Kendall County Times

City of Sandwich City Council met March 3.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

1. Call to Order: Mayor Latham called the meeting to order at 8:18 PM

2. Roll Call

Present: Mayor Latham, City Clerk Ii, Aldermen Arnett, Erickson, Fritsch, Johnson, Kreinbrink, Robinson & Whitecotton

Also present: City Attorney Gottschalk, City Administrator Penman, Police Chief Senne, EEI Engineer Dettmann & SEMA Director Eberle

Absent: Alderman Littlebrant

Quorum established

3. Audience Comments: None

4. Consent Agenda:

Motion to adopt the Consent Agenda as a whole. (All matters listed are considered to be routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion. If discussion is desired, that item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered separately). Item A, Committee-of-the-Whole meeting minutes was removed at the request of City Clerk Ii.

A. Approval of Committee-of-the-Whole Meeting Minutes of February 17, 2025 removed B. Approval of Minutes for the Regular Council Meeting of February 17, 2025

Motion made by Alderwoman Johnson, and seconded by Alderman Fritsch, adopting the consent agenda as amended. Motion passed unanimously on voice vote.

5. Mayor’s Report: Mayor Latham met with Senator Sue Rezin this past week in regards to AT&T drop calls in the city and surrounding areas. An equal call will be made to Verizon about cell phone service.

6. Attorney’s Report consisted of:

• Closing on the Church Street property to be held on Friday, March 7th

• Obtained an Order of Default on 200 N. Castle Street

• Regarding the GTE building, a contractor will be providing a quote

• Reviewed the demo bid on the Johnson property

• Contact has been made with the attorney representing the owner of the vacant lot on Castle Street, and trying to work out a resolution

8. Treasurer’s Report: Vacancy

9. City Administrator Penman: No report

10. City Department’s Reports: No reports

11. Council Reports: Alderman Robinson spoke on the controversy and subsequent payment denial of Christmas gift cards provided to staff as a show of appreciation. At the February 17th finance committee meeting, the payment was denied due to lack of council approval, although funds were budgeted in April, 2024. Alderman Robinson explained that the gift cards have been a policy for over ten years, and there is a line item in the budget for employee relations. Six aldermen, creating a super majority, felt that gift cards were a good idea. An email from the mayor on December 2nd to the council stated that the city was no longer providing gift cards to the staff, and that employees would be invited to a city function. Although Alderman Robinson stated he had no problem with a luncheon, he had a problem that the council was not asked nor voted on the luncheon but were told what was going to happen. Quoting Alderman Robinson - “the city council makes the decisions; the city council runs the city. The City Administrator is for the day-to-day operations.” The mayor does not vote unless there is a tie to be broken. Alderman Robinson said he obtained a list of current employees from the City Administrator that included 31 full time employees and 11 part-time employees. He was told by the mayor that the City Administrator would be providing gift cards to the EMA staff, but that had not been brought before the council for a vote.

Alderman Robinson continued that when his name is used in a bad or negative way based on unfounded reasons, he said he will stand up for himself. He expressed that the controversy has made him angry. He read a note, attached to the purchase order, saying the purchase of the gift cards was done illegally and not approved. A resident threatened that this matter would be reported to the Attorney General as an Open Meetings Act violation. There was no violation, according to Alderman Robinson, saying he talks to the other aldermen individually.

Mayor Latham acknowledged the gift cards have been a standard practice in the past, but is not specifically listed in the current budget as such. He noted that aldermen do not sign purchase orders but are signed by the employees and reviewed by the finance committee. Mayor Latham pointed out that there have been two issues since he has been mayor (1) March, 2022 an ethics inquiry was filed regarding gift cards, that later was determined to be a misunderstanding, and (2) collective bargaining from December, 2023 where Attorney Coyle, representing the city during negotiations, said gift cards were a taxable benefit, and would not recommend it. The mayor continued that the council was made aware of his intentions to host a luncheon for staff, no one from the council ever reached out to him regarding gift cards, and that he never signed off on a flyer related to the luncheon.

Alderman Kreinbrink interjected that funding was in the budget labeled “to be determined”, and the council should have been more specific. He felt that the matter should have been brought before the council for a vote. Alderman Robinson countered that the luncheon was not approved by council.

Attorney Gottschalk spoke that a purchasing policy was passed in December, 2023 whereby aldermen do not have the authority to spend money individually. She also expressed she felt there was no ethics violation but one of miscommunication; however, she still stands by her belief that gift cards are a bad idea.

