Kankakee Times

Westmont Village Board of Trustees met June 27.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

ROLL CALL:

PRESENT: Mayor Gunter P Clerk Szymski P

TRUSTEES: Barker P Simonovich P Brady P Guzzo P Liddle P Nero P

STAFF: May (Village Manager)P

Parker (Assistant Manager) P

Hennerfeind (CDD Director) P

Brainerd P

McIntyre (H.R. Director) A

Liljeberg(Communications) (I.T.) P

Chief Gunther (Police Dept.) P

D.C. Thompson (Police Department) A

Altic (Finance Director) P

Chief Riley (Fire Dept.)P

D.C. Fitzgerald (Fire Department)P

Yeater (Public Works) A

Mulhearn (Deputy Liquor Commissioner) P

Mielcarski (Administration Supervisor) P

Ries (Public Works Director) P

ATTORNEY: Zemenak P Lampariello A

A QUORUM WAS PRESENT TO TRANSACT BUSINESS.

PRESS: Bugle A

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DIRECTOR: Forssberg - A

THOSE PRESENT RECITED THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

OPEN FORUM:

● No Open Forum

Note: The items listed in these minutes are summaries only and are not meant to be a direct transcript of the Mayor’s, Manager’s, Clerk’s and Trustees’ comments. For actual quotes of the referenced items please refer to the Archival video copy of this meeting.

REPORTS

Mayor Gunter

● Mayor called Larry Foresberg to the podium to talk about a new business. There was a ribbon cutting for Bacuri Bakery located at 15 South Cass. This was the previous site of Sweet and Savory. This is not a traditional bakery that sells sweet items only. This is a Brazilian version of Sweet and Savory, so donuts are not typically on the menu. There is a wide range of items offered. They do have sweet items as well as empanadas, freshly brewed coffee and espresso. They are open Wednesday - Sunday from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm. They are flexible with their hours because they are staying open late tonight for example, to try and catch some of the crowd going to and from the car show. Encouraged everyone to check them out. They are using Danielle, who is Sweet and Savory, to make some of her cakes and cinnamon buns. They are going to be at the Taste so we look forward to visiting them at the Taste.

● A week from today is 4th of July and it’s our annual fireworks show at Ty Warner Park. Fireworks start at dusk usually at 9:00 pm. There are a bunch of activities in the park that day starting at 4:00 pm. There will be entertainment, food, and beverages. This is the best fireworks show in the County. Invited everyone to come out.

Village Clerk Szymski

● I just want to remind everybody that the Village office will be closed on Independence Day Thursday, July 4th.

● Community Garage Sale this year's event will be August 2, 3, & 4. Details are posted on the Village website.

Trustee Nero

● Recapped the Public Works Committee meeting held right before our regular board meeting.

○ The next Public Works Committee meeting will be September 19, 4:30pm at Village Hall.

○ Discussed the downtown street lighting engineering design RFP that was on the street.

○ Capital Improvement Project updates were discussed.

○ Discussion on the residential drainage assistance program. Our Public Works team is looking at formalizing that a little bit more and hopefully giving residents another avenue to work out some backyard drainage issues.

○ Safe step completed their Spring project in such an efficient way to really tackle a lot of those sidewalk issues in Sycamore Run and another location. There is a big impact for those who walk on the sidewalks.

○ North water towers expected construction Fall of 2024.

○ We have a nice update on storm water maintenance. Decades ago it wasn't as important as it is now and as a result of all the infrastructure maintenance things like sewer jetting and using our factory truck, the systems now can maintain and store a lot more than they used to so we are seeing a lot less flooding around town.

○ The Westmont Cruisin’ Nights Public Works truck night is coming up on July 18th. Encouraged everyone to come out for that event.

○ There are postings on construction updates on all the projects in town. There is a nice GIS map link on the Village website where you can be very specific on what you want to look at.

○ The Water Quality Report is available and is on our website.

○ DuPage Animal Services uses Westmont as the gold standard on communicating about lost pets. Complemented the Police Department on their hard work.

