City of Fairfield City Council Met Feb. 23.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
The City Council meeting was held with in-person attendance and others joined the meeting via phone conference.
Meeting called to order by Acting Mayor Moore at 6:00 P.M.
Prayer led by DuWayne Nobles followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
City Clerk Tina Hutchcraft called the roll:
Acting Mayor: Gary Moore
City Clerk: Tina Hutchcraft
City Attorney: Darrin Rice
Aldermen: Ralph Barbre; Brett Coale; Jim Griffith; Tyler Lampley; Eugene McGill; Jerry Lisenbee; Terry Stahl
Also Present: Ken Otey, WFIW Radio; David Mills, Wayne County Press; Keith Colclasure, Police Chief; Andrew Miller, Fire Chief; Tyler Lashbrook, Electric Department; Carroll Dugger, Cemetery Department; DuWayne Nobles, Gas Department; Dian Downs; and other citizens from the community.
The minutes of the meeting of February 9, 2021, agendas and bills of February 23, 2021 were sent out to those entitled to receive them. Acting Mayor Moore asked for approval of the minutes for the February 9, 2021 meeting. Motion by Alderman Stahl, seconded by Alderman Griffith to approve the minutes of the meeting of February 9, 2021.
Vote yes: McGill; Moore; Stahl; Barbre; Coale; Griffith; Lampley; Lisenbee Vote no: none
Acting Mayor Moore declared motion carried.
Acting Mayor Moore asked for approval to pay the bills for the February 23, 2021 meeting. A motion was made by Alderman Barbre, seconded by Alderman Coale to approve the bills for payment.
Vote yes: Moore; Stahl; Barbre; Coale; Griffith; Lampley; Lisenbee; McGill Vote no: none
Acting Mayor Moore declared motion carried.
Public Comments – Harley Southerd, manager of JJ’s Package Store, and Kristi Hornung addressed the Council in opposition of the City expanding the number of package store licenses from two to four.
Bids for the Sale of 1986 Chevy C-10 Pick-up Truck – Previously the Council voted to seek bids for the sale of a 1986 Chevy C-10 truck. No bids were received. A motion was made by
Alderman Coale to approve seeking bids for the sale of this truck again. The motion was seconded by Alderman Lisenbee.
Vote yes: Stahl; Barbre; Coale; Griffith; Lampley; Lisenbee; McGill; Moore Vote no: none
Acting Mayor Moore declared motion carried.
Ordinance Amending the Liquor Code – At the last Council meeting there was a request by Ahuja Brothers and Liquors Inc. for the liquor ordinance to be amended to allow additional package stores in the city. An ordinance was presented to the Council to amend the current liquor ordinance expanding the number of package liquor licenses from two to four. The
ordinance also deletes the section of the code that states “no Class A licensee shall operate or sell any alcoholic liquor through any drive in, drive up or walk up window”. A motion was made by Alderman Coale, seconded by Alderman Lisenbee to approve the ordinance to amend the liquor code.
Vote yes: Barbre; Coale; Lampley; Lisenbee; McGill; Moore; Stahl
Vote no: Griffith
Acting Mayor Moore declared motion carried and Ordinance No. 21-0223-245 approved and duly adopted.
Ordinance For Compensating Appointed Officials and Employees – In past years the Mayor took it upon himself to give pay increases to appointed officials, such as collector, treasurer and Mayor’s secretary, and city employees that are not covered by a collective bargaining unit like other departments in the city. Mayor Moore told the Council that those individuals are normally given the same pay increase as IBEW members but there were some instances where workers were given those increases as well as additional dollar increases without the knowledge or approval of the aldermen. The appropriation ordinance each year is approved by the Council and includes the compensation of employees but pay increases have been given without consent of the aldermen. This ordinance states salary and any other compensation of its appointed municipal officials and employees is to be approved by Council. The Mayor shall not increase the salary and/or compensation of an employee without the advice and consent of the City Council. A motion was made by Alderman Coale, seconded by Alderman Stahl to approve this ordinance.
Vote yes: Coale; Griffith; Lampley; Lisenbee; McGill; Moore; Stahl; Barbre Vote no: none
Acting Mayor Moore declared motion carried and Ordinance No. 21-0223-246 approved and duly adopted.
Engineering Agreement with Connor & Connor – The City is receiving money from the state for road projects through the Rebuild Illinois program. The City will receive a total of over $350,000 throughout a three-year period. This is in addition to motor fuel tax funds that we receive monthly. One of the projects we have identified to use a portion of the Rebuild Illinois money on is a portion of Kincaid Drive from Lezlie Lane to Summer Street. In order to get this project started we need to approve an agreement with Connor & Connor for engineering. A motion was made by Alderman Barbre, seconded by Alderman McGill to approve this agreement.
Vote yes: Griffith; Lampley; Lisenbee; McGill; Moore; Stahl; Barbre; Coale
Vote no: none
Acting Mayor Moore declared motion carried.
Miscellaneous – We recently had a couple of major water breaks in our system. Mayor Moore thanked all of the departments that identified where the leaks were located and the employees that made the needed repairs.
Miscellaneous – Mayor Moore reminded the residents that the upcoming utility bills are expected to be much higher due to the extreme cold weather we have been experiencing.
Miscellaneous – Alderman Lampley reminded utility customers to sign up for email billing in order to be included in a drawing. The first prize winner will receive $300 off their utility bill and second prize will receive a $200 gift card.
Executive Session – Alderman McGill made a motion, seconded by Alderman Coale to go into Executive Session to discuss Section 2(c)(21) – minutes of closed session meetings and Section 2(c)(23) – contracts relating to the purchase, sale or delivery of electricity of natural gas. Vote yes: Lampley; Lisenbee; McGill; Moore; Stahl; Barbre; Coale; Griffith Vote no: none
Acting Mayor Moore declared motion carried.
Return to Regular Session – Alderman McGill made a motion, seconded by Alderman Stahl to return to regular session.
Vote yes: Barbre; Coale; Lampley; Lisenbee; Moore; McGill; Stahl
Vote no: none
Absent: Griffith
Alderman Lampley declared motion carried and Council returned to regular session at 7:51 p.m.
Adjourn Meeting – Motion by Alderman Lampley, seconded by Alderman Coale to adjourn the meeting.
Vote yes: 7
Vote no: 0
Absent: 1
Alderman Moore declared meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
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