1979-03-26 - Village Board Special Meeting - Minutes 5394
3/26/79
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING OF THE VILLAGE
BOARD OF THE VILLAGE OF BUFFALO GROVE,
ILLINOIS, HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS,
VILLAGE HALL, MONDAY, MARCH 26, 1979
CALL TO ORDER The special meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village
of Buffalo Grove was called to order by Village President
Edward A. Fabish at 7:35 P.M.
ROLL CALL Roll call indicated the following present: President Fabish;
Trustees Rech, Bogart, Marienthal , Mendenhall , Kandel . Trustee
Stone was absent.
Also present were William Balling, Village Manager; William Raysa,
Village Attorney; William Davis, Director of Public Works;
William Brimm, Finance Director; and William Sommer, Assistant
Village Manager.
EXECUTIVE Moved by Kandel , seconded by Mendenhall to adjourn to executive
SESSION session to discuss litigation. Upon voice vote, the motion
passed unanimously. Time: 7:37 P.M.
The executive session lasted until 8: 15 P.M.
LAKE COUNTY Trustee Rech reported that she had contacted the Chairman of
PUBLIC WORKS the Public Works Committee of the Lake County Board and
COMMITTEE tentatively set a meeting between them and the Village Board
for April 3, 1979, at 10:30 A.M. , at the Highway Department
*CORRECTION office in Libertyville. *Time and date of the meeting will be
confirmed by Don Strenger.,:-Chairman of the Committee.
SCHOOL DISTRICT Mr. Balling reviewed a letter, dated March 23, 1979, from
#96 FOURTH William Hitzeman, Superintendent of School District #96,
SCHOOL requesting a waiver of any and all fees and permits for the
construction of their fourth school . Mr. Balling said staff
is examining the scope of inspections required before making
a recommendation on this matter.
ZONING ORDINANCE Mr. Balling reported that the Chairman of the Plan Commission
AMENDMENT RE sub-committee studying the Zoning Ordinance amendment regarding
PARKING parking in residential neighborhoods has advised that they will
be unable to complete their study by March 28. He said this
precludes the Board from considering the matter on April 2,
but it is still possible that it can be considered on April 16.
Trustee Mendenhall stated that he will be absent from the
April 16 meeting.
HOME RULE Elliott Hartstein, 908 Providence, requested the Board to
REFERENDUM consider including in the budget funds to provide for a
possible Home Rule referendum to give the residents an
opportunity to decide if they want to give the tool of
Home Rule powers to the Village Board. Discussion followed.
`CORRECTION *Trustee Marienthal stated that unless a home 5395
rule referendum were tied to a specific item or 3/26/79
purpps8 it would not.be in the best interest of
the Village to enter into a referendum.
President Fabish polled the Board, "Yes" indicating favor
of including in the budget funds for a Home Rule referendum ,
and "No" indicating opposition. The poll found the following:
YES: 1 - Bogart
NO: 4 - Rech, Marienthal , Mendenhall , Kandel
INDUSTRIAL Elliott Hartstein, 908 Providence, requested the Board to
DEVELOPMENT consider budgeting sufficient funds, possibly $5,000, to be
used as "seed money" for a Blue Ribbon Commission or Industrial
Commission to use professional assistance to seek commercial ,
corporate, and industrial development for Buffalo Grove.
President Fabish polled the Board, "Yes" indicating favor of
budgeting "seed money" to be used as suggested by Mr. Hartstein.
and "No" indicating opposition. The poll found the following:
YES: 1 - Rech
NO: 4 - Bogart, Marienthal , Mendenhall , Kandel
Trustee Marienthal felt the committee should be formed, but
he did not feel it was necessary to budget $5,000 for its use.
Trustee Kandel felt the location of the industrial area should
be determined before seeking prospective developers.
Trustee Bogart felt the Industrial Commission should be
reactivated, but he felt the commission should request the
amount needed.
BUFFALO GROVE In response to a question from John Panella, 342 Cottonwood,
WELCOME SIGNS President Fabish stated that in order for an organization to
have their logo incorporated on existing "Welcome to Buffalo
Grove" signs , the organization must install an identical sign
at another entrance to the Village. All participating
organizations have their logos on all signs. After discussion,
Mr. Balling was asked to work with Mr. Panella to find a
suitable location for his sign.
SIGN CODE John Panella, 342 Cottonwood, stated that he has observed signs
ENFORCEMENT posted in the right-of-way which is in violation of the Sign
Code. Mr. Balling was asked to look into the matter.
CORRESPONDENCE/ President Fabish referred to a letter, dated March 22, 1979,
CHAIRMAN OF from Harry Robin, Chairman of the Lake County Board, in which
LAKE COUNTY he said Buffalo Grove's concerns with the sewer agreements
BOARD have been referred to the Public Service Committee and the
Planning and Zoning Committee. Upon receipt of the review
of the committees, Mr. Robin will call a meeting of all
concerned parties.