Trustee Simonovich

● The next Police Public Safety meeting will be July 11th here at Village Hall, 4:30 p.m.

● The National Night Out will be held on Tuesday, August 6, at Ty Warner Park. It's a great event for the community and fun for all ages.

● The golf fundraiser is now open for sign up. This our second annual golf outing for the Special Olympics. It’s going to be held September 13th and there’s more information on how to sign up at the Village Website.

Trustee Johanik-Guzzo

● Our next Fire Public Safety Committee meeting will be September 5, 4:30 pm, at Village Hall. Everyone is invited to attend.

● Westmont’s Cruisin’ Nights Fire Truck night is scheduled for Thursday, August 1st.

● The Village has posted some fireworks and summer safety tips on the Village website. Check them out at westmont.illinois.gov

● Our Fire Department will be offering several options for CPR classes to residents and organizations. You can also sign up on the Village website.

Trustee Brady

● The next Planning and Zoning meeting is on July 10th at 6 pm.

● Each month the Planning and Zoning Commission will discuss different topics regarding the outgoing, ongoing zoning ordinance update which is anticipated at the public hearings in the near future.

● This past Monday, June 24th, I had the opportunity to attend a walk out ceremony at the Fire Department honoring the fire service of two service personnel. One was Battalion Chief Don Bills. He started in Westmont in 1997. Also Lieutenant Burton Chalet, he started in 1996. They both just retired and I was able to make a presentation for Westmont. They are two distinguished fire department personnel.

Trustee Barker

● The next Environmental Improvement Committee meeting will be in August. We are going to skip July but the EIC volunteers are actually at the Cruisin Nights this evening. If you see them out there, they are Westmont residents who volunteer to look at all things green here in Westmont. So say Hello to them and thank them.

● I think a very popular subject, Flood Brothers is going to have a representative out there this evening so residents can talk directly to them.

● Another exciting piece, the Village has an electric vehicle down there as we promote electric vehicles over gasoline engines.

● We have a newly launched residential private property tree planting incentive program. At our previous meeting here, we learned that residents are taking advantage of that. There’s about 14 trees in the works already. That tells me that it's something that people appreciate and want to participate

● Lastly, there is going to be mosquito spraying. Clarke Mosquito will be spraying the community after dusk on June 28th. The residents can sign up to receive notification when that mosquito spraying occurs. You can visit the Village website for more information.

● Added that the Village pays an additional fee to have a more environmentally friendly application, so it's investigated and followed by our Environmental Improvement Committee and the Village as a whole. There is value in this and that we should continue to do it. Nobody likes spraying, but nobody likes West Nile, and the things that come along with it as well.

Trustee Liddle

● Our next meeting of the Administration and Finance Committee will be July 25th, 4:30 pm at Village Hall.

● Encouraged everyone to go down to Cruisin’ Nights. We’re always looking for volunteers to assist us for this. If you want to come in and help us out in any way, let us know by going to our website, which is westmontevents.com.

● The Taste of Westmont is two weeks away from tonight. This year everything starts on a Thursday. This will include music on the main stage and the food vendors. Some of the main stage bands will include High Fidelity, an Eagles Tribute band, a Bob Seager tribute band, Hairbangers ball, a blues tribute band to Muddy Waters, and a Pink Floyd tribute band. Details are on the website for Westmont special events which is westmontevents.com.

ITEMS TO BE REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA:

No items to be removed from the consent agenda.

(1) CONSENT AGENDA [Omnibus Vote]:

Manage May addressed the Board on this agenda item.

Motion by Trustee Liddle to approve the consent agenda.

(A) VILLAGE BOARD MINUTES

Board Meeting Minutes

Board to consider approving the Village Board Meeting held on June 13, 2024.

(B) FINANCE ORDINANCE

● Finance Ordinance #5: $2,117,741.52

(C) PURCHASE ORDERS:

There are no purchase orders this evening.

