Minutes Archive

May 17, 2022

1. Call to Order

Mayor Barnett called to order the Village Council meeting at 7:00 p.m. and led those in the room in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. He explained the protocol for the meeting and the guidelines to submit public comment.

2. Roll Call

Council Attendance (Present):  Mayor Barnett, Commissioner Sadowski-Fugitt, Commissioner Gilmartin, Commissioner Glover

Council Attendance (Remote): Commissioner Hosé, Commissioner Walus  

Council Attendance (Not Present): Commissioner Kulovany

Non-Voting: Village Manager Dave Fieldman, Village Attorney Enza Petrarca, and Deputy Village Clerk Emily Tompkins

MOT 2022-9450-  A. Motion: Allowing for Electronic Participation for the May 17, 2022 Village Council meeting.

Summary: This motion allowed for Commissioners Hosé and Walus to participate via electronic participation in the  May 17, 2022 Village Council Meeting.

MOTION: To allow electronic participation for the May 17, 2022 Village Council Meeting, as presented.

RESULT: Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.

MOTIONED TO APPROVE: Commissioner Sadowski-Fugitt

SECONDED BY: Commissioner Gilmartin

AYES: Commissioners Sadowski-Fugitt, Gilmartin, Glover, Walus, Hosé, Mayor Barnett NAYES: None

3. Proclamations

A.  Police Week
Mayor Barnett proclaimed May 15th through 21st as Police week and called upon all citizens of Downers Grove and all patriotic civil and educational organizations to observe the week with appropriate ceremonies in which all could join in commemorating police officers past and present.  He continued by stating police officers, by their faithful and loyal devotion to their responsibilities, have rendered a dedicated service to their community and in doing so have established an enviable and enduring reputation for preserving the rights and security of all citizens.

Police Chief Shanon Gillette accepted the proclamation.  He thanked the Council for their unwavering support and for recognizing them during National Police Week.  Chief Gillette stated he was proud to serve with dedicated law enforcement professionals that strive to provide the highest levels of public safety services.

Chief Gillette awarded Officer Nick Bieker with the Downers Grove Distinguished Service Award for his response to an active shooter situation, where he entered the hot zone to aid and evacuate a gunshot victim that was later identified as one of the shooters.
 
Mayor Barnett stated it was an honor to work with them.  
 
B.  EMS Week
Mayor Barnett proclaimed May 15th through May 22nd as EMS Week.  He encouraged all residents to share their appreciation for the selfless EMS professionals who provide lifesaving services every day in our community.
 
Fire Chief Scott Spinazola accepted the proclamation and thanked the Council for their support.  He explained that EMS week was about rising to the challenge and that safety, health, and welfare were their top priorities. He stated that the Downers Grove Fire Department was the first runner up recipient of the Joseph Hartman, MD Award of Excellence.  This was for a call they responded to in January 2022, where a patient was in cardiac arrest and they were able to get him stable enough to be transported to Good Samaritan Hospital where he was released just days later.  He presented the Joseph Hartman, MD Award of Excellence to Lieutenant Joe Markowski, Lieutenant Nick Gilbert, and Firefighter Paramedic Dave Laird.

Chief Spinazola also presented awards for Superior Performance to Firefighter Paramedic Bob Barc, Firefighter Paramedic Mike Berg, Firefighter Paramedic Pat Jagger, and Firefighter Paramedic Ken Rexilius for their response to a cardiac arrest call in April 2022, where upon arrival they performed live-saving skills on a patient.  Once stabilized, the patient was then transported to Good Samaritan Hospital where he was released three days later in stable condition.

Mayor Barnett thanked them for their service
 
C. Public Works Week
Mayor Barnett stated the year 2022 marked the 62nd Annual National Public Works Week, May 15-21, 2022.  He talked about the importance of our public works team which provide services including water supply, public buildings, streets, sidewalks, traffic control signals, urban forest fleet maintenance, and stormwater management.  He said the team is an integral part of the citizens' everyday lives.

Director of Public Works Andy Sikich accepted the proclamation.  He said Public Works Week celebrated the great work they do.  He recognized Jake Hendrix, an employee, who started out as a maintenance worker and worked his way up to the Village Water Manager. He awarded Mr. Hendrix with the Public Works Director's Award for Excellence for his dedication to advancing his career and for being an inspiration to all of the other employees.

Mayor Barnett thanked the team members that were there, and those that couldn't be, for serving the Village.  He said he is not only thankful for the services that are delivered but mostly for the way in which they are delivered.  He concluded by stating that the Village is served every day by people that are caring and empathetic and who really care about the people they are touching every day. 

