NORTH AURORA VILLAGE BOARD MEETING
VILLAGE BOARD MEETING MINUTES
Monday, August 15, 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 (Led by the Boy Scouts Troop 104)
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 Edward Boula, Public Works Director John Laskowski, Police Chief Joe DeLeo.
PROCLAMATION-It’s Our River Day
Mayor Gaffino proclaimed “It’s Our River Day”, to be recognized the third Saturday of September, going forward, supporting events that honor and celebrate the life and well-being of the Fox River.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS – Mayor Gaffino stated that comments related to Agenda Item Nine would have an opportunity to speak before the agenda item. There were no further comments.
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Village Board Minutes dated 08/01/2022: Committee of the Whole Minutes dated 08/01/2022
2. Bills List Dated 08/15/2022 in the Amount of $357,398.77
3. Travel and Business in the Amount of $600.00
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).
NEW BUSINESS
1. Approval of Resolution to Adopt a Village of North Aurora Logo Use Policy
Administrator Bosco explained that the Board previously discussed the adoption of a Village Logo Use Policy at the August 1, 2022 Committee of the Whole meeting. Bosco stated that a local Boy Scout Troop had been interested in using the Village logo along with their own and the Village lacked a policy on how to approach that request. The proposed policy would require the entity, limited to non-for-profit groups servicing North Aurora, requesting use of the logo to submit an example of how the logo would be used for Village Board approval.
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).
2. Approval of Resolution to Allow Boy Scout Troop #104 Permission to Utilize Village of North Aurora Logo
Administrator Bosco explained that the item was to allow Boy Scout Troop 104 to utilize the Village logo in accordance to the just passed Village Logo Use Policy.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Niedzwiedz and seconded by Trustee Curtis. 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).
3. Approval of Ordinance Approving the 2nd Budget Amendment for Fiscal Year 2021-22
Finance Director Jason Paprocki explained that the staff recently finished finalizing the closing journal entries for fiscal year 2021-2022 and have determined that there needed to be amendments to the budget. The recommended changes include budget transfers between the departments in the General Fund, an additional $255 to the Surviving Spouse Pensions account due to the death of a pensioner, and an additional transfer of $2,150,000 to the Capital Projects Fund due to the positive operating results of the General Fund.
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).
4. Approval to Award Contract for 2022 Tree Replacement Program to Acres Group in the Amount of $34,916.00
Public Works Director John Laskowski stated that the contract for approval would include the replacement of 100 parkway trees throughout the Village. Laskowski said that the Acres Group has done this work for the Village the past three years. Six companies had picked up plans for the project but only two bid, Yellowstone (Acres Group) was the lowest bid at $34,916.00.
Trustee Curtis asked for clarification on the pricing, Laskowski explained that the cost reflected about $350 per tree.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Carroll. 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).
5. Approval to Award Contract for Cherrytree Court Sanitary Sewer Extension to Fox Excavating Inc. in the Amount of $136,025.00
Director Laskowski explained that there are two homes on Cherrytree Court that that share a sanitary sewer service line, it is the ordinance of Fox Metro and policy of the Village that each individual single-family home has its own sanitary service running to the main. The Village had to extend its sanitary sewer main in order for the connections to be made. It was the recommendation of staff to award the contract for the installation of the project to Fox Excavating, Inc., the low bidder on the project. Fox Excavating has successfully completed projects for other nearby communities.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Salazar and seconded by Trustee Guethle. 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 Engineering Agreement for a Water System Flow Modeling Study with EEI, Inc. in the Amount of $118,976.00
Director Laskowski stated that the Water System Flow Modeling Study would evaluate the Village’s water distribution system, and evaluate their capacity. The study would help determine the amount of flow at various times so that in the event that a private development were to come in to the Village requiring a heavy water use, the Village would know, in advance, if that could be provided. The study will also help to identify choke points in the system so that they could potentially be replaced in the future. Laskowski said that there were sufficient funds in the Water Fund to complete the study, and that staff recommended to award the agreement to EEI.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Lowery and seconded by Trustee Carroll. 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 Engineering Services Agreement for Pedestrian Signal at Randall Road & Dogwood-Ritter Design with EEI, Inc. in the Amount of Up to $45,941.00
Mayor Gaffino stated that the pedestrian signal at Randall and Dogwood-Ritter was brought to the Village’s attention, in part, by a young man named Brandon who was in the audience. Mayor Gaffino thanked Brandon.
