Village Hires New Treasurer, Seeks P&Z Commissioner Tom Thompson January 01, 2009 | Monee Monitor Following announcement of the recent resignation of Monee Village Treasurer Minnie Sinel, the village received eight applications for the position from highly qualified individuals, according to Trustee Diane Pieczynski. After deliberations in executive session during the December 10 board meeting, President Tim O'Donnell announced the board's decision to appoint Norbert Snow to the office. O'Donnell said there was still a need to fill a vacant seat on the Plan Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals. The P&Z is the panel that reviews plans for development in the village, considers requests for zoning variances and makes recommendations to the board concerning those matters. The issue of the Parks and Rec Committee came up. During the November 12 board meeting, Trustee Jim Huston had questioned why that committee had been disbanded. He had been told the mayor had made that decision. He asked the mayor why. O'Donnell said he had not disbanded the committee but had told members they should not meet when they have nothing to do. The committee is supposed to have nine members. Membership has declined and currently there are only three members, which does not constitute the quorum required for committee action. The mayor said he would welcome applications for membership on the volunteer Parks and Rec. Committee. When approval of an invoice for $3,040 from Pristine Remodeling Inc for drywall installation in the new water building came up, Trustee Pieczynski questioned whether expenses for that building had exceeded the $200,000 approved by the board. Trustee Kevin McGill, chairman of the Water Committee, indicated a bit over $7,000 of that amount remained, but his figures did not include landscaping. In his report from the Public Health Committee, Trustee David Stockton announced that, with the start up of the village recycling program, the large village recycling bin will be removed. There were several questions from residents about the recycling program. One wanted to know if residents who went away for vacation and stopped garbage pick-up could also stop recycle pick-up and not be charged for the service while they were gone. O'Donnell said he didn't see why not and said the village would make contact with the service provider. Another resident wanted to know if residents could simply opt out of the recycling program and not be charged for the service. O'Donnell said, "No." Trustee Huston, chairman of the Road and Bridge Committee, raised the issue of changing Egyptian Trail to a southbound, one-way road between Main St. and Governors Highway. The committee has considered the action as a way to mitigate deterioration of the road by heavy truck traffic. After some discussion, the board could not reach a consensus on the issue. In her report as chairman of the Public Property Committee, Pieczynski sought approval to spend $2,000 to have Struhbar Electric repair four streetlights along Monee Manhattan Rd. Though there was no opposition to fixing the lights, there was opposition to her choice of electrician. O'Donnell said the village employees should get the requisite training so they could make those kinds of repairs. He also said the lights should be fixed. Trustee McGill raised the issue of other lights in the village that are not operating. He estimated there were between 30 and 40 street lights that were out near stop signs. A public hearing on the 2008 tax levy held before the opening of the December 10 board meeting produced no questions no comments from the public. Before the vote on the levy, Pieczynski asked if it signified any tax increase for residents in the village. The Village Attorney Larry Gryczewski and O'Donnell both said it did not. The levy passed unanimously. Trustee Dan Tovo, who, with his wife Missy, has organized and run the Toys for Tots campaign in the village for several years, informed the board that the generosity of the businesses and residents of Monee has once again made the program a success. In these financially hard times, when, there was nationwide concern that the Toys for Tots drive would fall short of its goals, Monee once again increased its contributions over the previous year. Tovo presented the board with a picture showing the donated toys massed in a pile stretching the full width of the main room of the village hall. _

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