CITY OF KANKAKEE
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 3, 2010
7:02 P.M.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: I’d
like to call this meeting to order and ask Pastor Randy Wilkinson from Horn of
Oil Bible Fellowship to come forward and lead us in prayer.
PASTOR WILKINSON: First
of all, thank you for inviting me here tonight and I just want to give praise
to our God who let me be born in a free country where someone can come up to me
one day and let me know that without faith in Jesus Christ I am a lost
sinner. I just am going to give Him
glory for that tonight, Lord, let us pray.
Father, we just thank You for, ah, bringing us here tonight and there’s
important business to be done for the City and I thank You, Lord, for the gifts
and callings of each one here and may we all work together just to bring the
prosperity and the peace that You would like all of Your people to enjoy here
on this earth. And, I pray beyond that,
Lord God, that Your word says that if for this world only and this life only we
have faith in God, then we’re among men most miserable. So, I pray also Lord for that peace and
prosperity that is to come in the next life.
And, I pray that for each one of us, Lord, that door would be opened
that we would know that we need to humble ourselves before You and for our
lives to really make a difference and for our eternity to be certain we have to
turn to God who sent His son to die for us and it’s in His name that we
pray. It’s in His name that we give
glory tonight in Jesus’ holy name. Amen.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank
you. I would like to ask the children
from Horn of Oil Bible Fellowship to come forward and lead us in the Pledge.
LAILA MONTPETIT, NICHOLAS
MONTPETIT, LACEY
SHELTON, DE’ANGELO TAYLOR, DE’TAURREAN
TAYLOR FROM HORN OF OIL BIBLE
FELLOWSHIP AND ALL: Pledge of
Allegiance.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank
you. We’re going to take your
picture. Our official photographer. Thank you very much. Roll call, please.
CLERK DUMAS:
PRESENT: Brown; Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron; Tall;
Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox
(14)
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Department
Heads, please.
CLERK DUMAS:
PRESENT: Kinkade; Young; Spice; Bohlen; Power; Simms;
Tyson; Banasiak; Cross; Gordon; Bertrand; Yohnka (12)
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank
you. I’m going to amend the agenda. There’s an item that we are adding to New
Business. It’s a proposal to pass for a
sewer lining that needs to be done on Court Street. It was approved by the Environmental Services
Utility Committee at the last meeting.
We neglected to put it on the agenda.
So, that will be voted upon tonight after item C on the New Business
agenda. Petitions. I have no Petitions. Are there any from the Floor? Communications. Oh, I’m sorry, minutes. Do I have a motion to approve the minutes?
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Yes,
you do, but before I make a motion, Mayor Epstein, I’d like to call the
attention of my colleagues to the minutes of April 19, 2010, pages 18, 19 and
20 in which we discuss the sidewalk days.
And, as you well know, I had some concerns about the proposed Ordinance
and I usually review and read that stuff before I come to the Council. And, I call your attention to page 18 where
Attorney Bohlen says, but this is an
attempt to do that in such a manner that it is not a permanent sidewalk sale,
but certainly allow them on the basis that would be consistent with progressive
retailing. Now, I beg to differ with
that, however, I just happened to be reading the newspaper Friday and, ah, I
saw an article under the Briefs that was written by Lee Provost. It says, I’ll just read it, Kankakee sidewalk
sale Saturday. The first sidewalk sale
in many years will be held from 11:00 A.M.
to 3:00 P.M. Saturday in the 100 block of North Schuyler Avenue in
downtown Kankakee. Developer Adam Meyer,
owner of the Majestic Towne Mall, says live music and food samples will be
available. Meyer said about a dozen
stores now located in the downtown area will have their products on display and
available. I don’t know when the last
sidewalk sale was held, but it might be close to 40 years, Meyer said. Meyer said the plan is to hold these events
throughout the Kankakee Farmer’s Market season.
The market began last week and runs through October. Again, as I indicated, this article was
written by Lee Provost. All I’m asking
you guys to do is read the stuff that comes to the Council. And, just because something’s on the agenda,
it doesn’t mean, necessarily, that we have to say, aye, aye, aye, aye. I recall at the last Council meeting there
was a motion to Table, there were only three people voted for the motion to
Table on that particular matter. I still
maintain that we should encourage our businesses to sell their goods and
services to people throughout the Kankakee land area. And, throughout the County as far as that’s
concerned. And, also, people that go up
and down I-57. There’s 75,000 vehicles
that go up and down I-57 every day. And,
I was hoping that you don’t take these things that come up on the Council floor
as being gospel and we should not think of these things from a personal
perspective. So, I move that these
minutes be approved as recorded.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Is
there a second to that motion?
