City of Galesburg City Council met Sept. 21.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
Called to order by Mayor John Pritchard at 5:30 p.m.
Roll Call #1: Physically Present: Mayor John T. Pritchard, Council Members Bradley Hix, Wayne Dennis, Corine Andersen, Wayne Allen, and Larry Cox, 6. Present via Telephone: Council Member Peter Schwartzman, 1. Absent: Council Member Lindsay Hillery, 1. Also Present: City Manager Todd Thompson, City Attorney Bradley Nolden, and City Clerk Kelli Bennewitz. Mayor Pritchard declared a quorum present.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
A moment of silence was observed in lieu of an invocation.
Council Member Hix moved, seconded by Council Member Andersen, to approve the minutes of the City Council meeting from September 8, 2020.
Roll Call #2:
Ayes: Council Members Hix, Dennis, Andersen, Schwartzman, Allen, and Cox, 6.
Nays: None
Absent: Council Member Hillery, 1.
Chairman declared motion carried.
CONSENT AGENDA #2020-18
All matters listed under the Consent Agenda are considered routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion.
20-2020
Approve Resolution 20-18 in support of authorizing the submission of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application to the State of Illinois for storm sewer replacement near South Street.
20-8017
Approve bills in the amount of $1,193,746.93 and advance checks in the amount of $266,441.19.
Council Member Andersen moved, seconded by Council Member Cox, to approve Consent Agenda 2020-18, omitting agenda item 20-4069.
Roll Call #3:
\Ayes: Council Members Hix, Dennis, Andersen, Schwartzman, Allen, and Cox, 6.
Nays: None
Absent: Council Member Hillery, 1.
Chairman declared motion carried by omnibus vote.
20-4069
Council Member Andersen moved, seconded by Council Member Cox, to approve an agreement with FC Galesburg, NFP Inc. to receive approximately $1,000 annually for the use of City facilities for its soccer program.
Council Member Cox inquired about the agreement with Galesburg Youth Baseball League and the City’s fields. Police Chief Idle, GYBL President, stated that their organization pays $4 per player to the City and averages around 400 players annually. They also pay for maintenance, weed control, chalking, etc. for the fields.
Roll Call #4:
Ayes: Council Members Hix, Dennis, Andersen, Schwartzman, Allen, and Cox, 6.
Nays: None
Absent: Council Member Hillery, 1.
Chairman declared motion carried.
PASSAGE OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
20-1018
Ordinance on first reading authorizing the purchase of the following properties to be demolished from the Knox County Trustee: 711 Avenue A, 883 West Third Street, and 421-423 Monmouth Boulevard.
20-1019
Ordinance on first reading setting the salary for the City Clerk for the term beginning May 2021.
20-1020
Ordinance on first reading setting the salary for the Mayor for the term beginning May 2021.
20-1021
Ordinance on first reading setting the salaries for the City Council Members for the term beginning May 2021.
Council Member Schwartzman stated that he would like the Council to consider a possible salary increase for the Council and Mayor since one has not been given in many years. The City Manager will resend information on comparable communities and their Mayor and Council salary information. Council Member Cox noted that according to that memo from 2019, Galesburg is average for Council salaries and low on the Mayor’s salary.
20-2021
Council Member Dennis moved, seconded by Council Member Cox, to approve Resolution 20-19 to name the Scattering Gardens in East Linwood Cemetery after former City Clerk Anita L. Carlton.
Roll Call #5:
Ayes: Council Members Hix, Dennis, Andersen, Schwartzman, Allen, and Cox, 6.
Nays: None
Absent: Council Member Hillery, 1.
Chairman declared motion carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Flor Frau addressed the Council stating that she believes everyone agrees that racism is wrong and gave examples of systemic racism to help with understanding. She hopes that the Council listens to their constituents and will have a local group dialogue on the topic. She argued that just because some people don’t experience racism doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.
