1978-01-03 - Village Board Regular Meeting - Minutes 5146
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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF
THE VILLAGE OF BUFFALO GROVE, COOK AND LAKE COUNTIES, ILLINOIS, HELD
TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 1978, AT THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING, 50 RAUPP BOULEVARD,
BUFFALO GROVE, ILLINOIS.
President Fabish called the meeting to order at 7:35 P.M. Those present
stood and pledged allegiance to the Flag.
The Clerk called the roll and found the following:
PRESENT: President Fabish; Trustees Rech, Bogart, Keister, Stone, Mendenhall
Trustee Marienthal arrived at 7:42 P.M.
Also present were William Balling, Village Manager; William Raysa, Village
Attorney; Thomas Fennell , Director of Planning and Development; Bart Delaney,
Planning Coordinator; and William Sommer, Administrative Assistant.
1 . Minutes of December 19, 1977
Moved by Bogart, seconded by Stone to approve the minutes of the regular
meeting held December 19, 1977, as published. Upon roll call , the vote
was :
AYES: 4 - Bogart, Keister, Stone, Mendenhall
NAYES: 0 - None
ABSTAIN: 1 - Rech
ABSENT: 1 - Marienthal
Motion declared carried.
2. Warrant #373
President Fabish presented Warrant #373► in the amount of $144,952.20.
Moved by Bogart, seconded by Mendenhall to approve Warrant #373 as presented.
Several items were questioned but no changes made.
Trustee Marienthal arrived.
Upon roll call , the vote was :
AYES : 6 - Rech, Bogart, Marienthal , Keister, Stone, Mendenhall
NAYES: 0 - None
Motion delcared carried.
3. President's Report
Crossings Subdivision Fireplaces
President Fabish read a press release, dated January 3, 1978, regarding
two fireplace related minor home-fires in The Crossings Subdivision. He
explained the cause of the fires and steps being taken to abate any further
problems.
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Mr. Balling described the investigation made by the Village staff to
determine the cause of the fires. He felt the construction problem which
caused the fires will be limited to Units 3 and 4 of The Crossings, but as
a safety precaution, all units of The Crossings will be inspected.
4. Trustee Reports
Appearance Control Commission
`./ Trustee Bogart reported that the Appearance Control Commission has requested
assistance in locating three additional members for their commission. He
said that qualified people are hesitant to accept the position because of
potential conflict of interest if they wanted to do business in the Village
or with the Village.
Mr. Raysa stated that there has been new State legislation which is more
lenient with regard to conflict of interest. He said he will prepare a
memo explaining the new parameters.
Elected Official Compensation
Trustee Bogart reviewed a memo, dated May 16, 1977, regarding a survey of
elected official compensation in nearby communities. He said that since a
Village Board cannot grant salary increases for themselves , any increase
would have to be for those elected in 1979.
Moved by Bogart, seconded by Mendenhall to increase the Village President 's
salary to $3,600/year, Village Trustees ' salaries to $100/month, and Village
Clerk's salary to $5,000/year beginning with those people elected in 1979.
Trustee Rech stated that no elected official is ever compensated for the
amount of time given to the Village because it is a committment certain
people make. She said there has been no difficulty in attracting people
to run for any office in the Village under the present salary structure.
Trustee Mendenhall felt the salaries should be enough to cover expenses or
nothing. Trustee Bogart stated that if there was no compensation, it could
be an income tax deduction.
Trustee Marienthal felt there should be an increase, but that it should be
less than proposed.
Trustee Keister did not feel the matter had been given enough consideration
to be voted upon this evening.
Trustee Bogart withdrew the motion and requested that the matter be placed
on the agenda for January 16, 1978.
Complementary Coffee
Trustee Bogart stated that in 1975, it was determined there no longer
would be complementary coffee for commission and board meetings and for
staff. He said approximate cost for this was $3,500 per year. He requested
the Board to consider reinstating complementary coffee for at least commission
and board meetings, and preferably for staff also.
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Trustee Rech requested more information on cost of coffee. She noted that
many businesses have discontinued providing complementary coffee because of
the increased cost of coffee. She felt it would be a nice gesture for
commissioners since they receive no compensation.
President Fabish asked Mr. Balling to prepare a report on cost of coffee
and controls to insure against waste.
Home Rule Committee
Trustee Keister reported there will be a Home Rule Committee meeting on
Wednesday, January 4, 1978, at 8:00 P.M. , at the Village Hall .
Indian Trails Library
Trustee Mendenhall referred to a letter, dated December 23, 1977, from
the Indian Trails Library District declining the suggestion to procure
land in the proposed Town Center for a new library. He asked the Board
to consider this so that a response can be given in two weeks. Trustee
Bogart stated that more information is forthcoming.