ALDERMAN TALL: I’ll
second it.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Alderman
Tall seconded the motion. All those in
favor, aye. Opposed same sign.
MOTION TO APPROVE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF
APRIL 19, 2010
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
carries. Petitions. I have none.
Are there any from the Floor?
Moving onto Communications, we have a Communication to.....requesting a
street blockage for the Juneteenth celebration.
Do I have a motion to approve?
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Motion
to approve.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Do
I have a second?
ALDERMAN BROWN: Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
by Alderman Hunter, seconded by Alderman Carl Brown. All those in favor, aye. Opposed, same sign.
JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION COMMUNITY COMMITTEE IS
REQUESTING
STREET BLOCKAGE OF EAST MERCHANT STREET FROM NELSON
AVENUE
TO GORDON AVENUE ON SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 2010, FROM 8:00
A.M. UNTIL
6:00 P.M. FOR THEIR “JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION 2010”
MAYOR EPSTEIN: The
motion carries. Standing
Committees. Planning and Code.
ALDERMAN SWANSON: The
information’s in the packet.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Ordinance
Committee.
ALDERMAN SWANSON: I
passed them out tonight. The information’s
there for everyone.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank
you. Report of Officers. Do I have a motion to approve the paying of
the bills?
ALDERMAN FAFORD: Ah,
yes. Just one second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Alderman
Faford.
ALDERMAN FAFORD: I
move that we approve the Report of Officers, place the money in the proper accounts
and pay the bills in the amount of $1,875,781.66.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Do
I have a second?
ALDERMAN CIACCIO: Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Alderman
Ciaccio. Are there any questions? Roll call, please.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown; Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron; Tall;
Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox
(14)
REPORT OF
OFFICERS APPROVAL OF BILLS - $1,875,781.66
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
carries. I have no Unfinished
Business. Moving onto New Business. The first item, Recommendation to award the
contract in the amount of $13,820.50 to Oakwood Enterprises for road
improvements to Woodlea Road. Mr. Tyson
is here if there are any questions. If
not, I need a motion to approve the recommendation.
ALDERMAN OSENGA: Motion
to approve.
ALDERMAN LINNEMAN: Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
by Alderman Osenga. Seconded by Alderman
Linneman. Any questions? Roll call, please.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron; Tall; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman;
Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox (14)
RECOMMENDATION TO AWARD THE CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF
$13,820.50 TO OAKWOOD ENTERPRISES, INC. FOR THE
PROPOSED
IMPROVEMENTS TO WOODLEA ROAD, TEI JOB NO. E09093
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
carries. The next item on the agenda is
a Recommendation to accept the proposal from PJs Pools in the amount of
$19,617.00 for repairs to the fountain in front of the depot. The fountain wall has experienced some issues
because of water infiltration and it needs to be repaired before the situation
deteriorates to the point that we cannot use the fountain.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Is
it under warranty?
MAYOR EPSTEIN: No,
it is not. Mr. Simms is here if there
are any questions. We need to get this
taken care of because if the fountain is turned on, we’re going to have more
issues with that area and I think we all appreciate the significance and we
love the fountain there that’s at the depot.
And, we do need to take care of this problem before it gets any
worse.
ALDERMAN BROWN:
Can Mr. Simms just explain what the problem is?
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Um
huh (affirmative).
RICHARD SIMMS: Yes,
the problem has to do with........if a person would have a brick home and they
say the worst thing that can happen is to get water behind the brick because
what happens during the cold weather, that water expands and it begins to crack
the mortar and it can actually push the brick away from the walls. And, that’s what occurred. The water was penetrating the outside layer
of brick and it has basically
expanded. It can’t be sealed and it’s
also coming out of the ground now. So,
what they’ll be doing is attempting a different method of sealing the top. The water’s actually coming down from splash
and from rain. It’s seeping down behind
the brick fascia. So, they’re going to
try a different method. The method they
used was....seemed perfectly okay, but apparently it’s not sealed tight
enough.