4. Minutes of Council Meetings

Chief Gillette also awarded Officer Cody Stults, and Officer Anthony Mack with the Distinguished Service Award for their decisive actions to provide mutual aid to the Westmont Police Department.  The officers responded to a burglary that turned into a chase and resulted in the exchange of gunshots. Chief Gillette stated that Officer Stults and Officer Mack successfully apprehended the offender and immediately administered life-saving first aid after realizing the assailant had suffered a gunshot wound in the commission of his crime. 

MIN 2022-9435  -  A. Minutes: Village Council Meeting Minutes - May 10, 2022

Summary: Village Council Meeting Minutes -May 10, 2022

MOTION: To adopt the meeting minutes of the May 10, 2022 meeting, as presented.

RESULT: Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.

MOTIONED TO APPROVE: Commissioner Sadowski-Fugitt

SECONDED BY: Commissioner Gilmartin

AYES: Commissioners Sadowski-Fugitt, Gilmartin, Glover, Walus, Hosé, Mayor Barnett

NAYES: None

5. Consent Agenda

COR 2022-9434  -  A. Claims Ordinance: No. 6457, Payroll - April 22, 2022

Summary: No. 6457, Payroll - April 22, 2022

BIL 2022-9436  -  B. Bills Payable: No. 6664 - May 17, 2022

Summary: No. 6664 - May 17, 2022

MIN 2022-9465  -  C. Minutes: Note Receipt of Boards and Commissions Meeting Minutes

Summary: Note Receipt of Boards and Commissions Meeting Minutes: Zoning Board of Appeals, 02-23-22; Liquor Liquor Commission, 03-03-22; Plan Commission 04-04-22

MOT 2022-9463  -  D. Motion: Approve a Contract for Pavement Marking Services to Superior Road Striping, Inc. in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $45,000.00.

Summary: This motion approves a contract for pavement marking services to Superior Road Striping, Inc. in an amount not-to-exceed $45,000.00.   

MOT 2022-9454  -  E. Motion: Approve a Contract with Morton Salt, Inc. of Chicago, Illinois, in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $189,700.00 for the Purchase of Bulk Rock Salt

Summary: A motion approves a contract with Morton Salt, Inc. of Chicago, Illinois, in an amount not-to-exceed $189,700.00 for the purchase of bulk rock salt.

RES 2022-9461  -  F. Resolution: Approve an Extension to the Contract with Snow Systems of Wheeling, Illinois, for Specialty Winter Operations Services in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $115,397.50, Which Includes a 10% Contingency  RES #2022-44

Summary: This resolution approves a contract extension with Snow Systems of Wheeling, Illinois, for specialty winter operations services in an amount not to exceed $115,397.50, which includes a 10% contingency.

MOTION: To adopt all items on the Consent Agenda, as presented

RESULT: Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.

MOTIONED TO APPROVE: Commissioner Sadowski-Fugitt

SECONDED BY: Commissioner Gilmartin

AYES: Commissioners Sadowski-Fugitt, Gilmartin, Glover, Walus, Hosé, Mayor Barnett

NAYES none

6. Active Agenda

There was no Active Agenda.

7. First Reading

ORD 2022-9455  -  A. Ordinance: Authorize a Special Use for 1835 Elmore Avenue to Permit an Extended Family  Accessory Housing Unit

Summary: The ordinance authorizes a special use for 1835 Elmore Avenue to permit an extended family accessory housing unit.

Community Development Director Stan Popovich reviewed item A of this portion of the agenda.  He stated the petitioner proposed to construct an extended family accessory housing unit to the southwest of the existing home.  It is a one-story addition, for an elderly resident, with 5 rooms and a separate entrance.  He said the Village's Comprehensive Plan calls for a variety of housing and dwelling types and this extended family housing unit allows elderly residents to age in place. Mr. Popovich said that not only did the proposal meet the extended family accessory housing unit requirements and the Zoning Ordinance requirements but the Plan Commission found that the Special Use standards were met.
 
There were no public comments.
 
Village Council Comments/Questions
 
Mayor Barnett asked if he was correct in thinking that some adjustments were made to the Zoning Ordinance in the past few years to better facilitate these kinds of additions.
 
Mr. Popovich replied by stating that there were some adjustments made to the Ordinance in approximately 2016.  He said this allows an elderly resident, or someone with health concerns, to be able to live with somebody and have a unit have their own as well.
 
Mayor Barnett replied and stated though there have only been about 6 thus far, he is glad to see these coming through. 

