MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED BENTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MONDAY APRIL 27, 2020 AT 9:00 A.M. PURSUANT TO THE GOVERNOR’S EXECUTIVE ORDER IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 ISSUED MARCH 16, 2020, THIS MEETING WAS HELD BY TELEPHONE CONFERENCE AND COMPUTER ATTENDANCE ONLY.
MAYOR KONDRITZ CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ WERE PRESENT VIA TELEPHONE/COMPUTER FOR ROLL CALL. COMMISSIONER PERKINS JOINED THE CALL IMMEDIATELY AFTER ROLL WAS CALLED.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 13, 2020. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER PERKINS STATED THAT AT THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING A PURCHASE ORDER WAS APPROVED TO DAVIS AUTO FOR REPAIRS TO THE COURTESY CAR FOR THE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. COMMISSIONER PERKINS STATED MULTIPLE REPAIR SHOPS WERE CONTACTED AND DAVIS AUTO WAS THE LOWEST PRICE FOR THE REPAIRS.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYMENT OF $19,596.00 TO JOHN H. CRAWFORD FOR 100% OF THE DESIGN FOR THE SIDEWALK GRANT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE #2020-04 FOR PATRON ONLY PARKING ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE PUBLIC SQUARE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 1. COMMISSIONER STOREY.
COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE #2020-05 DESIGNATING 15 MINUTE PICK UP AND DROP-OFF PARKING FOR ONE SPOT IN FRONT OF 601 PUBLIC SQUARE, ONE SPOT IN FRONT OF 506 PUBLIC SQUARE, AND
TWO SPOTS IN FRONT OF 205 EAST MAIN STREET. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE RESIGNATION OF FIREFIGHTER JEFF SHEW. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE AMENDING THE ORDINANCE SETTING IMPOUND FEES BY INCREASING THE FEES FROM $100 FOR FIRST OFFENSE, $200.00 FOR SECOND OFFENSE, AND $500.00 FOR THIRD OFFENSE TO $200.00 FOR FIRST OFFENSE, $400.00 FOR SECOND OFFENSE, AND $600.00 FOR THIRD OFFENSE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE DISPATCH AGREEMENT WITH WEST CITY FOR A FEE OF $9,146.04 FROM NOVEMBER 1, 2019, $9,320.32 PER MONTH FROM MAY 1, 2020 TO MAY 1, 2021, AND $9,530.70 FROM MAY 1, 2021 TO OCTOBER 30, 2021. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE PAYROLL FOR 04/17/2020 FOR GENERAL FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $60,806.48, FOR THE WATER AND SEWER FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $26,509.02, AND FOR THE AIRPORT CARETAKER IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,100.00 FOR A TOTAL PAYROLL OF $92,475.68. COMMISSIONER STOREY SECONDED THIS MOTION. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO PLACE THE FISCAL YEAR 2020/2021 CITY OF BENTON BUDGET ON DISPLAY FOR A PERIOD OF TWO WEEKS. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA STATED A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING TO DISCUSS THE BUDGET BEFORE FINAL APPROVAL. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 1. COMMISSIONER STOREY.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE #2020-06 DISCONTINUING SEWER ADJUSTMENTS UNLESS THE CITY IS FOUND TO BE AT FAULT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOREY. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION #2020-05 FOR A “MOW TO OWN” PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF BENTON REGARDING CITY OWNED VACANT PROPERTIES. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA ASKED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH THE COUNCIL REGARDING THE RETURN OF ALL EMPLOYEES TO WORK IMMEDIATELY UNLESS ON FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE ACT, VACATION, PERSONAL, OR SICK TIME. DISCUSSION WAS HELD REGARDING HOW TO BRING ALL EMPLOYEES BACK TO WORK WHILE MAINTAINING SOCIAL DISTANCE. CHIEF COCKRUM STATED THAT HE HAD MASKS AVAILABLE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH STATED THAT CITY CLERK BROOK CRAIG HAD MASKS AVAILABLE IN HER OFFICE AS WELL.