ALDERMAN BROWNE: I
have a question. Would it be easier or
more economical at some point, can we hold off, without turning the fountain on
while this...... we’re underneath an economic crisis here? Would there be more
damage to leaving that alone and possibly doing that when the City has more
funding? In a time when we’re cutting
everywhere in the budget, the fountain to me, just doesn’t seem quite that
important as City jobs and things like that.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Alderman
Browne, the money for the repair of this fountain comes from our infrastructure
money in capital. It does not come from
the General Fund.
ALDERMAN BROWNE: So,
no taxpayer dollars?
MAYOR EPSTEIN: No
taxpayer dollars? It’s bond money that
can only be used for infrastructure or capital improvements. It cannot be used to pay the bills in the
General Fund.
ALDERMAN BROWNE:
Very good.
ALDERMAN SCHWADE: I
actually think it is a source of enjoyment for so many people. You see people around there so often and it’s
a place to go that’s free. And, people
get their pictures taken there. A lot of
First Communion people, you know, had their pictures taken. I mean it was.......it’s, ah, especially in
these times it does make it sort of an event to go to.
ALDERMAN BROWNE: indistinguishable wonder money’s being used, you know, we’re
cutting every place and, again, my opinion is the fountain is the last place we
need to spend money, but as you say it’s an infrastructure problem.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Yes. And, I think we have........I don’t think we
should lose sight of the fact that even though we are facing absolutely severe
economic times, we cannot do........we have money for infrastructure and we
cannot lose sight of the fact that infrastructure improvements–even something
like this–are very important to the City.
You know, we will continue to do other infrastructure projects because
it does come from a different funding source that cannot be used to pay our
bills. And, I think it’s incumbent upon
us to keep our infrastructure as sound as we can because we all understand what
happens when that has been let go and it takes many, many years and millions
and millions of dollars to repair items that have been let go in the past. And, this is a minor item. I don’t say $19,000
is minor, but it’s something that needs to be repaired and the repair will
certainly not get any cheaper.
ALDERMAN SCHWADE: Mayor,
if it’s been damaged by rain, then we couldn’t protect it from that.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Right. It’s not just the fountain. It’s moisture.
ALDERMAN BROWNE: In
your estimate Mr. Simms, would there be any more damage in letting it go for
another year?
RICHARD SIMMS: I
think it’s not so much damage as structurally it may fail in which case if it
were to collapse, then you’d have to actually have to close the whole area
off. You wouldn’t let people get near
it, obviously they couldn’t sit on it and wouldn’t want loose bricks laying
around. So, it could become much more of
a problem.
ALDERMAN BROWN: It
could pose a safety issue?
RICHARD SIMMS: I
would say it’s more of a safety issue if you let it collapse.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Who
did the construction on that? It wasn’t
PJs, was it, from Barrington?
MAYOR EPSTEIN: No.
RICHARD SIMMS: The
general contractor was Heritage but I don’t know which, ah, mason they
used. I’m sorry.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: So,
Heritage Development?
RICHARD SIMMS: They
were the general contractor, but they must have used a mason sub. I
don’t remember.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Did.......did
we talk with them about this at all?
RICHARD SIMMS: Yes,
we did and we basically came to the agreement with them that this second try
might be a better way to do it because obviously the first construction method
didn’t hold up.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Was
this bid out or was this just a quote?
MAYOR EPSTEIN: This
was bid.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Where
are the bidders at?
MAYOR EPSTEIN: I
believe that KDC and Randy went out and solicited bids and this was under the
$19,000........under the $20,000 amount, but we brought it to the Council for
approval because our concern is the structural integrity of that entire area.
ALDERMAN
BROWNE: Will this new work be
warranted?
MAYOR EPSTEIN: I
cannot answer that. I can certainly find
out for you.
ALDERMAN JONES: Mayor,
were there any local ones that bid?
MAYOR EPSTEIN: This
is a very specialized mason job because of the product. The limestone has to be special ordered so it’s
a very unique type of construction that has to be done for fountain work. It’s not just brick work. It’s an actual.......there’s actual issues
with the fountain as well as with the retaining wall.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: You
know, you say this is very specialized work.
Evidently, it wasn’t that kind of specialized. They screwed the job up.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Well,
we don’t know. I don’t have the name of
the contractor who did the masonry work, Alderman.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Well,
I think that the Aldermen from.......
