March regular board meeting

Click here to view the video of the Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees held on Thursday March 14, 2024 at 5:30pm

Agenda

03.14.24_board_meeting_agenda_.pdf
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Shields Township
906 W. Muir Avenue, Lake Bluff, IL 60044
Notice of Rescheduled Meeting of Shields Township Board of Trustees

Notice is hereby given that a Regular Meeting of the Shields Township Board of Trustees scheduled for Thursday, March 21, 2024, has been rescheduled. The Township Board will convene on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at 5:30 p.m., at the Shields Township Offices, 906 W. Muir Avenue, Lake Bluff, IL 60044, for the purpose of considering the following agenda:
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AGENDA

1. Call to Order & Roll Call
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Public Comment – Three (3) minutes per speaker
4. Approval of Bills
5. Reports

1. Supervisor
2. Trustees
3. Assessor's Office
4. Community Service Committee
5. Road & Bridge Committee

1. Old Business
2. New Business

1. Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes of February 15, 2024
2. Approval of Annual Town Meeting
3. Consideration of Paid Leave for All Workers Act Implementation
4. Discussion of Arden Shores North and South Fire Protection Districts

1. Executive Session
2. Adjournment

 
Serving our communities since 1850

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MINUTES

03.14.24_regular_meeting_minutes_.pdf
File Size:	118 kb
File Type:	pdf

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Shields Township
906 W. Muir Avenue, Lake Bluff, IL 60044
 
Regular Meeting of the Shields Township Board of Trustees
Thursday March 14th, 2024 at 5:30 p.m.
STATE OF ILLINOIS  )
LAKE COUNTY          )           ss.
TOWN OF SHIELDS  )
 
THE TOWN BOARD OF SHIELDS TOWNSHIP held its Regular Monthly Meeting on Thursday March 14th, 2024, at 5:30 pm.
 
PRESENT:
Vanessa Grum                       Clerk
Jeff Urso                                 Supervisor
Michael Machnicki               Town Trustee
David Weil                              Town Trustee (Joined meeting at 5:53 PM)
Brady Andersen                     Town Trustee
 
ABSENT:
Matt Garrity                             Town Trustee
Lisette Rothing                        Deputy Clerk
 
 

