Kankakee Times

Village of Clifton Board of Trustees met April 30.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

Call to Order

President Winkel called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:00 p.m.

Recognize the Certified Results of the Consolidated Election

Recognizing the certification by the Iroquois County Clerk of winners from the April 2, 2019, Consolidated Election, Clerk James swore in Trustees Mike Benscoter, Randy Gigl, Tracy Mitchell, and Chris Sifrit.

Members Present: President Andrew Winkel, Trustees Chris Sifrit, Tracy Mitchell, Randy Gigl, Mike Benscoter, and Joe Kolosky. Also Present: Clerk Shannon James, Treasurer Sandra Tammen, Police Chief Jim Lehmkuhl, Maintenance Supervisor Tim Kent, reporter Kathy Washington, and Paul Hess. Delmar Schoolman arrived at 7:19 p.m.

Approval of Minutes

Kolosky moved and Gigl seconded to approve the minutes of the Special Meeting of the Clifton Village Board, April 30, 2019. 5/0 motion passed by acclamation.

Public Questions and Comments:

None

Beginning of Year Business

Winkel presented his appointment choice to fill the vacancy on the Village Board not filled by the recent election, Paul Hess. Hess would serve for two years until the next municipal election. Winkel went on to announce his Planning Commission Appointment of Delmar Schoolman and other appointments for FY 2019 as follows: Sandy Tammen as Village Treasurer, Connie James and Shannon James as Administra- tive Assistants, Cindy Juzeszyn as Administrative Assistant for Service Billing, Dana Meyer and John Coghlan as Village Attorneys, Tim Kent as Street Superintendent, Sewer Superintendent, Superintendent of Waterworks, Building and Zoning Officer, Travis Albright as Part-time Maintenance, James Lehmkuhl as Police Chief, Clinton Hoakes as Full-time Police Officer, John Solomon as Part-time Police Officer, Dean Hartman as Water Technician and part-time community building supervisor, Shannon James as FOIA Officer, and Andrew Winkel as Assistant FOIA Officer. Kolosky moved and Gigl seconded to ap- prove President Winkel’s slate of appointments. 5/0 motion passed by acclamation. Clerk James swore in Trustee Paul Hess.

After relaying to the board members some things he took into consideration when putting together the committees, Winkel announced committee assignments as follows: Budget & Finance Committee: Tracy Mitchell (Chair), Mike Benscoter, and Joe Kolosky Police & Public Safety Committee: Joe Kolosky (Chair), Mike Benscoter, and Paul Hess Streets & Alleys Committee: Mike Benscoter (Chair), Randy Gigl, and Joe Kolosky Local Improvement Committee: Paul Hess (Chair), Randy Gigl, and Chris Sifrit Ordinance & Zoning Committee: Chris Sifrit (Chair), Paul Hess, and Tracy Mitchell Water & Sewer Committee: Randy Gigl (Chair), Tracy Mitchell, and Chris Sifrit

General discussion ensued regarding recurring issues the village and committees face as well as the desire to work toward consistent responses.

Planning Commission: No Report.

Maintenance Department: No Report.

Building and Zoning: No Report.

Police Department: No report.

Streets and Alleys: No report.

Water and Sewer Committee: No report.

Budget and Finance Committee: No report.

Police and Public Safety Committee

Clinton Hoaks will graduate from the academy on June 15, 2019, and will then ride along with Chief Lehmkuhl and county.

Ordinance and Zoning Committee: No report.

Local Improvement Committee

Hess moved and Kolosky seconded an expense not to exceed $800 for a 7 x 7 plastic storage unit for the Clifton Pool. Roll call of votes. Ayes 6; Sifrit, Mitchell, Gigl, Hess, Benscoter, and Kolosky. Nays 0. Motion carried.

Winkel took a moment to explain when and why a roll call vote is taken versus an acclamation and that Clerk James varies the order on a roll call vote each time to ensure a fair voting process.

Kent reported the coping on the pool was completed last week and that said project and inclement weather has put the pool opening schedule behind. (Delmar Schoolman arrived at 7:19 p.m.)

Treasurer’s Report/Payment of Bills

Winkel gave a brief explanation of the treasurer’s report and listing of bills prepared for each meeting. He went on to relay that the current report wraps up Fiscal Year 2018 and therefore looks a little different than a report presented for a typical month.

Tammen presented the Treasurer’s Report. Kolosky moved and Mitchell seconded to accept the Treasurer’s Report as presented. General discussion was held on yearly appropriations and which funds went over or under. Roll call of votes. Ayes 6; Mitchell, Gigl, Hess, Benscoter, Kolosky, and Sifrit. Nays 0. Motion carried.

