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                                                  MINUTES OF THE FINANCE & RULES

                                               COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING

                                                    HELD ON MONDAY, MAY 7, 2007

MAYOR SHERWIN CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 6:30 P.M.

Clerk Floistad called for the roll.

ROLL CALL:

PRESENT:                                

                                      ALDERMAN STRAUBE

                                      ALDERMAN FELDMANN

                                      ALDERMAN DELGADO

                                      ALDERMAN PADILLA

                                      ALDERMAN NESSLING

                                                  ALDERMAN RIESTERER

                                                  ALDERMAN GROCHOWSKI

                                                  ALDERMAN PATTI      

OTHERS PRESENT:                  MAYOR JEFFREY SHERWIN

                                                  FRED PAUL, TREASURER

                                                  JOANNE FLOISTAD, CITYCLERK

                                                  DENNIS KOLETSOS, CHIEF OF POLICE

                                                  WILLIAM KABLER, FINANCE DIRECTOR

                                                  DALE ROBERTS, SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

The committee reviewed the minutes of the April 16, 2007 meeting.  Alderman Patti made a motion to approve the minutes of the April 16, 2007 meeting; seconded by Alderman Delgado.  Mayor Sherwin asked if there were any corrections or deletions. Alderman Patti had one correction.  Mayor Sherwin called for a voice vote.  All were in favor.  The minutes were approved. 

Mayor Sherwin presented the Invoices Over One Thousand Dollars.  Alderman Grochowski made a motion to approve the Invoices Over One Thousand Dollars, seconded by Alderman Patti. Alderman Feldmann said she understands that damage was done to the Police Station computer due to an electrical problem.  She asked Chief Koletsos if this was a power surge, do we have insurance and do we have surge protectors.  Chief Koletsos said the cause of the problem was never determined.  We do have UPS systems on the computers because we do not have a building wide uninterrupted power supply.  Chief Koletsos said he would contact the company and see if anything is covered under insurance.  Alderman Padilla asked what the photographic digital cameras were used for.  Chief Koletsos said they are evidence cameras for the patrol division.    The Mayor called for a voice vote.  All were in favor.  The Invoices Over One Thousand Dollars were approved.

Mayor Sherwin presented the Warrants and Vouchers.  Alderman Patti made a motion to pay the Warrants and Vouchers; seconded by Alderman Feldmann.  Alderman Grochowski asked about the three travel expenses.  Bill Kabler said this was for our new software company.  Alderman Feldmann asked about the Eastern Illinois University membership fees.  Bill Kabler said this is dues for the finance department.  Alderman Feldmann also asked about legal fees for Slutzky and Blumenthal.  Mayor Sherwin said this was for the house on 265 Dewey that was sold for taxes because it has been abandoned for several years.   This real estate tax firm was contacted to find out the status on this house.  The family redeemed this property a few days before the sale.  Now the property is for sale.  Alderman Feldmann asked about Speedway Super America.   Bill Kabler said that this is the Marathon gas station that Public Works uses.      Mayor called for a voice vote.  All were in favor.  The motion carried.

Mayor Sherwin presented the Commission Expenditures.  Alderman Patti made a motion to approve the Commission Expenditures; seconded by Alderman Delgado.   Mayor Sherwin called for a voice vote.  All were in favor.  The motion carried.

Under New Business; Mayor Sherwin discussed direct deposit for all city employees.  We have a handful of employees who have not switched over to direct deposit.  We would like to make the system uniform and have everyone doing direct deposit for their paycheck.  Alderman Patti asked if this can be done legally.  Mayor Sherwin said he will have our attorney look in to this matter.

Mayor Sherwin said we approved the billboard leases at the last council meeting.  Mayor Sherwin wanted to look into the Viacom leases.  They are $30,000.00 a year opposed to $15,000.00.  Clear Channel has agreed to go with the $30,000.00 on all the leases, plus they want to make the billboard at 294 and North Avenue a digital billboard.  The billboard will be a static billboard, but the message will change.  The base rental will be frozen at $40,000.00 and we get 5% of the time.  This will give us 100,000 ten second messages that will be available to the city.  It will also be pre-empted for Amber Alerts and other emergencies.  The City of Northlake could advertise Northlake Days or any other promotional items for the city.  Alderman Patti asked what a non-disturbance agreement was.  Mayor Sherwin said if there is an encumbrance on the property such as a mortgage or lease, it will not interfere with the billboard lease.  He will ask our attorney for clarification on this. 

