City of Aledo City Council met March 18.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
The City Council of the City of Aledo met in Special Session in the Council Chambers of the City Hall building. MAYOR HAGLOCH called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. The roll was called, whereupon the following answered present:
Aldermen ILA BERTRAND, MICHAEL CHAUSSE, BARRY COOPER, DENNIS DIXON, JIM HOLMES, CHRIS KOPP, and LINDA SARABASA. Mayor CHRISTOPHER HAGLOCH. Alderman TERRY BEWLEY was excused.
Also present were CHRIS SULLIVAN, City Administrator / Chief of Police, JUSTIN BLASER, Director of Public Works & Utilities, and JAROD DALE, City Clerk.
The meeting was opened in prayer by ALD. Chausse.
SPECIAL COUNCIL SESSION
Following the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag,
ACTION ITEMS
ORDINANCE NO. 07, SERIES OF 2020; AN ORDINANCE REGARDING THE EMERGENCY POWERS OF THE MAYOR: (FIRST READING)
A new Section 8 is hereby added to Title 1, Chapter 6 of the Aledo City Code, to provide as follows:
1-6-8: EMERGENCY POWERS OF THE MAYOR
(A) Declaration of a State of Emergency.
A state of emergency exists when one or more of the following conditions are present or imminent:
(1) The Governor of the State of Illinois, or the President of the United States, has declared that a state of emergency exists, and the conditions giving rise to that declared state of emergency directly affect the territory, populace or property of the City; or
(2) A natural disaster or act of war or act of rebellion or terrorism or cyber- attack has overwhelmed, or imminently threatens to overwhelm, the ability of emergency responders or public health officials to safely, adequately of efficiently respond to the needs of the City or protect the safety of its residents; or
(3) An epidemic, pandemic, health emergency, or natural disaster makes its unsafe or imprudent for non-essential City personnel to report to work, or for a quorum of the City Council to meet; or
(4) Other unforeseen circumstances, of like kind or severity, arise and affect the safety or welfare of the residents, employees or officers of the City.
Should the Mayor determine that one or more of the above conditions exists or is imminent, and should the Mayor further determine that it is in the best interest of the City to declare a state of emergency, the Mayor shall sign, under oath, a statement finding that such standards have been met, setting forth facts to substantiate such findings, describing the nature of the emergency, and declaring that a state of emergency exists. Such statement shall be filed with the City Clerk as soon as practicable.
(B) Expiration of a State of Emergency.
A declaration of a state of emergency, made pursuant to paragraph (A) of this section, shall expire not later than the adjournment of the first regular meeting of the City Council after the state of emergency is declared. If the next scheduled regular session of the City Council cannot be held, because conditions make it unsafe or impractical to hold a meeting, or because a quorum of the City Council is not present at the appointed time for its meeting, the state of emergency shall continue until such time that a quorum of the City Council can convene, provided further that the Mayor may, at any time, declare that the state of emergency has ended.
(C) Emergency Powers of the Mayor.
Upon a declaration of a state of emergency, until the expiration or revocation of the declaration (The “Emergency Period”), the Mayor shall have and may exercise the following emergency powers; provided, however, that the lapse of the emergency powers shall not, as regards to any act or acts occurring or committed within the Emergency Period or any extension thereof, deprive any person, firm, corporation, political subdivision, or body politic of any right or rights to compensation or reimbursement which they may have under the provisions of this section.
(1) To enter into contracts, incurring of obligations, the employment of temporary workers, the rental of equipment, the purchase of supplies and materials and the appropriate expenditures and disposition of public funds and property as necessary.
(2) To suspend the provisions of any regulatory ordinance prescribing procedures for conduct of City business, or the orders and rules of any City agency, if strict compliance with the provision would in any way prevent, hinder or delay necessary action, including emergency purchases.
(3) To utilize all available resources of the City government as reasonably necessary.
(4) To transfer the direction, personnel or functions of City departments and agencies or units thereof for the purpose of performing or facilitating response and recovery programs.
(5) To recommend the evacuation of all or part of the population from any stricken or threatened area within the City if he deems this action necessary.
(6) To prescribe routes, modes of transportation, and destinations in connection with evacuation.
(7) To control ingress and egress to and from a disaster area, the movement of persons within the area, and the occupancy of premises therein.
(8) To make provision for the availability and use of temporary emergency housing.
(D) Public Notification of State of Emergency.
Upon the Mayor issuing the declaration herein authorized, and as soon as may be safe or practical, the Chief of Police, or his or her designee, shall notify the news media situated within the City and shall cause three copies of the declaration declaring the existence of the emergency to be posted at the following places within the City: City Hall, the Police Station, and the Post Office. However, the failure of the Chief of Police to provide such notice shall not operate to limit or invalidate the Mayor’s emergency powers.
Motion was made by ALDERMAN CHAUSSE and seconded by ALDERMAN BERTRAND to waive the 2nd reading for Ordinance No. 07, Series of 2020; An Ordinance Regarding the Emergency Powers of the Mayor. A Roll call vote was recorded as follows:
YES: Bertrand, Chausse, Dixon, Holmes, Kopp, and Sarabasa.
NO: Cooper. Motion carried. 6 yeas, 1 nay.
ALD. Cooper made a statement that he felt instead of approving this ordinance that items should be ran through the City Council first and that telephones could be picked up. MAYOR Hagloch reported these emergency powers are solely related to Covid-19 pandemic and if approved, he would contact each of the Aldermen first before a final decision is made. This was to assist in emergency situations so we did not have to take two (2) days to schedule a council meeting before getting an item approved.
ALD. Holmes affirmed this will help so we are not delaying an emergency. City Council reviewed Section 1-6-8 referenced above.
ALD. Chausse Called for the Question.
Motion was made by ALDERMAN CHAUSSE and seconded by ALDERMAN BERTRAND to adopt Ordinance No. 07, Series of 2020; An Ordinance Regarding the Emergency Powers of the Mayor. A Roll call vote was recorded as follows:
YES: Chausse, Dixon, Holmes, Kopp, Sarabasa, and Bertrand.
NO: Cooper. Motion carried. 6 yeas, 1 nay.
MOTION TO APPROVE THE CLOSURE OF ALL PUBLIC PARKS WITHIN THE CITY OF ALEDO:
ADMINISTRATOR/CHIEF Sullivan reported the intent of this action is to assist in eliminating residents gathering in groups within the parks. Also, will be taking steps to temporarily limit face-to-face counter traffic as well at City Hall soon.
Motion was made by ALDERMAN DIXON and seconded by ALDERMAN SARABASA to approve the temporary closure of all public parks within the City of Aledo. A Roll call vote was recorded as follows:
YES: Cooper, Dixon, Holmes, Kopp, Sarabasa, Bertrand, and Chausse.
NO: None. Motion carried. 7 yeas, 0 nays.
ALD. Bertrand noted the purpose of this action is to have community members follow Social Distancing during the pandemic.
ALD. Sarabasa noted this is a real and serious event and positive cases related to Covid-19 are coming to Mercer County and it will be here.
MAYOR recognized questions from the audience related to the closure of parks. Concerns were voiced about the closure of the Aledo Park District park areas. It was noted by City Staff, Park District properties will continue to be maintained.
The Aledo Cemetery remains open but not the Park area. Funeral Directors are coming out with the best way to handle funerals as well.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, motion was made by ALDERMAN CHAUSSE and seconded by ALDERMAN DIXON that the meeting be adjourned. A Unanimous voice vote followed in agreement. Meeting was adjourned at 6:16 P.M.
http://aledoil.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_03182020-225
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