Peoria Standard

Village of Swansea Board of Trustees Committee met Nov. 16.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

The meeting is being held on-line due to COVID-19 public health emergency. The public can observe and comment when appropriate by connecting on-line at https://uso2web.zoom.us/i/83448755722? or using the Zoom App on mobile device by entering Meeting ID: 834 4875 5722 and password: 308755.

Attendees: Board President Leopold, Trustees Lanter, McDonald, McGuire, Neumeyer, Parker & Wells, Treasurer John Walter, Police Department (PD) Chief Steven Johnson, Fire Department (FD) Chief Chris Tell, Building and Zoning (B&Z) Director Dallas Alley, Administrator Benjamin Schloesser, Director of Public Works, Rick Tucker, Deputy Clerk Diane Wickline. 

Absent: Clerk Lauren O'Neill

Motions: Trustees are presented with the individual that made the motion, followed by the person seconding the motion. 

Votes: Unless noted otherwise, votes are obtained by voice vote (roll call vote involves each voter stating their name and vote) and all votes are aye. Content of meeting is presented within the marks.

PERSONNEL COMMITTEE - Held from 6:00 to 6:23 p.m. 

Co-Chairpersons Trustees McDonald & Neumeyer 

Members: Trustees Lanter, McGuire, Parker, Wells 

1. Accept Officer Cheryl Venorsky's retirement letter* Motion to send item to the Board. Neumeyer, Wells. All ayes. 

2. Hire new police officer, Rusty Sellers. Motion to employ Rusty Sellers in the full-time, regular position of Probationary Patrolman for Swansea Police Dept, start date Nov 17, 2020. Starting wage, 75% of $34.86 per hour, equal to $26.15 per hour, as designated by current Collective Bargaining Agreement; thereafter following the established CBA wage rate increases. 

3. Swearing in of new Police Officer Rusty Sellers. Chief Johnson introductory remarks. Swansea PD guiding principles – integrity, teamwork, service, leadership. Of the 53 applicants, Sellers was the only one who knew these principals, and discussed each one at his oral interview. His military career path is well suited to police work. He has Univ of Maryland Bachelor's degree in cyber security, is Naval Military Police Academy graduate, has specialized training in standardized field sobriety testing, emergency vehicle operations. Served on the USS Ronald Regan, a Nimitz class nuclear powered aircraft carrier, as Master at Arms; anti-terrorism watcher logging 4600 hours of force protection. When Sellers interviewed for police officer, he scored first place in his oral, written, and psychological exams. Of 53 applicants, Rusty Sellers was first. Statistics show that nation-wide only one in 500 applicants will come in first place. After 7:00 pm tonight, when the Board makes it official, Randy Sellers will be Swansea's newest Police Officer. Motion to forward to the Board. Neumeyer, Wells. 

4. Certificate awarded to Commissioner Whitaker - Chief Johnson presented Certificate of Excellence to newly retired Swansea Police Commissioner, William Whitaker. The Police Commissioner, a voluntary position, dedicated many hours, gave guidance and direction to the Police Force, made sure only the best were promoted. Commissioner Whitaker set the gold standard for Swansea Police. Mayor Leopold expressed his thanks and appreciation for the hundreds of hours and dedication the Commissioner so willingly devoted to the Police Force. 

5. Ordinance Replacing Employee Handbook - Schloesser and Essenpriese reviewed current handbook, page by page.

Wells dedicated many hours and was extremely helpful. Revised handbook is available for review, comments and suggestions. No vote will be called this meeting. Motion by Neumeyer, McGuire to forward to the Board. All ayes. 6. 

Discussion: Promotion of Public Works Employee to Foreman and Correlating Pay Increase. Discussion included shortage of staff, pay increase for foreman, training and certification. All Public Works employees may interview for the position. Tucker will be involved in selecting hire. Schloesser and Tucker develop job description. Motion by Wells, McGuire to forward to the Board. All ayes. Motion to adjourn Neumeyer, McDonald at 6:23.

FINANCE COMMITTEE - Held from 6:23 to 6:39 p.m.

1. Chairperson Trustee Lanter

Members: Trustees McDonald, McGuire, Parker, Wells 

1. General Fund Analysis* Lanter stated revenues are satisfactory. From previous meeting.

Expenses: Everyone is doing a good job keeping expenses down - imperative, due to unknown circumstances and anticipated shut down. Expenses versus revenues are still in the black at a satisfactory level and better than most municipalities. 

Sewer plant: revenue $1,900,000; expenses $2,470,000; deficit $181,000 - approximately 10%. Reevaluate sewer usage rates to help lower deficit. Mayor tried to contact Rolly Thouvenot. Rollly is working with all participants to increase rates. As soon as Rolly replies, Mayor will bring to Board. McDonald questioned if Police capital and labor expenses are tied together and would purchasing a vehicle come from expenses. Lanter clarified labor costs are included in expenses. Capital items are not included in the General Fund. McDonald said PD is almost $102,000 below budget. What items are expenses. Lanter explained that everything necessary to operate a facility on a daily basis, including gas in vehicles, paper clips, is an expense. Schloessser explained that we transfer money from the General Fund to the Capital Fund for capital expenditures. As an example, for a police car. Money continues to be transferred. This year over $300,000 to the Capital Fund. No purchases have been made. The General Fund looks as if those additional purchases have been made to date this year. 

Discussion: Tax Levy* Lanter emailed finished proposed version. Corporate Fund Tax increased slightly to cover shortfall in retirees' health benefits. Estimate $12,000 to cover needed amount. Proposal can be finalized during the next two meetings. Submit to St Clair County for approval by the end of December. 

