VILLAGE OF NORTH AURORA
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING MINUTES
NOVEMBER 19, 2018
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Berman called the meeting to order.
ROLL CALL
In attendance: Mayor Dale Berman, Trustee Mark Gaffino, Trustee Laura Curtis, Trustee Mark Carroll, Trustee Tao Martinez, Trustee Mark Guethle, Village Clerk Lori Murray.
Staff in attendance: Village Administrator Steve Bosco, Public Works Director John Laskowski, Police Chief Dave Fisher, Village Attorney Kevin Drendel.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS – None
TRUSTEE COMMENTS -None
DISCUSSION
1. 2019 Meeting Schedules for the Village Board Meetings; Committee of the Whole
Meetings; Plan Commission Meetings and Trustee Committee Meetings
Village Administrator Steve Bosco noted that Presidents Day has been removed from the holiday schedule and Village Hall will now be open on that day. The only Village meeting that will be cancelled will be Labor Day since it falls on Labor Day which is a Monday next year.
The Village Board suggested no changes from the schedule presented. This item will be on the agenda for approval at the next Board meeting.
2. Truancy Ordinance
Police Chief Dave Fisher asked the Board to consider approving a truancy ordinance for the Village of North Aurora. Currently the Village has no ordinance to address these situations. It would be used in cooperation with School District 129 only when the school has exhausted all of its options. This ordinance would be used to make sure students attend school and would not be used as a means of punishment. The Village would not necessarily fine the parent for the truancy issue but could require court ordered counseling.
Trustee Curtis said that her concern that truancy is the responsibility of the school and social services in the school would address this. Curtis said that this ordinance would be redundant with what is already being done. Chief Fisher said that the schools can only do so much and if it got to a point where other things did not work, the police would get involved. Sometimes schools need the courts to intervene. Chief Fisher emphasized that the police would only get involved if absolutely necessary.
Trustee Guethle asked how they came up with the fine and the age of 18. Fisher said the fines range with the adjudication and that amount ranges from $25 or $50 all the way up to $750. It would be a very rare circumstance that it would reach that high of a cost. Guethle asked about possible community service. Fisher said he did not see that happening where a parent would be fined as well as required to do community service. The main issue would be compliance. Guethle asked who would do the community service, parent or child. Fisher said it would depend on the situation. If the parent is not giving the child to the school then the punishment would be on the parent.
Fisher noted that the City of Aurora has written 6 violation letters in 6 years so it is a rare situation that the police would get involved.
Trustee Carroll said that Paragraph D of the ordinance states that if the child is 13 or under, it is the parent’s responsibility and over 13 the child is subject to the fine. Carroll said he is in favor of the ordinance and that if the child is older than 13, the responsibility would lie with the child.
Carroll noted that Paragraph A states, “Shall be unlawful for any student under the age of 18 who has not been emancipated and is enrolled in a public, private or parochial school within the corporate limits of the Village.” Carroll said he lives in the village but his children do not go to school in the village. Carroll asked if the jurisdiction should be conferred on the family that is the resident of North Aurora no matter where they go to school. Atty. Drendel and Chief Fisher said they could change that part of the ordinance.
Trustee Curtis said she does not see a reason for the ordinance. If Aurora, which is ten times larger than the Village of North Aurora, has only had 6 incidents over the last 6 years, it is not needed and not a good use of police time.
Trustee Carroll said the school does not have the power to force the truancy laws. This ordinance is giving enforcement power. It’s a child protective measure and we should encourage kids to go to and finish school.
Trustee Guethle asked if the Tri-cities have a truancy ordinance in place. Fisher said he would check on this.
Trustee Gaffino said he is in favor of the ordinance and said that parents knowing it is out there may make them want to comply.
Guethle asked what would happen in a case where a 17 year-old doesn’t complete school and is working. Fisher said if they are not an active student and have dropped out, this ordinance would not apply in those cases.
Atty. Drendel said he will make the changes and get that to the chief for review.
Mayor Berman noted that the majority of the Board is in favor or the ordinance.
3. July 3 Fireworks Agreement
The current contractor has offered to choreograph the fireworks show at no additional charge. They learned that the cost of the current show if they were to buy the same amount of shells would go up $3800. They offered to keep the cost at $25,000 and shave off a couple minutes of the show.
Staff gave the Board the following options:
a. Continue with the current company and pay an upcharge and keep the show at 20 minutes
b. Continue with the current company and keep the cost the same and drop a couple minutes off the show.
c. Solicit new proposals and go out to bid for $25,000.
Having music choreographed to the fireworks will shave another minute or two off the show because they shoot off more shells to match the music. It will be a more heightened show but it is a slightly shorter show.
Bosco said that Staff is looking at having a band and want to increase the speaker system.
Trustee Curtis said she liked the company the Village used last year and was in favor of two minutes less of fireworks if it would be a heightened show with the music. Trustee Guethle said he likes the shows when there are more shells going off with music and also liked the fireworks company from last year. Gaffino said he was in agreement and would rather see the extra $3800 go toward the bands or something else to add to the evening.
Bosco reviewed:
Keep show at $25,000
Reduce show by 2 minutes
Music choreographed to fireworks
Length of show to be 16 – 17 minutes.
In the upcoming budget, Staff is planning to benchmark $1500 – $2000 for bands. Staff is also working with a local civic group that is looking to have a community event on the same night in the same area.
Gaffino asked if the Village has a system to play the music. Bosco said that Staff is looking to upgrade the sound system. The budget will include about $2000 for this purchase. Although there are two viewing areas for the fireworks, by the park at Village Hall and by the former Activity Center location, music would only be centralized at the park.
Bosco said he will bring the contract with Melrose Pyrotechnics to the next Board meeting for approval.
EXECUTIVE SESSION – None
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Carroll. All in favor. Motion approved.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lori J. Murray
Village Clerk
