DeKalb Times

City of Sandwich Committee-of-the-Whole met February 18. 

Here is the minutes as provided by the committee:

Mayor Olson called the Committee-of-the-Whole Council Meeting to order at 7:00 PM.

Roll call was taken:

Present: Mayor Olson, City Clerk Ii, Aldermen Chmielewski, Dell, Kelleher, Killey, McMahon, Redden, Robinson & Surratt

Also present: Attorney Buick, Department of Public Works / City Engineer Horak, EMA Director Ciciora, City Treasurer Webber & Chief Bianchi 

Mayor Olson:

Executive Session under Section 2(c)(1) for personnel will be held at the end of the meeting. No action will be taken.

Tourism Committee has been rescheduled for Wednesday, February 27th.

Announcement: VFW will be hosting an antique fundraiser on February 23rd and 24th. Funds are being raised to install an asphalt parking lot.

Mayor Olson congratulated the Sandwich High School Girls Basketball Team who are now 32-0 having won the Class 3A Girls Regional on Friday, February 15th. The team will be playing in Rock Falls on Tuesday for the Class 3A Girls Sectional title.

Foster, Buick, Conklin & Lundgren LLC: No report

City Clerk Ii: No report

City Treasurer: No report

Director of Public Works / City Engineer Horak:

ComEd Tree Maintenance: ComEd will be trimming trees around their facilities during the month of March. Their work is predominantly located in City locations within Kendall County and along the DeKalb/Kendall county line. Affected homeowners will be notified by ComEd via mailed postcards.

Updating Building Codes: Engineer Horak made a recommendation to update building codes from the 2006 International Residential Code to the 2018 International Residential Code and from the 2006 International Building Code to the 2018 International Building Code over the next year or so. Alderman Redden suggested a committee consisting of himself, Alderman Kelleher, and local builders.

Chief Bianchi: No report

EMA: No report

Alderwoman Chiemlewski: No report

Alderman Dell: No report

Alderman Kelleher: No report

Alderwoman Killey advised that the finance committee would meet immediately following this evening’s Council meeting.

Alderman McMahon: No report

Alderman Redden: Under transparency and the Open Meetings Act, Alderman Redden addressed two issues faced by the Council in recent weeks. Addressing landlord / tenant issues, Alderman Redden felt the City should not be involved in maintenance issues for private property. The City’s adjudication program should address, and act accordingly, for code violations. He added that programs and policy should be initially brought before the Council and not determined by departmental heads.

Alderman Redden also questioned the number of squad cars as part of the police department’s fleet. He noted there are currently 16 cars with varying mileage, and staff of 16 officers indicating a squad car for each officer. The police department recently contracted to lease two squad cars however terms of the lease were unavailable at the meeting. Alderman Redden stressed the need for clarification and better understanding.

Alderman Robinson: No report

Alderman Surratt: No report

New Business: None

Audience Comments: WSPY reporter, Jim Wyman, asked for clarification on comments made by a resident at previous meetings complaining that an apartment ceiling had collapsed and there was mold present. The citizen was seeking assistance from the City under State health and safety mandates. After receipt of the complaint, Building Official Steffens inspected the apartment and took photographs showing that the ceiling had not collapsed nor did he find evidence of mold. The matter was reverted to the landlord, and no further action was taken on behalf of the City

Executive Session

Motion made by Alderman Robinson and seconded by Alderman Surratt to go into executive session at 7:35 PM, pursuant to Section 2(c)(1) “The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity”. Aye: Aldermen Chmielewski, Dell, Kelleher, Killey, McMahon, Redden, Robinson & Surratt Nay:0 Motion carried 8:0

Motion to return from Executive Session: Motion made by Alderman Redden and seconded by Alderman Robinson to return to regular session at 8:23 PM. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.

Adjournment: There being no further business to come before the Council, motion made by Alderman Robinson and seconded by Alderman Redden to adjourn the Committee-of-theWhole Council meeting at 8:25 PM. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.

http://www.sandwich.il.us/minutes/cw021819.pdf