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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-21-04 Canton City Council399 A regular meeting of the Canton City Council was held on September 21, 2004 in the council chambers at the Historic Depot, 50 North 4~' Avenue, Canton, Illinois. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE OPENED THE MEETING FOLLOWED BY THE INVOCATION GIVEN BY NANCY WHITES, CITY CLERK. Mayor Bohler called for a moment of silence in memory of former Alderman Jim May who died this week. Mayor Bohler asked for roll call at 6:30 p.m. Present -Aldermen Larry Sarff, Mary Fillingham, Bob Molleck, Elny Harn, Les Carl, Jim Hartford, Rick Reed. Absent - Alderman Craig West. MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 7, 2004 COUNCIL MEETING. Motion and second by Aldermen Molleck/Fillingham, the minutes of September 7, 2004 be accepted and placed on file. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously. TREASURER'S REPORT. Patty Beaird Franzoni said the report stands as presented. Patty asked that Council to direct the Board to investigate the Health Care Fund which receives $125,000 less each month. Alderman Carl asked if the Finance Committee could look into that? Patty stated they could. Mayor Bohler mentioned that the Insurance Committee would be the ones to meet on this. Just inform them know about it. BILLS FOR AUGUST. Motion and second by Aldermen Hartford/Harn, to pay all bills properly approved. Roll call. AYES -Aldermen Reed, Hartford, Carl, Harn, Molleck, Fillingham, Sarff. NAYS -None. 7 AYES, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSENT. Motion carried. COMMITTEE REPORTS: Finance. Council Action Motion and second by Aldermen Hartford/Molleck, for Payment No. 2 for N.E. Finch for the IH demolition in the amount of $445,500.00. Roll call. AYES -Aldermen Sarff. Fillingham, Molleck, Harn, Carl, Hartford, Reed. NAYS -None. 7 AYES, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSENT. Motion carried. Alderman Larry Sarff said that at the last council meeting a subject came up concerning the computer that was stolen, and the events around that, and the purchase of the computer, and the use of the computer. I had asked the city clerk to research the minutes where the discussion had come from that led to the purchase of the computer. Many of us had talked about it but did not remember the event. The City Clerk tells me she can fmd no purchase order nor any discussion at committee meetings relating to the purchase of that equipment. I guess that is something we need to discuss. City Attorney Ron Weber -are you talking about the simple issue of the protocol? Alderman Sarff -the protocol of the purchase and what the purchase was for. This particular equipment, I don't know what the possible purchase would be for a portable piece of equipment in the mayor's office. I guess the priority of purchase should also come to question. .., .. r.n . . .. ~ .. .. ~ r 400 Council meeting September 21, 2004 Alderman Sarff - in our ordinances 1-6-10 it mentions the committee's duties, and the committee is to review all purchase orders after the purchase. Alderman Sarff said, there was no purchase order, and it did not come to committee. Mayor Bohler - purchases can be made up to $1,000 without coming to committee. Alderman Sarff-yes, but it was over $1,000. Mayor Bohler -since you are getting into what the duties are Alderman Sarff, isn't it your duty to review bills each month? Alderman Sarff -you're absolutely right, we have several pages of bills this month and we do go through them. The chairman is the one who is updated on all the bills. This bill comes in from Perfect Service Organization Inc., for a purchase of a Ace Notebook Computer. But on the bills it was listed as Perfect Service Organization Inc. So I can see it was easily over looked with all the other services that we pay for. Mayor Bohler - I see many times Alderman Hartford an other Aldermen are good at asking questions about bills purchased over $1,000. Alderman Sarff -the question in the community is beyond the depth of the council to come up with an answer that would satisfy the community. And some 5 years ago a problem came up and we contacted the Attorney General's Investigative Unit. And I think we're at that point now. I think we have other issues that former and current employees have brought to me concerning questions of things going on. I think for everyone's good name to be able to be cleared, we need to have an outside investigation come into look at these allegations. Alderwoman Harn - my understanding is the police department was to do an investigation. Alderwoman Harn asked