Village of Bethalto Village Board Met April 26.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
Mayor Alan Winslow called the special board meeting to order at 6:00pm on the above date in the Community Room of Village Hall. The meeting started with “The Pledge of Allegiance”. Roll call was taken by Village Clerk Sue Lowrance with Trustees Bost, Dugger, Gibbons, Lowrance, Perkhiser, and Stassi in attendance. Also present were Public Works Director Rod Cheatham, Police Chief Mike Dixon, Zoning Administrator Randy Reddick, Village Treasurer Joseph Hughes, and Village Attorney Ken Balsters.
Guests & Public Comment
There were no guests or public comments.
Resolutions
Resolution 2021-14 A Resolution for Approval of Form for Water Line Easement was presented by Mayor Winslow. This is for one of three easements that are needed for the water line extension, all negotiated by Moro for this project. The layout of the easement was provided, with the easement shown in a collector street location on RLP property. Public Works Director Cheatham approves of the location, and the Village has no issues with this agreement. Motion made by Lowrance, seconded by Gibbons, to approve Resolution 2021-14 A Resolution for Approval of Form for Water Line Easement. Trustees Bost, Dugger, Gibbons, Lowrance, Perkhiser and Stassi voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 6- 0.
Resolution 2021-15 A Resolution of Support for the Replacement of Friedel Bridge and Improvement of Albers Lane was presented. The Village is ready to sign agreements with IDOT for this project, and a resolution of support is required to apply for funding. Our portion of the expense will be 20%, but a final estimate is not yet available. Motion made by Gibbons, seconded by Stassi, to approve Resolution 2021-15 A Resolution of Support for the Replacement of Friedel Bridge and Improvement of Albers Lane. Trustees Bost, Dugger, Gibbons, Lowrance, Perkhiser and Stassi voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 6-0.
Ordinances
Ordinance 2021-03 Salary Ordinance 2021-2022 was presented. This is the annual ordinance which sets salary rates for the fiscal year 2021-2022. Fire department personnel were added to this year’s ordinance, and a 2% pay increase was included as negotiated for public works per their CBA. The police union contract is set to expire on April 30, and negotiations have yet to begin, as the union canceled the meeting set back in February and haven’t set a new meeting date. Winslow noted that this ordinance includes a 1% increase for police personnel; this is not an obligation, but he figured that would be a minimum amount to start. Winslow added that the amounts shown on the ordinance are maximum rates, and not everyone in these positions gets paid the maximum rate. A Civilian Police Assistant (CPA) position was added to this ordinance, as agreed upon when the decision to remove dispatch services was made. There is also an entry for Lead Civilian Police Assistant, which Trustee Lowrance questioned. Chief Dixon explained that the position had been created when dispatch left, and that the current “lead” CPA handles all of the duties that the lead dispatcher handled when we still housed a dispatch center. Dixon stated that the added duties are worth the $1.50 an hour ($2800 a year, as this position currently works 36 hour weeks). Lowrance argued that the position doesn’t deserve such a hefty pay increase, and that the Village would be opening itself up to the rest of the police union wanting a similar increase. Lowrance stated he was trying to be consistent, and noted that the board had voted a few months back not to give the clerk an increase in pay for taking on added responsibility. Trustee Dugger asked if the CPA position was listed in the current contract; it is not. Dugger then suggested that the Village negotiate the contract with the police union first, with the CPA position included, and then re-visit adding it into the Salary Ordinance. Dugger noted that the Village couldn’t pay that position now without it being shown in the contract. Chief Dixon clarified that there is no current plan to add another CPA position, only the “lead” position right now. Mayor Winslow clarified that the consensus was to negotiate the police contract first, and then amend the Salary Ordinance once the contract is settled. There was further discussion of the current minimum wage, noting that over the next few years it is set to go to $15 an hour, as well as the possibility of conducting performance reviews in the future (for non union personnel, as union personnel are not subject to reviews). It was further clarified that the Civilian Police Assistant position had been approved, but that the lead position would be new; upon contract negotiation the position will be added to the contract and then the salary ordinance amended to reflect any changes necessary. Motion made by Dugger, seconded by Perkhiser, to approve Ordinance 2021-03 Salary Ordinance 2021-2022 as written, with the exception of removing the Civilian Police Assistant-Lead position until negotiated into the union contract. Trustees Bost, Dugger, Gibbons, Lowrance, Perkhiser and Stassi voted aye, nays none. Motion carried 6-0.
Reports from Mayor and Other Officers
Mayor Winslow announced that there will soon be an Infrastructure Grant funding opportunity available through the Recovery Act, with $82 million awarded to Madison County for local infrastructure projects. Mayor Winslow would like the board’s consensus that the Interceptor sewer line is a priority project, and suggests that the board have the last grant application updated and ready to go when the County announces that funding is available. There are currently no details on the program, but Winslow wants the Village ready to jump on the opportunity when it presents itself. Winslow added that with the number of people the Interceptor serves, the project should be a top scorer for grant funding. The board agreed that this project should be a priority.
Winslow announced that the next meeting will be May 10, and will be held in the Senior Citizens Building in order to accommodate more people. There is a limit of 50 people in a gathering, so Winslow asked the board to be conscious of that when inviting attendees.
Having no further business, motion to adjourn made by Lowrance, seconded by Dugger. All voted aye viva voce, meeting adjourned at 6:40pm.
https://bethalto.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/SPECIAL_BOARD_MINUTES_042621.pdf
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