HomeMy WebLinkAboutII. COW Agenda Item Draft Minutes 05/26/2009
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES
May 26, 2009
I. CALL TO ORDER - ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order at 7:10 p.m. in the Village Board Room of the Village
Hall, 50 South Emerson Street, by Mayor Irvana Wilks. Present at the meeting were
Trustees Paul Hoefert, Arlene Juracek, John Korn, John Matuszak, Steven Polit, and
Michael ladel. Staff present included Village Manager Michael Janonis, Fire Chief
Michael Figolah, Village Clerk Lisa Angell, Deputy Village Clerk Kimberly Dewis,
Administrative Analyst Michael Dallas, and Village Attorney Everette Hill.
A motion to move the original agenda item V (Forest River Fire Protection District
Property) ahead of item IV (Election Discussion/Referendum) was made by Trustee
Hoefert and seconded by Trustee ladel. The motion was approved.
II. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES
A motion to approve the minutes of April 14, 2009, was made by Trustee Juracek and
seconded by Trustee Polit. Minutes were approved. Trustees ladel and Korn
abstained.
III. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD
None.
IV. FOREST RIVER FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT PROPERTY
Fire Chief Michael Figolah introduced Prospect Heights Fire Protection District's
(PHFPD) request to transfer an unincorporated area within the Forest River Fire
Protection District, that the Village of Mount Prospect currently provides fire protection
services to, from the Village to the PHFPD. Chief Figolah recommended the Village
Board approve the jurisdictional transfer primarily to (1) avoid any confusion regarding
who services the area; and (2) address PHFPD's financial needs. As additional support,
he reasoned that the transfer would not decrease the level of emergency response
currently provided to the affected neighborhood.
General comments, questions or concerns from the Village Board included the following:
· Whether the transfer would affect the level of emergency response to the area;
· How the emergency response notification process would change;
· What the impact would be to the Village as a result of losing the tax money
currently collected by the Forest River Fire Protection District;
· Whether the Village would have any legal fees associated with the transfer.
Two board members from the Forest River Fire Protection District provided their initial
impressions regarding the request. In response to inquiries by the Village Board, they
stated that their attorney would have to review the proposal before releasing their official
position.
HWILM\MDallas\Meeting Minutes\COW Minutes 5-26-09.doc
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V. ELECTION DISCUSSION/REFERENDUM
Village Manager Michael Janonis briefly summarized the difference between the
Village's past and most recent local election process and some of the related issues that
should be considered, including (1) whether the Village should continue to follow a non-
partisan election process; and (2) what role the Village Clerk's Office should playas the
local election official in assisting candidates to file their petition and supporting
documentation. He stated that a referendum may have to be presented to the
community if the election process were to be changed.
Prior to fielding questions from the Village Board of Trustees, Village Attorney Everette
Hill added that the Village has been conducting their election for several decades in a
non-partisan manner. He acknowledged that the Village's election process (including
the petition filing dates) had recently changed to adhere to the State of Illinois's election
guidelines (primary filing deadlines and signature requirements). Additionally, he noted
that a referendum would be required if (1) the Village Board wanted to adopt a partisan
election process; or (2) the Village Board decided to maintain its non-partisan status, but
return to the old petition filing deadlines and signature requirements. In regards to the
second alternative, he stated that the Board would essentially create its own "boutique"
election process, an alternative supported by an Illinois Attorney General legal opinion.
General comments, questions or concerns from the Village Board regarding the election
process included the following:
· Does the State require a non-partisan community to use the primary filing
deadline;
· Does the new State signature requirements make it easier to get on the ballot;
· Opinions differed regarding the impact of the new signature requirement;
· Why did the State change the guidelines;
· What have other communities done in response to the State's changes;
· How many candidates would force a primary election;
· Who pays for elections;
· Want to stay a non-partisan election system;
· When should a referendum be submitted to be on a ballot;
· A referendum to create a "boutique" election process could be very difficult to
create.
In addition to the election process, the Village Board also discussed the Village Clerk's
role in the process, specifically regarding the petition filing process. General comments,
questions or concerns from the Village Board included the following:
· Clerk's Office should continue to provide candidate's guide, petition forms, and
other handouts;
· Clerk's Office should not offer advice regarding how to complete a candidate's
petition and supporting materials nor should it provide an opinion regarding the
completeness, accuracy, or validity of the candidate's petition and supporting
materials;
· Opinions differed regarding whether the Clerk's Office should notarize candidate
materials.
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Ultimately, the Village Board decided that they would like more information regarding a
"boutique" election process and how it would be implemented. The discussion regarding
notary services was tabled for a later date.
VI. EECBG PROGRAM
Administrative Analyst Michael Dallas presented a summary of the United States
Department of Energy's (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Block Grant Program and its
requirements, the eligible activities that can be funded under the grant, and its
limitations. He also described the application process to obtain the grant, the spending
obligations and timelines. Finally, he presented two primary recommendations (1) apply
for the grant; and (2) hire a consultant to develop an Energy Efficiency and Conservation
Strategy (EECS), assist the Village to implement any immediate plan initiatives, and
develop mechanisms to report progress back to the DOE. He also asked the Board to
consider the project's scope and whether it should be focused on municipal facilities and
property only or the entire community.
General comments, questions or concerns from the Village Board included the following:
· Apply for the grant and hire a consultant to assist the Village;
· The scope of the project, including the formation of the Energy Efficiency and
Conservation Strategy, should include the entire community;
· Grant funds should be spent on practical applications that will benefit the
community;
· Whether the consultant will be held liable to meet the grant's deadlines;
· What the "Buy American" requirement means and its impact on the project;
· Consider what other communities are doing.
VII. MANAGER'S REPORT
None.
VIII. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Mayor Irvana Wilks and Trustee John Korn noted the presence of the French
delegation and their weekly activities.
Trustee Steven Polit commented on the progress of the Levee 37 project. Village
Manager Michael Janonis stated that progress reports and pictures would be
forthcoming.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:37 p.m.
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Administrative Analyst
Committee of the Whole
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