Rock Island Today

City of East Moline City Council met Oct. 7.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

PLEDGE:

Mayor Freeman led the City Council and all those present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

ROLL CALL

Mayor Freeman called the meeting to order and directed City Clerk Arletta D. Holmes, to call the roll. The following Aldermen were present: Larry Toppert, Gary Almblade, Nancy Mulcahey, Jayne O’Brien, Frederic Kotoku, Maria Tapia and Jose Rico.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Ms. Marlene Dyer – IT Director. I am a proud City worker for 11 years. I am sorry I didn’t speak up sooner. I am here now. I am here to save my job and fight for this position to stay as is. You received some numbers last City Council Meeting comparing inhouse to outsourcing. I have been doing my own budget since I started at the City and those numbers don’t make sense to her. One number that stands out to me is $5,000.00 for a City vehicle/Risk Management. I drive a hand me down city van. The van is not worth $1,000.00. Take it away I just saved you $5,000.00. You seem to be focused on expenses. You have not talked about how much you saved with inhouse IT. When I priced new computers, I do not go to the same vendor that I used the last time. I use the internet to get the best price. Vendors must match or go under the bid. These computers need to last 5 – 6 years. When I retire computers, I don’t throw them away. I strip them of there parts. This is what inhouse IT does to save money. When you receive your Council packets with all outstanding invoices, I go through each IT item to see if I could find a cheaper way. I found a charge that did not make sense. I asked questions and worked with our previous Finance Director. I found out we were being charged for services that the City no longer used. We received a refund of nearly $70,000.00. This is what inhouse does to save money. We cannot afford a part-time IT person. I find Grants/programs to get a free intern. An East Moline resident qualified for a free internship, she worked in the IT department for months. She moved onto the Health Department. She gained the skills she needed and now is employed at the Scott County Court House. This is what inhouse IT does. We help East Moline residents. In all my 11 years, I have never asked for a raise. A few years back someone was going to lose their job. Exempt does not take furlough. I did not just take furlough once but twice, to save City jobs. This is not an 8 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. help desk.

This is a hands-on job that requires most of the work to be done after 4:30 p.m. We do not have a lot of spare computers. So instead of interrupting an employee’s day, I work when they are at lunch or after there shift is done. This is what on site IT does. There is no other City – Moline, Rock Island, Davenport, Bettendorf that would outsource IT. IT is too critical for all departments. When I was hired, I was finger printed, background checked, a detective came out to interview my neighbors. Cities confidential information is kept safe with inhouse IT. You received an itemized report on the $78,000.00 you are getting for the out sourcing. I just want to bring to your attention a few things. Spam filtering $2,544.00 annually, we do not pay for spam filter it is included in are exchange license. Off-site storage $9,000.00. I do your backups and I take them off site. Mobile device management it is included in are exchange license. We have paid for that already. I thank you for your time and support.

Ms. Denis Ramos – Ms. Ramos expressed her concerns regarding the outsourcing of the IT Department. When the City outsourced the garbage, I did not see a reduction in my bill and once again my taxes have gone up. The outsourcing by your numbers are flawed. I feel this will be the same with outsourcing the IT Department, it will cost the City more money.

Ms. Eva Savala – 437 41st Avenue, East Moline, Illinois – Ms. Savala stated she is very concerned with what is going on with IT position. It is like Ms. Dyer is a first responder, we need her. This is the most dangerous time in our country. I ask that you reconsider outsourcing this position. I am a strong trade unionist, I will fight it to the very end. As tax payers we are here because we are concerned about Ms. Dyer losing the IT position.

CITY CLERK’S REPORT

City Clerk Arletta Holmes passed.

ADDITIONS/CORRECTIONS TO AGENDA:

None

CONSENT AGENDA:

City Clerk Arletta D. Holmes read the Consent Agenda that included the following:

a. Approval of the City Council Minutes of September 16, 2019.

b. Approval of the Committee-of-the-Whole Minutes of September 16, 2019. 

c. Approval of Salaries for September 20, 2019 in the amount of $419,427.84. 

d. Approval of Salaries for October 4, 2019 in the amount of $431,106.15.

e. Approval of Bills in the amount of $1,137,444.44

A motion was made by Alderman Almblade, seconded by Alderman O’Brien, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Upon roll call the following voted in favor: Mulcahey, O’Brien, Frederic, Tapia, Rico, Toppert and Almblade. Motion carried.

REPORT BY MAYOR

Mayoral Appointments:

Mayor Freeman made appointments to the following Boards and Commissions: Ms. Jaylee Swanson – Park Board – Term Expires on 04/21

Mr. Joe Lambrecht - Plan Commission – Term Expires on 04/21

Mr. Lee Woodward – Zoning Appeals – Term Expires on 04/22

A motion was made by Alderman O’Brien, seconded by Alderman Rico, to approve the Mayoral Appointments. Upon roll call the following voted in favor: Mulcahey O’Brien, Frederic, Tapia, Rico, Toppert and Almblade. Motion carried.

