City of Carbondale City Council met Jan. 25

By Kristine Gonzales-Abella

Mar 18, 2022

City of Carbondale City Council met Jan. 25.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

Council Members present

Councilmember Adam Loos, Councilmember Ginger Rye Sanders, Councilmember Jeff Doherty, Councilmember Lee Fronabarger, Councilmember Tom Grant, Councilmember Carolin Harvey, and Mayor John M Henry

Meeting called to order at 6:01 PM

1. Preliminaries to the City Council Meeting

Procedural: 1.1 Roll Call

Procedural: 1.2 Citizens' Comments and Questions

Sandy Litecky provided details about the Neighborhood Alliance Meeting on February 5 which will be held utilizing the Zoom platform.

Maxine Lewis expressed her concern about the number of shootings in her neighborhood and asked for the installation of cameras.

Procedural: 1.3 Council Comments, General Announcements, and Proclamations

Councilmember Rye-Sanders asked who is monitoring the Affirmative Action Program and the Diversity Compliance Policy since the position is currently vacant. She asked if HR Staff would be going on-site to conduct reviews.

Councilmember Harvey reminded citizens that Black History Month begins February 1 and encouraged citizens to look for related events.

2. Public Hearings and Special Reports

3. Consent Agenda of the City Council

Action (Consent): 3.1 Minutes from the City Council Meeting of January 11, 2022 Resolution: Approve the City Council meeting minutes from January 11, 2022

Action (Consent): 3.2 Approval of Warrant for the Period Ending: 01/07/2022 for the FY 2022 Warrant 1424 in the Total Amount of $1,267,933.82

Resolution: Accept the following report of payments made for the period ended: 01/07/2022 totaling $1,267,933.82 (Exhibit A-01-25-2022)

Action (Consent): 3.3 Approval of Consent Agenda Items

Resolution: Approve all Consent Agenda items not pulled for separate consideration MOTION: Approve all Consent Agenda items not pulled for separate consideration

Motion by Carolin Harvey, second by Tom Grant.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Adam Loos, Ginger Rye Sanders, Jeff Doherty, Lee Fronabarger, Tom Grant, Carolin Harvey, John M Henry

4. General Business of the City Council

Action: 4.1 Ordinance Authorizing the Issuance of the 2022 G.O. Bonds to Fully Fund the Carbondale Police Pension and Carbondale Fire Pension in an Amount Not to Exceed $42,500,000

MOTION: Adopt the Ordinance Authorizing the Issuance of General Obligation Bonds Series 2022 in the amount up to $42,500,000 for the 100% funding of the Carbondale Police Pension and Carbondale Fire Pension Actuarial Accrued Liability (AAL)

Motion by Lee Fronabarger, second by Tom Grant.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Ginger Rye Sanders, Jeff Doherty, Lee Fronabarger, Tom Grant, Carolin Harvey, John M Henry

Nay: Adam Loos (Ordinance 2022-04; Exhibit B-01-25-2022)

Action: 4.2 Approve an Agreement with Arndt Municipal Support to Provide Consulting Services to Administer American Rescue Plan Act Funds

City Council shared their viewpoints on the recommended Consultant, expressed a desire to utilize a consultant from Carbondale, inquired about the number of minorities employed by Mr. Arndt's firm, inquired about the flow of recommendation communications, asked for an estimate for the additional expenses, whether an RFP can be submitted for local bids, whether action must occur tonight, if an offer had been received by a local bidder and what that cost was, the benefit of utilizing someone outside of the city, remarks about the comparison of the two bids received, expressed concern about Council having involvement in the compilation of a local bidder list, a desire to have an objective assessment of funding applications, an explanation of how and why the list in question was developed, a desire to keep the funds in Jackson County, questioning how the bid process was handled, discussion about the professional bidding process, an assessment of the character of the consultant, concern about Council legislating, developing policy, and the bidding process, and discussed prior Council actions which were contrary to staff’s recommendations.

Nancy Maxwell inquired about the diversity of the recommended firm and about the City's Diversity Policy.

MOTION: Approve an agreement with Arndt Municipal Services to provide consulting services to administer ARPA funds.

Motion by Jeff Doherty, second by Adam Loos.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Adam Loos, Jeff Doherty, Lee Fronabarger, Tom Grant, Carolin Harvey, John M Henry

Nay: Ginger Rye Sanders

5. Executive Session

Action: 5.1 Executive Session to Discuss the Setting of a Price for Sale or Lease of Property

Enter into an Executive Session to discuss the setting of a price for sale or lease of property owned by the public body as permitted under the Illinois Open Meetings Act 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(6)

Motion by Tom Grant, second by Carolin Harvey.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Adam Loos, Ginger Rye Sanders, Jeff Doherty, Lee Fronabarger, Tom Grant, Carolin Harvey, John M Henry

Open session recessed at 6:46 p.m.

Action: 5.2 Return to Open Session

MOTION: Move to Return to the Open Session

Motion by Tom Grant, second by Carolin Harvey.

Final Resolution: Motion Carries

Yea: Adam Loos, Ginger Rye Sanders, Jeff Doherty, Lee Fronabarger, Tom Grant, Carolin Harvey, John M Henry

Open session resumed at 7:01 p.m.

6. Adjournment of the City Council Meeting

Procedural: 6.1 Adjourn meeting