Maywood trustees review police proposals to create local DHSEM, discuss TIF maps and restructured budget

Maywood Mayor Nathaniel George Booker convened a special Village Workshop on June 26, 2021, at the Lightford Recreation Center to review public-safety proposals from the police department, potential tax-increment financing (TIF) districts and a restructured approach to the village budget. The meeting began at 11:29 a.m. and recessed for a tornado warning before reconvening at 12:17 p.m.

Deputy/Police Chief Valdimir Talley Jr. presented two department proposals the board discussed but did not vote on. Proposal No. 10 would replace the existing Emergency Services and Disaster Agency ordinance with a new ordinance to establish a local Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) that would incorporate volunteers; Talley noted the presentation included a proposed $25,000 line-item budget to support that effort. Proposal No. 11 outlined measures to reimagine public safety with community-policing elements. Both items were presented “for discussion and consideration” at the workshop rather than as final actions, and trustees did not adopt an ordinance at the session.

Angela Smith, coordinator of business development, gave a PowerPoint overview of new construction and substantial renovations, commercial recruitment efforts and other village projects, and she emphasized coordinating development work with the village’s comprehensive plan. Engineer Peterhansen distributed TIF maps showing options for alley and roadway improvements and discussed considerations for forming new TIF districts; Village Attorney Michael Jurusik commented on legal implications. Mayor Booker said the board intends to place TIF consideration on the July 13, 2021 agenda for formal action or further deliberation.

Manager Chasity Wells-Armstrong and Finance Director Lanya Satchell described a restructured approach for presenting the budget, stressing departmental adherence to allocations, an invoice billing policy and regular forecasting meetings between departments and management. The packet included a finance summary memo and materials the board received during the workshop.

An item from the Office of the Fire Chief noted a Home Improvements USA invoice for roofing materials to install a new metal roof over the apparatus bay floor at Fire Station No. 1; the workshop recorded the item for discussion without a recorded vote on the invoice.

Village Attorney Michael Jurusik reviewed several legal and administrative agenda items, including feasibility studies for new TIF districts, a property and building management agreement with the Maywood Park District (to be discussed in closed session), and a proposed food-truck operation and related code amendments. No public comments were recorded at the workshop.

Trustee S. Reyes-Plummer moved, and Trustee A. Sanchez seconded, that the board recess into closed session to discuss personnel matters, potential purchase or lease of real property, pending and probable litigation, and collective negotiating matters, citing the relevant sections of the Illinois Open Meetings Act. The motion carried with Ayes: Mayor Nathaniel George Booker and Trustees A. Sanchez, S. Reyes-Plummer and A. Peppers; Trustees M. Jones, M. Lightford and I. Brandon were absent from the roll call recorded at that time.

After closed session the board reconvened and, by motion of Trustee A. Sanchez and seconded by Trustee A. Peppers, adjourned the special workshop at 6:57 p.m.

The workshop produced no ordinances or formal approvals on the principal items discussed; trustees identified items for future agendas (including TIF consideration on July 13) and received staff briefings to guide follow-up work.