VILLAGE OF NORTH AURORA
VILLAGE BOARD MEETING MINUTES
NOVEMBER 3, 2014
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 Mike Lowery, Trustee Chris Faber, Trustee Mark Carroll, Trustee Mark Gaffino, Village Clerk Lori Murray. Not in attendance: Trustee Mark Guethle.
Staff in attendance: Village Administrator Steve Bosco, Finance Director Bill Hannah, Village Engineer Jim Bibby, Community & Economic Development Director Mike Toth, Village Attorney Kevin Drendel, Water Superintendent Paul Young, Public Works Superintendent Mike Glock, Police Chief Dave Summer, Fire Marshall Erik Bunkofske.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS
George Schramer, 708 Lindsay Circle, North Aurora – Mr. Schramer thanked the Village for appropriating funds to remove the Ash trees in town and replacing them in a timely manner. Schramer then suggested that the land where the current North Aurora Activity Center stands should be used to build a new fire station. Schramer suggested the Village help the fire department tear down their current building and rebuild a new building that would be bigger and provide an improved look to the property instead of leaving it as green space once the activity center is torn down. Mayor Berman thanked Mr. Schramer for his suggestion and added that green space would be temporary and that the Village is looking at the Comprehensive Plan which will be completed this spring. All ideas will be reviewed in the planning process.
Allen Cavender, 303 Banbury Road, North Aurora – Mr. Cavendar addressed the Board regarding roadwork that was recently done near his home. He questioned the need for repairs on a road that is less than 2 years old and did not appear to have any flaws. Cavendar added that none of the residents were informed about the road work, which left dust and rock on their property. Mayor Berman said that the roadwork being done is part of the Village’s crack filling program. Berman added that Staff walked the streets and determined which cracks needed to be fixed and that even if a road is just a year old, it does not mean that the road does not separate and need to be repaired. It is a practice that prolongs the life of the roads. Mayor Berman added that in the future, the Village will contact residents to inform them when roadwork will take place.
Thomas Haviland , Atlas Sign Industries – Mr. Haviland was in attendance to request a sign for the One Main Financial building on Route 31. Mayor Berman said this would be discussed further into the Village Board meeting during New Business.
Tristan Diekman, 4 South Willow Way, North Aurora – Cub Scout Tristan suggested the Village place a crosswalk from Willow Way across Oak Street. Tristan said this area is “walked a lot by dog owners and is a very popular sidewalk and we need to make it safer for the people of the Village of North Aurora.” Chief Summer said this is an excellent idea. The department heads will meet with the Village Administrator, Public Works Department, Police Department and fire department and try to come up with the most appropriate plan that will best suit that intersection. Mayor Berman thanked Tristan for speaking at the Village Board meeting.
TRUSTEE COMMENTS – None
PRESENTATION – Audit of Fiscal Year Ending May 31, 2014 by Sikich, LLP
Fred Lantz of Sikich, LLP addressed the Board and presented the results from the audit for FY ending 2014. (Information on the audit and full detail of the financial report is available at Village Hall.)
Trustee Faber asked Finance Director Bill Hannah about the update made for $2200. Hannah said it was an adjustment to compensated absence and was simply a formula error on a spread sheet.
Mayor Berman noted that he is very proud of where the Village is financially.
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Approval of Village Board Minutes dated October 20, 2014; and
Committee of the Whole Minutes dated October 20, 2014
2. Approval of an Interim Bill List dated 10/28/2014 in the Amount of
$95,707.27
Motion for approval made by Trustee Gaffino and seconded by Trustee Curtis. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Faber – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
NEW BUSINESS
1. Approval of a Motion to Receive, Accept and Place on File the Comprehensive
Annual Financial Report as of May 31, 2014 and Other Related Reports for the Fiscal Year
Motion for approval made by Trustee Faber and seconded by Trustee Lowery. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Faber – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
2. Approval of the 2014 Property Tax Levy Estimate
Finance Director Bill Hannah explained that there are two factors in calculating the property tax estimated extensions for next fiscal year. The first is the CPI factor which was 1.5% for the last 12 month applicable period. The Village had a very good year as far as new construction. The Village is able to capture the value of that through the levy process. The EAV had some stabilization. Almost $6 million in new construction EAV which is the highest in 6 years. The average CPI is 2.1% over the last 3 years. Hannah noted that the police pension valuation recommends an increase of 3% to $597,000. The pension fund had a very good investment year last year, around 10.3% with payroll increase, 4% less than the actuarial assumption.
