CITY OF SALEM
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2009
6:00 P.M.
I. Call To Order
II. Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance
III. Approval of Minutes, November 2, 2009
IV. Presentation of Petitions/Public Comments
V. Mayor’s Report and Presentations
1. Proclamation - Proclaiming December as National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month
2. Recognition of Lifesaving Action by Firefighters Adam Bandy, Tyler Purcell, Richard Follett, and Tom Ewen
VI. City Council Action
1. Employee Health Insurance Renewal
2. Estimate of Annual Tax Levy
3. Bills Payable
VII. City Manager Report
VIII. City Attorney Report
IX. City Council Report
X. Adjournment
Thomas F. Christie
Thomas F. Christie
City Manager
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MINUTES
CITY OF SALEM
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
NOVEMBER 16, 2009
6:00 P.M.
I. Call To Order
The Salem City Council met in regular session on Monday, November 16, 2009, at the hour of 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Salem City Hall. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Leonard E. Ferguson.
Council Members present upon roll call:
Councilman Tom Carr
Councilman David Black
Councilman Kip Meador
Councilman Steve Huddlestun
Mayor Leonard E. Ferguson
Others Present:
City Manager Thomas F. Christie
City Clerk Jane Marshall
Public Works Director John Pruden
Finance Director Marilyn Shook
Economic Development Director Tracey McDaneld
Recreation Director Sherry Daniels
Chief of Police Ron Campo
Code Enforcement Officer Brad Crow
Assistant to the City Manager Bev West
Library Director Kim Keller
Media: Salem Times Commoner, WJBD Radio, Centralia Sentential, US Sonet, along with several members of the public.
Absent: City Attorney Michael R. Jones and DOEM Director Terry Mulvany
II. Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance
Opening prayer led by Councilman Carr, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
III. Approval of Minutes – NOVEMber 2, 2009
Minutes of Regular City Council Meeting of November 2, 2009 were presented for review. Councilman Black moved and Councilman Huddlestun seconded the motion to approve the minutes of Regular Council Meeting of November 2, 2009 as written and waive the reading. Roll call vote. AYES: Councilmen Carr, Meador, Huddleston, and Black.
NAYS: None. Motion declared carried.
IV. Presentation of Petitions and Public Comments
No petitions or public comments.
V. Mayor’s Report and Presentations
1. Recognition of Lifesaving Action by Firefighters Adam Bandy, Tyler Purcell, Richard Follett, and Tom Ewen
Mayor Ferguson recognized the lifesaving action of firefighters Tyler Purcell, Adam Bandy, Richard Follett, and Tom Ewen, who on October 19th, assisted in the rescue of Anthony Webster from a burning house at 701 Indiana Avenue. Fire Chief Roger Mann commented on the action of the Salem Fire Department and the firefighters during this event. Carol Davis, grandmother of Anthony Webster gave an update on his recovery and thanked each of the firefighters for what they did. Another family member that was in the audience commented that Anthony had personally told her to tell the firemen “thank you” for him.
2. Proclamation - Proclaiming December as National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month
Mayor Ferguson read a Proclamation, proclaiming December as “Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month”, as requested by the Illinois Department of Transportation. A copy of the proclamation will be forwarded to IDOT.
VI. City Council Action
1. Employee Health Insurance Renewal
City Manager Christie reported that proposals were submitted by Benefit Administrative Services, American Benefit Administrative Services, Inc., Better Business Planning, Inc; Chaney & Karch Ins. Group/GHP and Mutual Medical and that he has reviewed the proposals and options and recommends that Council continue with self-funding by selecting either Benefit Administrative Systems, current 3rd party administrator; or Mutual Medical/Chaney & Karch, 3rd party administrator/broker-agent. Mr. Dave Andreas with Mutual Medical presented their plan and answered questions. Councilman Carr asked that the addition of dental coverage be looked into. City Manager Christie indicated this can be added at anytime and he would like to have quotes from two or three
companies. Following a lengthy discussion, Councilman Black moved and Councilman Carr seconded the motion to accept the proposal from Mutual Medical of Peoria, Illinois for employee health insurance coverage. Roll call vote. AYES: Councilmen Meador, Huddlestun, Black, and Carr. NAYS: None. Motion declared carried.
2. Estimate of Annual Tax Levy
City Manager Christie suggested that Council give Finance Director Shook the flexibility to maximize the tax levy to take advantage of the increase in property tax from assessed valuations from new growth. Following lengthy discussion, Councilman Huddlestun moved and Councilman Black seconded the motion to recommend a property tax levy be increased by 4.99% in an effort to capture the new construction growth. Roll call vote. AYES: Councilmen Huddlestun, Black, Carr, and Meador. NAYS: None. Motion declared carried.
3. Bills Payable
Bills payable listing for a total amount of $1,715,570.41 for period ending November 16, 2009 was presented for review. Following review, Councilman Carr moved and Councilman Black seconded the motion to approve bills payable as presented. Roll call vote. AYES: Councilmen Black, Carr, Meador, and Huddlestun. NAYS: None. Motion declared carried.
VII. City Manager Report
City Manager Christie reported:
· The east water tower renovation is complete and it is back in operation.
· IDOT has advised of a possible cost-sharing for sidewalk on US Route 50 East. At the time the bridge is widened at Lackey Creek, the City could share 50% of the cost with IDOT to install sidewalk beginning at point sidewalk ends by old Sealed Air location and continue to Lakewood Motel area at an approximate cost to the city of $92,400.00 plus engineering costs of $53,130.00. He explained this would use up all the sidewalk money for the year. Councilman Carr commented that a lot of kids walk to the bowling alley and residents from the subdivision have in the past presented a petition requesting sidewalk. City Manager
Christie did not recommend the City doing this because of the cost – Council agreed.
· Economic Development Director McDaneld reported on National League of Cities conference that she recently attended at the invitation of Buxton. She explained that she presented for them at this conference and commented on benefits the City would have if they were a member of this organization.
· McDaneld commented that the next “Minding Your Business” quarterly educational and networking opportunity for local business and industry has been scheduled and is a collaborative effort between IMEC Business Improvement Specialists and the Economic Development Department and will focus on Market Diversification.
VIII. City Attorney Report - absent
IX. City Council Report
Councilman Carr reported that he received a request from one of the library board members for a flag pole at the new library and he asked if the flag pole could be moved from the old location.
He also asked why some of the flags in the City have been at half-mast. City Manager Christie advised that the Governor dictates when the flags are to be flown at half-mast and our policy is to lower flags according to the Governor’s direction.
Councilman Meador commented on the work that the Daffy-Dill Garden Club did in putting festive Christmas decorations in the downtown planter boxes and also at the Bryan Statue area this weekend and thanked them. City Manager Christie recognized Annette Brushwitz for decorating the Sweney Corner.
Councilman Huddlestun commented on the progress of the pool construction – the parking lot has been paved now.
Councilman Black commented the planter boxes and Sweney Corner Christmas decorations are beautiful. He also commented that Holland Construction is doing a great job with the pool construction.
X. Adjournment
There being no further business for discussion at 8:33 p.m., Councilman Black moved and Councilman Meador seconded the motion to adjourn. Roll call vote. AYES: Councilmen Meador, Huddlestun, Black, and Carr. NAYS: None. Motion declared carried.
Jane Marshall, CMC
City Clerk
Minutes Approved, as written, By City Council on December 7, 2009.
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