Board of Trustees Meeting

The regular meetings of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Sleepy Hollow shall be held at the Village Hall, One Thorobred Lane, Sleepy Hollow, Illinois on the first and third Monday of every month at 7:30 p.m., unless stated otherwise. The schedule can be found on the Village Trustees Page.

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Minutes: November 5, 2018

The regular meeting of the Sleepy Hollow Corporate Authorities was called to order at 7:30 p.m. at the Sleepy Hollow Village Hall.  Board members in attendance were President Stephan Pickett and Trustees Dennis Fudala, Thomas Merkel, Joseph Nemec and Jeff Seiler. Trustee Ziemba arrived at 7:36 PM. Trustee Scott Finney was absent.  Also present were Police Chief James Linane, Director of Finance Henry Mionskowski, Village Engineer Jeffrey Steele, Village Attorney Mark Schuster and Public Works Director Kyle Killinger.

MINUTES

Seiler moved with a second by Fudala to approve the Village Board Meeting Minutes of October 15, 2018. Subject to a correction requested by Trustee Merkel, on a voice vote the motion passed unanimously.

PRESIDENT

President Pickett reported receipt of communication from Metra regarding its fiscal year budget. Metra is discontinuing the mailing of its fiscal budget and instead is directing interested parties to access the information at its website.

CLERK

The Clerk Introduced receipt of Resolution 512 An Updated Policy Prohibiting Sexual Harassment for the Village of Sleepy Hollow.  After an explanation of the changes in the policy by Village Attorney Mark Schuster, Trustee Seiler moved with a second by Merkel to approve Resolution 512.  By roll call vote all trustees present voted aye.  Trustee Finney was absent and did not vote.  The motion carried.

PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION

No report

ATTORNEY

The Village Attorney spoke responding to a request by Trustee Merkel to address certain actions taken by the Village Clerk after the regularly scheduled meeting on September 4, 2018. .  The request sought an opinion as to whether those actions violated the Open Meetings Act. Attorney Schuster stated that since is legal counsel for the Village the Illinois Canon of Ethics prohibited him from preparing the opinion.  He stated in the alternative he met with the Village Clerk and counseled him on alternatives should he face the same situation where a quorum of board trustees did not appear at a regularly scheduled meeting where impending actions needed to be taken.  No questions or comments were provided by the board.

ENGINEER

The Village Engineer reported the street repair project has been completed and that the only remaining items involved some minor clean up.  In response to a question from President Picket the Village Engineer confirmed that the billing for the road repair would first come to the engineer for review and analysis before being submitted to the board for approval and payment.

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

Ziemba moved with a second from Seiler to approve the accounts payable of November 5, 2018 in the amount of $80,804.42.  Aye:  Fudala, Nemec, Merkel, Seiler and Ziemba.  Nay: None. Motion passed.

COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC

Lynn Hayes addressed the board regarding a recent incident involving a nuisance coyote which visited her yard and threatened her two year old Labrador retriever.  She expressed concern for the safety of her grandchildren and family pet. She asked the board to educate residents regarding coyotes and to take other actions necessary to remove this particular animal.  President Picket and various members of the board explained that they do not have the ability to come on to private land to remove the coyote and that she should contact the DNR and/or hire a private trapper to remove the animal.  The board also suggested other temporary means of chasing the animal off of her property. In response to a suggestion that the animal be shot, Chief Linane stated the discharge of a weapon within village limits is prohibited by village ordinance and is limited to protecting human life. The Chief stated he would check with the DNR for additional information and suggestions.

PARKS, ROADS AND STREETS

Trustee Merkel moved with a second from Fudala to approve the purchase of 700 tons of rock salt.  Public Works Director Killinger informed the board that $50,000 has been budgeted for this purchase which is sufficient to cover the purchase order totaling $44,926.00.  Aye:  Fudala, Nemec, Merkel, Seiler and Ziemba.  Nay: None.  Motion carried.

FINANCE

Trustee Ziemba informed the board that the Finance Committee will meet to discuss a proposed tax levy in the amount of $812,290 which represents an increase of approximately $22,000.  He said he would present a full report at the first meeting in December.

WATER AND SEWER

Trustee Seiler and Director Killinger spoke regarding the need to purchase a new handheld GPS unit compatible with the Sensus water meters currently being installed by the Village.  Killinger reported that the manufacturer of the current device is no longer supporting this unit and that going forward a new updated unit is needed.  He presented an analysis of three (3) different units and the relative cost for each unit.  He explained that compounding the situation is that the existing water meters can be read by the old unit while the newer meters will require the updated device.  The board discussed the utility of an expedited meter replacement program and it was decided that Public Works will continue to analyze the potential cost of an expedited program in comparison with cost of using two separate devices going forward. Director Killinger will prepare the report for a future board meeting.

POLICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY

No Report

PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND ENVIRONMENTAL

Trustee Nemec reported his recent conversation with resident Hayes and the results of his discussion with the DNR and Kane County Animal Control.  He stated he has received an email from a research biologist with the Urban Coyote Project with suggestions for controlling incidents of coyote/human confrontations.  Nemec stated he would be forwarding link to this site for posting on the village web site. Trustee Merkel inquired as to whether the village was still participating in the deer project.  Trustee Nemec responded that the village had agreed to participate in a ten year project to research chronic wasting disease in deer and that the project was continuing.

BUILDING AND ZONING ENFORCEMENT

No Report

OLD BUSINESS

None.

NEW BUSINESS

None

Seiler moved with a second from Ziemba to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 p.m.  By vote voice the motion passed.

Respectfully submitted,

Anthony Mills

Village Clerk