Tammen presented the listing of bills to be paid. Tammen walked the board through the listing of bills pointing out that most were approved at the April 30, 2019, board meeting but as this is the final wrap up of Fiscal Year 2018, some expenses incurred in that fiscal year have been added. Kolosky moved and Hess seconded to pay the bills that were added since last month as presented. Roll call of votes. Ayes 6; Gigl, Hess, Benscoter, Kolosky, Sifrit, and Mitchell. Nays 0. Motion carried.

Village President

Kolosky moved and Gigl seconded an expense not to exceed $10,000 for 2019 Motor Fuel Tax Street Maintenance Program (Resolution 2019-01). As it is the villages’ intention to take time to prepare roads before a big project, this package is just for material. Winkel relayed that Tyson would like to discuss MFT options in the fall to allow ample time to prepare for the following summer projects. Roll call of votes. Ayes 6; Hess, Benscoter, Kolosky, Sifrit, Mitchell, and Gigl. Nays 0. Motion carried.

Winkel delayed presentation of the Comcast Franchise Agreement until the next board meeting so the attorney can review the agreement and an ordinance can be prepared to go along with the paperwork.

Kolosky moved and Sifrit seconded an expense not to exceed $1000 for 2019 Fun Days donation. Roll call of votes. Ayes 6; Benscoter, Kolosky, Sifrit, Mitchell, Gigl, and Hess. Nays 0. Motion carried.

Winkel presented annually occurring expenses he would like to have the board approve ahead of time so they do not get put off, having to wait until the next board meeting as follows: Mulch for Village properties (delegated to Kent), Extra security for Fun Days (delegated to Lehmkuhl), Liability insurance (delegated to Tammen, at an amount up to 105% previous year’s billed amount), Christmas decorations (delegated to Kent), Santa House/Easter Egg Hunt (delegated to Local Improvement; not to exceed $400 each), and Generator inspections/maintenance not to exceed $1500 (delegated to Kent). Hess moved and Gigl seconded to authorize annually occurring expenses for Fiscal Year 2019 as presented. Roll call of votes. Ayes 6; Kolosky, Sifrit, Mitchell, Gigl, Hess, and Benscoter. Nays 0. Motion carried.

Gigl moved and Mitchell seconded to authorize Tim Kent to make one-time purchases of up to $1,000 between meetings with accounting provided to the board at the next meeting. Winkel relayed that occasionally Kent needs to purchase items/supplies yet the board will not meet soon enough to have said expenses approved before purchasing. Winkel would like to see Kent authorized to purchase supplies that fit within the village appropriations so long as an accounting is provided at the next village board meeting. The board discussed if a lower amount would be appropriate and still fit Kent’s needs. Roll call of votes. Ayes 0, Nays 6; Sifrit, Mitchell, Gigl, Hess, Benscoter, and Kolosky. Motion failed.

Gigl moved and Sifrit seconded to authorize Tim Kent to make one-time purchases of up to $750 between meetings with accounting provided to the board at the next meeting. Roll call of votes. Ayes 6; Mitchell, Gigl, Hess, Benscoter, Kolosky, and Sifrit. Nays 0. Motion carried.

Kolosky moved and Benscoter seconded an expenditure not to exceed $75.00 plus mileage per trustee/official who wishes to attend the IML Newly Elected Officials Workshop or the Back to Basics Seminar. Discussion was held on the benefits of workshops/seminars as well as training dates. Roll call of votes. Ayes 6; Gigl, Hess, Benscoter, Kolosky, Sifrit, and Mitchell. Nays 0. Motion carried.

The Open Meetings Act’s purpose and training requirements were discussed. New trustees have 90 days from taking the oath of office to complete training and print a certificate for filing with the village office. James relayed village email addresses were created for new trustees to use for village business. The village’s use of G Suite and its’ applications were explained.

General discussion was held regarding village appropriations, village/board procedures, and ordinances

Winkel would like to see updated.

Kolosky will serve as the consistent representative on the Joint Law Enforcement Board and Hess and Benscoter will rotate as the second representative.

Concluding Public Questions and Comments

A board member relayed a complaint received from a local resident regarding safety concerns of a brush pile located on a lot at the corner of E Third Avenue and S Second Street. Several attempts had been made to reach the owner and office staff was able to relay the concern directly to the property owner recently.

Adjournment

Kolosky moved and Sifrit seconded to adjourn at 8:02 p.m. 6/0 motion passed by acclamation.

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