IMRF: In 2019 voted to begin contributing to IMRF. Chose amount of about two-thirds, approximately $100,000. Expense is estimated $143,000-$145,000. Correct amount has not been provided. This proposal suggests raising the IMRF tax to cover all proposed obligated pension funding. Will free money in the General Fund because we're supplanting that tax here. Money we pay into pension fund - our obligatory payroll expense. PD and FD payments are being raised to suggested levels to cover our obligations. Municipal Auditing Tax, Insurance and Tort Judgment Tax, and Public Parks Tax changing minimally from last year to this year - 6.57% increase in overall levy. To Swansea residents for a median home, yearly tax increase about $26. Homes with market rate of $56,000, as an example, yearly tax increase about $9. Homes valued at $500,000, yearly tax increase about $75. Response from trustees agreeable, however, over 5% requires special meeting. Lanter asked when pension funding started. Unknown exactly; 2018 or 2019. Mayor wants everyone to review tax levy funding and anticipate additional meetings to prepare for the over 5% special meeting. Mayor wants input from all so decisions can be made by second preparatory meeting; thereby eliminating the over 5% meeting. Lanter recommends, if all are opposed to the over 5% meeting, to eliminate funding the tax. This would put us under 5%. 

Wells: would require moving money from the General Fund to cover the extra. Mayor strongly disapproves of going over the 5%. 

Lanter: look over the options, call me with any questions. Will require proposed, draft ordinance. Will be on the agenda at the next meeting. The following meeting will be on the agenda and the ordinance will be approved. Motion to adjourn by Lanter, McGuire. All in favor: all ayes.

JUDICIARY COMMITTEE 

Chairperson: Trustee Wells

Members: Trustees: Lanter, McDonald, McGuire, Neumeyer, Parker

Nothing on the Agenda

COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Held from 6:38 - 6:48 

Chairperson: Trustee McDonald

Members: Trustees: Lanter, McGuire, Neumeyer, Parker 

1. Res No. 1-2377 A Resolution Approving a TIF District #1 Redevelopment Agreement Between Mueller Gass Enterprises, LLC and The Village of Swansea, Illinois for Site Improvement at 14 North Belt East* Mayor recuses Trustee McDonald due to conflict of interest for site improvement at 14 North Belt East. Wells questioned cost of contract. Alley responded he did not change actual dollar amount in the agreement, pending decisions made in committee and board meetings. Bid from additional contractor was lower. It was noted there was confusion regarding type of asphalt to be used. Issue clarified - asphalt is the same. Additional cost for time and materials unknown. Addition bids for plumbing and sign are higher than already submitted bids. Bid from Arrow is lower but includes additional time and materials clause. Total cost is unknown. Sonnenberg includes same time and materials clause. Arrow is $6000 less. Recommendation by Alley to select lowest responsive bidder for each item be selected and leave amounts the same. Aaron Gass stated that Arrow did included 3 inches of compacted asphalt. Clarified that Arrow lay 3 inches compacted for the same price. Motion by McGuire with Alley's recommendation, Neumeyer to forward item to the board. all ayes. Ayes have it. 

2. Res No. 1-2378 Resolution Approving the Final Plat for Villas at Ravenel - Phase 2 in Accordance with the Subdivision Regulations of the Village Of Swansea. Alley noted Phase 1 Plat approved. Sewer, storm sewer have replaced. Village not responsible for lighting or roads. Alley made several inspections as roads were being laid. Contractor did great job. Ten of the 56 lots sold. Waiting for Plat approval. Starting first construction in 2 weeks. Motion by Wells, Neumeyer to forward to the Board. all ayes. 

3. Discussion: Request for Temporary in an RV (Hardship request) individual contacted Dallas, requested daughter temporarily live in RV. Misunderstanding and DCFS ordered the daughter could no longer live in the house. Mother requesting that daughter be allowed to live in RV until resolution with DCFS. My recommendation is not to allow this type of arrangement because it is difficult to get them out. I told the mother that I would forward request to Village Board for decision. After research, it was found Village ordinance has no provision for temporary RV occupancy. Motion to adjourn McDonald, Neumeyer. All ayes.

.PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE – held from 6:48 - 7:01 pm 

Chairperson: Trustee Parker

Members: Trustees Lanter, McDonald, McGuire, Neumeyer, Wells 

1. Resolution Affirming "Ten Shared Principals". Motion to accept by McDonald, Wells. All eyes. Forward item to Board. 

2. Ordinance Declaring Surplus Property* Chief Johnson stated that 2 Crown Vics have had many years of great service. Now they have passed their usefulness. Motion by Neumeyer, Wells to forward to the Board for approval. All ayes. 

Discussion: Air Scrubber for Police Department* Chief Johnson, since the pandemic, wanted to make the Police Department or any buildings in the Village safe. Many Police Departments are putting in scrubers. Many Police departments are using them. They clean the air of covid virus, flu, and any other virus. Cleans air of 90% of air-born contaminants. All Village buildings should have scrubbers. My priority is for the Police Department. We are 24-hour operation and can't shut down. We have 3 officers fighting covid. Safety of our police officers is first priority. People entering our building must be protected also. Mayor and Schloesser will do more research on effectiveness, cost of maintenance, cost of installation in all municipal buildings. Schloesser thanked the Chief for bringing scrubbers to attention of the Board and his concern for safety of our first responders and Village employees. Motion to adjourn by Parker, Neumeyer. All ayes.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1s97_w_6y6ULSXBdNThLh_kYwVspANq4cbD1Pduywm0Q/edit