Director Laskowski stated that the Village has identified the intersection of Randall and Dogwood-Ritter as an intersection where pedestrians cross the road. He said that the project would include installing pedestrian signals at the traffic signals, where pedestrian push buttons can be utilized. Laskowski reminded the Board that the item was discussed favorably at the August 1, 2022 Committee of the Whole meeting.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Carroll and seconded by Trustee Niedzwiedz. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Carroll – yes, Trustee Curtis –yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes, Trustee Salazar – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
8. Approval of an Ordinance Approving a Map Amendment and Special Use as an Industrial Planned Unit Development for 29.43 Acres of Property to be Known as the Park 88 Logistics Center in the Village of North Aurora
Community & Economic Development Director Mike Toth explained that the Park 88 Logistics Center, whose proposed location is north of Sullivan Road, east of Evergreen Drive and south of Smoketree Plaza, was discussed at the June 6, 2022 Committee of the Whole meeting where a draft PUD Ordinance was discussed. Since that time, minor changes had been made to the language resulting in the requirement of the Village Board to approve any minor changes to the PUD. This language mirrors the Zoning Ordinance. Language also changed to reflect that the Village Engineer would have authority to approve any traffic improvements made on Sullivan Road. The City of Aurora was currently investigating that intersection, upon their approval, the Village Engineer would have the ability to approve it. Toth Stated that there had been no further changes to the development plans since the last discussion.
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).
AUDIENCE COMMENT REGARDING AGENDA ITEM NINE-
Dale Berman of 13 Chantilly Lane in North Aurora, former mayor of the Village, spoke in favor of the agenda item. He explained that there have been controversial topics brought before the Village Board in the past and in his experience, people who are against an idea tend to perpetuate fear, uncertainty and doubt. He spoke about a few controversial issues that have gone before the Board and suggested that passion about an issue, possibly due to morality or religion, drives people to speak out. However, Berman stated that not everyone shares the same moral code and the Village Board has always done what is in the best interest of the people of North Aurora. He commented on the Pharmacann presentation at the last COW meeting, stating that it was thorough and informative. He spoke positively of the company’s leadership and attributed the absence of problems the company has had in the Village to that.
Jeremy Unruh spoke on behalf of Pharmacann and asked the Village Board to continue what they began in 2015 with taking a chance on allowing the sales of medicinal marijuana. He stated that the company had been operating without issue and hoped that the Board would be comfortable in supporting a move to relocate an existing, running operation to a more suitable location in the Village.
Village Attorney Edward Boula explained the parameters of the voting process. Boula stated that because the proposed use was not recommended by the Plan Commission, the vote would require a super majority of the Trustees to pass and the Mayor cannot vote. The vote would need to be at least four of six in the affirmative to pass. Boula also reminded the Board that their decision making should be done in the context of the Village Code related to special use.
9. Approval of Ordinance Approving a Special Use to Allow an Adult-Use Cannabis Dispensing Organization in the B-2 General Commercial District for the Property Located at 2080 W. Orchard Road, North Aurora, Illinois
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 – no, Trustee Curtis –yes. Motion approved (5-1).
VILLAGE PRESIDENT – None
TRUSTEES COMMENTS – None
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – Administrator Bosco stated that the Village will be hosting a movie night at the Tanner Trails park on August 27, 2022
ATTORNEY’S REPORT – None
VILLAGE DEPARTMENT REPORTS
1. Finance – None
2. Community Development – None
3. Police – Chief DeLeo stated that Friday August 19th was the event “Cops on Top” a fundraiser for the Special Olympics, in association with Dunkin Donuts. Saturday August 20th was the Police Department Community Picnic from 12pm-4pm. DeLeo also spoke about the implementation of a therapy dog program.
4. Public Works – None
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn was made by Trustee Lowery and seconded by Trustee Carroll. All in favor. Motion approved.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jessi Watkins
Village Clerk