ATTORNEY MALKOVICH STATED THAT THE BARGAINING UNITS WERE STILL IN NEGOTIATION.
MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT ITEM (C) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, WOULD NEED TO BE DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
MAYOR KONDRITZ ASKED ZONING ADMINISTRATOR/CODE ENFORCER DAVID GARAVALIA TO DISCUSSION ITEM (D) DISCUSSION AND/OR APPROVAL OF PURCHASING REAL PROPERTY FROM THE FRANKLIN COUNTY TAX AGENT AT 511 EAST SMITH STREET. MR. GARAVALIA STATED THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN MOWING THIS PROPERTY AND WE CAN PURCHASE THE PROPERTY AT THIS TIME FOR $815.00. MR. GARAVALIA ALSO STATED THAT AFTER HAVING THE ASBESTOS REMOVED, THE STREET DEPARTMENT COULD DEMOLISH THIS HOME. COMMISSIONER STOREY MADE A MOTION TO PURCHASE 511 EAST SMITH STREET FOR $815.00 AND PROCEED WITH ASBESTOS REMOVAL OF THIS PROPERTY BEFORE DEMOLITION BY THE STREET DEPARTMENT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED HE HAD RECEIVED COMMUNICATION FROM THE ILLINOIS LIQUOR CONTROL COMMISSION STATING THAT ALL STATE LIQUOR LICENSE SET TO EXPIRE IN MARCH, APRIL AND MAY OF 2020 WOULD BE EXTENDED UNTIL JULY 1, 2020. MAYOR KONDRITZ STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW THE STATE GUIDANCE. COMMISSIONER PERKINS MADE A MOTION TO EXTEND CITY LIQUOR LICENSE RENEWAL DATES TO JULY OF 2020. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 5. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, AND MAYOR KONDRITZ. NAYS: 0.
NO MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.
NO OLD BUSINESS
NO NEW BUSINESS.
UNDER MATTERS FROM THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE, TOM CARTER ASKED WHERE THE BUDGET WOULD BE ON DISPLAY. CITY CLERK BROOK CRAIG STATED THAT SHE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THIS POSTED ON THE CITY WEBSITE. MR. CARTER ALSO STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CITY GET AN EMA PLAN TOGETHER FOR THE FUTURE IN ORDER TO DEAL WITH SOMETHING IN THE NATURE OF THE COVID-10 PANDEMIC. JULIE PAYNE HUBLER STATED SHE HATED TO SEE A WORKFORCE REDUCTION AT THE CITY, BUT UNDERSTOOD THAT IT MAY BE NECESSARY. MS. HUBLER STATED SHE THOUGHT THE “MOW TO OWN’ PROGRAM WAS A GREAT IDEA AND WANTED TO COMMEND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA ON THIS IDEA. MS. HUBLER ALSO STATED THAT SHE WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE WAY THE STREET DEPARTMENT WAS HANDLED DURING THIS PANDEMIC.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR ITEM (C) DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT, COMPENSATION, DISCIPLINE, PERFORMANCE, OR DISMISSAL OF SPECIFIC EMPLOYEES OF THE PUBLIC BODY OR LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE PUBLIC BODY, INCLUDING HEARING TESTIMONY ON A COMPLAINT LODGED AGAINST AN EMPLOYEE OF THE PUBLIC BODY OR AGAINST LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE PUBLIC BODY TO DETERMINE ITS VALIDITY.
10:35 A.M.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO GO OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
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COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER PERKINS. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER STOREY, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 0.
COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA MADE A MOTION TO ALLOW COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, AND CRAIG MILES TO EXPLORE THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS POSITION AND REPORT TO THE COUNCIL ON 05/11/2020. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 3. COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. NAYS: 1. COMMISSIONER STOREY.
COMMISSIONER PERKINS MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH. VOTE WAS TAKEN. YEAS: 4. COMMISSIONER MESSERSMITH, COMMISSIONER PERKINS, COMMISSIONER STOREY, AND COMMISSIONER GARAVALIA. NAYS: 0.
TIME 11:40 A.M.