Formal approval of the tax levies will take place on December 1st.
Motion to approve made by Trustee Carroll and seconded by Trustee Lowery.
Trustee Curtis asked if the Village has any other options than to take the full amounts of the tax levy. Hannah said that anything less than enough to capture the value of the new construction is something the Village would not be able to capture in a future year. There is no mechanism at the state level to defer this. Curtis said we are seeing an increase in sales tax revenue and good economic indicators in the Village and would like to see if the Village can lessen the tax burden on homeowners. Hannah said the Board has a lot of different options. From a budgetary standpoint and looking at future requirements such as road improvements and pensions, there are a lot of uncertainties and so it made sense to do it this year given the uncertainties. Village Administrator Steve Bosco said that the Village only makes up about 5% of the total tax bill to tax payers. As a non-homerule community, the Village has to go to referendum to go out to bond. Faber asked what the percentage is on the average home in town. Hannah said if everyone’s EAV was increasing or decreasing at the same rate, it would be 1-1/2% which his $3 or $4. Motion for approval made by Trustee Carroll and seconded by Trustee Lowery. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Faber – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
3. Approval of 161 S. Lincolnway Wall Sign Variance (Petition #14-14)
The Village Board agreed with the Plan Commission’s recommendation and found a lack of hardship to recommend the variance. Motion for approval of the 161 S. Lincolnway Wall Sign Variance made by Trustee Faber and seconded by Trustee Gaffino. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Faber – no, Trustee Lowery – no, Trustee Curtis – no, Trustee Carroll – no, Trustee Gaffino – no. Motion failed.
4. Approval of Pay Request No. 6, Final for the Smoke Tree Improvements Phase I
to Builders Paving LLC d/b/a Hardin Paving Services in the Amount of $45,680.17 and Change Order No. 1 for a Net Decrease in the Amount of $130,446.75
Motion for approval made by Trustee Gaffino and seconded by Trustee Carroll. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Faber – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes. Trustee Lowery – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
5. Approval of Engineering Services Agreement with Rempe-Sharpe and
Associates, Inc. for the 2015 Street Improvements Program for an Estimated Amount of $127,761.37
Motion for approval made by Trustee Faber and seconded by Trustee Lowery. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Faber – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Gaffino – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
6. Approval of Engineering Services Agreement with Rempe-Sharpe & Associates,
Inc. for the 2015 Water Main Replacement Project for an Estimated Amount of $69,492.74
Motion for approval made by Trustee Carroll and seconded by Trustee Faber. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Faber- yes, Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes. Motion approved (5-0).
7. Approval of Bill List dated 11/3/2014 in the Amount of $245,735.94
Motion for approval made by Trustee Gaffino and seconded by Trustee Carroll. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Gaffino – yes, Trustee Carroll, Trustee Faber – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Curtis – yes. Motion approved (5-0)
OLD BUSINESS – None
VILLAGE PRESIDENT REPORT
Veteran’s Memorial program will be held on November 11th @ 2:00 pm.
COMMITTEE REPORTS – None
TRUSTEE COMMENTS – None
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Staff will be meeting with 3 companies who have submitted proposals for the Village’s new log and motto. This will be on the agenda for the Village Board meeting of November 17th for approval.
ATTORNEY’S REPORT – None
FIRE DISTRICT REPORT – None
VILLAGE DEPARTMENT REPORTS
1. Finance – Bill Hannah thanked Fred Lantz and Sikich for the thorough work they do every year for the audit. Hannah also thanked department heads and Mandy Flatt, Account Coordinator.
2. Community Development – results from community vision workshop are posted on the project website.
3. Police – None
4. Public Works – Public Works Superintendent Mike Glock said he would look into the crack filling project and make sure that residents are notified when work is to be done in the future.
5. Water – The rear yard watermain project started two weeks ago. Two of the 37 water mains were hooked up for service today. The remaining 35 could be completed this year.
EXECUTIVE SESSION – None
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn made by Trustee Gaffino and seconded by Trustee Curtis. . All in favor. Motion approved.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lori J. Murray
Village Clerk
