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Village Board Minutes

VILLAGE OF NORTH AURORA
VILLAGE BOARD MEETING MINUTES
APRIL 20, 2020

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic,
Village Hall was closed to the public and the meeting was held electronically.

CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Berman called the meeting to order.

SILENT PRAYER – MEDITATION – PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

ROLL CALL
In attendance: Mayor Dale Berman, Trustee Mark Gaffino, Trustee Mike Lowery, Trustee Laura Curtis, Trustee Mark Carroll, Trustee Tao Martinez, Trustee Mark Guethle and Village Clerk Lori Murray.

Staff in attendance: Village Administrator Steve Bosco, Finance Director Bill Hannah, Community & Economic Development Director Mike Toth, Public Works Director John Laskowski, Police Chief Dave Fisher and Village Attorney Kevin Drendel.

PUBLIC HEARING
Hearing on the FY 2020-21 Budget
Mayor Berman opened the public hearing. There were no comments from the public. Mayor Berman declared the public hearing closed.

AUDIENCE COMMENTS – None

TRUSTEE COMMENTS
Trustee Curtis said that she saw an article in the Daily Herald about the Mayor Naperville looking at the possibility of opening some non-essential businesses and parks. Curtis asked if the village has any authority to open up businesses and recreational facilities within North Aurora. Mayor Berman said no and that the village is working under the governor’s orders at this time. Curtis asked Mayor Berman is he has been in contact with the governor’s office. Mayor Berman said he is involved in a meeting with the mayor’s caucus tomorrow and information from that meeting is available to the governor.

Curtis asked if the Village of North Aurora is mandated to follow the governor’s ordinance or does the village have flexibility within the village limits. Atty. Drendel said the idea of the emergency management system falls under the emergency management legislation which is what the governor exercised when he declared the emergency. Atty. Drendel added that although there is not a lot of detail in case law, the idea is that all the agencies of the state would have a tie in and everyone would be in line with it. Curtis asked what would stop the village from saying certain businesses could open up within social distancing requirements. Curtis said it is difficult to see so many people in our village suffering and struggling and to see the economic impact. Curtis said the village should see what can be done to minimize this even by 10% to help the residents. Curtis added that to sit by and say we are going to be a bunch of followers and not the leaders that we are elected to be is not what she signed up for.

Atty. Drendel said that the village is preempted when we get to extra regional issues. This is an issue that doesn’t just affect the village but the entire country. The authority to go against the order of the governor when it goes beyond the Village of North Aurora is not great.

Mayor Berman said he does not plan to go against the order of the governor and will wait on the governor’s next step. Curtis said we should not be waiting right now and should have a contingency plan. If there is flexibility and authority to help our residents, we should at least be investigating this. Mayor Berman said that by doing this we are leading them into more danger. Curtis said that if we look at a regional and county wide perspective, there are less than 20 cases in North Aurora and 550 in all of Kane County. Trustee Guethle noted that there have also been 30 deaths. Curtis said this cannot be something that goes on in perpetuity and that there needs to be a plan B with the village looking at easing the restrictions and getting the economy back and residents back to work.

Mayor Berman said he has no plans to do anything different from what the governor has put in place. Guethle agreed. Carroll said the governor’s order is not a recommendation. Illinois is not as restrictive as some and what authority would Naperville have to allow anything different. The village runs the risk of the attorney general suing the village if we opened up businesses at this time. This could be over in 2 weeks. Curtis said the village needs to think beyond 2 weeks. Curtis said she will wait 2 weeks but what happens May 1st if the governor says this will continue until June 1st. Curtis asked, “How long, as a board, are we willing to make our residents suffer and inflect real economic and mental damage?”

Trustee Guethle said everyone wants to open the open up the economic engine and everyone on the board wants to see people back to work. Unfortunately, due to the virus, we have to wait. We need to comply with the governor.

Mayor Berman said that it didn’t appear the majority of the board was in favor of doing anything differently from what has been set forth by the governor at this time and that the meeting would move forward.

CONSENT AGENDA
1. Village Board Minutes dated 04/06/2020; Committee of the Whole Minutes dated 04/06/2020
2. Bills List Dated 04/20/2020 in the Amount of $154,635.16
3. Awarding of Bid for Proposed Water Main Replacement on Maple and Elm to J & S Construction Sewer and Water, Inc. in the Amount of $385,954.00

Motion for approval made by Trustee Gaffino and seconded by Trustee Guethle. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Martinez – yes, Trustee Guethle – yes. Motion approved (6-0).

NEW BUSINESS – None
OLD BUSINESS – None

VILLAGE PRESIDENT
Mayor Berman stated that these are tough times and until everyone can get tested or there is medication to fight the virus, we need to stay in place.

COMMITTEE REPORTS
Trustee Gaffino said the North Aurora Days meeting for April was cancelled. There will need to be some discussion regarding NA Days moving forward. Trustee Carroll asked if there is a clause in the contract for the 4th of July fireworks. Village Administrator Steve Bosco said that there is a rain date clause. There is an alternate date and if that doesn’t work the village can choose another date.

TRUSTEES’ COMMENTS – None
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – None

ATTORNEY’S REPORT
Atty. Drendel said that the Village Staff has done an outstanding job of staying on top of the virus information. They have also done all that needs to be done so that the Board can continue to operate and keep people safe.

VILLAGE DEPARTMENT REPORTS
1. Finance – None
2. Community Development – None
3. Police – None
4. Public Works – None

EXECUTIVE SESSION – None

ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn made by Trustee Lowery and seconded by Trustee Curtis. All in favor. Motion approved.

Respectfully Submitted,

Lori J. Murray
Village Clerk

 

VILLAGE OF NORTH AURORA

VILLAGE BOARD MEETING MINUTES

APRIL 20, 2020

 

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic,

Village Hall was closed to the public and the meeting was held electronically.


CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Berman called the meeting to order.

 

SILENT PRAYER – MEDITATION – PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

ROLL CALL

In attendance:  Mayor Dale Berman, Trustee Mark Gaffino, Trustee Mike Lowery, Trustee Laura Curtis, Trustee Mark Carroll, Trustee Tao Martinez, Trustee Mark Guethle and Village Clerk Lori Murray.

 

Staff in attendance:  Village Administrator Steve Bosco, Finance Director Bill Hannah, Community & Economic Development Director Mike Toth, Public Works Director John Laskowski, Police Chief Dave Fisher and Village Attorney Kevin Drendel.

 

PUBLIC HEARING

Hearing on the FY 2020-21 Budget

Mayor Berman opened the public hearing.  There were no comments from the public.  Mayor Berman declared the public hearing closed.   

 

AUDIENCE COMMENTS – None

 

TRUSTEE COMMENTS

Trustee Curtis said that she saw an article in the Daily Herald about the Mayor Naperville looking at the possibility of opening some non-essential businesses and parks.  Curtis asked if the village has any authority to open up businesses and recreational facilities within North Aurora.  Mayor Berman said no and that the village is working under the governor’s orders at this time.  Curtis asked Mayor Berman is he has been in contact with the governor’s office.  Mayor Berman said he is involved in a meeting with the mayor’s caucus tomorrow and information from that meeting is available to the governor.   

 

Curtis asked if the Village of North Aurora is mandated to follow the governor’s ordinance or does the village have flexibility within the village limits.  Atty. Drendel said the idea of the emergency management system falls under the emergency management legislation which is what the governor exercised when he declared the emergency.  Atty. Drendel added that although there is not a lot of detail in case law, the idea is that all the agencies of the state would have a tie in and everyone would be in line with it.  Curtis asked what would stop the village from saying certain businesses could open up within social distancing requirements.  Curtis said it is difficult to see so many people in our village suffering and struggling and to see the economic impact.  Curtis said the village should see what can be done to minimize this even by 10% to help the residents.  Curtis added that to sit by and say we are going to be a bunch of followers and not the leaders that we are elected to be is not what she signed up for. 

 

Atty. Drendel said that the village is preempted when we get to extra regional issues.  This is an issue that doesn’t just affect the village but the entire country.  The authority to go against the order of the governor when it goes beyond the Village of North Aurora is not great.

 

Mayor Berman said he does not plan to go against the order of the governor and will wait on the governor’s next step.  Curtis said we should not be waiting right now and should have a contingency plan.  If there is flexibility and authority to help our residents, we should at least be investigating this.  Mayor Berman said that by doing this we are leading them into more danger.  Curtis said that if we look at a regional and county wide perspective, there are less than 20 cases in North Aurora and 550 in all of Kane County.  Trustee Guethle noted that there have also been 30 deaths.  Curtis said this cannot be something that goes on in perpetuity and that there needs to be a plan B with the village looking at easing the restrictions and getting the economy back and residents back to work.  

 

Mayor Berman said he has no plans to do anything different from what the governor has put in place.  Guethle agreed.  Carroll said the governor’s order is not a recommendation.  Illinois is not as restrictive as some and what authority would Naperville have to allow anything different.  The village runs the risk of the attorney general suing the village if we opened up businesses at this time.  This could be over in 2 weeks.  Curtis said the village needs to think beyond 2 weeks.  Curtis said she will wait 2 weeks but what happens May 1st if the governor says this will continue until June 1st.  Curtis asked, “How long, as a board, are we willing to make our residents suffer and inflect real economic and mental damage?”  

 

Trustee Guethle said everyone wants to open the open up the economic engine and everyone on the board wants to see people back to work.  Unfortunately, due to the virus, we have to wait.  We need to comply with the governor.

 

Mayor Berman said that it didn’t appear the majority of the board was in favor of doing anything differently from what has been set forth by the governor at this time and that the meeting would move forward.

 

CONSENT AGENDA

1. Village Board Minutes dated 04/06/2020; Committee of the Whole Minutes dated 04/06/2020
2. Bills List Dated 04/20/2020 in the Amount of $154,635.16
3. Awarding of Bid for Proposed Water Main Replacement on Maple and Elm to J & S Construction Sewer and Water, Inc. in the Amount of $385,954.00

 

Motion for approval made by Trustee Gaffino and seconded by Trustee Guethle.  Roll Call Vote:  Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Martinez – yes, Trustee Guethle – yes.  Motion approved (6-0).

 

NEW BUSINESS – None

OLD BUSINESS – None

 

VILLAGE PRESIDENT

Mayor Berman stated that these are tough times and until everyone can get tested or there is medication to fight the virus, we need to stay in place.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Trustee Gaffino said the North Aurora Days meeting for April was cancelled.  There will need to be some discussion regarding NA Days moving forward.  Trustee Carroll asked if there is a clause in the contract for the 4th of July fireworks.  Village Administrator Steve Bosco said that there is a rain date clause.  There is an alternate date and if that doesn’t work the village can choose another date.

 

TRUSTEES’ COMMENTS – None

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – None

 

ATTORNEY’S REPORT

Atty. Drendel said that the Village Staff has done an outstanding job of staying on top of the virus information.   They have also done all that needs to be done so that the Board can continue to operate and keep people safe.

 

VILLAGE DEPARTMENT REPORTS

1. Finance – None
2. Community Development – None
3. Police – None
4. Public Works – None

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION – None

 

ADJOURNMENT

Motion to adjourn made by Trustee Lowery and seconded by Trustee Curtis.  All in favor.  Motion approved.

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

Lori J. Murray

Village Clerk

 

 

 

 

 

 

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