NORTH AURORA VILLAGE BOARD MEETING
VILLAGE BOARD MEETING MINUTES
Monday, July 18, 2022
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 Jason Paprocki, Community & Economic Development Director Mike Toth, Village Attorney Kevin Drendel, Public Works Director John Laskowski, Police Chief Joe DeLeo.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS – Resident Harold Thielman 3S976 Deer Oaks Rd. North Aurora spoke on the potential relocation of Verilife Cannabis Dispensary from its current location at 161 S Lincolnway, North Aurora to a proposed site at 2080 W. Orchard Road, North Aurora which was discussed at a public hearing at the July 5, 2022 Plan Commission Meeting. Mr. Thielman expressed his disapproval of the potential relocation citing proximity to homes to the proposed location as well as presence of children in the area.
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Village Board Minutes dated 06/20/2022; Committee of the Whole Minutes dated 06/20/2022
2. Interim Bills List Dated 06/28/2022 FY 2022 in the Amount of $36,782.06
3. Interim Bills List Dated 06/28/2022 FY 2023 in the Amount of $155,046.87
4. Bills List Dated 07/18/2022 FY 2022 in the Amount of $229,166.04
5. Bills List Dated 07/18/2022 FY 2023 in the Amount of $1,058,943.29
6. Approval of Resolution Releasing Surety for the Randall Crossing Mixed Use Building Located at 1101 Ritter Street
7. Travel and Business Expenses in the Amount of $120.00
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 Special Event for Worth Your Mile 10K Run
Administrator Bosco explained that Worth Your Mile was seeking a Special Event Permit to utilize Riverfront Park on the morning of November 19, 2022 as the finish line for a 10K along the Fox River Trail. The event will take place from 8:00 am until 12:00 pm, they will utilize sound amplifying equipment and have a food truck for more than two hours. There will be no Village road closures due to the event. The park will remain open during the event.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Lowery and seconded by Trustee Salazar. 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).
2. Approval of Ordinance Approving a Minor Change to a Planned Unit Development for the Property Located on Lot 2 in the Randall Road Commercial Center, North Aurora
Director Toth stated that the Randall Road Commercial Center was approved by the Board in 2001, in May 2021 the Village Board approved a special use amending the PUD Ordinance and site plan to allow a 66 unit multi-family development on Lot 2 of the Center.
Director Toth explained that the Village has been working with Next Generation Development, LLC who is planning on purchasing Lot 2 to construct the multi-family development with minor changes to the PUD resulting in a 75 unit multi-family development. These changes include a total increase of nine dwelling units, decrease of seven bedrooms, and an increase of two bedrooms. There would be an estimated total increase of 6 people and an increase of 17 parking spaces.
Jim Hughes of Next Generation Development, LLC was on hand to present to the Board the changes to the original plan.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Lowery. 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).
3. Approval of Ordinance Approving the First Amendment to the Annexation Agreement between the Village of North Aurora and Stan L. Zepelak Trust (Petition #22-02)
Director Toth explained that both items three and four were related. He reminded the Village Board that Seasons is a multi-family residential development to be located on the property situated west of Orchard Road, south of West Mooseheart Road and east of Deerpath Road. A public hearing was conducted on March 1, 2022 prior to the Plan Commission meeting, the Plan Commission unanimously recommended approval, and the Village Board offered support for the project at both the March 7, 2022 Committee of the Whole Meeting and then again on April 4, 2022 with the relocation of the community club house, as well as the Traffic Impact Study, draft ordinance amending the PUD, and draft amendment to the Annexation Agreement. There was an official public hearing for the First Amendment to the Annexation Agreement between the Village of North Aurora and Stan L. Zepelak Trust at the April 18, 2022 Village Board meeting. There was no public comment or discussion.
Toth explained that the lapse in time between the April 18, 2022 public hearing and the evenings vote for approval was due to the developer and the property owner needing additional time to resolve issues related to the connector road adjacent to the property.
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).
4. Approval of Ordinance Amending Ordinance No. 13-01-07-03 Zoning and Granting a Special Use as a Planned Unit Development for Commercial and Multi-Family Use for the Property Located West of Orchard Road, North of Tanner Road and East of Deerpath Road in the Village of North Aurora (Petition #22-02)
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).
