Alderman Boycotted Closed Session Last Week; Same Item is on Closed Session Agenda Monday

Elmhurst City Council will meet at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 17, at City Hall, 209 N. York St. The meeting will be preceded by a meeting of the Public Works and Buildings Committee at 6:15 p.m., for the purpose of discussing the 2012 sidewalk replacement program, and a closed session at 6:30 p.m., to discuss the acquisition and disposition of real property.

A closed session on property acquisition also was held last week, Sept. 10, and 1st Ward Alderman Paula Pezza refused to attend. In a letter to City Manager Jim Grabowski and Assistant City Manager Mike Kopp, Pezza wrote the following:

"I will not be participating in the executive session discussion as per the agenda for tonight, 9/10/12, listed as 'Acquisition of Real Property.'

"Based on the scope of the information we received at 2:43:30 p.m. today, for the 6 p.m. executive session meeting, I believe the discussion includes information which should be dealt with publicly, as it involves the use of millions of taxpayers dollars pursuant to an agreement which was made in February 2009."

It is not immediately known if Pezza will attend the Sept. 17 closed session.

The public meeting will begin with the swearing-in of firefighters Scott Wardzala and Daniel Whelan. The mayor will then proclaim national No Text on Board Pledge Day, which discourages texting while driving.

The public will then be invited to speak for up to three minutes on any topic.

In addition to approval of minutes and accounts payable, the consent agenda includes the following items:

• Appointment to the Elmhurst Economic Development Commission of Kurt Schiele, Jason Janes and Barbara Riekse Schau. These appointments increase the size of the commission from 12 members to 15.
• Referral to the Public Works and Buildings Committee, which is meeting immediately prior to the City Council meeting, bid results for the 2012 sidewalk replacement project. Nine bids were received with prices ranging from $118,712 from Kings Point General Cement of Addison, to $232,150 from Alliance Contractors of Woodstock.
• Kitchen Eatery's request for a liquor license at 601 W. St. Charles Road will be referred to the Public Affairs and Safety Committee.
• Approval of a contract with D'Land Construction of Bensenville for $122,414 for removal and replacement of sidewalk, curb and gutter throughout the city. The lowest bidder, Kings Point General Cement, was deemed not qualified. D'Land offered the second lowest bid.
• Approval of the route for the Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot Nov. 22. The route will be the same as last year, and will cause the closure of St. Charles and York. A new route for 2013 is in the works.
• Approval of yield signs on Oneida at Chatham
• Approval of the Irish Spring 5-K race sponsored by Runners Soul at  9 a.m. March 9, in conjunction with Elmhurst's St. Patrick's Day parade. The race begins at Spring and Montrose and travels south to Butterfield and back. The route weaves into the neighborhoods on both side of Spring Road slightly.
• Renewal of employee health insurance
• Approval of a request to allow auto sales at 940 N. Industrial Drive (Auto Works)
• Committee-recommended denial of a front yard setback variation from 25 feet to 21.9 feet and a lot coverage variation for a property at 130 N. Larch
• Approval of the sale of city owned vehicles, including a motorcycle, trucks and a van
• Approval of a 5-K run hosted by Mary Queen of Heaven Parish at 7:45 a.m. Oct. 20
• Purchase of a $24,000 Toyota Prius Hybrid from Elmhurst Toyota for the Elmhurst Fire Department. This replaces a 1999 Ford Windstar, which will be used as a trade-in.
• Ordinance approving D'Land as the sidewalk contractor

Following reports from Mayor Pete DiCianni, and any other business, the meeting will adjourn.