DeKalb Times

Village of Hinckley Village Board met Aug. 24.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

CALL BOARD MEETING TO ORDER: Meeting was called to order by Village President Nancy Nelson at 7:00 PM. Roll call was taken showing the following:

Present: Trustees Lou Manivong, Walter Rainford, and Mike Constant. Quorum Established.

Absent: Trustee Daniel Roop.

Also Present: Village Clerk Losiniecki, Treasurer Maroo, Chief Gettemy, Attorney Aaron Szeto, Ceneca Wagner, and Members of the Public.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The pledge to the flag was recited.

PUBLIC COMMENT on Agenda Items Scheduled for Action Only

Resident James Whitlock (193 Maple) commented regarding leaf pick up. Village President Nelson stated that that topic would be discussed at the Committee of the Whole meeting, immediately following the Regular Board Meeting. Mr. Whitlock also inquired as to when Sycamore Street will be re-opened. Nelson stated it will re-open when COVID is over. Whitlock commented regarding truck traffic on McKinley as a result of the closure and a brief discussion followed. Chief Gettemy stated that the police are monitoring the increase in traffic due to the closure and they have not noted any truck traffic in residential areas (other than that for Royal Estates and restaurant deliveries).

GENERAL BUSINESS

• Agenda item for discussion/approval: Regular Board Meeting Minutes from August 10, 2020 Village President Nelson corrected a statement she made at the last meeting regarding the electric aggregation contract with AEP energy. She had stated that the current contract was with Dynegy when it was with AEP. Trustee Constant stated that the email from Progressive Energy stated that the Village would continue with AEP when the previous contract was with Dynegy.

President Nelson stated that Steven Kreitzer will be re-take his oath of office at the Planning Commission meeting on September 21, 2020. This is due to Zoning Board of Appeals not being stated during the previous administration of the oath. Clerk Losiniecki will administer the oath of office.

Trustee Manivong moved to approve the August 10, 2020 Regular Board meeting minutes as presented and Trustee Rainford seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Manivong-Aye, Constant-Aye, Rainford-Aye, Nelson-Aye. Motion carried.

• Agenda item for discussion/approval: Payment of Invoices Due

Trustee Constant moved to approve the invoices as presented, totally $21, 662.48, and Trustee Manivong seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Rainford-Aye, Constant-Aye, Manivong-Aye, Nelson- Aye. Motion carried.

GUEST PRESENTATION – Lauterbach & Amen, Annual Audit Report

Brad Porter, Audit Manager for Lauterbach & Amen, provided a review of the annual audit for FY 2020. Mr. Porter thanked Treasurer Maroo, Clerk Losiniecki and Deputy Clerk Barnett for locating all the requested documents and reports for the audit review process. Mr. Porter stated that the audit reflected no difficulties or discrepancies and the Village had received an unmodified opinion, which is the cleanest form of opinion that can be achieved. It reflects an accounting process with sound financial controls and free of any misstatements. Mr. Porter reviewed the fund balances and stated that the gap areas identified in the prior audit had been corrected.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

• Agenda item for discussion/approval: Resolution No. 2020-02 to Appoint Foster, Buick, Conklin & Lundgren, LLC as Municipal Attorneys

Village President Nelson stated that she and the partners at Sosnowski|Szeto had decided to part ways. Nelson would like to appoint Foster, Buick, et.al. as the new municipal attorneys. They serve many of the surrounding communities and are highly recommended. Treasurer Maroo noted that the attorney firm name on the resolution does not match the name on the agenda. Attorney Szeto stated that he would change the resolution. Trustee Constant moved to approve Resolution No. 2020-02, appointing Foster, Buick, Conklin & Lundgren, LLC as the municipal attorneys for the Village of Hinckley, effective September 1, 2020. Trustee Manivong seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Manivong-Aye, Rainford-Aye, Constant-Aye, Nelson-Aye. Motion carried.

•Agenda item for discussion: Appointment of Daniel Roop as Chairperson of Public Safety Committee President Nelson stated that would like a motion to appoint Trustee Roop as the Chairperson of the Public Safety committee. Trustee Manivong moved to appoint Trustee Roop as Chairperson of the Public Safety Committee and Trustee Rainford seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Manivong-Aye, Rainford-Aye, Constant-Aye, Nelson-Aye. Motion carried.

