MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS’ MEETING
HELD ON OCTOBER 22, 2007

The Board of Commissioners of the Village of Palos Park, Cook County, Illinois held its regular meeting on Monday, October 22, 2007.  Mayor Mahoney called the meeting to order at 7:32 p.m. Answering to roll call were Commissioners Milovich-Walters, Pavlatos, Polk, O’Connor, and Mayor Mahoney. 

Also in attendance were Carol Bryson, Village Clerk; Patricia Jones, Village Administrator; Tom Bayer, Village Attorney; Rachael Kaplan, Director of Public Works; Joseph Miller, Police Chief; Jacob Karaca, Assistant Village Attorney; Craig Eyer, Director of Building and Zoning; Kent Oliven, Finance Director; and Cathy Gabel, Deputy Clerk. 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON OCTOBER 8, 2007:

Commissioner Milovich-Walters moved, seconded by Commissioner Pavlatos, to approve the minutes of the regular Council meeting held on October 8, 2007, as presented.  

On the call of the roll, the vote was as follows:

AYES: -5- Commissioners Milovich-Walters, Pavlatos, Polk, O’Connor, and Mayor Mahoney

            NAYS: -0-    

ABSENT: -0- 

COMMISSIONERS’ REPORTS:

COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS/RECREATION, NICOLE MILOVICH-WALTERS:

HOLY FAMILY VILLA UTILITY EXTENSION: Commissioner Milovich-Walters reported a walk through and lift station and generator start up was conducted on October 9, 2007. The contractor for the project is working on a punch list of items that need to be completed. Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) will be contacted and undertake a test of the system. Following these approvals and the correct easements have been recorded, the Village will accept the work.   

RESURFACING OF 86^TH AVENUE: Commissioner Milovich-Walters reported landscaping on the roadway north of the tracks has begun. Shoulders will be installed when landscaping is complete. When NICOR completes their relocations at 131^st Street, storm sewer installation will be finalized and the roadway widening will be completed. The original completion date of October 26, 2007 will not be met. Weather is the biggest factor and will determine the paving schedule for October and November and the installation of the traffic light.   

RESURFACING OF MCCARTHY ROAD WEST OF LAGRANGE ROAD: Commissioner Milovich-Walters reported Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is expected to complete the paving of the roadway in the next couple of weeks, weather permitting. The contractor will then grade the ditches. Anticipated completion date for this project is the second week of November. 

PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT: Commissioner Milovich-Walters praised Rachael Kaplan, Public Works Director, for undertaking a ten year capital program designed to repair the Village streets. Rachael Kaplan is inspecting every street in the Village of Palos Park to determine their condition. Once the inspection is complete she will prioritize the roadways needing repair. The Village can then determine how much investment will be needed to make those repairs and maintain the streets. For the first time, Public Works has been actively involved in making major repairs to Village streets. They have completed twelve extensive patches already.    

COMMISSIONER OF BUILDING & PUBLIC PROPERTY, JAMES PAVLATOS:

Commissioner Pavlatos reported the Building Department issued 13 building permits totaling $2,268.60 in fees. The Building Department conducted 52 building inspections. No certificates of occupancy were issued. No exaction fees were collected. 

COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, DANIEL POLK:

HALLOWEEN SAFETY: Commissioner Polk stated the Palos Park Police are giving free reflective trick-or-treat bags to anyone stopping by the Police Department. Trick-or-treat safety tips are printed on the bags.  

PHOTO ENFORCEMENT: Commissioner Polk spoke of photo enforcement, (red light infractions within the Village), a project the Village has been looking at for quite a while. The Commissioner along with Police Chief Joe Miller has put together a packet of information describing the process that is required should the Village decide to proceed with this project. Information included in the packets to the Village Council and Mayor include what infrastructure is required of the Village to implement this program; choice of vendors, installation, and monitoring and issuing of traffic tickets. Commissioner Polk would like to schedule a separate session with the Village Council and Mayor for a presentation from the vendors. Commissioner Polk emphasized that this is simply an exploratory exercise and necessary to make a qualified decision.  