5. Village Manager's Report
Crossings Farmhouse/Youth Center
Mr. Balling reviewed a report , dated December 30, 1977, from Mr. Fennell
regarding the cost of refurbishing The Crossings farmhouse for use as a
Youth Center. He noted that the Village was unable to get any local
contractors to make a proposal on the job. He recommended the Village
delete further analysis on The Crossings farmhouse as an alternative for
a Youth Center and pursue other locations for the following reasons :
1) difficulty in obtaining a local contractor, 2) incurring a considerable
amount of money over a $5,000 committment, and 3) satisfying community
and geographic demands.
Trustee Bogart stated that he has been told the farmhouse should be con-
demned instead of refurbished. He said the Youth Commission, at their
meeting of January 10, will review locations for the center.
President Fabish polled the Board, "Yes" indicating favor of using the farm-
house for a Youth Center, and "No" indicating opposition. The poll found
the following:
YES: 0 - None
NO: 6 - Rech, Bogart, Marienthal , Keister, Stone, Mendenhall
Trustee Rech stated that even though she did not want to close the door on
the farmhouse entirely, she voted "No" because of staff recommendation.
Housing and Land Use Seminar
In order to make reservations, Mr. Balling requested any Trustee who wishes
to attend the housing and land use seminar, presented by the Northwest
Municipal Conference and the Northeastern Illinois Plan Commission, to contact
him.
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Meeting of January 9, 1978
Because of lack of agenda items , Mr. Balling recommended the Board exercise
their option to pass on having a meeting on January 9, 1978. The Board
agreed to this.
Williamsburg on the Lake
Mr. Balling stated that he had received comments from several Trustees
with regard to the Williamsburg on the Lake proposal which was presented
at a recent workshop meeting. He requested any additional comments by the
end of the week so that he might be able to advise the developer.
6. Questions from the Audience
There were no questions from the audience.
7. Consent Agenda
Staff Manpower
Moved by Mendenhall , seconded by Bogart to authorize an increase in the
staff manpower roster as follows: 1) Clerk Typist (Police Department) ,
2) Clerk Typist (Department of Public Works) , and 3) Part-time Secretary
(Department of Community Development) . Upon roll call , the vote was :
AYES: 6 - Rech, Bogart, Marienthal , Keister, Stone, Mendenhall
NAYES: 0 - None
Motion declared carried.
8. Ordinances, Resolutions, Proclamations
Tax Abatement Ordinances
Mr. Balling reviewed his memo, dated December 29, 1977, regarding errors
in the numeric entries on the Tax Abatement Ordinance #77-66 and #77-67
for the Golf Course and Public Works Building.
Trustee Bogart noted that at a previous meeting the staff and auditors
had recommended that a $25,000 golf course contingency fund be created
by not abating as much of the tax, but the Board action was to abate all
but $30,000 as was represented to citizens at the time of the referendum.
He asked the Board to reconsider this action.
Trustee Rech felt there should be a contingency fund. She said the
committment to the citizens at the time of the referendum was that the
tax rate levied for the golf course would be .039 for 1978, and if that
were done there would be approximately $10,000 for a contingency fund.
She noted that the $30,000 will create a tax rate of less than .039
because the assessed valuation of the Village has increased. Trustee
Marienthal stated that the increased valuation did not occur because of
new construction, but occurred because of an increased assessed valuation
of every home in the Village. Trustee Rech stated the increase is because
of additional commercial units in the Village. After discussion, Trustee
Rech requested the staff to prepare a report on the cause of the increased
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assessed valuation. Mr. Balling felt that both new construction and
increased valuation were the cause.
Trustee Keister stated that even though the tax rate will be less than .039,
the dollar amount would be that which was represented at the time of the
referendum.
TrusteesRech and Bogart felt it would be fiscally responsible for the
contingency fund to be created. Trustee Rech stated that if repayment of
a bond schedule is set forth in a certain fashion, the Village would receive
a better bond rating.
Ordinance #78-1
Moved by Rech, seconded by Mendenhall to pass Ordinance #78-1 , AN ORDINANCE
AMENDING ORDINANCE #77-66 BEING AN ORDINANCE ABATING TAXES FOR THE CON-
STRUCTION OF PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING. Upon roll call , the vote was :
AYES: 6 - Rech, Bogart, Marienthal , Keister, Stone, Mendenhall
NAYES: 0 - None
Motion declared carried.
