City of Wheaton City Council met January 6

By Philip Gonzales

Jan 28, 2020

City of Wheaton City Council met Jan. 6.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

1. Call to Order and Roll Call

The regular Wheaton City Council Meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m. by Mayor Philip J. Suess. Upon roll call, the following were:

Physically Present: Councilman Barbier

Councilwoman Bray-Parker

Councilwoman Fitch

Mayor Suess

Councilwoman Robbins

Councilman Rutledge

Councilman Zaruba

Absent: None

City Staff Present: Michael G. Dzugan, City Manager

John M. Duguay, Assistant City Manager

James Knippen, City Attorney

Paul G. Redman, Director of Engineering

William Murphy, Police Chief

Lauren Bertolini, HR Generalist

Sharon Barrett-Hagen, City Clerk

2. Presentations

Mayor Suess presided over a swearing-in ceremony for new police officers Adam Welte, Corey White and Briana Hartmann.

3. Citizens to Be Heard

Mr. Ted Utchen, 1686 Grosvenor Circle, believes that invocations given at Council meetings may make some citizens uncomfortable and feels prayers have no business at Council meetings.

4. Consent Agenda

Councilman Rutledge moved and Councilwoman Bray-Parker seconded that the following action be taken on the Consent Agenda items:

1. Approve the December 9, 2019 Public Hearing minutes and the December 16, 2019 minutes of the regular Wheaton City Council, as submitted.

2. Pass Ordinance No. O-2020-01, An Ordinance Amending the Official Motor Vehicle and Traffic Schedules (Chapter 70) for the City of Wheaton (One Way Streets).

3. Approve Bond Waivers and Authorize Issuance of Raffle Licenses to Lowell PTA and the Wheaton Public Library.

4. Adopt Resolution R-2020-01, A Resolution Approving the Plat of 1320 Avalon Court Consolidation.

5. Adopt Resolution R-2020-02, A Resolution Approving a Plat of Easement Grant (2040 S. Naperville Road).

Roll Call Vote on Consent Agenda:

Ayes: Councilman Rutledge

Councilman Zaruba

Councilman Barbier

Councilwoman Bray-Parker

Councilwoman Fitch

Mayor Suess

Councilwoman Robbins

Nays: None

Absent: None

Motion Carried Unanimously

5. Approve Appointments to City Boards/Commissions

Mayor Suess moved and Councilman Barbier seconded that Pam Cavanaugh be appointed to the Community Relations Commission for a term ending November 20, 2020 (completing the remaining term of former member Shayne Moore) and Krista Selvey be appointed to the Community Relations Commission for a term ending April 2, 2021 (completing the remaining term of former member Julie Kulovits).

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Mayor Suess

Councilwoman Robbins

Councilman Rutledge

Councilman Zaruba

Councilman Barbier

Councilwoman Bray-Parker

Councilwoman Fitch

Nays: None

Absent: None

Motion Carried Unanimously

6. Adopt Resolution R-2020-01, A Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Contract Between the City of Wheaton and Bruce Moss

Councilwoman Fitch moved and Councilman Rutledge seconded that Resolution R-2020-01, A Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Contract Between the City of Wheaton and Bruce Moss, be adopted.

City Manager Dzugan advised the proposed contract with Bruce Moss, the Wheaton Municipal Band Director, would be for a term of ten years, starting at $25,000 with an average increase of about 2% annually.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Councilwoman Fitch

Mayor Suess

Councilwoman Robbins

Councilman Rutledge

Councilman Zaruba

Councilman Barbier

Councilwoman Bray-Parker

Nays: None

Absent: None

Motion Carried Unanimously

7. Council Comment

Councilwoman Fitch stated Milton Township uses a pie chart to summarize tax distribution for residents, and DuPage County provides similar information. She stated the City percent used in those charts is different than what is provided by Staff and thought such creates confusion. She would like the City of Wheaton to provide information on tax distribution to residents, similar to Milton Township and DuPage County, and feels that would be very helpful to Wheaton residents.

Mayor Suess agrees that is something the City should look into. He complimented the residents of George Street on their Christmas decorations and congratulated them on their creativity. Mayor Suess attended the re-opening of Toms Price. He said the store has been in Wheaton since 1955 and looks forward to the store being part of Wheaton for the foreseeable future. In response to Mayor Suess, Assistant City Manager Duguay confirmed this is the last week for Christmas tree collection and that all trees at the curb will be collected by Friday, January 10.

8. Approval of Warrant

Councilman Rutledge moved and Councilwoman Fitch seconded that Warrant No. 767 in the amount of $2,543,186.67, be approved.

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Councilman Rutledge

Councilman Zaruba

Councilman Barbier

Councilwoman Bray-Parker

Councilwoman Fitch

Mayor Suess

Councilwoman Robbins

Nays: None

Absent: None