(D) REDUCE THE NUMBER OF AVAILABLE CLASS 4 LIQUOR LICENSES Village Board to consider an ordinance reducing the number of available Class 4 liquor licenses by one (1) due to the sale of Ind. Veggie Inc., d/b/a Shree Restaurant, 653-655 N. Cass Avenue, Westmont, IL

Seconded by Trustee Nero and the motion passed.

VOTE ON MOTION #1

Ayes: Barker, Brady, Guzzo, Liddle, Nero, Simonovich

Nays: None

Absent: None

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

NEW BUSINESS

(2) APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD OF FIRE AND POLICE COMMISSION

Mayor Gunter addressed the Village Board on this item.

Public Comment: Brian Baldwin addressed the Village Board. He talked about his experience in the fire service.

Motion by Trustee Barker to consider a motion to accept the Mayor’s appointment of Brian Baldwin to serve on the Board of Fire and Police Commission.

Seconded by Trustee Guzzo and the motion passed.

VOTE ON MOTION #2

Ayes: Barker, Brady, Guzzo, Liddle, Nero, Simonovich

Nays: None

Absent: None

(3) INCREASE IN AVAILABLE CLASS 23 LIQUOR LICENSE

Deputy Liquor Commissioner Mulhearn and Larry & Candace Buchanan addressed the Village Board on this item.

Motion made by Trustee Nero to consider an ordinance increasing the number of available Class 23 liquor licenses by one (1) for Mrs. T’s Pizza, 2 W. Naperville Rd., Westmont, IL to allow video gaming in conjunction with on-site consumption of alcohol.

Seconded by Trustee Simonovich and the motion passed.

VOTE ON MOTION #3

Ayes: Barker, Brady, Guzzo, Liddle, Nero, Simonovich

Nays: None

Absent: None

(4) INCREASE IN AVAILABLE MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENT LICENSES

Deputy Liquor Commissioner Mulhearn and Furqan Hadi addressed the Village Board on this item.

Motion made by Trustee Nero to consider an ordinance increasing the number of available massage establishment licenses by (1) for FNS Investment Group II, LLC d/b/a “The Now Massage”, at 806 E. Ogden Ave.

Seconded by Trustee Liddle and the motion passed.

VOTE ON MOTION #4

Ayes: Barker, Brady, Guzzo, Liddle, Nero, Simonovich

Nays: None

Absent: None

(5) ENGINEERING AGREEMENT- PHASE 2 DESIGN ENGINEERING FOR WILMETTE AVENUE SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS

Public Works Director Ries addressed the Village Board on this item.

Motion made by Trustee Liddle to consider an ordinance authorizing an engineering agreement with Primera Engineering for Phase 2 design engineering for the Wilmette Avenue Sidewalk Improvements.

Seconded by Trustee Nero and the motion passed.

VOTE ON MOTION #5

Ayes: Barker, Brady, Guzzo, Liddle, Nero, Simonovich

Nays: None

Absent: None

MISCELLANEOUS

● Nothing

(6) REQUEST FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION

Mayor Gunter requested a motion to adjourn to executive session to discuss the employment and performance of specific employees of the Village pursuant to Section 2(C)(1) of the Open Meetings Act.

Motion by Trustee Barker to adjourn the meeting.

Seconded by Trustee Liddle and the motion passed.

VOTE ON MOTION #6

Ayes: Barker, Brady, Guzzo, Liddle, Nero, Simonovich

Nays: None

Absent: None

(7) ADJOURN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO RECONVENE REGULAR MEETING

Board to consider a motion to adjourn at 7:10 pm.

Motion by Trustee Liddle to adjourn the meeting.

Seconded by Trustee Brady and the motion passed.

VOTE ON MOTION #7

Ayes: Barker, Brady, Guzzo, Liddle, Nero, Simonovich

Nays: None

Absent: None

(8) ADJOURNMENT - 7:11pm

Motion by Trustee Liddle to adjourn the meeting.

Seconded by Trustee Nero and the motion passed.

VOTE ON MOTION #8

Ayes: Barker, Brady, Guzzo, Liddle, Nero, Simonovich

Nays: None

Absent: None

MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:11 P.M.

https://westmont.illinois.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_06272024-2250