Alderman Patti made a motion to approve the billboard leases; seconded by Alderman Delgado.

Mayor Sherwin called for a voice vote.  All were in favor.  The motion carried.

Next, Mayor Sherwin talked about Ordinance O-15-2007; An ordinance providing for resident only parking and amending title 6 of the City of Northlake, Cook County, Illinois.  This is for the area behind Alejandra’s restaurant.  Each resident in the area will get two passes and if they are having a party they can call into the Police Department to get additional parking permission.    Alderman Riesterer made a motion to approve Ordinance O-15-2007; seconded by Alderman Feldmann.  Mayor Sherwin called for a voice vote.  All were in favor.  The motion carried.

Mayor Sherwin discussed Ordinance O-16-2007; An ordinance authorizing  the sale by public auction of personal property owned by the City of Northlake, Cook County, Illinois.  Two squad cars will be auctioned that could not be put into our raffle.  Alderman Grochowski made a motion to approve Ordinance O-16-2007; seconded by Alderman Patti.  Mayor Sherwin called for a voice vote. All were in favor.  The motion carried.

Next, Mayor Sherwin brought up Resolution R-12-2007; A resolution of continued support and participation in the West Cook County Solid Waste Agency’s Regional Disposal Project.  This was approved at the last council meeting.  We had a meeting with our transfer station people and they plan to be operating by the end of 2008.  Our current commitment to West Cook County Solid Waste agency runs through the end of 2008.  This participation is conditioned on our waste coming to our transfer station.  If it does not come here, we would have the option to pull out of the regional disposal project and cut our own deal with the transfer station.  Alderman Patti made a motion to approve Resolution R-12-2007; seconded by Alderman Delgado.  Mayor Sherwin called for a voice vote.  All were in favor.  The motion carried.

Mayor Sherwin discussed Resolution R-13-2007; A resolution to participate in The Clean Air Counts Program.  Alderman Grochowski said this will allow us to participate in the program and give us the opportunity to apply for several grants for lawnmower replacement, gas can replacement and also participate in some business incentives.  Mayor Sherwin said that a lot of the towns have signed up for this program.  Alderman Riesterer made a motion to approve Resolution R-13-2007; seconded by Alderman Nessling.  Mayor Sherwin called for a voice vote. All were in favor.  The motion carried.

Next, Mayor Sherwin brought up Resolution R-14-2007; A resolution authorizing the renewal of the line of credit between the City of Northlake and Midwest Bank and Trust Company.  Alderman Feldmann asked if we have paid off our current line of credit and Bill Kabler said that we have.    Alderman Patti made a motion to approve Resolution R-14-2007; seconded by Alderman Grochowski.  Mayor Sherwin called for a voice vote.  All were in favor.  The motion carried.

Mayor Sherwin talked about Resolution R-15-2007; A resolution expressing intent to continue participation in the suburban tree consortium and to authorize certain purchases for FY 2007.  Alderman Patti made a motion to approve Resolution-15-2007; seconded Alderman Nessling.  Dale Roberts explained that various cities purchase trees and we extend our tree planting for five years.  These nurseries know what to plant for us for five years.  We planted 140 trees this year.  Mayor Sherwin said that we have done almost 1500 trees since 1997.  Mayor Sherwin called for a voice vote.  All were in favor.  The motion carried.

Bill Kabler talked about the new software at city hall.  We went on line as of May 1st and so far everything is working out well.  We have a few problems with the water billing.  It has to do with the meter readings.  Mayor Sherwin mentioned that we now have a check reader with the bank, so we are able to deposit checks thru this system.  We also are having people sign up for automatic deduction for their water billing.  We have 15 so far. 

Mayor Sherwin said we have sold 20 condos so far.

Alderman Patti said that we are behind in our donations for Northlake Days.  Bill Kabler said that we are working on getting more donations at this time.       

There being no further business, Alderman Straube made a motion to adjourn; seconded by Alderman Patti. Mayor Sherwin called for a voice vote. All were in favor.  The motion carried.

MEETING ADJOURNED AT APPROXIMATELY 6:57 PM.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,

JOANNE FLOISTAD, CITY CLERK