NORTH AURORA VILLAGE BOARD MEETING
VILLAGE BOARD MEETING MINUTES
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 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 Mark Gaffino, Trustee Mike Lowery, Trustee Laura Curtis, Trustee Mark Guethle, Trustee Mark Carroll
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 – Trustee Laura Curtis asked if there was something the Village could do regarding trash in the parking lot at J.C. Penney. Community & Economic Development Director Mike Toth said fines have been issued and the Village is working with property owners as best they can.
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Village Board Minutes dated 08/17/2020 and Committee of the Whole Minutes dated 08/17/2020
2. Interim Bills List Dated 08/17/2020 in the Amount of $171,767.28
3. Interim Bills List Dated 09/08/2020 in the Amount of $90,363.25
4. Bills List Dated 09/21/2020 in the Amount of $411,586.77
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 Curtis – yes Motion approved (5-0).
NEW BUSINESS
1. Approval of Ordinance Amending the North Aurora Code Section 5.08.350 to Decrease the Number Of Class A and Class L-3 Authorized in the Village Of North Aurora by On Each
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Curtis. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Gaffino –yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Guethle – yes. Trustee Curtis – yes Motion approved (5-0).
2. Approval of Ordinance Amending the North Aurora Code Section 5.08.350 to Increase the Number Of Class C and Class G Liquor Licenses Authorized in the Village Of North Aurora
Village Administrator Bosco explained the Class C licenses needed increased due to a new business, A’s Café, opening in Clock Tower Plaza (at the old Eddie’s Pizza location of 45 South Randall) and the Class G licenses needed to be increased as although the Village adopted and approved such an increase in November 2019, the increase was not codified.
Mayor Berman said he would not approve a Class C license – which is limited alcohol of beer and wine sales only – for the location and would only approve a full scale liquor license. Trustee Curtis questioned why a restaurant would only want the limited sales, to which Mayor Berman said it was because the business wanted to be an establishment for video gaming. The minimum amount of seats required for Video Gaming under a Class C license is 75, which Village Administrator Bosco said the restaurant did provide in an updated floor plan.
An original motion was made for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Lowery. Following discussion, a motion to table made by Trustee Lowery, and seconded by Trustee Gaffino. All in favor to table. Motion approved.
3. Approval of Ordinance for an Economic Incentive Agreement with the Gerald Ford Dealership Located at 208 Hansen Boulevard
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Carroll. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Gaffino –yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Guethle – yes. Trustee Curtis – yes Motion approved (5-0).
4. Approval of Ordinance for the Acquisition of Property at 19 South Lincolnway and Contract for Acquisition
Community & Economic Development Director Mike Toth explained that the purchase price of the property is $225,000. The Village will have a contingency to inspect the site and building prior to closing, and upon closing will bring this item back to the Board to discuss what they would like to see done with the property.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Gaffino and seconded by Trustee Guethle. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Gaffino –yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Guethle – yes. Trustee Curtis – yes Motion approved (5-0).
5. Approval to Award the 2020 Tree Replacement Program Bid to Acres Group in the Amount of $31,205.00
Public Works Director John Laskowski said the Board had previously rejected all bids for this project given the small number of applicants and they all came back over budget. Changes were made to decrease the required tree diameter size from 3” to 2.5” and the Village reached out to 15 landscape companies to make sure the advertisement for bids was received. Trustee Gaffino said he had concerns with the Village reaching out to specific landscapers as he said it felt like picking favorites and said he’d like to see it advertised differently next year. The low bidder was Acres Group, who Laskowski said the Village hs worked with before and they had done a good job.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Lowery and seconded by Trustee Carroll. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Gaffino –yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Guethle – yes. Trustee Curtis – yes Motion approved (5-0).
6. Approval of Overhead Sewer Grant Policy
Public Works Director John Laskowski explained the overhead sewer policy, which was reviewed by the Services Committee in August, was due for an update. The program works to encourage residences to change passive sewer systems to active that will help prevent backups by incentivizing the program. Previously the Village provided up to a 50% or $4,000 maximum reimbursement and they are now proposing 75% or $6,000 maximum. Laskowski also said he had recently learned that Fox Metro would also be incentivizing the conversion from passive to active systems and adding an additional 15% funding to the program.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Gaffino and seconded by Trustee Guethle. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Gaffino –yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Guethle – yes. Trustee Curtis – yes Motion approved (5-0).
OLD BUSINESS – None
VILLAGE PRESIDENT – Noted the upcoming newsletter will have information about Halloween trick-or-treating and that the Village is not cancelling Halloween
COMMITTEE REPORTS – None
TRUSTEES COMMENTS – Trustee Carroll noted he was not in favor of telling people they cannot trick-or-treat and also said he would like to see the Board returning to in-person meetings as he feels that they have been Zoom-ing for a while and that the Board is more effective in person.
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – None
ATTORNEY’S REPORT – None
VILLAGE DEPARTMENT REPORTS
1. Finance – None
2. Community Development – None
3. Police – None
4. Public Works – None
EXECUTIVE SESSION – None
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn made by Trustee Lowery and seconded by Trustee Guethle. All in favor. Motion approved.
Respectfully Submitted,
Natalie F. Stevens
Deputy Village Clerk