the Police Chief Donald Edwards if he wanted to comment. Donald Edwards - as far as this particular lap top goes, yes we have an on going investigation. At this time, however, the nature of the investigation I'm not at liberty to public announce where we are headed with it. We do have some ideas. We did come up with a way to possibly trace the use of this lap top. Suspects or ideas, I'm not at liberty to discuss that. Alderman Hartford -since it is under investigation anyway I think it is very mature for us to go else where to investigate. It is being investigated and the results are not in yet. We need to wait for that. Alderman Sarff -our police department can only investigate what happened to a lost computer. They cannot find out propriety, or the use of equipment. We don't know if it was used for City of Canton business. What was it used for, the community is asking and I have heard department heads used it. I don't think any of us want to put the department heads on the spot of asking them if they used it. We need an outside imaging that has no ties to the city to look at this and other issues that may come before that investigative unit to determine for the City of Canton where this is going so we can clear 4~.... ..... 401 Council meeting September 21, 2004 Motion and second by Aldermen Sarff/Fillingham, to contact the Illinois Attorney General's Investigative Unit. Discussion. Alderman Hartford said he disagreed as we still have an ongoing investigation. Alderman Sarff said what do we have to lose? Alderman Hartford said, why jump ahead before the police department is finished with their investigation? Alderman Sarff, well the mayor has raised the point of political purposes, what's more political than a police department where the chief is appointed by the mayor and the council. We take all that pressure off of our police department when we can take someone from outside who has no ties to the City. Mayor Bohlen said, the original purchase was brought to me by my secretary for the maintenance department and to be used by George Spann. I have a written statement by Mr. Spann, the statement reads...at the time the lap top computer was purchased he was approached several times by Pam Smith insisting that he has a lap top computer. (End of statement.) I was also told the lap top computer would be under $1,000. I too did not catch it on the bills and it is my fault, as I don't review them either. When we found after it was stolen, the price of it! Also, any purchase has to have my signature on it. When this was purchased from what ever the name of the company was, this was not purchased with my authority. Although if it would have been under $1,000, as I gave permission to forward to maintenance anything under $1,000. Mayor Bohler said he contacted the company where we purchased it, I have a letter from Nathan, and the letter reads...a lap top computer was purchased by the City and all communications was between Nathan and Pam Smith; and at know time did I speak with Mayor Bohlen. (End of Letter.) Alderman Sarff said, what do we have to lose, if we go to an outside source? Mayor Bohler said, I'm trying to explain to you, isn't that good enough, didn't you just ask who purchased and I have the word of two other people here. I'll tell you exactly what's going with this Nathan, as I advise him one of these people is no longer working in my office. On August 19 I received a call from that employee, they are saying they are an employee of my office and wanting information that should not go to anybody, and said it is sent to the City of Canton and gave a fax number saying it was the City of Canton. I asked for that fax number and I checked that fax number. That fax number did not go to the City of Canton it went to Todd Fletcher's office where Alderwoman Mary Fillingham works. Alderwoman Fillingham said, I was the one that made that call and I was the one who requested it. And there was nobody saying it was to go to the City of Canton. I tried contacting the deputy clerk and asked her for this and I received no information. So I had no other avenue to go, so I contacted this person for a copy of the invoice. At no point was Nathan told it was going to the City of Canton. Mayor Bohler said, that was his exact words when I spoke with him. Alderman Sarff said, a memo comes out of the mayor's office that nobody can receive any information as no one can release any. Mayor Bohlen said, no aldermen has been denied any information. Alderman Sarff said, that's true, but we have to ask for anything through your office. Mayor Bohler said, exactly, because if people go around falsely identifying themselves as it was in this case here. Alderman Fillingham said, no sir! You are wrong! Alderman Carl asked for the question. Roll call. AYES -Aldermen Fillingham, Sarff. NAYS -Aldermen Reed, Carl, Hartford, Harn, Molleck. 