COMMISSIONER OF ACCOUNTS AND FINANCE, MARY O’CONNOR:

COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT: Commissioner O’Connor reported the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) would not be presented this evening. The CAFR will be presented at the November 12, 2007 meeting.  

MAYOR’S REPORT:

PROJECT LIGHTSPEED/AT&T – CABLE AND VIDEO PROVIDER ORDINANCES: Tom Bayer stated that Project Lightspeed was initiated by AT&T. It is a competitor to what would be traditionally cable television except that it comes through the phone line with AT&T. Tom Bayer explained the Francise Fee Ordinance provides for a five percent (5%) francise fee which is the identical francise fee that the Village obtains from the current TV provider. The Francise Fee Ordinance also provides for a one percent (1%) Public, Education and Government (PEG) access support fee. The permit fee will be zero dollars and inspection fees would apply. Mayor Mahoney entertained a motion to adopt an ordinance amending Part Eight, Title Two of the Palos Park Village Code in regard to Cable/Video Service Providers and the fees to be imposed by the Village in relation thereto.  

Commissioner Polk moved, seconded by Commissioner O’Connor, to adopt an ordinance amending Part Eight, Title Two of the Palos Park Village Code in regard to Cable/Video Service Providers and the fees to be imposed by the Village in relation thereto.  

On the call of the roll, the vote was as follows;

            AYES: -5- Commissioners Pavlatos, O’Connor, Milovich-Walters, Polk, and Mayor Mahoney

            NAYS: -0-

            ABSENT: -0-

 Tom Bayer explained the Consumer Protection Ordinance provides for certain consumer protections. The most common of which would be that the vendor cannot sell your name and address to mailing lists. Mayor Mahoney entertained a motion to adopt an ordinance amending Part Eight, Title Two, Chapter 868 of the Palos Park Village Code in regard to the Cable and Video Protection Law. 

Commissioner Polk moved, seconded by Commissioner Pavlatos, to adopt an ordinance amending Part Eight, Title Two, Chapter 868 of the Palos Park Village Code in regard to the Cable and Video Protection Law.  

On the call of the roll, the vote was as follows:

            AYES: -5- Commissioners Polk, Pavlatos, Milovich-Walters, O’Connor and Mayor Mahoney

            NAYS: -0-

            ABSENT: -0- 

The ordinance regarding standards for the construction of facilities on right-of ways defines standards for construction when a vendor is installing such items as cable lines and above ground boxes. The ordinance also outlines items such as the types of construction, quality of construction, landscaping and restoration of the right-of-ways. Mayor Mahoney entertained a motion to adopt an ordinance amending Part Ten, Title Two of the Palos Park Village Code in regard to Standards for the Construction of Facilities on Rights-of-Way subject to amending the permitting section to indicate that in lieu of permit fees there would be inspection fees as provided by Village Code that would need to be paid. 

Commissioner Polk moved, seconded by Commissioner Pavlatos, to adopt an ordinance amending Part Ten, Title Two of the Palos Park Village Code in regard to Standards for the Construction of Facilities on Rights-of-Way subject to amending the permitting section to indicate that in lieu of permit fees there would be inspection fees as provided by Village Code that would need to be paid. 

On the call of the roll, the vote was as follows:

            AYES: -5- Commissioners Polk, Pavlatos, Milovich-Walters, O’Connor, and Mayor Mahoney

            NAYS: -0-

            ABSENT: -0- 

RAIN BARREL PROGRAM INFORMATION: Mayor Mahoney reminded residents the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) is selling rain barrels from their web site www.MWRD.ORG

For a fee of $40.00. The rain barrels will also be sold at the MWRD Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Day, October 27^th from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. in the City of Oak Forest located at 159^th Street and Lorel Avenue.  

MOUNTED UNIT TO RECEIVE SHERIFF’S AWARDS: Mayor Mahoney was pleased to attend the Cook County Sheriff’s Awards on Wednesday, October 17^th. Palos Park Police Officers, Fred Villanueva and Ron Philpot received the Cook County Sheriff’s Award of Merit. The officers were honored by Sheriff Dart for their commitment and dedication to providing the equestrian component provided to law enforcement agency’s throughout the State of Illinois. 

