NORTH AURORA VILLAGE BOARD MEETING
VILLAGE BOARD MEETING MINUTES
Monday, October 2, 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 Jason Christiansen, 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 Nathan Darga, Village Attorney Kevin Drendel, Public Works Director Brian Richter, Deputy Police Chief Joe Gorski.
PROCLAMATION-Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Mayor Gaffino proclaimed October 2023 to be Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the Village of North Aurora.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS – Resident Robert Camey of 517 Western Drive, North Aurora addressed the Village Board regarding cars speeding on Western Drive. He asked the Board to consider the addition of a speed bump or sign along Western Drive. Mr. Camey also asked the Board to consider a deceleration lane at the intersection of Meade and Tanner Road. Mayor Gaffino explained that Tanner is a Kane County road and a project like that would fall under their jurisdiction. Gaffino also stated that the police have had a speed trailer along Western as well as squad cars, Deputy Chief Gorski stated that he would put in a request for additional patrols in the area. There was discussion regarding when and where the speeding happens.
Director Richter stated that Public Works would check to make sure that the speed limit signs are in place.
Mr. Camey asked about the addition of a sidewalk along the north side of Tanner. Mayor Gaffino stated that the Village has been interested in the addition of the sidewalk. Administrator Bosco added that when contacted, the county stated that they had no interest in adding a sidewalk in the near future so the cost would fall on the Village. Bosco also stated that the Village could contact the county to do a speed study regarding whether or not a decel lane would be warranted at Tanner and Meade. Mayor Gaffino stated that he believes that the speed limit should be reduced along Tanner.
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Village board Minutes Dated 09/18/2023; Committee of the Whole Minutes Dated 09/18/2023
2. Interim Bills List Dated 09/28/2023 in the Amount of $15,980.00
3. Bills List Dated 10/02/2023 in the Amount of $449,479.64
4. Approval of Special Event Permit for Share and Care Halloween Parade
Motion for approval made by Trustee Salazar and seconded by Trustee Niedzwiedz. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Salazar – yes, Trustee Christiansen – yes, Trustee Curtis –yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
NEW BUSINESS
1. Approval to Purchase 2 Ford Explorers and 1 Ford F150 for North Aurora Police Department form Morrow Brothers Ford in the Amount of $138,730.00
Deputy Chief Gorski reminded the Board that with Village Board approval, the police department ordered three black Ford Explorers from Marrow Brothers Ford in 2022. The amount allocated to the purchase, $152,100, was carried over into the 2023-24 fiscal year budget as the vehicles had yet to be delivered. Currently, Marrow Brothers had two Ford Explorers and a Ford F150 available. Gorski explained that the Explorers could be utilized immediately to replace aging vehicles in the fleet and the F150 would be utilized in the traffic division to haul truck scales.
Gorski stated that the total purchase would be $8,534 more than what had been originally budgeted. Staff was seeking to cancel the existing order for three Ford Explorers and make the purchase of two Ford Explorers and a Ford F150 instead.
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 Christiansen – yes, Trustee Curtis –yes. Motion approved (6-0).
2. Approval of an Ordinance Approving a Special Use to Allow a Banquet Hall in the B-2 General Business District for the Property Located at 1167 Oak Street, North Aurora, Illinois
Community & Economic Development Director Nathan Darga reminded the Village Board that this item had been before the Committee of the Whole on September 18, 2023 and the Plan Commission on September 5, 2023, neither group had conditions to add. The item was in front of the Board for final approval.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Salazar and seconded by Trustee Guethle. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Salazar – yes, Trustee Christiansen – yes, Trustee Curtis –yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
3. Approval of Ordinance Amending the North Aurora Code Section 5.08.350 by Increasing the Number of Class L-1 Hidden Beauty Salon Liquor License
Administrator Bosco explained that the item was for Hidden Beauty Salon, should the item be approved, it would be the only L-1 license in the Village. The license was for a salon that would like to have wine as part of their offerings for their beauty packages. This item had been discussed at the last Committee of the Whole on September 18, 2023.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Niedzwiedz. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes, Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes, Trustee Salazar – yes, Trustee Christiansen – yes, Trustee Curtis –yes. Motion approved (6-0).
4. Approval of Ordinance Amending Chapter 5.08 of the North Aurora Municipal Code Regulating Supplemental Video Gaming Licenses in the Village of North Aurora
Administrator Bosco reminded the Board that this item had gone to the Committee of the Whole for two workshop discussions. The consensus of the Village Board was to continue to prohibit video gaming parlors. This agenda item would update the Village Code by changing the definition of what a video gaming parlor is for clarification purposes, the Village would have the ability to request a business to provide their financial data to ensure that the bulk of their revenue was coming from liquor and food sales rather than video gaming. The item would also allow the Village to request from an applicant, an affidavit consenting to all of the provisions within the Village’s Code. The changes would also regulate how many machines an establishment could have based on square footage, one machine per 500 square feet of interior building.
Trustee Salazar asked for clarification regarding an establishment’s ability to advertise their video gaming. Administrator Bosco explained that an establishment could advertise video gaming, however it must be done in a way that is ancillary to their food and beverage offerings.
Motion for approval made by Trustee Niedzwiedz and seconded by Trustee Curtis. Roll Call Vote: Trustee Niedzwiedz – yes, Trustee Salazar – yes, Trustee Christiansen – yes, Trustee Curtis –yes, Trustee Guethle – yes, Trustee Lowery – yes. Motion approved (6-0).
5. Approval to Purchase GMC 3500 for Water Division from Haggerty Chevrolet in the Amount of $89,696.00
Director Richter stated that in June the Water Division added its’ fifth employee, the Division currently had four trucks for five employees. Richter explained that the addition of this truck would serve as a replacement for a 1994 Grumman Step Van which was used for repairs of watermain breaks and fire hydrant repairs. The existing vehicles in the Public Works fleet have begun being outfitted with the appropriate tools to do those same watermain break repairs. With the purchase of this truck, it would be utilized for those repairs as well as day to day use, making it more efficient than the Grumman that was only utilized for those projects.
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 Christiansen – yes, Trustee Curtis –yes. Motion approved (6-0).
VILLAGE PRESIDENT – None
TRUSTEES COMMENTS – None
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT –Administrator Bosco commented on the vehicle purchases. He commended the staff for thinking outside the box and being flexible in the vehicle purchasing decisions when faced with a vehicle shortage.
Administrator Bosco also commented about the Village’s road program, complimenting Director Richter and the Village’s ability to address resident’s concerns about the grass planted after the road work was finished. Bosco stated that the Village followed up by doing the seeding the contractor did not have the ability to do, then billing that work back to the contractor.
ATTORNEY’S REPORT – None
VILLAGE DEPARTMENT REPORTS
1. Finance – None
2. Community Development – None
3. Police – Deputy Chief Gorski spoke about the nationwide communications test that was scheduled for Wednesday, October 4th at 1:20 p.m. He explained that meant that the emergency alert system and the wireless alert system will simultaneously be tested. Anyone who had their devices turned on will receive an alert. Gorski stated that the only reason the test may be postponed would be due to severe weather. The community had been notified through the department’s social media accounts as well as the Nixle alert system.
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
