Macon Reporter

Village of Forsyth Board of Trustees met Sept. 19.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Jim Peck called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

ROLL CALL

Upon a call of the roll, the following members were physically present: Mayor Jim Peck, Trustee Lauren Young, Trustee Bob Gruenewald, Trustee Marilyn Johnson, Trustee Dave Wendt, Trustee Jeremy Shaw, Trustee Jeff London

Staff Present:

Village Administrator Jill Applebee, Library Director Steven Ward, Public Works Director Darin Fowler, Village Attorney Lisa Petrilli, Village Treasurer Rhonda Stewart, Village Clerk Cheryl Marty, Village Engineer Jeremy Buening

Others Present: Residents Bill Krueger, Larry Shearer

CONSENT AGENDA

1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 5, 2023

2. APPROVAL OF WARRANTS

3. APPROVAL OF TREASURER’S REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST, 2023 

MOTION

Trustee Wendt made a Motion to approve the Consent Agenda with corrections to the minutes of September 5, 2023 as discussed and Trustee Young seconded the Motion.

Upon a call of the roll, the vote was as follows:

Yeas: 6 – Young, Gruenewald, Johnson, Wendt, Shaw, London

Nays: 0 – None

Absent: 0 – None

Motion declared carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT: At this time, the public has the opportunity to express views or make comments to the Mayor and Board of Trustees on agenda items or any other Village issue. Comments must be limited to not more than three (3) minutes.

Resident Larry Shearer was very complimentary to the Village staff for all the excellent work they do. However, he complained that the bike trails are rough in many places and asked for improvements to be made. Mayor Peck assured him that there are planned improvements for the bike paths in the next three years.

ADMINISTRATION REPORTS

1. Law Enforcement Report

Sheriff Deputy Hale had nothing significant to report. Deputy Smith explained the no cash bail act and its possible effect on the community.

2. Village Staff Reports

Mayor Peck announced Library Director Steven Ward’s resignation and thanked him for the many improvements made during his tenure. The job will be posted and the search for a replacement director begins immediately. Board members thanked him and wished him well on his new endeavor.

OLD BUSINESS

1. RESOLUTION NUMBER 14-2023 A RESOLUTION DECLARING FINANCIAL COMMITMENT AND SUPPORT FOR SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION TO THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR USE OF SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL FUNDS (VILLAGE ENGINEER BUENING)

Village Engineer Buening explained the application for the Safe Routes to School funds and the need for the Village to approve a resolution in support of it. A short discussion ensued.

MOTION

Trustee Gruenewald made a Motion to approve the Resolution as presented and Trustee Johnson seconded the Motion.

Upon a call of the roll, the vote was as follows:

Yeas: 6 – Young, Gruenewald, Johnson, Wendt, Shaw, London

Nays: 0 – None

Absent: 0 – None

Motion declared carried.

2. RESOLUTION NUMBER 15-2023 A RESOLUTION APPROVING CONSTRUCTION OBSERVATION CONTRACT (VILLAGE ENGINEER JEREMY BUENING)

Village Engineer Buening explained the major contract details for observation of the Eastside Bike Path and Grayhawk Subdivision projects. A lengthy discussion ensued.

Mayor Peck was not convinced that an observation contract was needed and trusts Dunn Co. to repeat their successful professional work but asked for Board discussion. Board members then discussed the pros and cons of having this contract and both Public Works Director Fowler and Village Engineer Buening both recommended having this contract.

MOTION

Trustee Wendt made a Motion to approve the Resolution as presented and Trustee London seconded the Motion.

Upon a call of the roll, the vote was as follows:

Yeas: 6 – Young, Gruenewald, Johnson, Wendt, Shaw, London

Nays: 0 – None

Absent: 0 – None

Motion declared carried.

3. DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION REGARDING GOLF CART REGULATIONS (VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR JILL APPLEBEE)

Administrative Applebee shared the updated draft and asked for Board discussion on several specific items including permitting the cart versus the person, renewal time frame, inspection fees and where those fees will be put in the budget, horns, lights, flags, car seat laws and prohibited streets. Discussion concluded with Administrator Applebee and Village Attorney Petrilli agreeing to make the revisions as discussed.

No Motion needed.

NEW BUSINESS

None.

CLOSED SESSION: Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1): The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees, specific individuals who serve as independent contractors in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or specific volunteers of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee, a specific individual who serves as an independent contractor in a park, recreational, or educational setting, or a volunteer of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity.

probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of Village of Forsyth the closed meeting.

5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5): The purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body, including meetings held for the purpose of discussing whether a particular parcel should be acquired.

5 ILCS 120/2(c)(6): The setting of a price for sale or lease of property owned by the public body.

5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11): Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting.

5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21): Discussion of minutes of meetings lawfully closed under this Act, whether for purposes of approval by the body of the minutes or semi-annual review of the minutes as mandated by Section 2.06.

MOTION

Trustee Wendt made a Motion to move to Closed Session and Trustee London seconded the Motion.

Upon a call of the roll, the vote was as follows:

Yeas: 6 – Young, Johnson, Wendt, Shaw, Gruenewald, London

Nays: 0 – None

Absent: 0 – None

Motion declared carried.

CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS ARISING FROM CLOSED SESSION 

MOTION

Trustee Wendt made a Motion to approve the closed minutes of September 5, 2023 and Trustee Gruenewald seconded the Motion.

Upon a call of the roll, the vote was as follows:

Yeas: 6 – Young, Johnson, Wendt, Shaw, Gruenewald, London

Nays: 0 – None

Absent: 0 – None

Motion declared carried.

ADJOURNMENT

Trustee Wendt made the Motion to adjourn and Trustee Johnson seconded the Motion. All Board members agreed by voice vote, and the meeting was adjourned at 8:25 P.M.

https://forsyth-il.gov/vertical/sites/%7B18717005-44FD-438D-B0BC-B86101984F4F%7D/uploads/External_Meeting_Packet(65).pdf