Village of Lombard Legistar System

President Mueller called Public Education Coordinator Jim Plunket to the front.

Jim Plunket stated the Village had received the Life Safety Achievement Award that is

presented to the Village by the Residential Fire Safety Institute. He indicated Lombard

was one of 745 communities throughout the country that had received the award. He

reported this was the 4th or 5th year the Village had received the award. He spoke

regarding the "Keep the Wreath Red" Program. He explained that this begins the day

after Thanksgiving and each fire station receives a wreath with red lights on it. If there

are any fires related to Christmas decorations, a red light is removed and replaced with

a white light. He stated the Village had not had to replace a light in the last 8 years. He

thanked the residents for their diligence over the holidays and keeping their homes

safe. He reminded residents to make sure their live trees have plenty of water; that

they use only UL approved lights and to take great care with candles. He reported that

the amount of fires related to candles has risen. He reminded the residents to buckle

up and not to drink and drive.

President Mueller congratulated Jim, the Chief and the Fire Department.

President Mueller indicated the Village was interested in making the Veteran's Memorial

at the park more attractive. He stated the Village had applied for and received a

$30,000 grant from the State. He thanked Bob Biggins for his assistance in getting that

grant for the Village. President Mueller asked Eagle Scout Ben Pelz to come to the

front.

Eagle Scout Ben Pelz , Troop 51, gave an update on his Eagle Scout project of the

Veteran's Memorial. He stated he realized that he wanted to work on making the

Veterans' Memorial at the park more beautiful and felt the Memorial could better reflect

respect for these honored individuals. He stated he visited the VFW and the American

Legion for ideas. He reported he has raised $9,000 toward the project in addition to the

grant the Village received. He noted the work is underway with a concrete walk around

the boulder, the addition of 11 flag poles (5 for the flags of the branches of service, 1 for

the POW/MIA flag, 1 for the Village flag, 1 for the USA flag, 1 for the Park District flag

and 1 for the Illinois flag). He stated benches will also be added and he had hoped for

the addition of a flower garden and trees to the site. He indicated he was still looking

for donations to help with this project and encouraged residents and businesses to

contact him, the Village Hall or the Park District. He thanked everyone for the support

that he had already received and encouraged residents to check out the work that had

already been accomplished.

President Mueller stated the work should be completed by next Memorial Day. He

reported the total for the project was estimated at $70,000 and the Village had received

the $30,000 grant and that Ben had raised $9,000. He encouraged residents to send

donations to the Village and indicate the check was for the Memorial project. Large

donations would be recognized on the plaque that will be at the site. He thanked Ben

Pelz for all of his hard work.

Trustee Dick Tross, Chairperson of the Public Works Committee, reported the

committee had met on November 11 and the meeting was long. He stated the

committee had reviewed the staff recommendation on mailboxes. He reported the

committee had deferred any action until they can meet with legal counsel and the postal

services. He indicated there are 2,100 violations of the ordinance. The committee will

review this again in January and not look to take any action until the spring. The

committee also reviewed the after-action report of the August 12-14 storm. The

committee will look at the Vista Pond area, Terrace View and other detention/retention

ponds. He indicated there will be no recommendation until spring or early summer. He

stated the committee wanted to look at the total Village and the storm water

capabilities, the combined sewer system, detention basin inspections and then will

make recommendations. He indicated there were 289 facilities in the Village that

retain/detain storm water during flooding. He stated the next meeting is December 9.

Trustee Tross also reported the committee had reviewed the first draft of the Capital

Improvement Program. He felt there may be some redirection of emphasis based on

the economy and to move the aesthetic and beautification items to the back seat.

Village Manager Dave Hulseberg indicated the Capital Improvement Program will

remain in tact for 2009, but subsequent years may see changes due to the economy

and changing times.

Trustee Dick Tross, President of the Board of Local Improvements, reported the Board

had met on November 13. He indicated at the regular meeting the Board had approved

4 pay-outs totalling $128,000 in the Lombard Lagoon area.

A Public Hearing was also held the same night regarding Special Assessment 217B.

He stated 4 residents attended the hearing. He thanked the Public Works Department

and legal counsel for a great job. He stated this is a $4.1 million project. It was

determined that this will be a 76/24 split with the Village paying 76% of the cost and the

residents paying 24%. He indicated the recommendation will come to the Village Board

at the December 4th meeting.

He reported the bid would be let in March or April and even with the hard economic

times, this would be good for the residents and the Village. He stated the Board would

not meet in December, but will meet in January.

Trustee Moreau stated residents will receive a letter in January regarding the special

assessment and the cost to each homeowner.

