Trustee McKevitt seconded. All present said aye.
Ordinance 07-09 Approved
USD300 – President Abboud reported that the Unit School District 300 Superintendent Arndt requested that a presentation be made to the School Board by the Village Board on April 9th regarding the request for de-annexation of Barrington Hills properties from USD300. President Abboud suggested that Trustees McKevitt and Gohl prepare a presentation for USD300 Board. President Abboud also requested that Attorney Wambach contact Unit School District 300’s attorney regarding a potential intergovernmental agreement.
Personnel Committee – With the consent of the Board, Trustees Gohl, Smithe and McKevitt were appointed as members or the Personnel Committee, who will review the updated copy of proposed employee handbook.
Trustee Schueppert motioned to adjourn the Public Session at 10:35 pm. Trustee McKevitt seconded. All present said aye.
Meeting Adjourned
Approved ________________