11/02/2009November 2, 2009
The regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Deerfield was called to
order by Mayor Harriet Rosenthal in the Council Chambers of the Village Hall on Monday,
November 2, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. The Clerk called the roll and announced that the following were:
Present: Harriet Rosenthal, Mayor
Robert Benton
Alan Farkas
Thomas Jester
Mary Oppenheim
William Seiden
Barbara Struthers
and that a quorum was present and in attendance. Also present were Village Attorney Peter
Coblentz and Kent Street, Village Manager.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Members of Brownie Troop 829 from South Park
School led those in attendance in reciting the Pledge
of Allegiance.
Troop leader Ginny Lapporte stated the troop, which started last year, wanted to give to other
people. They asked the Police Department for assistance and were given two ideas. They
collected 44 stuffed bears for police officers to give out when children are afraid. They also
sewed a quilt for a Safe Haven project. Chief Sliozis and Deputy Chief Wilk accepted the
stuffed bears and quilt on behalf of the Department and thanked Troop 829 members. Chief
Sliozis stated the quilt and bears would be very useful to the Police Department and community.
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING Trustee Benton made a motion to approve the
minutes from the October 19, 2009 Board of
Trustees meeting. Trustee Farkas seconded the motion. It was noted the Treasurer's Report
discussion should reflect that the water and sewer revenue was up during the summer months.
The motion passed unanimously as amended.
BILLS AND PAYROLL Trustee Seiden made a motion to approve the Bills
and Payroll. Trustee Struthers seconded the motion.
The motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Benton, Farkas, Jester, Oppenheim, Seiden, Struthers (6)
NAYS: None (0)
PUBLIC COMMENT Michael and Iris Heyman, 865 Deer Park Court,
noted they are 40+ year Deerfield residents. Mr.
Heyman explained they live on a cul de sac that backs up to Waukegan Road at Greenwood.
The land behind the fence was not maintained and the grass grew to four feet high. Mr. Heyman
Board of Trustees Meeting
November 2, 2009
Page 2 of 4
cared for the grass regul'arly to enhance the look of the neighborhood. Mr. Heyman explained
there have been several crashes of vehicles going east on Greenwood that were turning north
onto Waukegan Road. He took it upon himself to plant 13 or 14 trees on Village property behind
his fence, as a barrier to vehicles. Several years later, it was apparent he had planted the trees too
close to each other, and he needed to prune some trees and remove three of them. A Public
Works employee saw the girdling and asked Mrs. Heyman if she knew who pruned and removed
the trees. The employee was very upset that Mr. Heyman was trying to remove trees from
Village property. Mr. Heyman explained that he planted the trees and pruned and removed the
trees with the intent of having a better growth of the trees.
Recently, a paper towel was placed in Mr. Heyman's mailbox stating, "Please remove flag and
address sign from village parkway tree." He called Public Works and spoke with an employee
who spoke in a combative tone. Mr. Heyman planted the trees 35 years ago and cares for them.
Mr. Heyman noted that the Fire Department wants residents to have house numbers prominently
displayed and he thought he was in compliance by having a professionally made plaque.
Second, what is the Village's stance regarding employees communicating with residents rudely
and aggressively? Mr. Heyman noted he has plans to beautify the cul de sac, which is also
Village property, with perennials. Before he completes the project, however, he needs
clarification because he does not want to run into criticism and /or be required to reverse what he
has done.
Mayor Rosenthal apologized to Mr. Heyman for how he was treated. She stated that no one
should be treated improperly. Mayor Rosenthal advised that the Director of Public Works and
Engineering would address the matter. On behalf of the Village, Mayor Rosenthal appreciates
the time, effort and materials Mr. Heyman has personally donated to the Village. Mayor
Rosenthal requested a staff report on the resolution of the matter.
There were no Reports.
REPORTS
CONSENT AGENDA
ORDINANCE 0 -09 -23 AUTHORIZING Ordinance authorizing the sale of surplus
THE SALE OF SURPLUS REAL ESTATE real estate located at 646 — 660 Deerfield Road.