1. Call to Order & Roll Call: Supervisor Urso called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm.
2. Pledge of Allegiance: Supervisor Urso led the meeting with the pledge of Allegiance at 5:31 pm.
3. Public Comment – Three (3) minutes per speaker: None.
4. Approval of Bills:
   1. Town Fund: Supervisor Urso moved to approve the town fund for $53,181.64. Trustee Machnicki motioned to approve, and Trustee Andersen seconded the motion. Clerk Grum took roll call. All trustees were in favor and motion passed.
   2. GA Fund: None.
   3. Road & Bridge Fund: Supervisor Urso moved to approve the Road and Bridge fund for $6,017.81. Trustee Machnicki motioned to approve, and Trustee Andersen seconded the motion. Clerk Grum took roll call. All trustees were in favor and motion passed.
5. Reports:
   1. Supervisor: Supervisor Urso addressed the allegation of Ben Miller who asserted that a crime was committed by illegally dumping in Lake Bluff Open Lands. Supervisor Urso stated that he drove out there to check and determined the chip clippings were not blocking any entrances. Supervisor Urso stated that Mr. Miller has cost the taxpayers a lot of money via FOIA requests. Supervisor Urso stated that he has begun a review process to check on our partnership moving forward with Lake Bluff Open Lands including the property referred to as Lake Geneveive and will follow up over the next few months. Supervisor Urso invited up Mr. Dan Rogers and asked him if it is common practice to put chip clippings by Lake Geneveive. He asked Mr. Rogers if, to his knowledge, has Rob or anyone but yourself put anything on this property. Mr. Rogers responded by explaining that Roger’s Nursery has never dumped anything at Lake Geneveive and that he is very upset to be accused of a crime. The chip clippings were dumped up there to be used for patchwork. Mr. Miller asked if he may respond, and Supervisor Urso reminded him that the public comment section of the meeting has now closed.
   2. Trustees: No report.
   3. Assessor's Office: No report.
   4. Community Service Committee: No report.
   5. Road & Bridge Committee: Mr. Dan Rogers gave a report stating that he recently dealt with a water main break that was taken care of. He is working with an engineering firm to mitigate flooding long term and will put together a plan and report to share with the board. The paving proposal is currently being developed for Forestview.
6. Old Business: None.
7. New Business: Supervisor Urso motions to move agenda item D from New Business up to be discussed first. Trustee Machnicki seconds the motion and all approve.
   1. Discussion of Arden Shores North and South Fire Protection Districts: This was moved up to item “a” from item “d”. Supervisor Urso explains that our board is in charge of appointing board of trustees for these districts and that this has been missed over the last 30 years. He thanks the people who have done this work during that time. Supervisor Urso states that the Shields Township Board of Trustees will begin a process to appoint someone to these roles and will take experience into consideration. This opportunity will be put on website and information will be sent in the mail. Supervisor Urso states that the goal of the Shields Township Board is for next month’s meeting to appoint someone to this role. One person will be appointed at 3, 2, and one year so every year moving forward we will appoint another person so there is overlap and consistency to allow for a learning curve. Jeff suggests consolidating the North and South Fire Protection Districts. More discussion ensued regarding the consolidation process:
      1. This idea would be put on a referendum in November to consolidate districts
      2. Attorney Kimzey (via phone)– states there could be negotiations prior to the decision happening.
      3. Supervisor Urso invites gentlemen present (Walt Sloan and Bill Nordeen) to speak on this issue:
         1. It is Supervisor Urso’s opinion that PETEL should not apply to paper districts. Walt Sloan, attorney explains there would be another referendum needed to increase taxes. He explains that it could be put on the November ballet to raise your tax above 5% than what it currently is at – it would be a percentage and there is a limit.
         2. Carl Kitzerow shared another option; if the district was dissolved and merged, would they automatically have to go with that tax rate? The answer from the attorney is yes. The township will do what they can to get the questions answered that they have.
         3. Carl and Jeff can plan a meeting with Sloan and Nordeen to assist with the process.
         4. Bill Nordeen asked if the attorney would help with the process. Supervisor Urso clarifies that they could not have him do the work, but if they did the paperwork, he could help approve and guide them.
         5. Supervisor Urso reiterates that the first step will be to appoint who is on the board during next month’s Shields Township Board of Trustees Meeting. He states that current board members need to apply and express interest.
   2. Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes of February 15, 2024:  Supervisor Urso moved to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of February 15th, 2024. Trustee Machnicki motioned to approve, and Trustee Andersen seconded the motion. Clerk Grum took roll call. All trustees were in favor and motion passed.
   3. Approval of Annual Town Meeting: Supervisor Urso explains that the second Tuesday of April (the 9th) at 6:30, we will hold a Town Meeting. The attorney is happy to answer questions about the agenda.  Vanessa Grum, The Shields township Clerk, will have to be present. Trustee Machnicki motions to approve The Annual Town Meeting, Trustee Andersen seconded the motion and Clerk Grum took roll call. All approved.
   4. Consideration of Paid Leave for All Workers Act Implementation: January 1st, 2024, the state of Illinois passed a law across all businesses that for all 40 hours worked, you get 1 hour paid time off up to 40 hours. If they already offer paid time off, we can absorb. We have two options in the packet:
      1. Option 1: Amended vacation policy reducing by one week – nothing changes for the staff, but they just label one of the weeks that already had as vacation time.
      2. Option 2: For those that did not have time off which includes temporary staff members, we now have to give it to them.
      3. Supervisor Urso moves to approve both. Trustee Andersen motions to approve and Trustee Machnicki seconds the motion. Clerk Grum took roll call. All trustees were in favor and motion passed.
8. Executive Session: None.
9. Adjournment: Supervisor Urso moves to adjorn the meeting. Trustee Weil motions to adjourn the meeting and Trustee Machnicki seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 5:57 pm.