NORTH AURORA VILLAGE BOARD MEETING
VILLAGE BOARD MEETING MINUTES
Monday, December 20, 2021
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Village Board meeting was conducted live remotely
via telecommunications.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Gaffino called the meeting to order.
SILENT PRAYER – MEDITATION – PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
In attendance: Mayor Mark Gaffino, Trustee Mark Carroll, Trustee Laura Curtis, Trustee Mark Guethle, Trustee Mike Lowery, Trustee Todd Niedzwiedz, Trustee Carolyn Salazar
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 –
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Village Board Minutes dated 12/06/2021 and Committee of the Whole Minutes dated 12/06/2021
2. Bills List Dated 12/20/2021 in the Amount of $156,388.49
3. Approval of Executive Session Minutes Dated 05/03/2021, 05/17/2021, 10/18/2021 and 11/15/2021
4. Approval of 2022 Meeting Schedules
5. Approval of Resolution Authorizing the Village Administrator to Execute the Purchase of a Utility Truck for the Public Works Water Division Exceeding the Spending Authority of the Village Administrator and in Lieu of Procurement Requirements Within the Village Purchasing Policy
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Curtis. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes, Trustee Salazar – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Curtis –yes. Motion approved (6-0).
NEW BUSINESS
1. Approval of Ordinance Ratifying Ordinance 98-03-09-02 Being an Ordinance to Vacate a Portion of Grant Street in the Village of North Aurora
Director Toth explained that the first three items on the agenda relate to the redevelopment of the Aurora Packing Company, Inc. property located at 125 Grant St. and 149 Grant St. The first Ordinance is ratifying Ordinance 98-03-09-02, being an ordinance to vacate a portion of Grant St. The Ordinance was approved by the Village Board on March 9, 1998, the ordinance vacates Grant St., the original order was displaced or lost, through the ratification or approval of this ordinance the 1998 Ordinance would be validated.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Curtis and seconded by Trustee Salazar. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Curtis –yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes, Trustee Salazar – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
2. Approval of Ordinance Approving the Aurora Packing Company Final Plat of Subdivision in the Village of North Aurora
Director Toth stated that the PUD for the Aurora Packing Company was approved by the Village Board on March 2, 2020 as part of that approval the Board approved the zoning and subdivision entitlements necessary for Aurora Packing Company, Inc., including the Aurora Packing Company Preliminary Plat of Subdivision. The Aurora Packing Company is seeking approval of the Final Plat of Subdivision which Director Toth deemed consistent with the original Preliminary Plat.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Salazar and seconded by Trustee Niedzwiedz. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Salazar – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Curtis –yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
3. Approval of Resolution Approving Release of Easements/Vacation Obligations and Parking License Agreement Aurora Packing Company, Inc
Director Toth explained that there were requirements of the PUD that were approved in 2020 which were conditions that the Village go back with Aurora Packing Company and get a license agreement to allow parking on the property. There are going to be a total of nine parking spaces that would be adjacent to the front entrance of the Aurora Packing Company. Eight of those spaces are planned to be ADA spaces which is why they want to locate them on the east bank of the river. Aurora Packing Company has been parking on both Village and Park District property which is located north of the proposed spaces, they also have lot two which is located at 56 Grant St. The terms of the proposed agreement allow for the use of Village property for parking in exchange for removing the asphalt and maintaining open space on the remainder of Village property, the adjacent Fox Valley Park District property and their property located at 56 Grant St.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Salazar. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes, Trustee Salazar – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Curtis –yes. Motion approved (6-0).
4. Approval of Ordinance Approving the Second Amendment to the Development Agreement between Village of North Aurora, Mark E. Sorrentino, Trustee of the Mark E. Sorrentino Trust No. 1 Dated October 14, 1996 and Progressive Concepts, LLC
Director Toth stated that the next two agenda items pertain to the Randall Square development which is located at the southwest corner of Randall Road and Oak Street. The developer was looking to subdivide parcel six and add a commercial building on the eastern property adjacent to Randall Road and an office building adjacent to Miller Drive. They were also requesting the reduction of a 50 foot building and yard setback adjacent to Randall Road and Oak Street, therefore there was an amendment to the development agreement as well as an amendment to the PUD agreement. This was recommended for approval by the Plan Commission on November 2, 2021 and went before the Committee of the Whole on November 15, 2021. There have since been no changes to the plan.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Niedzwiedz and seconded by Trustee Lowery. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes, Trustee Salazar – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Curtis –yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
5. Approval of an Ordinance Amending a Special Use as B-2 General Commercial Planned Unit Development for Lots 4,6,7,8,9 and 10 of Randall Square
Director Toth stated that this Ordinance would address the amendments mentioned, the request to have less than fifty foot setbacks, the sign variants and the plat approval.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Salazar and seconded by Trustee Carroll. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Salazar – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Curtis –yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
6. Approval of Ordinance Amending the Title 17 of the North Aurora Code Regarding Solar Energy Collection Panels
Director Toth explained that the Village Board was recently approached by a resident concerned about the current code regarding solar energy collection panels and the limitations they present. The current code does not allow for panels to face the street or a side corner yard. A draft ordinance was brought before and approved by the Plan Commission on December 7, 2021, stating that solar panels would be permissible on any roof plane on any building. Screening would no longer be required for non-residential buildings. The solar panels and the visible structural parts of the solar panel would be required to be monochromatic. An emergency direct current disconnect switch would no longer be required in the zoning ordinance and solar panels would no longer be required to only be used to generate energy for the property where it is located.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Lowery and seconded by Trustee Guethle. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes, Trustee Salazar – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Curtis –yes, Trustee Guethle – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
7. Approval of Ordinance Repealing Chapter 5.05 of Title 5 of the North Aurora Municipal Code (Contractor Registration)
Director Toth stated that this ordinance was discussed by the Committee of the Whole on December 6, 2021 with support for repealing the Contractor Registration program.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Curtis and seconded by Trustee Lowery. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Curtis –yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes, Trustee Salazar – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
8. Approval of Motion to Accept the Single Audit Report for the May 31, 2021 Fiscal Year
Administrator Bosco explained that the Village is required to have auditors conduct a “single audit” anytime the Village expends more than $750,000 in federal grant money. A single audit was required for 2021 due to the Village receiving and expending a little over a million dollars distributed through the County as part of the CARES Act and Coronavirus Relief Fund.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Curtis. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes, Trustee Salazar – yes, Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Curtis –yes. Motion approved (6-0).
VILLAGE PRESIDENT – Mayor Gaffino wished everyone happy holidays.
TRUSTEES COMMENTS – None
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
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn was made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Carroll. All in favor. Motion approved.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jessi Watkins
Village Clerk
