NORTH AURORA VILLAGE BOARD MEETING
VILLAGE BOARD MEETING MINUTES
Monday, February 6, 2023
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.
PUBLIC HEARING- National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program
Public Works Director John Laskowski stated that the Public Hearing was an opportunity for residents to voice concerns and thoughts about the NPDES program.
Laskowski stated that the program began in 1972 as part of the Clean Water Act, the goal of the program is to reduce pollutants entering receiving waters, whether that is through detention basins, storm sewers, or the Fox River. The EPA and IEPA are administers of the program, because the Village has greater than 10,000 residents, it is mandatory that the Village participate in the program and is required to obtain a ILR40 permit (MS4 permit). The Village must prepare a Notice of Intent (NOI) that states all of the activities that the Village intends on performing throughout the year to reduce pollution in the storm sewers and receiving waters.
The Village is also required to produce AFIR, the Annual Facilities Inspection Report of all the actions taken each year as well as to comply with the best management practices outlined in the NOI, such as the inspections that occur on active construction sites. Qualified and licensed professionals are required to perform the inspections on any construction sites over an acre, sites smaller than an acre are inspected by Village staff. The reports generated by inspectors upon the conclusion of inspection are Storm and Water Reports.
Director Laskowski detailed an example of a report and what is routinely inspected at a construction site.
Laskowski introduced Patrick McPartlan from the Kane-DuPage Soil & Water Conservation District who was on hand for any questions.
McPartlan spoke about a more in depth seminar focusing on North Aurora for contractors, government, and engineers on March 21, 2023.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS –
Resident Melissa Lejech of 505 Turnberry Drive, North Aurora spoke in favor of changing the Village Code to allow residents to have backyard chickens.
Resident Geno Debelman 1417 Fieldside Lane, North Aurora spoke against allowing residents to raise backyard chickens.
Resident Jesek Rogers 608 W. State Street North Aurora. This resident spoke about the lack of bike racks in the Village.
Resident Cullen Rogers of 608 W. State Street, North Aurora commented about the lot where the Community Center previously sat. Rogers referred to the 2015 Comprehensive Plan found on the Village’s website and encouraged the Board to pursue the goals written about in the Plan.
Mayor Gaffino addressed the backyard chicken request. He referred to a previous meeting where he had taken a poll of the Trustees’ feelings about allowing backyard chickens in North Aurora, to which the majority of Trustees were against the idea. He asked again how Trustees felt, they remained unchanged and the majority did not want to allow for residents to own chickens.
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Village Board Minutes Dated 01/16/2023; Committee of the Whole Minutes Dated 01/16/2023
2. Bills List Dated 02/06/2023 in the Amount of $476,092.40
3. Travel and Business Expenses I the Amount of $80.00
4. Approval to Enter into Five-Year Contract with Illinois Century Network and Comcast for LEADS Access in the Amount of $55,902.00
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Lowery. 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).
NEW BUSINESS
1. Approval of Ordinance Amending the North Aurora Code Section 5.08.350 to Decrease the Number of Class M Liquor Authorized it the Village of North Aurora (My Place Hotel)
Administrator Bosco stated that the My Place Hotel was no longer serving Liquor at the North Aurora location and would not be renewing their Liquor License.
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).
VILLAGE PRESIDENT – None
TRUSTEES COMMENTS – Trustee Guethle spoke about the bike rack suggestion made during Audience Comments. He questioned what the Village could do to bring more bike racks in to help with people commuting on bikes.
Administrator Bosco spoke about pedestrian connectivity within the Village, stating that the issue had been identified internally, however not everything was under the jurisdiction of the Village. Bosco stated that the Village can reach out to other jurisdictions in an effort to resolve the pedestrian gaps and can re-evaluate the Village’s public spaces and consider adding bike racks in those areas.
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 Curtis. All in favor. Motion approved.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jessi Watkins
Village Clerk