•Agenda item for discussion: Resolution No. 2020-03 to Write off Old Water & Sewer Debt

Trustee Constant questioned why this item was moved from the Committee of the Whole meeting agenda and President Nelson stated that she had not received any response from the email she had sent to Trustees regarding this item. Trustee Constant stated that there was nothing to respond to as there was no attachment to the email. Trustee Manivong stated that he had not received an attachment, either. Nelson stated that she often does not receive responses (from the Trustees) to emails that she has sent. Constant replied that he often does not receive responses from Nelson to emails that he sends. Nelson offered to move the item back to the Committee of the Whole agenda and the consensus agreement among the Trustees was to keep it on the Regular Board Meeting agenda, as presented. Trustee Manivong moved to approve the write off of $13,124.74 in old water/sewer debt from unpaid utility bills and Trustee Rainford seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Manivong-Aye, Rainford-Aye, Constant-Aye, Nelson-Aye. Motion carried.

President Nelson stated that Trustee Riforgiate had resigned his position and there is another open seat for Trustee, if anyone is interested.

ATTORNEY REPORT

Attorney Szeto thanked the Board of Trustees for the opportunity to represent the Village of Hinckley for the past three years. He stated that his firm will work with the new firm to ensure a smooth transition.

TREASURER’S REPORT

Treasurer Maroo provided an overview of the monthly financial reports. He stated that the Village is in a good position financially, but we should continue to be cautious. He suggested that road improvements could be considered. Trustee Constant stated that the funds for the water tower project (from the 1% sales tax increase) have been accumulating and that we now have a sizeable down payment and a steady revenue stream for the loan payments. Trustee Constant thanked Treasurer Maroo for negotiating a payment plan with TEST, Inc as the revenue stream will continue to be slow.

Village President Nelson stated that Steve Devereaux (Public Works Department) has been promoted to Deputy Fire Chief with the Hinckley Fire Department. She stated that this is good for the Village. Devereaux will continue with Public Works.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Personnel

None.

Finance and Economic Development

• Agenda item for discussion/approval: FY2020 Audit Report

Trustee Constant thanked Brad Porter and Lauterbach & Amen, Treasurer Maroo, Clerk Losiniecki and Deputy Clerk Barnett for their help with the audit. Constant moved to accept the FY2020 audit report and Manivong seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Manivong-Aye, Rainford-Aye, Constant-Aye, Nelson-Aye. Motion carried.

Public Safety

None.

Streets & Alleys

None.

Buildings, Grounds & Parks

Rainford stated that he will discuss leaf pick-up during the Committee of the Whole meeting.

Water & Sewer

• Agenda item for discussion/approval: Dehumidifiers for Water & Sewer Plant

Trustee Manivong stated that this was discussed at the previous Committee of the Whole meeting. Manivong moved to approve the purchase of one dehumidifier for the water treatment plant, not to exceed $1400.00 and Trustee Rainford seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Manivong-Aye, Rainford- Aye, Constant-Aye, Nelson-Aye. Motion carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Christy Bark, business owner, thanked President Nelson and Ceneca Wagner for all their help with opening her parking lot (adjacent to the portion of Sycamore Street closed for outdoor seating). She asked the Board of Trustees to consider re-opening Sycamore Street because her clients are still having trouble navigating their vehicles to park in the lot in front of her business. She stated that all restaurants can have indoor seating now and that the street should re-open. President Nelson asked what the Village can do to help, and Ms. Bark responded, “open the street.” Nelson replied, “other than that.” Discussion continued regarding the parking problems for Bark’s clients and other options for outdoor diners. Bark asked several more times for the street to be reopened, stating safety concerns and loss of business. Nelson stated that nothing would be decided tonight, and that the discussion could continue at the next meeting.

Resident Whitlock thanked Ceneca Wagner for the quick clean up of the storm debris.

OPEN DISCUSSION

None.

ADJOURMENT

Motion: Trustee Manivong moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:56pm. Trustee Rainford seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Rainford-Aye, Manivong-Aye, Constant-Aye, Nelson-Aye. Motion carried.

The next Regular Board Meeting will be held on September 14, 2020.

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