Town Approves $350,000 In Settlements, Reveals Plans For Repavement Projects
The Town of Cicero trustees during their bi-weekly board meeting on Tuesday, September 13th, 2022. April Alonso for Cicero Independiente.
By Efraín Soriano
Town of Cicero President Larry Dominick and the Board of Trustees met on September 13, 2022 to approve several agreements, ordinances and settlements. The meeting began with roll call and the pledge of allegiance.
“Everyone who loves America, please stand and join us for the pledge,” said Dominick.
The board went to approve all agenda items which included $350,000 in settlements, the sale of a plot of land on Cicero Ave to Vequity LLC, contracts being awarded for several town redevelopment projects such as the Alley Repavement project, and much more.
You can access all documents used in the making of this recap here. A full video recording of the board meeting is also available at the bottom of this page and on our youtube channel.
Here is a summary of the approved items:
Service Agreements
The board began by approving an invoice submitted by the Public Works department for a new Bobcat skid steer loader in the amount of $64,751.00.
Then board members agreed to enter into a service agreement with Flashing Thunder Fireworks for a $17,500 fireworks display that happened on September 18, 2022.
Invoices totaling $30,054.83 were approved for vehicle maintenance and repairs that were performed on town Water Department vehicles by Standard Equipment Company.
The town approved a franchise agreement with Comcast of Illinois IV, Inc that allows Comcast to provide residents with cable television through public ways. The agreement also states that Comcast is required to pay the town 5% of their gross annual revenue.
The following agenda item was an amendment to a service agreement with Gamma Team Security. The amendment changed the scope of the services provided by the security teams at special events and listed a $27 hourly wage.
Ordinances and Resolutions
The first ordinance approved was regarding a plot of land previously approved for redevelopment in the August 23, 2022 board meeting. On September 13, 2022 the board authorized Vequity LLC to purchase and improve the plot of land located on Cicero Ave and 33rd Place. The property is set to become a new Portillo’s restaurant according to the documents obtained from the town.
Dominick and the Board of Trustees also approved a resolution that affirms their support of the Workers Rights Amendment which will be voted on in the general election on November 8, 2022. If approved, the amendment will add a “Workers’ Rights” section to the Illinois Bill of Rights which protects workers’ right to organize and collectively bargain and negotiate their wages, hours and working conditions.
With Halloween coming up in a few weeks, board members approved a resolution that sets Trick or Treat hours on October 31, 2022 from 3-7 p.m.
You may find that the documents and minutes state the hours to be 12-4 p.m. However, the board did not initially realize Halloween was on a school day this year. They did catch the mistake prior to the end of the meeting and corrected the resolution.
Settlements of Litigation
The board members approved an ordinance to amend Chapter 2, Section 2-342 of the Code of Ordinances. This amendment now allows the town attorney to settle any claims and suits that involve the town and do not exceed $20,000. The code previously granted the town attorney the same privilege but only up to $10,000. The town attorney is responsible for reporting the nature and terms of any settlements to the town president and board of trustees within 30 days of the settlement.
Case Robert Richert V. Town Of Cicero. Officer Robert Richert sustained an injury while attempting to restrain an alleged combative offender. The workers compensation settlement approved was in the amount of $9,605.38.
Case William Rivera V. Town Of Cicero. William Rivera filed a lawsuit against the town of Cicero and the following Cicero Police Department officers: Armando Galvin, Frank Kane, Andres Perez, Andy Gutierrez, Salvador Orozco, Edgar Lara.
The lawsuit included allegations of injuries and damages from alleged unlawful search and seizure, false arrest/false imprisonment, conspiracy, and excessive force when Rivera was arrested during a law enforcement traffic stop, and then arrested again on June 7, 2018.
The town approved the settlement terms which include paying Rivera $20,000, requiring Rivera to dismiss the lawsuit and agree not to sue any of the parties involved.
Case Francisca Castillo V. Town Of Cicero. The town will pay Castillo $325,000 but no details were given about the reason for the lawsuit or the incident that occurred. The only information available online from the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County states that Castillo sustained some injury in a motor vehicle incident involving the Town of Cicero in some way.
New Business
The last three agenda items approved were recommendations by Novotny Engineering for three different redevelopment projects the town has planned.
The first project is the Alley Repavement project and the contract was awarded to Triggi Construction, Inc in the amount of $608,828. These are the three alleyways set to be repaved according to this contract:
The alley from 24th St to 25th St located east of 58th Ave.
The alley from 54th Ave to 53rd Ave located south of 30th St.
The alley from 29th St to 30th St located east of 48th Ct.
Map from FOIA document of Cicero alley ways Triggi Construction, Inc will repave.
The second project is the Street Rehabilitation project, the contract for this plan was awarded to Lindahl Brother’s, Inc in the amount of $2,236,901.94. Here are the streets that will be covered by this project:
21st St from Laramie Ave to 50th Ave
Park Ave from Austin Blvd to Central Ave
59th Ct from Park Ave to 35th St
59th Ave from Park Ave to 35th St
Laramie Ave from 30th St to Pershing Rd
Map from FOIA document of Cicero streets Lindahl Brother’s, Inc will work on.
The final project pertains to renovations to Safety Town park. However, Novotny Engineering did not receive a low enough bid that worked with the proposed budget by the town. The board authorized Novotny Engineering to reopen bidding for the project to find someone to take on this $432,030 project.
Watch the full video recording of the meeting here:
Efrain Soriano is a local freelance photographer and a contributing reporter for Cicero Independiente.
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