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Mr.
Yohnka may have an answer for you.
BILL YOHNKA: The
top before, was done in a way that hadn’t been tested before under this kind of
circumstances. And, what was used was
more of the traditional, ah, block that you may use around a patio that doesn’t
have these kind of circumstances. And,
what’s going to be used now is a very specialized, ah, sealed cap around there
so that this problem won’t happen again.
So, if that answers any question on that.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Alderman
Schwade.
ALDERMAN SCHWADE: Okay,
I move that we approve the expenditures of $19,617–or up to–for the repair of
the fountain.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
made by Alderman Schwade, seconded by.......
ALDERMAN JONES: Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Alderman
Jones. Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter (I know I’m out of order. I
think Alderman Browne indicated that could we defer this until such time as we
could find out if, indeed, this work will be warranted? Anyway, I was reading the fine print down at
the bottom, ladies and gentlemen–I do read this stuff–and they were saying
something about that they may withdraw this bid after 30 days. This is dated 3/18, so maybe this number’s
not good anyway at this point. Ah,
motion to Table and I make that motion to Table until such time as we find out
if this matter’s warranted.)
ALDERMAN BROWNE:
Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN:
Okay. Motion made by Alderman
Hunter to Table the project, seconded by Alderman Rich Browne. Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron (This is to
find out if it’s warranted. Is that
right? That’s the purpose of the motion
to Table? ALDERMAN HUNTER: That’s right.); Tall; Ciaccio; Faford;
Swanson; Osenga; Linneman; Jones; Davidson; Cox (13)
NAY:
Schwade (1)
MOTION TO TABLE RECOMMENDATION TO ACCEPT THE PROPOSAL
FROM PJS POOLS IN THE AMOUNT $19,617.00 FOR THE REPAIR
OF THE
FOUNTAIN IN FRONT OF THE DEPOT UNTIL IT IS DETERMINED
IF THE
WORK WILL BE WARRANTED.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
carries. We will bring that information
back to the Council at the next Council meeting. If you have any other questions, please let
me know in the meantime and we can make sure that we get those answered for you
as well. The next item on the agenda is
an Ordinance enabling the City of Kankakee’s Environmental Services Utility to
commence operations, let bids to purchase collection trucks and to hire the
necessary personnel.
ALDERMAN BROWN: Motion
to Suspend the Rules that would interfere with the passage of this
Ordinance.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
made by Alderman Brown to Suspend the Rules.
Is there a second?
ALDERMAN TALL: Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Seconded
by Alderman Tall. Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron; Tall; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman;
Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox (14)
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
carries.
ALDERMAN BROWN: Motion
to put this Ordinance on Final Passage and Pass.
ALDERMAN TALL: Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
made by Alderman Carl Brown, seconded by Alderman Tall, to put this Ordinance
on its Final Passage and Pass. Are there
any questions?
ALDERMAN SCHWADE: Ah,
is there a time table for this?
MAYOR EPSTEIN: For
the purchase of equipment?
ALDERMAN SCHWADE: Right.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: As
soon as, or if the Ordinance passes tonight, we will ask Mr. Simms, who’s the
Superintendent of the Utility to prepare bid specs. The first item is to go out for bid for the
equipment. The equipment takes, I
believe, five months so we do need to get the bids out quickly so we can have
the equipment in the proper time frame to begin the process.
ALDERMAN SCHWADE: Thank
you.
ALDERMAN BROWNE: I
did have another question. Ah, last week
I asked about, ah, a recycling program and you said you’d go more into detail
this week on that.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Well,
part of the project–of the system that we’re going to do is, we’ll be
having.......each residence will have a 90-gallon container for waste as well
as a recycling tub for recycling. It’ll
be single-stream recycling rather than having to separate those items as we
currently do. They will be picked up on
a weekly basis. Ah, I think that’s an
improvement over what we are doing currently.
It will also allow us to monitor how much recycling the City does. It’ll give us at least a baseline number and
then we’d certainly like to look at any improvements we can make to the
recycling program once we get an idea of how much recycling actually takes
place in the City. I think by making it
more convenient and making it single stream, it’ll encourage more people to
participate in the recycling.