ORD 2022-9456  -  B. Ordinance: Authorize a Special Use for 400 75th Street to Permit a Drive-Through

Summary: This ordinance authorizes a Special Use for 400 75th Street to permit a drive-through.

Mr. Popovich reviewed item B of this portion of the agenda.  He stated the petitioner would be transitioning what is a former bank site into a coffee shop and salon.  The petition was seeking a special use permit for a single-lane drive-through for coffee pick-up.  Mr. Popovich reviewed the details of the proposal and said the Plan Commission found the standards for a Special Use were met.   
 
Sebastian Sotelo, owner of Sotelo Beauty Space, introduce himself and said he was looking forward to being a part of the community. 
 
Commissioner Hosé thanked Mr. Sotelo for choosing Downers Grove to locate his business. 
 
Mayor Barnett thanked Mr. Sotelo for choosing Downers Grove and also thanked him for the adaptive reuse of the location.
Summary: This ordinance rezones certain property located at 403 66th Street.

Mr. Popovich reviewed items C & D of this portion of the agenda.  He said the property located at 403 66th Street was currently occupied by a church building and a single-family home.  He said the property consisted of three lots of record and the petitioner was requesting a Plat of Subdivision to create a two-lot subdivision; one lot for the house and another lot for the church, the parking lot, and the lawn area. A lot depth exception was also requested; 140 feet is required and the existing lot is 129.69 feet.  Mr. Popovich said this is consistent with the properties to the immediate west of this property. He said that the lot width and lot area requirements were met with this Plat of Subdivision.  There is also a request to rezone the property from the current R1 to an R3 district.  He said the rezoning was appropriate considering the surrounding residential areas were zoned R3.  He concluded by stating this adhered to the Comprehensive Plan guidelines and the Plan Commission found that all the standards were met.

8. Manager's Report

There was no Manager's Report.

RES 2022-9457  -  C. Resolution: Approve the Final Plat of Subdivision with an Exception for 403 66th Street, 6600 and 6618 Fairview Avenue  

Summary: This resolution approves the Final Plat of Subdivision with an exception for 403 66th Street, 6600 and 6618 Fairview Avenue.   

ORD 2022-9458  -  D. Ordinance: Rezone Certain Property Located at 403 66th Street

9. Attorney's Report

Village Attorney Enza Petrarca presented the following for Village Council consideration pursuant to Section 2.5 of the Downers Grove Municipal Code:

  1. An ordinance authorizing a special use for 1835 Elmore Avenue to permit an extended family accessory housing unit.
  2. An ordinance authorizing a special use for 400 75th Street to permit a drive-through.
  3. An ordinance rezoning certain property located at 403 66th Street.

10. Public Comment

No public comments.

11. Mayor's Report

Mayor Barnett spoke about the recent challenging meetings.  He stated that it takes effort on everyone's part to respect each other as residents of the community.  He said that disagreement did not have to be disagreeable if all could accept that opinions can and will differ; disagreement doesn't mean disrespect or dismissal.  The goal is for all who attend the meetings and watch at home to know they were heard and to also understand that decisions have to be made. The Mayor apologized for whatever role he or the Council had played in heightened tensions and disagreeable dialogue.  He said they will try harder and will continue to improve.

12. Council Member Reports

Commissioner Sadowski-Fugitt announced the Pride events sponsored by EQDG coming up including:

  • June 4, 1-4 p.m., Outwards Journey Outspoken Event at Fishel Park where the LGBTQ community can share their coming out experiences; and
  • June 6, 7-8 p.m., LGBTQ panel on acceptance and inclusion at the Downers Grove Public Library; and
  • June 12th, at 12 p.m., Pride in the Parking Lot at the First United Methodist Church

Commissioner Sadowski-Fugitt said she knew that it had been a difficult week for many and she said she was holding space for anyone impacted by any recent events.  She reminded everyone to be kind and always assume the best of your neighbors.

13. Adjournment

Mayor Barnett asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. 

MOTION: To adjourn the May 17, 2022, Village Council meeting.  

RESULT: Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.

MOTIONED TO APPROVE: Commissioner Sadowski-Fugitt

SECONDED BY: Commissioner Gilmartin

AYES: Commissioners Sadowski-Fugitt, Gilmartin, Glover, Walus, Hosé, Mayor Barnett

NAYES: None

Mayor Barnett declared the motion carried by voice vote and the meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Rosa Berardi

Village Clerk

©2025 The Village of Downers Grove | All Rights Reserved