2 AYES, 5 NAYS, 1 ABSENT. Motion defeated. Legal & Ordinance. Council Action 402 Council meeting September 21, 2004 Council Action Motion and second by Aldermen Sarff/Molleck, to approve of the request from Police Chief Donald Edwards to hire 2 Telecommunicators and one police officer to replace those retiring and what is permissible under the ordinance. Roll call. AYES -Aldermen Sarff, Fillingham, Molleck, Harn, Carl, Hartford, Reed. NAYS -None. 7 AYES, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSENT. Motion carried. COMMUNICATIONS FROM MAYOR BOHLER. Public Works Director Cliff O'Brien gave an update on the IH towers and said they will be coming down Thursday September 22, 2004. MFT work has begun at the Lake Road by the Water Department Plant. Wednesday and Thursday of this week will start at Marlee Drive and if you have a raised manhole, your street will be done. OLD BUSINESS: ORDINANCE ANNEXING AND RE-ZONING TO R-2 SINGLE FAMILY, CERTAIN TERRITORY TO THE CITY OF CANTON, BELONGING TO SAMIE LINGENFELTER, AND LOCATED AT 621 WEST CHESTNUT STREET. Second reading, read by title. Motion and second by Aldermen CarUReed, the ordinance be placed up on its passage. Roll call. AYES -Aldermen Reed, Hartford, Carl, Harn, Molleck, Fillingham, Sarff. NAYS -None 7 AYES, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSENT. Motion carried. Ordinance being #1813. ORDINANCE -ANNEXING AND RE-ZONING TO R-2 SINGLE FAMILY, CERTAIN TERRITORY TO THE CITY OF CANTON, BELONGING TO DENISE R. HARRINGTON, AND LOCATED AT 610 WEST CHESTNUT STREET. Second reading, read by title. Motion and second by Aldermen Molleck/Hartford, the ordinance be placed upon its passage. Roll call. AYES - Aldermen Sarff, Fillingham, Molleck, Harn, Carl, Hartford, Reed. NAYS -None. 7 AYES, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSENT. Motion carried. Ordinance being #1814. NEW BUSINESS: ORDINANCE -ANNEXING AND RE-ZONING CERTAIN TERRITORY TO THE CITY OF CANTON, BELONGING TO MICHAEL W. PETERSON, AND LOCATED AT 617 WEST CHESTNUT STREET. Second reading, read by title. RESOLUTION -APPROVING AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF CANTON, ILLINOIS AND FULTON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. Motion and second by Aldermen Molleck/Harn, the resolution be adopted. Roll call. AYES -Aldermen Reed, Hartford, Carl, Harn, Molleck, Fillingham, Sarff. NAYS -None. 7 AYES, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSENT. Motion carried. Resolution being #3708. RESOLUTION - APPROVING A PRE-ANNEXATION AGREEMENT DL`T[xIL'L`lU TLTT. !'~7TV l1T. /" A lUTl11U A lUT\ il1Ti i p i VIUIUTi [i7 A T i1Dl1D T. ![D 403 Council meeting September 21, 2004 Weber explained this is also the Venovich Road. Alderman Carl asked the location of the property. Cliff O'Brien said it is pass the lake, take first right, and it is '/4 mile. Roll call. AYES -Aldermen Reed, Hartford, Carl, Harn, Molleck, Fillingham, Sarff. NAYS. None. 7 AYES, 0 NAYS 1 ABSENT. Motion carried. Resolution being #3710. RESOLUTION - APPROVING INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER MASTER PLAN. First reading, read by title. Motion and second by Aldermen Hartford/Reed, the resolution be adopted. Roll call. AYES -Aldermen Sarff, Fillingham, Molleck, Harn, Carl, Hartford, Reed. NAYS -None. 7 AYES, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSENT. Motion carried. Resolution being #3711. EXECUTIVE SESSION - NEGOTIATIONS, GRIEVANCE & PERSONNEL COMMITTEE - TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL AND PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACT. Motion and second by Aldermen Molleck/Hartford, to go into executive session to discuss Personnel and Public Works Contract. Roll call. AYES -Aldermen Reed, Hartford, Carl, Harn, Molleck, Fillingham, Sarff. NAYS -None. 7 AYES, 0 NAYS, 1 ABSENT. Motion carried. Mayor Bohler asked Alderman Sarff who should stay for the executive session -Council members, Julie Smick and Cliff O'Brien. - The regular scheduled council meeting convened for the executive session at 7:00 p.m. The regular scheduled council meeting convened into open session at 8:04 p.m. The executive session for Personnel and Public Works Contract are on file in the office of the city clerk for review. ADJOURNMENT. Motion and second by Aldermen CarUSarff, to adjourn. The regular scheduled council meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m. -- Nancy W ites, City Clerk APPROVED: ,~- ~~" rry M. Bohler, ayor