Village Manager Hulseberg reminded the Village Board that the first budget

presentations would be held on December 2nd.

President Mueller reported the Village had received information that the Governor was

attempting to transfer funds earmarked for municipalities back to the State to help offset

budget deficits. He indicated Village Manager Hulseberg had drafted letters that he will

sign and forward to our legislators opposing this. He stated this would be about an

11% cut of funds to the Village. He remarked about the tough economic times that we

are all going through and the loss of jobs which is of the utmost importance. He stated

it is not only financially, but mentally a difficult time and this is affecting everyone. He

stated he retired two years ago and is in his 8th year of his retirement fund.

Village Manager Hulseberg stated this move would cost the Village a loss of $300,000

that the Village had anticipated receiving.

President Mueller thanked Dr. Jim Blanche, Superintendent of School District #44, for

the great time he had while being "Superintendent for the Day". He visited Pleasant

Lane, Manor Hill, Westlake and Butterfield Schools. He indicated he was very proud of

the education system and the teachers in Lombard and noted that each school has its

own identity. He remarked about how marvelous the students were and what a joy

they were to be with that day.

He indicated he wished he could have spent more time with the students and remarked

about their computer knowledge. He thanked Jay Wojcik for helping to organize the

event and how she had him on a Treasure Hunt at each school. He advised that he

was honored to be able to have the opportunity to attend this program again this year.

He also stated he attended the School Board meeting last week and received a plaque.

He emphasized how proud he was of the schools in Lombard.

President Mueller welcomed the new Asha Salon in the Shops on Butterfield. He

stated that he and Trustee O'Brien attended the monthly birthday party at Beacon Hill.

He wished Emma Schweppe, mother of Ralph and Bud Schweppe, a happy 100th

birthday. He indicated that many of the residents at Beacon Hill watch the Village

Board meetings. One of the residents indicated the Lombard meetings were not as

interesting as the Chicago meetings where she had previously lived. President Mueller

read a letter that had been faxed to the Village that evening. He asked residents to

keep Father Don Castle in their thoughts as he had been seriously ill for several years

and had just been sent home with hospice care. He indicated there was a prayer vigil

at the Calvary Episcopal Church beginning that night and through Saturday from 7-8

pm. He remarked that Father Castle had been the Fire Department Chaplain.

be required because this is a legal issue. The recommendation of the committee was

for the Village not to move forward on this matter at this time.

President Mueller indicated it was important to continue to look at this matter and that

cost was a factor at this time. He felt education was important in the community and

this matter can be reviewed again in the coming year. He felt the Village should look at

various avenues regarding speeding and the safety of its residents. He spoke about

arterial streets and residential streets and the varying speed limits on each. He

indicated no action should be taken at this time due to the $90,000 cost factor.

Trustee Soderstrom stated he believed in speed reduction, but coupled with the cost,

that it was not prudent at this time to move forward. He urged residents to contact the

staff or the Village Board regarding any speeding problems. He indicated the Village

would handle complaints on a case-by-case basis, if complaints were reported, and that

what residents perceive is important.

Trustee Fitzpatrick inquired about the cost of the speed study on Fairfield.

Director Goldsmith stated the study was done in-house so the cost was minimal.

Trustee Tross reported that three of the Village Board members had served as the

Chairperson of the Transportation & Safety Committee over the years. He also felt

perception was a key and the Village would continue to do in-house studies as

warranted based on accidents and conditions. He spoke about a high school girl who

had done her own speed study. He felt the Village should not proceed due to the cost

factor.

Trustee O'Brien stated the committee will continue to study this matter as needed and

the Village will do special warrants in an area if necessary. He felt that people will

speed no matter what the limit is. He advised that the Police Department would do

their job to reduce speeding. He asked residents to call if they had a problem and the

Village Board was working for the residents.

President Mueller felt that education was important.

Trustee Moreau questioned the inconsistency of the speed limits in the Village.

Chief of Police Byrne stated due to the fact that the Village was not a Home Rule

community, that the Village could not move forward without a study.

President Mueller thought Elmhurst had a 25 mile-per-hour speed limit on residential

streets and felt it was easier to post that all streets were the same speed limit. He felt it

may cost less to place signs at all the entrances to the Village posting the speed limit

throughout the Village. He felt the Village should address this matter again.

Trustee Moreau felt that changing the speed limit would show fairness.

President Mueller indicated this matter would be similar to the sidewalks that had been

discussed for so many years and this matter will be brought back to the Village Board

again and again.

President Mueller questioned Attorney Bayer as to what action, if any, was necessary.

Attorney Bayer indicated no action was necessary.