Peoria Standard

City of Belleville City Council met May 4.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

Mayor Eckert called this meeting to order.

Mayor Eckert called roll. Members present on roll call: Aldermann Kinsella, Alderman Hazel, Alderwoman Duco, Alderman Puss, Alderman Randle, Alderman Ferguson, Alderman Anthony, Alderman Ovian, Alderman Dintelman, Alderwoman Schaefer; Alderwoman Stiehl; Alderman Rothweiler; Alderman Elmore, Alderman Weygandt, Alderman Wigginton, Alderman Barfield.

ROLL CALL DEPARTMENT HEADS

Roll Call Department Heads: City Clerk, Jennifer Gain Meyer; City Treasurer, Dean Hardt; City Attorney Hoemer; Director of Finance, Jamie Maitre[;,Director of IT, Scott Markovich.

Department Heads Excused: Police Chief, Bill Clay; Fire Chief, Tom Pont; Director of Maintenance, Ken Vaughn; Director of Public Works, Jason Poole; Director of Wastewater, Royce Carlisle; Director of Residential and Commercial Development Services, Annissa McCaskill; Director of Library, Leander Spearman; City Engineer, Michael Velloff.

PLEDGE

Mayor Eckert led the Pledge of Allegiance.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

None.

PUBLIC HEARING

None.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 

Michael Hasbere There have been social media posts about Homefield Energy sending letters to residents that they may opt out or their electrical supplier will be switched to Homefield. These opt out letters are signed " Sincerely, City of Belleville". He does not recall the Council having allowed recent round of opt out letters to be sent by Homefield Energy on behalf of the City. When the City initially signed the contract with Homefield Energy a provision that was demanded from the public and agreed upon by City Council was Homefield' s rates must be equal to or lower than Ameren's rates. Last year when Ameren' s rates dropped below Homefield he discovered this contract provision was removed. He would like to see this provision returned to any and all future contract renewals with Homefield Energy.

Mayor Eckert asked he ifraised this question last year when you discovered it; Michael Hagberg said he was not sure; Mayor Eckert requested a copy ofthe letter; Michael Hagberg stated he will email a copy.

He sees there is an executive session on tonight's agenda. He is not sure how an executive session occurs during a phone conference. Many of you are aware of the fact that he is all for transparency in government. He has no issue if Council had decided to have an executive session tele meeting at 6:00 p.m. without publishing the conference to the public. This is a suggestion on how we may more effectively conduct tele meetings during the stay at home directive.

He also requests when the aldermen speak, they state their name before speaking.

Brant Maine. President of Firefighters Local 53 On April 30, 2020 members ofthe Executive Board of Local 53 and its legal counsel met via phone conference with the City Attorney and the Finance Director. The topic ofthe conversation was stated as " concerning the financial status of the City of Belleville due to the COVID-19 pandemic". The City Attorney advised the Board of Local 53 that the city was experiencing financial hardship due to the shutdown of business as well as a sharp drop in projected revenue caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Because of this situation the City Attorney stated that the City was looking at department wide staff cuts. Either furloughing employees or laying off employees. When asked Local 53 preferred to furlough or layoff employees or ifthe Local had any other suggestions. Local 53 at that point requested the City to identify what cost savings it was hoping to gain through furloughs and layoffs.

Local 53 then requested what other suggestions they were contemplating. Again, the City could not provide a substantive response. Local 53 attempted to determine the cost savings that might be required city wide, then requested information on the City' s projected budget shortfalls. They were advised that the anticipated sales tax for % March, April and May is typically $ 1 million to 1. 5 million and there would be an increase in that particular revenue stream. The City was unable to provide any projections as to what these increases would be. The union advised given that many establishments and big box stores remained open there would not be a total loss of sales tax revenue.

Ultimately the City was unable to provide any projected loss of income or its cost savings. Local 53 advised the City Attorney that they would not objection to finding ways to assist the City in finding cost savings in this time of economical turmoil; however, they further advised it's impossible to negotiate in a vacuum without any parameters of the cost savings that the City is seeking to achieve. If there are any concessions they would need to be achieved through the bargaining process with a telephone conference that lasted less than thirty minutes with no notice of the intent of the call and no information as to the goals to be achieved was not an appropriate nor truthful to=.

The rush action by the City either by furlough or layoff likely will not generate the cost savings the City anticipates given the self-insured nature ofunemployment insurance the City carries and extended eligibility period for unemployment benefits.

Local 53 has bargained substantial cost savings with the City in the recent past. Neither furloughs nor layoffs of employees were required at that time. The Local will meet with the City to discuss what the City trying to achieve in cost savings and seeks ways that does not reduce manpower of the Belleville Fire Department; however, they must have the necessary information ifthere is any hope of engaging in a truthful discussion. Local 53 looks forward to meeting with the City in the near future.