CITY ATTORNEY LINCOLN SCOTT PRESENTED THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS:

ORDINANCE 19-27: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF EAST MOLINE, ROCK ISLAND COUNTY, ILLINOIS, APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO AN ECONOMIC INCENTIVE AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF EAST MOLINE AND FIFTH AVENUE MAID RITE, INC. – Consideration Requested

A motion was made by Alderman O’Brien, seconded by Alderman Rico, to waive the reading of Ordinance 19-27. Upon roll call the following voted in favor: Mulcahey, O’Brien, Frederic, Tapia, Rico, Toppert and Almblade. Motion carried.

A motion was made by Alderman Toppert, seconded by Alderman Almblade, to approve Ordinance 19-27. Upon roll call the following voted in favor: Mulcahey, O’Brien, Frederic, Tapia, Rico, Toppert and Almblade. Motion carried.

RESOLUTION 19-68: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EAST MOLINE, ILLINOIS, AUTHORIZING PURCHASE OF 4 MOBILE DATA TERMINALS AND 13 ROUTERS IN THE AMOUNT OF $25,496.88 FOR THE EAST MOLINE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

A motion was made by Alderman Frederic, seconded by Alderman Almblade, to approve Resolution 19-68. Upon roll call the following voted in favor: Mulcahey, O’Brien, Frederic, Tapia, Rico, Toppert and Almblade. Motion carried.

RESOLUTION 19-69: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EAST MOLINE, ILLINOIS, AUTHORIZING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ROOFTOP HEATING AND COOING UNIT ON CITY HALL IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,410.00.

A motion was made by Alderman Toppert, seconded by Alderman O’Brien, to approve Resolution 19-69. Upon roll call the following voted in favor: Mulcahey, O’Brien, Frederic, Tapia, Rico, Toppert and Almblade. Motion carried.

RESOLUTION 19-70: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EAST MOLINE, ILLINOIS, APPROVING THE CONTRACT WITH PLATINUM INFORMATION SERVICES, INC. TO HANDLE INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY SERVICES FOR THE CITY OF EAST MOLINE.

A motion was made by Alderman Mulcahey, seconded by Alderman Almblade, to approve Resolution 19-70. Upon roll call the following voted in favor: Mulcahey, O’Brien, Frederic, Tapia, and Almblade. Opposed: Rico and Toppert. Motion carried. 5-2

COMMITTEE-OF-THE-WHOLE (Alderman Almblade)

Alderman Almblade had no items for discussion, all items have been covered under the Consent Agenda, Resolution, or Ordinance.

CITY STAFF COMMUNICATION:

Each City Staff member present was given the opportunity to inform the City Council and those present of events in their departments:

Chief Reynolds, Chief EMPD – Chief Reynolds informed the City Council that due to the GM Strike the two (2) vehicles will take longer to be delivered. Alderman Mulcahey asked if break-in’s have decreased since the arrests. Chief Reynolds replied yes, they have deceased.

Ms. Whiting – Finance Director – Requested a Special meeting to discuss the upcoming Budget on Monday, October 28, 2019, at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the upcoming Budget.

A motion was made by Alderman O’Brien, seconded by Alderman Mulcahey, to approve having a special meeting on Monday, October 28, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the upcoming Budget. Upon roll call the following voted in favor: Mulcahey, O’Brien, Frederic, Tapia, Rico, Toppert and Almblade. Motion carried.

Mr. Maxeiner - City Administrator – Mr. Maxeiner informed the City Council of the following:

• Letter of Credit from the Bank in the amount of $10,200,000.00 ($10.2 Million) for the Bend.

• Request for Proposal on Legal Services (RFP)

• The State of Illinois, Department of Public Health has jurisdictions over Trailer Parks. They are working with the Department of Public Health to alter City Codes to take them through the Court system under the City Code to get them Code compliant.

Mr. Kammler, Director of Engineering – Mr. Kammler updated the City Council on the ongoing City projects:

• Street closures and Seal Coating Projects

o Water Main 15th Avenue

o 29th Avenue and Morton Drive will be up next for Concrete patching with lane restrictions.

• Public Hearing will be held on Thursday, October 17, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. regarding Zoning Amendments regulating the sale of Cannabis within the City.

Chief DeFrance, EMFD – Chief DeFrance informed the City Council of the following upcoming events.

• October 6, 2019 Starts Fire Prevention – Plan your Escape.

• Sending email out a video link to all the Alderman showing Fires.

o Since 2008 Fires are down 7% and Fatalities up 12%.

Mayor Freeman requested that Chief DeFrance remind everyone that smoke detectors are available through the East Moline Fire Department.

Chief DeFrance informed everyone in attendance that if they know of anyone with a smoke detector that is over 10 years old, they can contact the Fire Department as they will replace the smoke detectors free of charge.

Mr. Stickler, Supervisor of Maintenance Services – Mr. Strickler informed the City Council that the flood gates are closed, due to the water back up.

Mr. Drake, WWWTP Facilities Director – Mr. Drake informed the City Council that the WWWWTP Facilities started Winterizing.

ADJOURNMENT:

A motion was made by Alderman Almblade, seconded by Alderman O’Brien, to adjourn the City Council meeting. Upon roll call the following voted in favor: Almblade, Mulcahey O’Brien, Frederic, Tapia, Rico and Toppert. Motion carried. 6:55 p.m.

https://www.eastmoline.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_10072019-572