ALDERMAN BROWNE: Absolutely.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Good
explanation.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank
you. I’ve learned a lot about
garbage. Roll call, please.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron; Tall; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman;
Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox (14)
ORDINANCE ENABLING THE CITY OF KANKAKEE ENVIRONMENTAL
SERVICES UTILITY TO COMMENCE OPERATIONS, LET BIDS TO
PURCHASE COLLECTION TRUCKS AND HIRE PERSONNEL TO CARRY OUT DUTIES
IMPOSED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE UTILITY ORDINANCE
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
carries.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: And,
this is some kind of cost saving measure that you’ve initiated as well,
too. Am I correct?
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Yes,
it most certainly is. As well as
creating the Environmental Services Utility which also.........
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Mr.
Snipes.....
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Okay. Moving on.
The next item on the agenda was passed out. It was the item that was handled at the
Environmental Services Utility. There
was a sinkhole that developed on Court Street.
Part of the process for repairing that sinkhole and the sewer line is to
reline it. The cost for that is $12,000,
Mr. Simms? Or $52?
RICHARD SIMMS: I
see two items on the letter. The $12,000
item was to clean the storm sewer portion so we could inspect it. We actually
did that in-house to save that. And, we’ve
made that........we’ve cleaned it and we’ve done the televising and that storm
sewer’s okay. The problem is the
sanitary which, unfortunately, curves under Court Street. The sinkhole’s on the south side, but it
actually curves across two lanes and we just do not want to even think about
trying to repair it by excavation. So,
we secured a price from Hoerr Construction.
The last three times we did lining work, they have been the lowest and
they have performed very well, so we asked the Mayor to consider this an
emergency repair. The State, so far, has
been very patient, but they are anxious, because if you’ve driven over there,
you can see we’re causing a traffic obstruction. Based upon the Utility Board’s approval, we
told the contractor to order the materials.
So, that means in one more week, they should have the materials and we
can have them begin the work. This is an
epoxy impregnated fabric that’s put through the line. Hot water is put inside which expands it up
into the old line and then it hardens and basically makes a new sewer inside
the old. So, we would like Council to
consider approving this emergency action on the recommendation of the Utility
Board.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: And,
the funding source is from the Utility.
RICHARD SIMMS: Our
Capital project funds.
ALDERMAN BROWN: And,
the amount is $52,500?
RICHARD SIMMS: $52,500.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: That
is correct.
ALDERMAN BROWN: Motion
to approve.
ALDERMAN FAFORD: Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
made by Alderman Carl Brown to approve, seconded by Alderman Faford. Any other questions for Mr. Simms? Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron; Tall; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman;
Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox (14)
MOTION TO APPROVE BID BY HOERR CONSTRUCTION TO REPAIR
SINKHOLE
ON WEST COURT STREET BY RELINING THE SANITARY SEWER
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
carries. Ah, moving on on the agenda, I
have one Appointment. Oh, I’m on
Appointments. There’s currently three openings on the Planning Board due to
people moving out of the community and so I have one Appointment tonight. I am currently in the process of filling the
other two. If any of the Aldermen have
any suggestions for anyone that they would like considered for the Planning
Board, I would certainly appreciate those names. But, tonight I would like to appoint Ken
Johnson to fill one of the positions on the Planning Board. He is a resident of the 4th
Ward. He has spent many years working in
the construction and building trades. He
is currently retired and I think he would be an excellent addition to the
Planning Board.
ALDERMAN SWANSON: I’ll
make the motion.
ALDERMAN FAFORD: Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
made by Alderman Swanson, seconded by Alderman Faford. All those in favor.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Roll
call, please.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Oh,
I’m sorry. Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown (Normally
we have some kind of resumé in the packet that we can look at normally, but I’ll say aye.
MAYOR EPSTEIN:
Thank you.); Hunter (4th
Ward–must be highly recommended, right?
Not from Iroquois County. Vote
aye); Browne, R.; Baron; Tall; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman;
Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox (14)
MOTION TO APPOINT KEN JOHNSON TO PLANNING BOARD
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
carries. Thank you. Alderman Browne.
ALDERMAN BROWNE: Mayor,
before we close this section, I have a little New Business from the Floor.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Okay.
ALDERMAN BROWNE: It
came to our attention–Alderman Baron and myself–today at 618 S. Lincoln there’s
a Handicapped Parking sign and the handicapped individual has either passed
away or moved out and it’s no longer needed.