Brittany Grimes, NAACP chapter president, read a statement from Wendel Hunigan regarding the widening conception of racism in the 21st century. In the statement, he noted the Community Roundtable column in the Register-Mail. Some of the columnists felt the resolution would unnecessarily pull the community apart, while others felt the NAACP declaration would make Galesburg imperfectly whole again. He added that the resolution is not a condemnation of the Galesburg Police Department, but an affirmation of the type of community we want to be. He encouraged Council Members to ratify the resolution.
Ms. Grimes also presented the City Clerk with a petition in support of the resolution condemning racism and the death of George Floyd with 81 names. The resolution requests that the City condemn all forms of systemic racism and police brutality and commit to supporting and protecting all its residents no matter their ethnicity, race, faith, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
Ashley Moore addressed the Council stating that in the past she has noticed that when a speaker runs out of time, Council becomes impatient and fidgety and it angers her to see that Council Members feel they hold much power and are above everyone else. She stated that these individuals feel invalidated at a time when our society is screaming for direction and is so divided. She encouraged Council to rise above the noise and to be part of the Council for the right reasons. She added that “with great power comes great responsibility.”
Candy Webb addressed the Council and thanked them for talking with her and for their good relationship. She stated that she understands that the Council has the ability to say no and terminate the NAACP resolution, but hopes that the groups can come together and tweak the wording and learn from each other to seek another possible solution if it’s warranted. There is a large population of the community who would like to see the resolution approved.
Mark Sherwin addressed the Council and suggested the City look at adding a “morale clause” into their agreements, which would allow the City to pull funding if the company or individual promotes or engages in racist behavior or practices.
Robert Cain asked the Council to treat all citizens equally and that all “under the table” deals need to stop.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS (Agreements, Approvals, Etc.)
20-4070
Council Member Hix moved, seconded by Council Member Cox, to approve a three-year maintenance agreement with Altorfer Power Systems in the amount of $11,604.00 for the three Caterpillar emergency standby generators for the Water Division.
Roll Call #6:
Ayes: Council Members Hix, Dennis, Andersen, Schwartzman, Allen, and Cox, 6.
Nays: None
Absent: Council Member Hillery, 1.
Chairman declared motion carried.
20-4071
Council Member Andersen moved, seconded by Council Member Cox, to approve a budget adjustment to the 2020 budget in the amount of $11,425.43 for the hiring of a new Public Safety Clerk in the Police Department. This employee would be paid from the Emergency Telephone System Board fund.
City Manager Thompson and Police Chief Idle explained that the ETSB Board approved the funding of this new public safety clerk position, which would be supervised by the 911 coordinator and assigned general clerical duties in the area of 911 operations. The addition of this employee would allow the 911 coordinator to focus more time and effort on project management efforts in the 911 system. The salary and associated costs for this employee will be paid for by the Emergency Telephone System Board, not the City’s General Fund. Thompson noted that if at any time the ETSB cannot pay for the position, it would be eliminated.
Roll Call #7:
Ayes: Council Members Hix, Dennis, Andersen, Schwartzman, Allen, and Cox, 6.
Nays: None
Absent: Council Member Hillery, 1.
Chairman declared motion carried.
20-4072
Council Member Cox moved, seconded by Council Member Allen, to approve a redevelopers agreement with the Galesburg Downtown Council for holiday lights. The City’s portion would not exceed $34,582 for the cost of the lights. The City would also put the lights up and remove them annually; the GDC would be responsible for storing the decorations. Roll Call #8:
Ayes: Council Members Hix, Dennis, Andersen, Schwartzman, Allen, and Cox, 6.
Nays: None
Absent: Council Member Hillery, 1.
Chairman declared motion carried.
20-4073
Approve a change order with Vortex Inc. in the amount of $3,000 to redesign the play feature to conform with the Illinois Department of Public Health regulations.
Council Member Andersen moved, seconded by Council Member Cox, to table agenda item 20-4073.
Roll Call #9:
Ayes: Council Members Hix, Dennis, Andersen, Schwartzman, Allen, and Cox, 6.
Nays: None
Absent: Council Member Hillery, 1.
Chairman declared motion carried.
20-4074
Council Member Hix moved, seconded by Council Member Dennis, to waive normal purchasing policies and approve the quote from Core and Main in the amount of $14,935 plus freight for three check valves and the quote by Schulte Supply Inc. in the amount of $14,385 for three gate valves in order to replace them all before winter.