Alderman Whitecotton spoke on behalf of Alderman Robinson saying there is no one who cares more about the employees than Rich who donates much of his personal time, and Alderman Whitecotton felt it was a shame that everyone acts like they were caught off guard by the gift cards, and yet everyone did know.

12. Old Business:

A. Resolution 25-03 entitled “Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Mayor to Execute a Development Agreement Between the City of Sandwich and Phase 4FW, LLC Concerning the Development of 58 Lots in Fairwinds Subdivision in the City of Sandwich, Illinois, Commonly Referred to as Phase IV of Fairwinds” presented for first reading and passage. Attorney Gottschalk advised on the language to use pertaining to the motion and amendment. Alderman Arnett raised the question why engineering plans have not been provided for review, and if City Engineer Dettman had confidence in the infrastructure. Engineer Dettman explained documents must be reviewed once the developer’s agreement is approved, and are submitted to the IEPA for sanitary and sewer permits. Attorney Rick Williams, representing the owners, answered questions relative to the infrastructure adding that the goal is to work cooperatively with the City.

Motion made by Alderman Whitecotton to waive first reading of Resolution 25-03 to authorize the Resolution to adopt the agreement as amended to include Part 4 (J) as an additional reason for the improvement bond or letter of credit to be reduced as the acceptance of the improvement by the City. Alderman Robinson seconded. Aye: Aldermen Arnett, Erickson, Fritsch, Johnson, Kreinbrink, Robinson & Whitecotton Nay: 0 Motion carried unanimously

Alderman Whitecotton moved to pass Resolution 25-03 as amended, and as previously stated in the motion to waive first reading. Motion was seconded by Alderwoman Erickson. Aye: Aldermen Arnett, Erickson, Fritsch, Johnson, Kreinbrink, Robinson & Whitecotton Nay:0 Motion passed 7:0

B. Resolution 25-04 entitled “Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Mayor to Execute an Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement Between the City of Sandwich and the County of DeKalb Concerning Zoning and Building Regulations for Property Located at 21 Gletty Road, Sandwich, Illinois 60548” presented for passage. This Resolution authorizes the City to have authority of the zoning and building regulations.

Alderwoman Johnson moved to pass Resolution 25-04 as presented. Motion was seconded by Alderman Kreinbrink. Aye: Aldermen Arnett, Erickson, Fritsch, Johnson, Kreinbrink, Robinson & Whitecotton Nay:0 Motion carried 7:0

13. New Business:

A. Approval of 2023-2024 Audit: Motion requested to approve the 2023-2024 audit as presented by Sikich LLC.

Motion made by Alderwoman Johnson, and was seconded by Alderman Kreinbrink. Aye: Aldermen Arnett, Fritsch, Johnson, Kreinbrink, Robinson & Whitecotton Nay: Alderman Fritsch Motion carried 6:1

B. Monthly Bills: Motion requested authorizing payment of invoices as recommended by the Finance Committee in the total amount of $170,469.36.

Motion made by Alderwoman Johnson authorizing payment as presented. Alderman Fritsch seconded. Aye: Aldermen Arnett, Erickson, Fritsch, Johnson, Kreinbrink, Robinson & Whitecotton Nay:0 Motion carried 7:0

C. Payment to Art’s Supermarket: Motion requested to approve payment of invoice from Art’s Supermarket for Christmas gifts cards in the amount of $1,825.00.

So moved by Alderwoman Erickson, and seconded by Alderman Whitecotton. Aye: Alderman Arnett, Erickson, Fritsch, Johnson, Kreinbrink, Robinson & Whitecotton Nay:0 Motion passed unanimously

14. Executive Session: Motion made by Alderwoman Johnson to enter closed session at 9:19 AM pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11) “Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable of imminent”. Motion was seconded by Alderman Robinson. Noted that no action would be taken. Aye: Alderman Arnett, Erickson, Fritsch, Johnson, Kreinbrink, Robinson & Whitecotton Nay:0 Motion carried 7:0

Alderman Robinson moved to return to regular session at 9:36 PM. Motion was seconded by Alderwoman Erickson. Aye: Aldermen Arnett, Erickson, Fritsch, Johnson, Kreinbrink, Robinson & Whitecotton Nay:0 Motion carried unanimously

15. Announcements:

A. Next Finance Committee Meeting will be held on Monday, March 17th, 2025 at 6:30 PM

B. The next Committee-of-the-Whole Council Meeting will be held on March 17th, 2025 at 7:00 PM followed immediately by the Regular Council Meeting.

16. Adjournment: Motion made by Alderman Robinson to adjourn at 9:38 PM. Motion was seconded by Alderwoman Erickson. Motion passed unanimously on voice vote.

https://www.sandwich.il.us/media/3206