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1. MDS
   Member

   Meeting lead off (sans Pledge of Allegiance) with a somewhat contentious public comment period. Trustee Smith was making sure that public comments adhered to precisely what was being discussed, despite the sparse descriptions on the agenda, which consisted of:

   3. Sidewalks in the CBD/Village Center
   4. Centennial Plaza —“ Project Statement

   So if you couldn't read the board's mind and knew what aspects of each were being discussed, you were shouted down with "point of order." I do hope that if the village board truly wants to foster constructive, on-topic discussion, they will provide more than 4-6 word descriptions of the issues that will be discussed.

   Malade was looking for a variance from the Right of Public Way code to install pavers on the sidewalk in front of the Village Center instead of aggregate concrete. After some protracted discussion, it was clear that the Right of Public Way code did not allow for variances, and even if it did, no one on the village board would have been for it. So that did not pass.

   The board did pass a general statement about their vision for Centennial Park, which is to serve as a general guideline for the various commissions that are reviewing the plan.

   The meeting ended at about 8:35pm.

   Posted Monday Sep 10, 2007 21:01 #

2. Catherine
   Member

   There apparently was an intent to withdraw into Executive Session after this public portion, but as it was not put on the agenda the law apparently precluded this from happening.

   Anyone especially interested in the Centennial space should read that vision statement, as I did from the trustee packet that arrived somewhat late in the day at the library.

   Posted Tuesday Sep 11, 2007 10:45 #

3. spatny
   Member

   This is how contentious issues will be presented from now on.

   Posted Tuesday Sep 11, 2007 16:06 #

4. MikeT
   Member

   Thanks much for the reporting, MDS and Catherine. It would be great if those materials forming the VB packet can make it to the website. Ideally they should be made available ahead of the meeting, especially on a meeting where the VB is actually voting on the subject; however, if they can get out there a day or two later, that would be better than nothing.

   Posted Wednesday Sep 12, 2007 09:22 #

5. Catherine
   Member

   Yes, folks should check every Thursday and Friday for Special Meetings. These notices have lately been posted under the Agenda tab of the Board section. (Oddly.)

   Well, I believe a person who scanned items to the website was budget-cut so I don't think that will happen. Indeed, one idea for budget cuts in the long term finance committee papers is the website itself. The VM participates in these meetings but I don't know who proposed it. No discussion of cutting pensions for nonunion workers though.

   Fair play to the Board, it was great they unanimously objected to custom sidewalks for VC, which would also have opened the door for every developer, not to mention every business in town, creating a disunifying checkerboard.

   I heard something strange about the Special Meeting of Planning Commission last night though: they were to discuss the VC tower variance. I heard they approved brick pavers. I don't understand this because the board voted them down. Perhaps they were talking about their own private property. Perhaps someone who was there can explain.

   Posted Wednesday Sep 12, 2007 11:30 #

6. spatny
   Member

   I was there. KRush and the Village attorney did a dog and pony to guide them into voting to approve a Text Amendment on the pavers that would go to the Board quickly, and that is what the Board voted down. The Plan Commission was the one that originally approved the paver idea, and they did so again.. Talk about being under someone's control. They act like sock puppets and would approve anything they were told to - with one or two exceptions. It's pathetic. You ask public questions and they don't follow up and give an answer. That's what comes of cronyism.

   Posted Wednesday Sep 12, 2007 11:41 #

7. Catherine
   Member

   Are they talking about brick pavers between their building and the public right of way?
   Otherwise, why would the Village Manager and Village Attorney guide a commission to seek approval for a sidewalk of pavers that the elected Board just unanimously voted down? I am sorry, I do not understand.

   Posted Wednesday Sep 12, 2007 12:05 #

8. KathleenRush
   Member

   The Plan Commission did NOT at their meeting on September 11, 2007 approve anything regarding brick pavers - it was not on their agenda and it was not discussed. Mr. Spatny is wrong.

   The Plan Commission voted to recommend to the Village Board an amendment to the Zoning Code to allow for Towers to exceed the maximum building height by 10'. This amendment corrects a section of the code and permits towers to serve the aesthetic purpose typically contemplated in design. Yet, towers will not be permitted generally - they will only be permitted as a Special Use. When the Village code requires a Special Use, there is a public hearing requirement and a formal approval by the Village Board required. This level of scrutiny provides more control on development - not less.

   Further, the Plan Commission voted to approve a Special Use for the application for a Tower at the Village Center. This action goes directly to Mr. Spatny's concerns, as well as others, and will improve the roof slope and appearance of the Tower at the Village Center.

   Kathleen Rush, Village Manager

   Posted Wednesday Sep 12, 2007 12:19 #

9. Catherine
   Member

   Thank you for that clarification, Ms Rush.

   But I don't know that the tower speaks to Mr. Spatny's concerns!

   Posted Wednesday Sep 12, 2007 12:55 #

10. EricSundstrom
    Member

    Catherine, Ms Rush is referring to an earlier post where Mr Spatny was critiquing the tower on the corner of the VC saying it looked like a waffle or something and that it needed to be redesigned to look better.He got his wish, is what she's saying.

    Posted Wednesday Sep 12, 2007 13:47 #

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