April 23, 2014

Board Meeting Minutes

Minutes April 23, 2014

The regular meeting of the Village of Divernon Board of Trustees was held on Wednesday, April 23, 2014, at the Divernon Village Hall. Village President Randy Rhodes called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. After the Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all in attendance, Clerk Rod Molnar called roll: Randy Rhodes “Here”, Pam Cronister “Here”, Jim Copelin “Here”, Larry Baer “Here”, Derek Hedges “Here”, Dianne Brenning “Here”. Also in attendance were Police Chief Barclay Harris and Superintendent Larry Rhodes. Melissa Layton arrived at 6:44 p.m.

A motion was made by Cronister to approve the minutes of April 9, 2014. Copelin seconded and the motion passed 4-0. Hedges voting present.

Baer presented the Village bills with a motion that they be approved. After Brenning seconded the motion, it was approved 5-0.

Superintendent Report:

Superintendent Rhodes distributed a report conducted by the EPA of the sewer treatment plant. He explained that there would be additional testing in the future of the discharge. Bid letting for the Safe Routes to Schools project will take place on Friday, April 11, 2014. The concrete pad has been poured for the new dog pens.

Police Report:

Chief Harris brought the Board up to date on a number of issues with dogs running around the Village. He will be contacting residents and issuing citations. Part time officer Joe Gray has found full time work and will be leaving the department soon. There have been questions as to whether or not the raising of chickens is allowed in the Village. The Board felt that current ordinances do not allow for poultry in the Village, but the ordinance needs to be more specific. Mayor Rhodes will have a draft of an amendment to the ordinance at the next meeting.

Committee Reports:

Streets, Alleys, and Utilities:

Cronister informed the Board on the latest developments with the Safe Routes to Schools Program. Agreements between the Federal government and the Village need to be signed by the Mayor and returned. The resolution to continue in the county wide electric aggregation program has been sent to Amy Uden at the Regional Planning Commission.

Finance:

Brenning presented the engagement letter from Patton and Company P.C. for the annual audit. A motion was made by Brenning and seconded by Copelin to accept the proposal. The motion passed 6-0.

Personnel:

Baer will have Mark Petrilli of Troxell and Associates attend the next meeting to inform the Board of changes to the employee health insurance program.

Minutes April 23, 2014

Health and Safety:

Copelin reported that since a number of letters had been mailed requiring properties to be cleaned up, that progress is being made. Mayor Rhodes distributed to the Board a list of events that determine when the weather warning siren is activated. He also heard from the Illinois Risk Management Association that any ESDA volunteers appointed by the Village would be covered by the program. The Mayor will appoint some volunteers to the position in the future.

Community Development:

Layton explained that Alan Alexander of the Sangamon County Department of Public Health has recommended that the Village Attorney look over the plans for demolishing the two abandoned houses on State Street before proceeding. The Village wide garage sale and recycled electronics collection will take place on May 3, 2014. Sue Arter has a list of items that Flowers Sanitation will accept on clean-up day. Clean-up day will take place on May 10, 2013. Layton and Hedges will look over the building codes in the zoning ordinances to see if they need to be updated.

Building Grounds and Lights:

Hedges gave the Board options on a new lease agreement for the copier and printer. Bids have been made by Konica Minolta, CDS Office Systems, and Watts Copy Systems. A decision will be made at the next meeting. He will also follow up with Summit Data Technologies Inc. on the software agreement for the new accounting system.

Old Business:

There was a discussion on the recent closure of the gas station on Brown Street.

New Business:

Sue has made a list of the meeting dates and times for the new fiscal year.

R. Rhodes brought up that he had been approached about allowing package liquor sales to be allowed whenever the establishment is open for Class III licenses and also to allow taverns to open earlier than 1:00 on Sundays. A number of options were discussed. The item will be put on the agenda for the next meeting.

A motion was made by Layton to go into executive session to discuss personnel issues at 7:40 p.m.

The Board returned to regular session at 8:36 p.m.

A motion was made by Layton and seconded by Baer to employ Sean Crissey and John Boehme as Part Time Police Officers at a rate of $11.00 per hour. Both will begin work immediately. The motion passed 6-0.

A motion was made by Cronister and seconded by Layton to approve the following salary increased to part time employees. Jan Belford, Nellie Allen, Joe Gray, Dewaine Hoagland and Jan Bowsher, 25 cents per hour. Bob Caldwell $1.00 per hour. The motion was approved. 6-0.

Minutes April 23, 2014

Raises for full time employees was tabled until the next meeting.

Motion by Layton to adjourn at 8:41 p.m.

Randy Rhodes Rodney Molnar

Village President. Village Clerk