Roll Call #10:
Ayes: Council Members Hix, Dennis, Andersen, Schwartzman, Allen, and Cox, 6.
Nays: None
Absent: Council Member Hillery, 1.
Chairman declared motion carried.
Council Member Allen moved, seconded by Council Member Cox, that the City Council sit as the Town Board. The motion carried by voice vote.
TOWN BUSINESS
20-9019
Trustee Andersen moved, seconded by Trustee Cox, to approve Town bills and warrants be drawn in payment of same.
Fund Title Amount
Town Fund $2,848.42
General Assistance Fund $1,507.81
IMRF Fund $5,203.12
Social Security/Medicare Fund $2,417.71
Liability Fund
Audit Fund
Total $11,977.06
Roll Call #11:
Ayes: Trustees Hix, Dennis, Andersen, Schwartzman, Allen, and Cox, 6.
Nays: None
Absent: Trustee Hillery, 1.
Chairman declared motion carried.
20-9020
Ordinance on first reading setting the salary for the Township Supervisor for the term beginning May 2021.
20-9021
Ordinance on first reading setting the salary for the Township Assessor for the term beginning January 2022.
20-2022
Ordinance on first reading setting the salary for the Township Clerk for the term beginning May 2021.
20-2023
Ordinance on first reading setting the salary for the Township Trustees for the terms beginning May 2021.
Trustee Allen moved, seconded by Trustee Cox, to resume sitting as the City Council. The motion carried by voice vote.
CLOSING COMMENTS
Council Member Schwartzman thanked the members of the community who came to the meeting tonight to speak at a possible risk to their health. He also believes that the NAACP resolution has garnered enough attention that it needs to be brought forward, reviewed and discussed. Council Member Schwartzman also stated that three hours from Galesburg in central Iowa, Michael Williams was found dead and on fire in a ditch. He reminded people to always be aware and alert to hate crimes; another reason to discuss the resolution.
Council Member Andersen also gave her appreciation to the number of people who attended the meeting and spoke, many of whom she knows personally and has much regard for.
Council Member Dennis expressed his thoughts and respect for the police officers who were shot in Los Angeles and feels that our police officers are doing a good job but reminded people to continue to be aware.
Council Member Hix stated that he is planning to bring a nuisance ordinance to Council at the next meeting regarding problem properties. He also complemented Bryan Luedtke, Bunker Links golf pro, for the great golf tournaments and organization for many golf outings he’s been in recently.
Council Member Hix also thanked Candy Webb for coming forward and has had the opportunity to meet with her. He hopes to meet with Brittany Grimes soon too.
Mayor Pritchard stated that he is always open to learning and listening and is still waiting to receive specific examples of systemic racism in our community.
Council Member Cox moved, seconded by Council Member Dennis, to adjourn into Executive Session a 6:29 p.m. for the purpose of discussing collective bargaining, litigation, and approval of the minutes from the March 21 and July 27, 2020, executive session meetings (5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (2), (11) and (21).
Roll Call #12:
Ayes: Council Members Hix, Dennis, Andersen, Schwartzman, Allen, and Cox, 6.
Nays: None
Absent: Council Member Hillery, 1.
Chairman declared motion carried.
During the Executive Session, Council Member Hix moved, seconded by Council Member Dennis, to adjourn the Executive Session at 7:08 p.m.
Roll Call #13:
Ayes: Council Members Hix, Dennis, Andersen, Schwartzman, Allen, and Cox, 6.
Nays: None
Absent: Council Member Hillery, 1.
Chairman declared motion carried.
There being no further business, Council Member Cox moved, seconded by Council Member Dennis, to adjourn the regular meeting at 7:09 p.m.
Roll Call #14:
Ayes: Council Members Hix, Dennis, Andersen, Schwartzman, Allen, and Cox, 6.
Nays: None
Absent: Council Member Hillery, 1,
Chairman declared motion carried.
https://www.ci.galesburg.il.us/assets/1/20/09212020_City_Council_Meeting_Minutes.pdf
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