I’d like to propose that we pass an Ordinance to remove that sign.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: 618
S. Lincoln?
ALDERMAN BROWNE: 618
S. Lincoln.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Okay. I will entertain a motion to Suspend the
Rules.
ALDERMAN BROWNE: I
so move.
ALDERMAN BARON: Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Seconded
by Alderman Baron. Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron; Tall; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman;
Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox (14)
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
carries. Motion to place this Ordinance
on its Final Passage.
ALDERMAN BROWNE: So
moved.
ALDERMAN BARON: Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
made by Alderman Rich Browne, seconded by Alderman Baron. Any questions? Roll call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron; Tall; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman;
Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox (14)
MOTION TO REMOVE HANDICAPPED PARKING SIGN AT 618 S.
LINCOLN AVENUE
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
carries. Moving onto Motions and
Resolutions, I would like to combine items A and C, a Resolution celebrating
the Juneteenth Celebration and a Resolution recognizing the 20th
Annual Rhubarb Festival.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Is
that tonight? Motion to approve. And, I assume you’re going to read that
tonight, too, to the recipient?
CLERK DUMAS: Sure.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Okay. Motion to approve.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
by Alderman Hunter.
ALDERMAN SCHWADE: I
second it.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Seconded
by Alderman Schwade. All those in favor,
aye. Opposed, same sign.
RESOLUTION CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH DAY 2010
RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE 20TH ANNUAL
RHUBARB FESTIVAL
MAYOR EPSTEIN: The
two Resolutions pass.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: And,
I think the Clerk is going to present that to us tonight?
CLERK DUMAS: Miss
Mason. Resolution No. 2010 -25
CELEBRATING JUNE 19, 2010, JUNETEENTH DAY 2010
WHEREAS, Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of
the ending of slavery in the United States.
From its Galveston, Texas origin in 1865, the observance of June 19th
as the African-American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States
and beyond. Today Juneteenth
commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement;
and WHEREAS, Juneteenth is a day of reflection, a day of renewal, a
pride-filled day. It is a moment in time
taken to appreciate the African American experience. It is inclusive of all races, ethnicities and
nationalities – as nothing is more comforting than the hand of a friend; and
WHEREAS, Juneteenth is a day on which honor and respect is paid for the
sufferings of slavery. It is a day on
which we acknowledge the evils of slavery and its aftermath; and WHEREAS,
Juneteenth is when we talk about our history and realize because of it, there
will forever be a bond between us; and WHEREAS, Juneteenth is when we think
about that moment in time when the enslaved in Galveston, Texas, received word
of their freedom. We imagine the depth
of their emotions, their jubilant dance and their fear of the unknown; and
WHEREAS, Juneteenth is a day that we commit to each other the needed support as
family, friends and co-workers. It is a
day we build coalitions that enhance African-American economics; and WHEREAS,
Juneteenth is when we come together young and old to listen, to learn and to
refresh the drive to achieve. It is a
day when we all take one step closer together - to better utilize the energy
wasted on racism; and WHEREAS, Juneteenth is a day that we pray for peace and
liberty for all; and WHEREAS, Juneteenth serves symbolically, and in reality,
as a reference point from which to measure and appreciate the progress and
contributions made by African Americans to this society; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE
IT RESOLVED, by the Mayor and City Council of Kankakee, Illinois, the City of
Kankakee supports the Juneteenth Celebration Community Committee’s first annual
Juneteenth Celebration honoring the 145th year of the ending of
slavery of the African American race.
ADOPTED this 3rd day of May, 2010. Nina Epstein, Mayor ATTEST. Anjanita
Dumas, City Clerk
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Motion
to approve.
ALDERMAN BROWN: Second.
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: We
already did. We approved A and C
together.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: We
did?
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Yes. The last item is the Resolution, item B,
regarding an agreement by the Aldermen to return 12% of their remuneration as
Aldermen to the City treasury and to increase their share of the insurance
premium from 20 to 25%.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Well,
we did under 7A, the street blockage.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Right. And, we did A and C in Resolutions. I separated those out.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Okay.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: I
need a motion to approve Resolution B.
ALDERMAN BROWNE: So
moved.
ALDERMAN EPSTEIN: Motion
by Alderman Rich Browne.
ALDERMAN BROWN: I
think we all should second that motion.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Yes.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: That’s
up to all of you.
