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An Attentive Municipal Organization that Connects with Community, Commerce, and Nature.

Committee of the Whole Minutes

VILLAGE OF NORTH AURORA
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 18, 2017

CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Berman called the meeting to order.

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

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

AUDIENCE COMMENTS – None

TRUSTEE COMMENTS – None

DISCUSSION
1. Village Membership in the Intergovernmental Personnel Benefit Cooperative
Finance Director Bill Hannah addressed this topic. Each year the Village looks at quotes for insurance carriers for employee health benefits. Last year, the Village switched from Blue Cross to United Health Care. Each year there are significant fluctuations in the annual renewals. Sometimes the Village deals with 10%, 15% or 30% increases. Staff has been looking into the Intergovernmental Personal Benefit Cooperative (IPBC). This is an organization of about 130 municipal and local government clients who created a self-insured intergovernmental pool. If the Village was to join, it would pay a monthly amount for this pool and depending on how the pool does, there could be a dividend or a payback to the pool. This could go into a reserve fund to offset future claims experience and increases in cost. The Village has had an average renewal of 7-1/2% per year. IPBC has an average renewal of 2.2% over the last 5 years.

Shawn Hamilton of A J Gallagher stated that the IPBC has been around since the 1970s. There are 130 members. It is regulated by the State of Illinois. Members hold over $100,000,000 in fund balance reserves. The Village would maintain all control of its plan designs. The stability of the renewals is the biggest advantage the village will see.

Carroll asked if the IPBC negotiates the renewal rate on behalf of the Village. Hamilton said yes. There are two carriers, Blue Cross Blue Shield and United Healthcare. We negotiate on behalf of all the members, 40,000 lives. Hannah said that if the Village is interested in pursuing, there is a 90-day window to get this in place by January 1st. Carroll asked how you get paid from the village. Hamilton said the Village pays a certain amount each year. It is all encompassing (health insurance premiums, any ancillary coverages such as vision/dental, what it costs to prepare the audit, what it costs Gallagher) The IPBC Board members, of which the Village would be a part of , vote and approve each year what the budget is. Carroll said this would be for an 18-month period. Hamilton said that there is a 120-day out. Rates are locked for 18-months. Trustee Lowery asked how this benefits the Village. Hamilton said that when they go to BCBS or United Healthcare, we are going for 40,000 people. It is group purchasing. Because of this, our renewals are much tighter. Because you are an owner/partner, you get paid back a dividend every year which fluctuates about 5 or 6% a year. It is a financial vehicle that will save the Village a good amount of money. The Board was in favor of looking into this further. Hannah to bring the resolution to the next Board meeting.

2. Community Sign Designs
The Village has a contract with Western Remac to build a community sign at the northeast corner of Route 56 and Route 31. Bosco asked the Board which of the two designs was preferred.

Mike Conoscenti of Western Remac (installer) and Lori Vierow of GreenbergFarrow (designer) were in attendance for questions from the Board.

Bosco made note of two items regarding the sign:
– On the second sign, the steel originally designed is of a very expensive material. The brown ended up being a flat brown color instead of a rusted look.

– The Board would need to approve a variance due to height of the sign. The new signs top out at 9 feet, however, the sign code for the Route 31 corridor only allows 6 feet in height.

Conoscenti stated that in terms of lighting, the two signs would be lit differently. Sign A would have dimensional letters that would be pin-mounted to the stone. It would be lit with spotlights. Sign B would contain letters within the cabinet and therefore would be internally lit. It would contain a push-in letter and be halo lit. Both signs would have the same technology for the message center board.

Consensus by the Board was to choose Sign A.

Trustee Carroll said that his only comment was that the brown in the Village symbol would look washed out and that white would show up better. Conoscenti said that the material used would allow it to be painted any color the Board chooses.

3. Overlook Gazebo Rentals
Steve Bosco asked the Board for direction in terms of renting out the gazebo for weddings and wedding pictures. If the decision is to move forward with renting the gazebo, staff would like to keep the process as simple as possible. An application would be required as an internal process. There would be a 2-hour maximum. Trustee Curtis felt this would be a good idea but felt that the fee was too low and that it should not be refundable. There should also be a tiered structure for residents vs non-residents.

The biggest concern is for staff time since a Public Works staff member would need to make sure the gazebo is clean and take care of any garbage that is left behind.

Lowery suggested a requirement to rent the gazebo 30 days in advance. Bosco said it is already noted in the application. Bosco said he would move forward per the Board’s recommendation and will bring the application to the Board once it is completed.

4. Business Licenses
Mike Toth stated that Title 5 of the municipal code regulates business licenses and regulations. Some businesses use Type R licenses. Title 5 requires that each business register with the village annually at a fee of $50. Section 5.04 requires a business pay fees for miscellaneous business operations such as vending machines, ice machines, restaurant seating. Toth said he is looking to remove all of the license requirements of section 5.04 with exception to the waste haul removal license fee. The Board was in favor of eliminating section 5.04.

EXECUTIVE SESSION
1. Land Acquisition
Motion made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Carroll to adjourn to executive session for the purpose of discussing land acquisition. All in favor. Motion approved.

(return from Executive Session)

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

Respectfully Submitted,

Lori J. Murray
Village Clerk

 

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