City of Mt. Vernon City Council met Sept. 6.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
The Mt. Vernon City Council held a Regular City Council Meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chamber at City Hall, 1100 Main Street, Mt. Vernon, Illinois. Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/MtVernonIL.
Mayor John Lewis opened the meeting.
Pastor Micah Arcuri of Bonnie Church of God led the Invocation.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
ROLL CALL
Roll call showed present: Council Member Ray Botch, Council Member Joe Gliosci, Council Member Donte Moore, Council Member Mike Young, and Mayor John Lewis.
PRESENTATION OF JOURNALS
The Journal for the August 15, 2022 Regular City Council Meeting was presented for approval.
Council Member Joe Gliosci motioned to approve the Journal as presented. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, Young, and Lewis.
VISITORS/CITIZENS REQUESTS/ADDRESSES FROM THE AUDIENCE
Vincent James Garcia addressed the Council regarding a problem he has with flooding at his residence at 221 Casey. It has flooded for many years because of a drainage problem. He stated he has video and photos that he can share with the Council. Mayor John Lewis asked if Mr. Garcia had contacted the City previously to make them aware of the problem. He stated that it has gone on for years and that it is a drainage problem. Mayor Lewis asked that Mr. Garcia give the Deputy City Clerk his contact information and that the City will definitely look into the problem. City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel stated that they would send an engineer out to check on the condition of the road and the flooding issue.
APPROVAL OF CONSOLIDATED VOUCHERS FOR ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
The Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable were presented to Council for approval.
Council Member Donte Moore motioned to approve the Consolidated Vouchers for Accounts Payable in the amount of $1,981,609.36. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, Young, and Lewis.
BIDS AND QUOTES
None.
CITY MANAGER
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel requested permission to Seek Bids for the Storm Sewer Project at 11th and Casey. This is for engineering for a storm water project. This is a storm sewer that has failed and does affect a large part of the area of Casey Street and 11th Street, North to Broadway. The first step is to hire an engineering firm to study the area and design the replacement storm sewer which has to go under the CSX/Evansville Western Railroad. The City believes the CXS/Evansville Western Railroad has some responsibility. There won’t be an estimate until the study and design are completed.
Council Member Ray Botch motioned to grant permission to Seek Bids for the Storm Sewer Project at 11th and Casey. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, Young, and Lewis.
CITY ATTORNEY
City Attorney David Leggans presented for First Reading of an Ordinance Approving Lateral Entry into the Police Department. City Manager Bechtel explained this reduces the two-year full-time employment requirement to just having the State of Illinois certification. In the case of the lateral entry from a state other than Illinois, it gives them six months to complete the State of Illinois requirements. City Manager Bechtel stated this is not a promise of a position with the Police Department, it just makes them eligible to go through the process to be on the lateral entry list. City Manager Bechtel introduced Police Chief Trent Page. Chief Page stated that currently in order to be qualified as a lateral transfer, you must have an academy certificate with two years’ experience, or if less than two years’ experience, with college credit. This changes the requirement from two years’ experience and/or college credit to in the State of Illinois they can lateral to the Police Department if they have graduated from either full-time or part-time academy or if they are from out of state, just clarifies the language that they must meet the standards from the State of Illinois, not just the state from which they came from. The benefit to the Department is that the person does not have to spend 14 weeks in the academy and then into the field training program. Under the lateral program, they would go straight into the field training program, which helps get officers on the street quicker.
Council Member Donte Moore made the motion to suspend the rules and take action on the Ordinance, an Ordinance Approving Lateral Entry into the Police Department. Seconded by Council Member Joe Gliosci. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, Young, and Lewis.
Council Member Donte Moore motioned to approve Ordinance #2022-26, an Ordinance Approving Lateral Entry into the Police Department. Seconded by Council Member Joe Gliosci. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, Young, and Lewis.
City Attorney David Leggans presented an Ordinance Providing for Designation of a Deputy City Clerk and Changing the Salary for the City Clerk and Treasurer. City Manager Bechtel explained that after the last election, the Clerk position was vacant. The City appointed Mary Jo Pemberton as City Clerk. With this Ordinance, the City Manager has the ability to designate a Deputy City Clerk and the Deputy Clerk is authorized to assist the City Clerk and perform the duties of the office of the City Clerk. This reduces the salary of the City Clerk and the Treasurer to $600.00 per year. This will not begin until May 2025. The Clerk still holds all of the authorization of a City Clerk. This just allows the Deputy City Clerk to perform the duties of the City Clerk. The Mayor could still appoint a City Treasurer although there are no duties for the City Treasurer at this time. FIRST READING WAS HELD.
City Attorney David Leggans presented an Ordinance Authorizing the Sale of Municipal Real Property at 904 N. 6th Street. City Manager Bechtel explained this Ordinance authorizes the sale/transfer of the ownership of property at 904 N. 6th Street to Peter and Vickie Ardison. There is a dilapidated structure on the property, and with the transfer of this property, it will be their responsibility to demolish the structure by March 1st, 2023.