ALDERMAN BROWN: I
think we all should second that motion.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Is
this a cost saving action by the City Council?
I have never heard of any Council in the State of Illinois who’s done
this. I don’t know, maybe even indistinguishable
But, here again, Mr. Snipes is
another cost saving measure that the City’s fathers and mothers are taking it
upon themselves to cut their compensation.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Is
it the feeling of the Council, to have a unanimous second?
UNANIMOUSLY: Yes.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Okay.
Then all the Aldermen will be listed as seconding the Resolution. Roll call, please.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron; Tall; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman;
Schwade; Davidson; Cox (13)
PRESENT: Jones (I talked to Bohlen before the
meeting and I would like my salary cut 12% and I will give him permission to
cut my salary 12% and he’s going to look into that.
MAYOR EPSTEIN:
We will prepare the proper paperwork if we are able to do that. Thank you.
Is that an aye vote?
ALDERMAN JONES: I will cut 12% of my pay–have my pay
cut by 12%. I cannot write you a check.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: That
wasn’t.......nobody’s writing a check.
ALDERMAN HUNTER: No,
they’re not. Just.....
MAYOR EPSTEIN: It’s
going to be deducted from the pay.
ALDERMAN JONES:
It was told to me that we would be writing a check for a donation...a
charitable donation, that’s why I said no.
MAYOR EPSTEIN:
No, that’s not.
ATTORNEY BOHLEN:
No, it would just be deducted from your paycheck. But, your issue is a valid issue and I will
look into it. As I’ve thought about our
conversation; I don’t see any reason why we couldn’t do it that way. The way you’ve requested to do it.
MAYOR
EPSTEIN: Is that an aye vote, for the
record?
ALDERMAN JONES:
I’m going to wait for Mr. Bohlen so..........
ALDERMAN
HUNTER: Cheryl, vote aye.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Continue.) (1)
RESOLUTION REGARDING AN AGREEMENT BY ALDERMEN TO
RETURN 12%
OF THEIR REMUNERATION AS ALDERMEN TO THE CITY TREASURY
AND TO INCREASE THEIR SHARE OF INSURANCE PREMIUM FROM 20% TO 25%
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
carries. Before Aldermen Questions or
Comments, we will need an Executive Session tonight to discuss Personnel and
Collective Bargaining. Are there any
questions or comments?
ALDERMAN JONES: Mayor.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Alderman
Jones.
ALDERMAN JONES: I
want to thank you for having this the Automobile Policy that was in our books
after my comments last month about use of City vehicles. I do thank you on that. And, also, two weeks ago, Code personnel came
through my neighborhood putting door knockers on the doors in my neighborhood
about the garbage...
MAYOR EPSTEIN: That
is correct.
ALDERMAN JONES: ....and
the grass and everything. It said if you
had any questions, call. And, I called
her and I asked her how many, you know, how many was going out because at the
time I was thinking of those postcards that you sent for the census that you
had printed up, but I haven’t seen any.
And, I thought.....and I said to her, it would have been good to put the
postcard on the back and put it on the doorknobs and I would have gladly helped
her. In our conversation, she said that
she was told to go into the “hood” and put these on the doorknockers. And, I’m so glad that I live in the “hood”
and every night I hear gun shots in my neighborhood. And, to cut the officers out of this
department is wrong. My neighborhood–the
“hood”–needs the officers. You have just
told my whole community our neighborhood is going to be up for grabs.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Alderman.
ALDERMAN JONES: And,
I do not want to see one officer lose their job.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Alderman
Jones, those door knockers will be–are being distributed to every single ward
in the City of Kankakee.
ALDERMAN JONES: She
told me there were only 1,000.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: She
is incorrect. They are being distributed
to every single ward in the City of Kankakee.
It is a reminder on grass and trash and how to be good neighbors. It’s a very positive message. We’re coming upon grass and trash season and
it’s.......I thought it was very well done.
And, it’s being distributed by the Code officers in every single
ward. Thank you. Any other comments?
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Alderman
Davidson.
