Winnetka Trustees Discuss Board Composition, More From Board Meeting

The Winnetka Village Council met Tuesday night for a special meeting and a study session. Below are highlights from the proceedings.

• Trustees approved $30,394 to repair one of the three pumps in the water plant. Currently, one pump is in use and a second is an acting spare. During peak pumping periods in the summer, two pumps are in use and the third is a spare. The pump was first installed in 1985.

• After the council adjourned the special meeting and began a scheduled study session, Finance Director Ed McKee presented a "report card" on the village's long-term budget and cost containment efforts. McKee reported the village has met or exceeded its goals of financial responsibility, including keeping operating costs low, renegotiating existing contracts, cooperating with other municipalities for services, and advocating for pension reform at the state level.

• The council revisited a discussion on representation on various village boards and commissions. In the past, the council referred to this as "cross-pollination" -- the presence of a member representing a related board or commission on another. The council discussed the issues of communication between the boards and commissions and the village board. "[When] there's not enough reporting and accountability to the council built in, you can have them getting ahead of you in terms of process and the tail can wag the dog and you need to make sure that doesn't happen," said Kathy Janega, village attorney. Trustees discussed the ways lines of communication can open up between trustees and the boards, from in-person presentations to short email updates. The trustees also discussed the possibilities of creating subcommittees, and the roles, if any, the commissions should have in policymaking. "I think these boards should not develop policies without village board approval," Trustee Gene Greable said. "If they're getting into policy, there should be some communication with the trustees."

• The trustees considered language for an ordinance to be introduced March 27 that would require semiannual reporting from the boards and commissions to the council, sending agendas and minutes to the village board, and changes to the composition of the Plan Commission. Those changes discussed included eliminating the non-voting representatives from District 36, the park district and the Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District, and the non-voting village trustee.

• Richard Kates, a trustee candidate, commented that it would be inappropriate for the executive director of the recently merged Winnetka-Northfield Chamber of Commerce to sit on the Business Community Development Commission since the chamber now represents both communities.