1979-80 BUDGET The Board reviewed the Waterworks and Sewerage Fund, Special
Revenue Funds, and Debt Service Funds portions of the budget.
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3/26/79
Mr. Brimm reviewed his memo, dated February 8, 1979, (page 170
of the budget workbook) regarding the $6.00/month revenue bond requirement
portion of the water rate. His analysis indicated that the bond requirement
could be reduced by $1 .40/month. Lengthy discussion followed. Some Trustees
felt the rate should not be reduced because the rate would have to be increased
again in a year or so to pay for the cost of transmission of Lake Michigan
water to the Village, and that the surplus funds generated should be placed
in an interest bearing investment and earmarked for a specific purpose such
as 1) Lake Michigan water, 2) subsidize the Lake County sewer rate, 3) pay
off the loan for Well #6, or 4) some other water system improvement. Other
Trustees felt the rate should be reduced because the people using the water
system at the time improvements are needed should bear that cost and because
the Village should not charge more than is necessary at the present time.
President Fabish polled the Board to determine if the bond
requirement portion of the water rate should be reduced by $1 .40/month. The
poll found the following:
RATE REMAIN AS IS: 3 - Rech, Marienthal , Kandel
REDUCE RATE: 2 - Bogart , Mendenhall
President Fabish polled the Board, "Yes" indicating favor of
earmarking surplus water funds for transmission of Lake Michigan water, and
"No" indicating opposition. The poll found the following:
YES: 5 - Rech, Bogart, Marienthal , Mendenhall , Kandel
NO: 0 - None
After discussion, President Fabish polled the Board, "Yes"
indicating favor of the budgeted amount of $16,400 for landscaping of Wells 3,
4, and 6, and "No" indicating opposition. The poll found the following:
YES: 4 - Rech, Bogart, Mendenhall , Kandel
NO: 1 - Marienthal
On page 82 regarding reserve for Revenue Bond Sinking Fund,
it was decided there should be a reference back to item 620 on page 76.
Trustee Rech suggested that $30,000 of revenue sharing funds
be used for the Golf Course Debt Service so that the entire golf tax levy could
be abated. She felt this could offset the increase of levy needed for the
pension funds.
Mr. Balling said nothing can be done to effect the tax levy
that is reflected in this budget. It would be a 1980-81 consideration when
that tax levy ordinance is adopted on the second Monday of August. He
suggested that the entire amount could be levied and reconsidered in December
when other tax abatement ordinances are considered.
Trustee Rech said the Village will have to address the
difference in taxes between Cook and Lake Counties. Mr. Brimm said as long
as a Cook County home is assessed at 16% and a Lake County home is assessed
at 33%, there will be no equality in taxes. Trustee Marienthal said another
problem is that Lake County reassesses homes on a yearly basis. Bobbie O' Reilly,
*CORRECTION *Trustee Marienthal stated that many times over the past two years he has asked
staff to look into ways the assessed valuations in the two counties could be
equalized, and it was found the Village was unable to do this.
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3/26/79
1012 Alden Lane, said that the Lake County assessment practices are being
considered by the State Representatives. She asked if the Village formally
has asked any Representatives to attempt to do something about Buffalo Grove' s
problem. President Fabish said the Village is represented by a lobbyer through
the Northwest Municipal Conference. Trustee Marienthal said Lake County is
considering assessing at 25% instead of 33%. Elliott Hartstein, 908 Providence,
said that Representative Pierce has introduced legislation to permit Lake
County to assess at 25%.
Moved by Bogart, seconded by Mendenhall to direct the staff
to put the budget in final form.
Trustee Rech felt the Board should meet informally with the
employees within the next few weeks to discuss thoroughly the financial
situation of Buffalo Grove and the merit system salary administration plan.
Discussion followed.
President Fabish polled the Board, "Yes" indicating favor of
meeting with the employees on April 9, at the Public Service Center, and "No"
indicating opposition. The poll found the following:
YES: 5 - Rech, Bogart, Marienthal , Mendenhall , Kandel
NO: 0 - None
Trustee Mendenhall said he will not be in town that day.
It was felt that it should be known to the employees that
this meeting will not result in a renegotiation of the salary plan.
A roll call on the motion to direct the staff to put the
budget in final form found the following:
AYES: 5 - Rech, Bogart, Marienthal , Mendenhall , Kandel
NAPES: 0 - None
ABSENT: 1 - Stone
Motion declared carried.
ADJOURNMENT Moved by Bogart, seconded by Marienthal to adjourn the
meeting. Upon voice vote, the motion passed unanimously.
Time: 10:20 P.M.
Verna L. Clayton, Village Ki rk
PASSED BY ME THIS DAY
OF c3 6571979
67-7-A--- --0 •
it age President