LOCATED AT 646 -660 DEERFIELD Second Reading.
ROAD — 2R
Trustee Struthers made a motion to adopt an
ordinance authorizing.the sale of surplus real estate located at 646 — 660 Deerfield Road.
Trustee Oppenheim seconded the motion. The motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Benton, Farkas, Jester, Oppenheim, Seiden, Struthers (6)
NAYS: None (0)
Board of Trustees Meeting
November 2, 2009
Page 3 of 4
There was no Old Business.
AUTHORIZATION TO AWARD
CONTRACT FOR 2009 CRACK
SEALING PROGRAM
cleaned and sealed from water.
OLD BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
Ms. Little reported that pavement cracking is an
inevitable problem in the Chicagoland area. One
way to combat the problem is to participate in a
crack sealing program where road cracks are
The Village received four bids, and Ms. Little is requesting the contract be awarded to the lowest
bidder, SKC Construction, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $15,575. Trustee Farkas questioned
the scope of the project. Ms. Little explained that the Village expects 10,000 lineal feet of cracks
to be sealed. Trustee Farkas asked if the Village would benefit by offering a longer term,
renewable contract. Ms. Little explained SKC Construction, Inc. comes with good references,
and if the program is successful, the Village could work on a three — five year, renewable
contract. Trustee Oppenheim asked whether the amount of work would exceed the contracted
amount. Ms. Little explained the contractor would only be authorized up to the approved
amount.
Trustee Benton made a motion to award the contract for the 2009 crack sealing program to SKC
Construction, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $15,575. Trustee Farkas seconded the motion.
The motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Benton, Farkas, Jester, Oppenheim, Seiden, Struthers (6)
NAYS: None (0)
DISCUSSION
NORMA GAVIN Mayor Rosenthal reported that Norma Gavin
passed away. She was Deerfield's first female
Trustee and served the Village from 1973 —1981. She was a bright and well - serving Trustee.
VETERANS DAY Mayor Rosenthal stated that the American Legion
would hold their annual Veteran's Day ceremony
on Wednesday, November 11 at 11:00 am.
DEERFIELD HIGH SCHOOL Mayor Rosenthal reported that Deerfield High
School was listed as the number two high school for
standardized test scores. The Chicago Tribune article also recognized Deerfield's middle and
elementary schools for their excellence.
Board of Trustees Meeting
November 2, 2009
Page 4 of 4
THANK YOU Mayor Rosenthal thanked State Senator Susan
Garrett and Representative Karen May for their
assistance to resurface Lake Cook Road at Waukegan Road.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT Mr. Street advised that there would be a public
meeting on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. about the
Wastewater Treatment Facility. Informational letters were sent out to residents within a 500 foot
radius of the WU and along the construction route.
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE There will be a Committee of the Whole meeting
next Monday night at 6:00 pm. Bob Fialkowski
will be present to discuss finances and the upcoming property tax levy.
LEAF PICK UP
Mr. Street noted this was the second week of leaf
pick up in Deerfield with two weeks more to go.
Mr. Street noted a lot of leaves came down early this year. He thanked the Public Works crews
for their efforts. Trustee Struthers noted that residents have commented about the good job they
are doing.
Ms. Little showed pictures of the leaf stock pile from the first week of pick up. 5,800 cubic
yards of leaves were collected, which is 2.5 times the highest first week in the past eight years.
She thanked residents for their patience. Ms. Little stated the Village would make four passes
past all homes before the program is over. She thanked the Village Board for their support.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to discuss, Trustee
Oppenheim made a motion to go into Executive
Session to discuss litigation. Trustee Struthers seconded the motion. The motion passed by the
following vote:
AYES: Benton, Farkas, Jester, Oppenheim, Seiden, Struthers (6)
NAYS: None (0)
The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
APPROVED:
Mayor
ATTEST: /1 "14,
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