ALDERMAN DAVIDSON: I
have a comment. I guess there’s a lot of
misunderstanding in how the union process works. Attorney Bohlen continues to try to explain
to people that it’s not the City of Kankakee necessarily that’s trying to cut
nine officers out of the budget. That’s
not what’s happening. What’s happening
is, he’s presenting issues, he’s presenting opportunities for each union to
say, this is what we are willing to do as opposed to cutting nine
officers. That’s contract. The last people–the least senior officers in
each contract are the ones that are susceptible to being laid off if the
concessions that we are asking is not met.
She’s not.....we’re not going out saying if we can’t get.......well
basically in some respects, if we can’t what we need, this is the process that
the union itself will have to take. The
City’s not going out doing this to anybody in particular. And, that’s what Chris is trying to explain
to everybody as opposed to the misunderstanding that the City’s just
arbitrarily saying we’re going to take nine officers. That’s not what’s going to happen. And, it’s wrong for people to think that ‘cause
that’s not what’s happening. It’s a
union issue. It’s a process that the
union goes through.
ALDERMAN COX: Mayor.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Alderman
Cox.
ALDERMAN COX: It
should be noted that all Aldermen do not receive $10,000 a year.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: That’s
correct, Alderman. Those of you who have
not gone through an election are currently operating under the old salary.
ALDERMAN COX: Also,
all Aldermen did not accept the insurance.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: That’s
correct.
ALDERMAN COX: Thank
you.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: You’re
welcome. Any other questions. A motion to adjourn to Executive Session?
ALDERMAN SWANSON: So
moved.
ALDERMAN BARON: Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: A
motion by Alderman Swanson, seconded by Alderman Baron. All those in favor, aye. Opposed, same sign
MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION
MAYOR EPSTEIN: We
are adjourned to Executive Session.
7:41
P.M.
8:07
P.M.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: We
are back in Open Session.
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: All
right, now.
ALDERMAN BARON: Mayor
I would move that we would authorize you, as the Mayor, and the City Clerk
enter into, number one, a supplemental agreement between the City of Kankakee
and the Office of Professional Employees International Union Local #9, number
two, the supplemental agreement between the City of Kankakee and the
International Operating Engineers Local 399 and, three, the supplemental
agreement between the City of Kankakee and the International Operating
Engineers Local 399.
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: The
Lab Analysts.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: The
Lab Analysts.
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: For
the first one, part two was the Lab Analysts.
ALDERMAN BROWNE: Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
by Alderman Baron, second by Alderman Rich Browne. Any questions or discussions?
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Excellent
job.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Roll
call.
CLERK DUMAS:
AYE: Brown;
Hunter; Browne, R.; Baron; Tall; Ciaccio; Faford; Swanson; Osenga; Linneman;
Jones; Schwade; Davidson; Cox (14)
MOTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CITY CLERK TO ENTER
INTO
A SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF KANKAKEE
AND
THE OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL
UNION
MOTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CITY CLERK TO ENTER
INTO
A SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF KANKAKEE
AND
INTERNATIONAL OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL 399
MOTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CITY CLERK TO ENTER
INTO
A SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF KANKAKEE
AND
INTERNATIONAL OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL 399, LAB
ANALYSTS
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
carries.
ATTORNEY BOHLEN: Publicly,
I want to say that the members of these unions that we’ve been negotiating with
have shown a great deal of concern for their members and for the City and I
would like to thank them for the hard work that they’ve done. It’s been difficult for them just as it has
been for the City.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Thank
you. And, I concur. Alderman Brown.
ALDERMAN BROWN: At
the last meeting, Mayor, I asked for a Resolution sent to the State of Illinois
stating our displeasure with the State of Illinois taking 30% of our sales tax
income–tax revenue–I think it’s very important that these people are
given....ah...making concessions. I
think it’s very important for us to say that basically we’re not–it may not do
no good at all–but the fact of the matter is for us to sit quiet about it and
not say anything to it, I think is wrong.
We definitely need to say something that we disapprove of it and then we
need to make that known.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: I
agree, Alderman. I apologize for not
having it, but we will have it for the next meeting. And, I agree with you wholeheartedly. Any other questions?
ALDERMAN HUNTER: Motion
to adjourn.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Motion
by Alderman Hunter to adjourn.
ALDERMAN SWANSON: Second.
MAYOR EPSTEIN: Seconded
by Alderman Swanson. All those in favor
aye. Opposed same sign.
MOTION TO ADJOURN CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MAYOR EPSTEIN: We
are adjourned at 8:10 P.M.
8:10
P.M.