5. Approval of Ordinance Amending Title 3, Chapter 3.40 for the North Aurora Village Code Regarding Contracts for Public Works
Director Paprocki explained that the item was in regard to amending the North Aurora Village Code regarding contracts for Public Works and was discussed at the June 20, 2022 Committee of the Whole meeting. This change would alter the requirement that bid notifications must be placed in local newspapers and changing it to reflect that bids will be publically in keeping with the Illinois Municipal Code in a manner outlined by the Village Purchasing Policy.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Niedzwiedz and seconded by Trustee Curtis. 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).
6. Approval of Resolution to Approve an Amendment to the Village’s Purchasing Policy
Director Paprocki stated that this was also discussed at the June 20, 2022 Committee of the Whole meeting, this item would amend language in the Village’s purchasing policy to reflect changes to bid notification, stating that bid notifications will be posted on the Village’s website as well as secondary means such as trade journals. Additionally, the amendment addresses the Village Administrator’s purchasing authority from less than $15,000 to less than $25,000, language has been added that the Village may continue services with a vendor that it maintains an existing satisfactory relationship with, any multi-year contract where the total value exceeds the Village Administrator’s spending authority Village Board approval is necessary, added language updating the bidding procedures to include the Finance Department as part of the bid package review, and defined Village credit card spending limits by supervisory level. Paprocki explained that a new addition related to donations to the Village and who it will and will not accept donations from and how donations will be accounted for internally.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Salazar and seconded by Trustee Lowery. 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).
VILLAGE PRESIDENT – None
TRUSTEES COMMENTS – Trustee Curtis asked for an update on the Lincoln Valley road project. Administrator Bosco explained that the labor dispute at the local quarries was ongoing, creating a shortage of supplies. Bosco stated that the Village is working with its contractor on a potential solution, outsourcing stone from an alternate supplier at a cost of approximately $20,000 to the Village. Village Staff is looking in to the specifics of this possible solution.
Trustee Curtis asked if there was any recourse the Village may have with the contractor for a job left incomplete. Bosco explained that a process of liquidated damages can be pursued if the contract is broken, however the completion date for the project is October.
Trustee Lowery asked if the bumps in the road due to the unfinished paving could be addressed. Director Laskowski stated that the areas may be able to be ground down in the interim.
There was additional discussion about the urgency to move the program along and the problems that have arisen from the delay of progress.
Trustee Salazar asked why there were still safety horses in places where the sidewalks have been repaired, Director Laskowski stated that with the streets themselves not being completed, it causes a trip hazard between the sidewalk and the street.
There was discussion regarding the process and provisions of proceeding with a liquidated damage clause, the Village Board agreed the better solution would be to seek out sourcing rock from an alternate vendor.
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT –
1. Beautification Committee Property Recognition Program
Administrator Bosco explained that the Beautification Committee was coordinating a recognition program for well maintained and manicured residential lawns in the Village. He stated that the initial round of this challenge, the Green Thumb Program, was to wrap up by mid to late August.
2. Police Department Landscaping
Administrator Bosco stated that the Beautification Committee had been discussing the landscaping at the police station. The committee had been discussing installing the words “North Aurora” either in stone or shrubbery/plantings to the sloped area along Lincolnway, in front of the Police Station.
The Board discussed whether stone or plantings were a better option for the installation.
Trustee Curtis was not in favor of the idea.
The Board discussed the maintenance of both the stone and plantings.
The discussion evolved in to additional/alternate beautification projects.
Trustee Lowery suggested outlining the white letters of the North Aurora signs with blue.
Trustee Niedzwiedz suggested lighting the Village welcome signs.
Trustee Salazar suggested a water feature in front of the Police Station.
Trustee Carroll suggested burying powerlines along Route 31. Administrator Bosco spoke about the costs of burying the lines and how it may be incorporated with the replacement of the water main lines.
Further discussion about Route 31 ensued.
Administrator Bosco spoke about the creation of a comprehensive program that would address future large projects and what the Village can expect in terms of budgeting.
ATTORNEY’S REPORT – None
VILLAGE DEPARTMENT REPORTS
1. Finance – None
2. Community Development – None
3. Police – Chief DeLeo spoke about the planned community picnic August 20, 2022. He also spoke about the officer’s body worn cameras. He stated that the training was beginning and by mid-August usage would be fully implemented.
4. Public Works – None
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn was made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Lowery. All in favor. Motion approved.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jessi Watkins
Village Clerk