Council Member Ray Botch made the motion to suspend the rules and take action on the Ordinance, an Ordinance Authorizing the Sale of Municipal Real Property at 904 N. 6th Street. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, Young, and Lewis.
Council Member Donte Moore motioned to approve Ordinance #2022-27, an Ordinance Authorizing the Sale of Municipal Real Property at 904 N. 6th Street. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, Young, and Lewis.
City Attorney David Leggans presented an Ordinance Establishing the Public Safety Camera System and License Plate Reader Policy. City Manager Bechtel explained that this Ordinance establishes parameters for the proper use of data and recording gathered by the City through the use of automated license plate readers and the public safety camera system.
FIRST READING WAS HELD.
City Attorney David Leggans presented a Resolution Adopting the Security Camera Policy. City Manager Bechtel explained this Resolution is for the use of security cameras upon property owned and controlled by the City, i.e., the video camera system in Billing Services at City Hall, Police Department and the Aquatic Zoo. This is the rules, regulations and policies governing those cameras. Staff recommendation is to approve the Resolution.
Mayor Lewis asked what the difference was between this Resolution adopting the Security Camera Policy and the proposed Ordinance for the Public Safety Camera System. City Attorney Leggans explained that the difference is that the cameras in the neighborhoods are exclusively under the use and control of the Police Department. The cameras in this Resolution are for public safety and used more to protect the property, employees and the people coming in the buildings. There are different rules for the cameras because of their use.
Council Member Joe Gliosci motioned to approve a Resolution Adopting the Security Camera Policy. Seconded by Council Member Ray Botch. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, Young, and Lewis.
City Attorney David Leggans presented a Resolution Determining the Intent of the City of Mount Vernon, Illinois to Reimburse Itself for Certain Capital Expenditures. City Manager Bechtel explained this Resolution determines the intent of the City of Mt. Vernon for reimbursement, if the Council chooses, for expenses incurred for the acquisition and redevelopment of property at 911 Broadway, the former Register News Building. This Resolution establishes a date so that any expenses after this date can be reimbursed by the Downtown TIF if the City so chooses. The project is eligible for TIF at the Council’s discretion. Council Member Mike Young asked if the City is closer to purchasing that property. City Manager Bechtel explained that this would get things set up if there is movement and the City’s proposal is accepted, the City would be able to move quickly without jeopardizing how the project would be paid.
Council Member Ray Botch motioned to approve a Resolution Determining the Intent of the City of Mt. Vernon, Illinois to Reimburse Itself for Certain Capital Expenditures. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, Young, and Lewis.
City Attorney David Leggans presented a Resolution to Approve the Collective Bargaining Agreement Between the City and the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council. City Manager Bechtel explained that this Agreement includes a four-year contract with annual wage increases of 4%, 3%, 3%, 3%, with steps it is 5%, 4%, 4%, 4%. It establishes a separate wage scale for Corporal and Detective Officers and Corporal Detectives, eliminates the perfect attendance days, adds one personal day, increases the Master Officer stipend to $2,500.00, and increases travel meals per diem to $50.00. This is consistent with the other unions that the City has negotiated with and approved.
Council Member Ray Botch motioned to approve a Resolution Approving the Collective Bargaining Agreement Between the City and the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council. Seconded by Council Member Joe Gliosci. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, Young, and Lewis.
City Attorney David Leggans presented a Resolution to Rename Neon Drive to South Shiloh Drive. City Manager Bechtel explained that in an effort to simplify street names in Mt. Vernon, it is proposed that we rename Neon Drive to South Shiloh Drive. This makes that road going through north/south of the intersection the same. Magnum Steel owns the building and is agreeable. Wade Bowlin is leasing the second building from Jim, and he is agreeable also. Staff recommendation is to approve this.
Council Member Joe Gliosci motioned to approve a Resolution to Rename Neon Drive to South Shiloh Drive. Seconded by Council Member Donte Moore. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, Young, and Lewis.
MAYOR
Mayor John Lewis presented for the Council’s Advice and Consent the Appointment of Stephanie Bailey and Nathan McKenna to the Police Pension Board.
Council Member Ray Botch motioned to approve the Appointment of Stephanie Bailey and Nathan McKenna to the Police Pension Board. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, Young, and Lewis.
CITY COUNCIL
Council Member Ray Botch wanted to congratulate City Manager Bechtel and Mayor Lewis on the receipt Grant.
VISITORS/CITIZENS REQUESTS/ADDRESSES FROM THE AUDIENCE
None.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
None.
ADJOURNMENT
Council Member Joe Gliosci motioned to adjourn. Seconded by Council Member Ray Botch. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, Young, and Lewis.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
http://www.mtvernon.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/09062022-Regular-City-Council-Meeting.pdf
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