SWALLOW CLIFF TOBOGGAN SLIDE: Mayor Mahoney reported the Cook County Forest Preserve District voted on October 3^rd to tear down the toboggan slides at Swallow Cliff and regrade the hill for sledding.  

DAILY SOUTHTOWN AND STAR PUBLICATIONS MERGE: Mayor Mahoney announced the Sun-Times Media Group plans to merge its Daily Southtown with its twice-weekly Star publications into a single daily newspaper in mid-November.  

ADMINISTRATORS REPORT:

ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES: Patricia Jones reported the Village received notice from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) that they are doing a review of Lake Michigan water allocations for those municipalities served by Lake Michigan. The last review took place in 1998. They will look at what our projected demands are. These state and local allocations will be good until the year 2030. They are also requiring the Village to submit a Compliance Plan which IDNR will implement to reduce the unaccounted for flow (water loss) which IDNR will mandate must be eight percent (8%) or less.  

PALOS COMMUNITY HOSPITAL: Patricia Jones reported the building permit issued to Palos Community Hospital is ready to be released. Palos Community Hospital came to Palos Park because the hospital owns three lots within in the Village. Palos Community Hospital requested a temporary Special Use for an off-street parking facility on the North side of 123^rd Place, East of McCarthy Road. 

DRAINAGE ISSUES ON 79^TH AVENUE: A meeting has been set up with Bill Lindley regarding drainage issues on 79^th Avenue.  

CONSENT AGENDA:

ALL ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE ROUTINE OR HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD AT THE DIRECTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND WILL BE ENACTED WITH ONE MOTION. IF DISCUSSION IS DESIRED, THAT ITEM WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND CONSIDERED SEPARATELY. 

Commissioner Polk moved, seconded by Commissioner O’Connor to: 

1.        ADOPT AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A PLAT OF CONSOLIDATION – STARK CONSOLIDATION – 7907 W. 120^TH STREET 

2.        APPROVE PAYMENT OF INVOICES ON THE WARRANT LIST DATED OCTOBER 22, 2007 IN THE AMOUNT OF $142,128.68 

On the call of the roll, the vote was as follows:

            AYES: -5- Commissioners Polk, O’Connor, Milovich-Walters, Pavlatos, and Mayor Mahoney

            NAYS: -0-

            ABSENT: -0-  

OLD BUSINESS: None 

NEW BUSINESS: None              

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION: None  

EXECUTIVE SESSION: In open session at 8:23 p.m. Commissioner Milovich-Walters moved, seconded by Commissioner Polk, to recess to executive session to discuss information regarding the performance of a specific employee of the Village and approve and review for release executive session minutes.  

On the call of the roll, the vote was as follows:

            AYES: -5- Commissioners Milovich-Walters, Polk, Pavlatos, O’Connor, and Mayor Mahoney

            NAYS: -0-

            ABSENT: -0-  

RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION: At 9:13 p.m. Commissioner Polk moved, seconded by Commissioner O’Connor to adjourn the executive session and return to open session.   

On the call of the roll, the vote was as follows:

            AYES: -5- Commissioners Pavlatos, Milovich-Walters, O’Connor, Polk, and Mayor Mahoney

            NAYS: -0-

            ABSENT: -0- 

ROLL CALL: At 9:14 p.m. roll call was taken. Answering to roll call were Commissioners Milovich-Walters, Pavlatos, Polk, O’Connor, and Mayor Mahoney 

ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Commissioner Polk moved, seconded by Commissioner O’Connor, to adjourn the meeting at 9:14 p.m. 

On the call of the roll, the vote was as follows:

            AYES: -5- Commissioners Polk, O’Connor, Milovich-Walters, Pavlatos, and Mayor Mahoney

            NAYS: -0-

ABSENT: -0- 

_______________________________________

Cathy A. Gabel
Deputy Village Clerk