VILLAGE OF NORTH AURORA
SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 18, 2019
CALL TO ORDER
Trustee Gaffino called the meeting to order.
ROLL CALL
In attendance: Trustee Mark Gaffino, Trustee Tao Martinez, Village Administrator Steve Bosco, Public Works Director John Laskowski, Mayor Dale Berman, Street Superintendent Brian Richter.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS – None
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Approval of the Services Committee Minutes dated December 17, 2018
Motion for approval made by Mayor Berman and seconded by Trustee Martinez. All in favor. Motion approved.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Public Works Policies Workshop
Tree Replacement policy – Public Works Director John Laskowski said that in reference to tree replacement within the village, when a problem has been identified, if a tree is 15 inches or less in diameter, those are removed in-house. If they are larger than that, the Village will ask the contractor to assist. Replacement tree planting is done in the fall. Village Administrator Steve Bosco noted that there is no need to monitor the Ash trees since the village has already replaced 2000 throughout town. When trees are placed on the list for replacement, they are taken down within a year and then replaced during the next cycle. Mayor Berman noted his concern with trees that are on private property that hang over the sidewalks. Laskowski said that the code enforcement officer has sent letters to residents who have had trees obstructing the sidewalk. Case law suggests that if branches overhang from one property to another, the resident of the property whose branches are hanging onto has the ability to trim them. Trustee Gaffino asked if the Village site checks the replacement trees to make sure the village is receiving quality trees. Laskowski said yes.
Mailbox Replacement policy – If a plow strikes a resident’s mailbox with its blade, the mailbox
is eligible for replacement. If the mailbox was installed properly, then the village will make a full replacement. If the mailbox was improperly installed and extended too far or over the curb, there is not a full replacement. The village provides a temporary mailbox and the resident would be responsible for replacing their own mailbox. Gaffino asked if someone from the village goes out to the location to ensure correct placement of the mailbox. Laskowski said the village will explain the requirements of installing the mailbox. Gaffino asked if there is a way to notify the homeowner once the mailbox is struck by a plow so that the resident knows right away instead of finding out later and calling in to report it to the village. Laskowski said that the village could look into that and can have the village make a phone call to the resident.
When the village is responsible for replacing mailboxes, two options are provided: The village would install a new post and box or reimbursement up to $100 and the resident installs their own mailbox of their choosing. Streets Superintendent Brian Richter said that the village currently has between 12 and 16 mailboxes that needed to be addressed. Richter noted that most of the time his snow plow drivers will call him and tell him if they hit a mailbox. Richter also noted that a mailbox should be 6 – 8 inches behind the curb.
Trustee Martinez suggested that any mailbox post that is hit, that the village place a tag on it so that the resident knows that the village is aware. Bosco noted that the contractor pays for any of the mailboxes they hit. Gaffino said he was unsure about the Village having to do the installation of the mailboxes since the department is small and could be focusing on other issues within the village.
The committee decided on the following: $100 reimbursement, eliminate installation of a basic box, create a tag to place on the post when a mailbox is hit by a plow.
Leaf Pickup Policy – The village has two ways it collects leaves: 1. Curbside leaf collection program. 2. Bag leaf program (provided by Waste Mgmt). The bag leaf program does not require stickers during October and November. The curbside pickup is free to residents and runs from mid-October to late November. The village provides each side of town with 3 pickups during this time frame. The village asks residents to rake leaves to the curb and keep them in the parkway by 6:30 a.m. on Monday for collection that week. If weather prevents residents from receiving 3 opportunities for collection, the village may have to suspend or cancel the program.
Bosco said that the village is looking at adding $60,000 this year for a leaf box and another leaf machine to make sure there are always two machines working at capacity and a backup machine. Bosco asked what feedback the board heard from residents about the east side not being picked up. Gaffino said the east side said they are always picked up last. Berman suggested starting on the east side and end up on the west side. Gaffino suggested alternating the days for pickup.
Martinez asked what would be easier: adding a third machine or having residents bag their own leaves with the village picking up. Richter said that bagging the leaves is one set way to ensure leaves are picked up.
Martinez suggested making it mandatory to bag leaves. Bosco said that if the village ever looked at getting rid of the leaf pick up program and going straight to a bag program, would then look at a brush pick up program instead.
The committee decided to keep the leaf program and look at ways to improve. A suggestion was made to budget another leaf machine.
Bosco said that the full packet of policies will go back to the services committee and the committee will discuss the changes that were made.
OLD BUSINESS – None
OTHER INFORMATION – None
TRUSTEE COMMENTS – None
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn made by Trustee Lowery and seconded by Mayor Berman. All in favor. Motion approved.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lori J. Murray
Village Clerk