Ordinance #78-2
President Fabish polled the Board, "Yes" indicating favor of an increase
in the amount to be generated from the golf course tax levy in order to
create a contingency fund, and "No" indicating opposition. The poll found the
following:
YES : 2 - Rech, Bogart
NO: 4 - Marienthal , Keister, Stone, Mendenhall
Moved by Rech, seconded by Bogart to pass Ordinance #78-2, AN ORDINANCE
AMENDING ORDINANCE #77-67 BEING AN ORDINANCE ABATING A PORTION OF THE TAXES
LEVIED FOR THE INSTALLMENT CONTRACT TO PURCHASE THE BUFFALO GROVE GOLF COURSE.
Upon roll call , the vote was:
AYES: 4 - Marienthal , Keister, Stone, Mendenhall
NAPES : 2 - Rech, Bogart
Motion declared carried.
9. NEW BUSINESS
Commercial sign Regulations
President Fabish stated that the Zoning Board of Appeals and Appearance
Control Commission have requested some direction in their consideration of
revised sign regulations. He said the intent of the Sign Ordinance was to
provide the merchant with the opportunity to identify their business but
with the stipulation it be done in good taste and to minimize the amount
of signs.
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Rich Heinrich, Chairman of the Z.B.A. , stated that they are reviewing
a model ordinance. Problems with the present Sign Ordinance are:
1) differences in interpretation, 2) the manner in which it is administered,
3) all instances are not covered, and 4) no provision for civic signs.
Mr. Raysa stated that a classification for public and charitable signs
would be valid.
Discussion took place with regard to 1 ) present sign regulations and how
they can be interpreted and 2) other methods of determining number of
permitted signs.
Howard Treshansky, Executive Vice President of Token Distributors, Inc. ,
stated that they have a retail store (Look 'N Hear) in Grove Court, and
are not permitted to put up a facia sign. He said their facia sign is in
accordance frith the sign package for the shopping center and has been
approved by the Appearance Control Commission, but they are not permitted
to erect it because their name appears on the shopping center pylon sign
which would give them two signs. He said they are the only store in the
shopping center with no facia sign which creates a hardship on his business
because people cannot find it. He then noted other businesses in the
Village having more than one sign. Jack Whistler, representing Grove
Court, stated that when Look 'N Hear was included in their sign, they
did not know it would prevent them from having a facia sign. Trustee
Marienthal suggested that their name could be removed from the pylon
sign. Mr. Whistler said this could be done at considerable expense, and
noted that Look 'N Hear had paid $2,500 for their part of the sign.
Mr. Balling stated that while there presently are signs that are in
violation, which are duly standing pursuant to an interpretation of the
Sign Ordinance which subsequently has been re-interpreted, there are
provisions to abate those non-conforming uses. If a variation procedure
is adopted, there is a danger the Village would be in a weak position to
deny a variation because of financial hardship. He suggested that an
alternative could be to permit a certain amount of square footage for
sign area and let marketing determine if the business needs one large
sign or two small ones. Discussion followed.
In response to questions , Mr. Raysa stated that according to the present
Sign Ordinance, one sign per business is all that is permitted. He said
the Z.B.A. and the Village Board cannot vary that ordinance, and to do
anything else, the ordinance would have to be changed.
In order to give direction to the Z.B.A. in their consideration of a new
Sign Ordinance, President Fabish polled the Board to determine consensus.
Trustees Rech, Marienthal , and Stone preferred the current ordinance which
provides for one sign per business and one major pylon identification sign
for the shopping center, with no major tenants listed. Trustees Bogart,
Keister, Mendenhall , and President Fabish preferred a minimum of one pylon
sign per shopping center, additional pylons to be permitted by lineal feet
or other basis which would have to be specific in the ordinance, one sign
per business establishment on the building, and the pylon could list major
tenants based on the percentage of the square foot utilization in the
shopping center.
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Mr. Treshansky stated that it is very expensive to remove a sign and put
another up. He said that since his present sign is not adequate, he
would be willing to remove the sign if at some future time, that was the
desire of the Board once the new sign ordinance is passed. He asked if,
in the meanwhile, he could cover the present sign and put up a facia sign.
Mr. Raysa stated this would be permissible. The Board agreed to this.
Bison-Industrial Drive/Heather Drive
Moved by Marienthal , seconded by Bogart to accept the alignment proposal
for completion of subject intersection on Lake-Cook Road in accordance
with the Plan Commission recommendation. Upon roll call , the vote was:
AYES: 6 - Rech , Bogart, Marienthal , Keister, Stone, Mendenhall
NAYES: 0 - None
Motion declared carried.
10. Adjournment
Moved by Bogart, seconded by Marienthal to adjourn the meeting. Upon voice
vote, the motion passed unanimously.
Time: 9:45 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Verna L. Clay , Village Cle c
PASSED AND APPROVED this /G day of , 1978.
Village
Presidentsi
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