NORTH AURORA VILLAGE BOARD MEETING
VILLAGE BOARD MEETING MINUTES
MONDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2020
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Village Board meeting was conducted live remotely
via telecommunications.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Berman called the meeting to order.
SILENT PRAYER – MEDITATION – PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
In attendance: Mayor Dale Berman, Trustee Laura Curtis, Trustee Mark Gaffino, Trustee Mike Lowery, Trustee Mark Guethle, Trustee Mark Carroll, Trustee Martinez.
Staff in attendance: Village Administrator Steve Bosco, Finance Director Bill Hannah, Community & Economic Development Director Mike Toth, Village Attorney Kevin Drendel, Public Works Director John Laskowski, Police Chief Dave Fisher.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS – None
TRUSTEE COMMENTS – None
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Village Board Minutes dated 12/21/2020 and Committee of the Whole Minutes dated 12/21/2020
2. Executive Session Minutes dated 10/05/2020
3. Bills List Dated 01/04/2021 in the Amount of $102,509.98
Motion for approval made by Trustee Carroll and seconded by Trustee Martinez. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Gaffino –yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Martinez – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
NEW BUSINESS
1. Approval of Ordinance Granting a Special Use pursuant to Title 17, Chapter 8 of the North Aurora Zoning Ordinance to Allow for the Expansion of an Adult-Use Cannabis Dispensing Organization at 161 S. Lincolnway in the Village of North Aurora, Illinois
Community & Economic Development Director Mike Toth said this item went to Plan Commission in December, where it had unanimous recommendation to approve and was discussed at the December 21, 2020 Committee of the Whole meeting.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Lowery. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Gaffino –yes, Trustee Carroll – no, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Martinez – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes. Motion approved (5-1).
2. Approval of Ordinance Granting a Special Use Pursuant to Title 17, Chapter 7 of the North Aurora Zoning Ordinance to Allow for the Expansion of a Place of Worship at 307 Banbury Road in the Village of North Aurora, Illinois
Community & Economic Development Director Mike Toth said this item went to Plan Commission in December, where it had unanimous recommendation to approve and was discussed at the December 21, 2020 Committee of the Whole meeting.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Martinez. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Gaffino –yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Martinez – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
3. Approval of Ordinance Approving the Site Plan for the Property located at 307 Banbury Road in the Village of North Aurora
Community & Economic Development Director Mike Toth said this item was the accompanying ordinance to the above for the site plan review.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Gaffino. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Gaffino –yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Martinez – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
4. Approval of Resolution for Route 31 TIF Façade Grant Funding to the Property Located at 12 John Street, North Aurora, Illinois, in the Amount of $12,216
Motion for approval made by Trustee Carroll and seconded by Trustee Curtis. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Gaffino –yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Martinez – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
5. Approval of Ordinance Establishing An Emergency Management Agency With the North Aurora And Countryside Fire Protection District
Police Chief Dave Fisher said they were looking to update the ordinance that governs the emergency management and intergovernmental agreement with the fire department. The update would also separate the current CERT program from the emergency management function to more of a neighborhood program as it was originally intended.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Gaffino. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Gaffino –yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Martinez – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
6. Approval of Purchase of Freightliner Plow and Dump Truck from Trans Chicago Truck Group with Outfitting by Monroe Truck Equipment in The Total Amount of $165,644.00
Public Works Director John Laskowski said Staff looked at the two different purchasing programs for the purchase of the freightliner. The State program bids out vehicles and the lowest bid gets the contractor and then municipalities are eligible to bid. The Sourcewell program does the same thing but on a national scale. The State bid was one by International and the Sourcewell program offered Freightliner; which Director Laskowski said was the preferred model as it rides a little higher and is thus a little safer. The Village’s past three trucks – purchased in 2016, 2018 and 2019 – were also all Freightliners and purchasing another would maintain fleet uniformity.
The Freightliner is about $2,000 more than the International model, but is still under the budgeted price of $170,000. If the purchase was approved when the truck arrived – September 2021 – it would replace the oldest vehicle in the fleet, which is 16 years old. Director Laskowski said the truck could be put out to bid in auction but requested it be retained in house for backup and put into limited use as needed.
Trustee Gaffino said that people love plows and they love the work that the Public Works Department has done. People weigh the Village on how things are going in their neighborhood an dhe said the Village hs always been the first in the area where roads are clean and ready to go and he tipped his cap to Streets Superintendent Brian Richter and the Public Works crew and the Village. He added he thinks the Village actually need several backups. He also asked if the plows would be interchangeable to which Streets Superintendent Richter confirmed they could be switched out. Trustee Guethle also expressed support for having backup models. Mayor Berman noted there had been a couple breakdowns in the last snow plowing and asked if staff was available to repair. Streets Superintendent Richter said they have not always had staff available to repair in the past, but gave a shout out to Public Works member Ture Paulson for stepping up and helping to get the vehicles back on the road.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Gaffino and seconded by Trustee Lowery. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Gaffino –yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Martinez – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
OLD BUSINESS – None
VILLAGE PRESIDENT – Mayor Berman announced that the next Village Board Meeting, January 18, would be his last as mayor as he was going to be retiring. He said Trustee Gaffino was waiting in the wings and running unopposed in the upcoming election so the Village would have great continuity. Trustees expressed their congratulations and gratitude for his service to the Village.
COMMITTEE REPORTS – None
TRUSTEES COMMENTS – Trustee Guethle noted that the City of Aurora had recently passed an ordinance on puppy mills and had concerns with that in place those establishments would attempt to move to North Aurora. Mayor Berman said it was great to be proactive and aware of what was going on in surrounding communities and that Staff would be looking into it.
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – None
ATTORNEY’S REPORT – Attorney Drendel informed Mayor Berman it has been a pleasure to work with him and that he will be missed.
VILLAGE DEPARTMENT REPORTS
1. Finance – Director Hannah congratulated Mayor Berman on his retirement and wished everyone a happy new year.
2. Community Development – Director Toth congratulated Mayor Berman and noted that tomorrow was the public hearing for the Valley Green Golf Course.
3. Police – Chief Fisher told Mayor Berman he was one of the best bosses he’d ever had and he’d see him around town.
4. Public Works – Director Laskowski congratulated Mayor Berman and said he’d see him at transportation meetings.
EXECUTIVE SESSION – None
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn was made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Gaffino. All in favor. Motion approved.
Respectfully Submitted,
Natalie F. Stevens
Deputy Village Clerk