Matthew McCauley He lives on the 300 block of Lebanon Avenue. He raises concern regarding an incident that occurred last week. There were individuals using foul and inappropriate language. ( inaudible)

Mayor Eckert asked Mr. McCauley to call his office on Tuesday to discuss further.

PRESENTATIONS, RECOGNITIONS& APPOINTMENTS

Mayor Eckert recognized the character word of the month" self-discipline" meaning; think about your words and actions and then making choices that are right.

Congress designated May as National Military Appreciation Month in 1999 to ensure the nation was given the opportunity to publicly demonstrate their appreciation for the sacrifices and successes made by our service members— past and present.

Mayor Eckert recommended his Department Head and Staff Appointments for fiscal year 2020- 2021.

Alderwoman Schaefer made a motion seconded by Alderman Dintelman to approve Mayor Eckert recommendations of his Department Head and Staff Appointments for fiscal year 2020-2021.

Members voting aye on roll call: Kinsella, Hazel, Duco, Pusa, Randle, Ferguson, Anthony, Ovian, Dintelman, Schaefer, Stiehl, Rothweiley Elmore, Weygandt, Wigginton, Barfield. (16)

Mayor Eckert recommended City Council Committee Appointments for fiscal year 2020-2021.

Alderman Wigginton made a motion seconded by Alderwoman Stiehl to approve Mayor Eckert' s recommendations ofCity Council Committee Appointments for fiscal year 2020-2021.

Members voting aye on roll call: Haul, Duco, Pusa, Randle, Ferguson, Anthony, Ovian, Dintelman, Schaefer, Stiehl, Rothweiler, Elmore, Weygandt, Wigginton, Barfield, Kinsella. (16)

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Alderman Rothweiler made a motion seconded by Alderwoman Schaefer to approve City Council Meeting Minutes April 20, 2020.

All members voted aye.

CLAIMS, PAYROLL AND DISBURSEMENTS

Alderman Dintelman made a motion seconded by Alderman Anthony to approve payroll in the amount of$868,030.04.

Members voting aye on roll call: Duco, Puss, Randle, Ferguson, Anthony, Ovian, Dintelman, Schaefer, Stiehl, Rothweiler, Ehnore, Weygandt, Wigginton, Barfield, Kinsella, Haul. ( 16)

REPORTS

Alderwoman Schaefer made a motion seconded by Alderwoman Duco to approve the Treasurer Report February and March 2020 and Statement ofCash and Investments Report - February and March 2020.

All members voted aye.

Alderwoman Schaefer made a motion seconded by Alderman Ferguson to approve the City Attorney' s Report dated May 1, 2020.

All members voted aye.

ORAL REPORTS

None.

COMMUNICATIONS

None.

PETITIONS

None.

RESOLUTIONS

None.

ORDINANCES

Alderman Puss made a motion seconded by Alderwoman Schaefer to read by title only Ordinance 8439- 2020.

All members voted aye.

Alderman Wigginton made a motion seconded by Alderman Barfield to approve ORDINANCE 8439-2020 A ZONING ORDINANCE In Re: 08- FEB-20 Georgia Huelsman.

Members voting aye on roll call: Pass, Randle, Ferguson, Anthony, Ovian, Dintelman, Schaefer, Stiehl, Rothweiler, Elmore, Weygandt, Wigginton, Barfield, Kinsella, Hazel, Duco. (16)

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

None.

MISCELLANEOUS & NEW BUSINESS 

None.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Alderman Ferguson made a motion seconded by Alderwoman Schaefer to go into executive session to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees ( 5 ILCS 1202(c)( 1)), collective bargaining negotiation matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives( 5 ILCS 120(c)(2)).

Entered executive session at 7:28 p.m. Resumed from Executive Session at 8:42 p.m.

City Clerk Meyer called roll. Members present on roll call: Alderman Kinsella, Alderman Haul, Alderwoman Duco, Alderman Puss, Alderman Randle, Alderman Ferguson, Alderman Anthony, Alderman Ovian, Alderman Dintehnan, Alderwoman Schaefer; Alderwoman Stiehl; Alderman Rothweiler, Alderman Elmore, Alderman Weygandt, Alderman Wigginton, Alderman Barfield.

Mayor Eckert advised there will be a special meeting later this week. Everyone will be notified via email.

Mayor Eckert advised he was asked today to serve on a small group committee phone conference in reference to Alderman Wigginton' s topic from the Governor' s office.

ADJOURNMENT

Alderman Rothweiler made a motion seconded by Alderman Elmore to adjourn at 8: 48 p.m.

https://www.belleville.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_05042020-2215