Rockford Sun

Village of Rockton Budget & Finance Committee met Feb. 4.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Chairman Winters called the regular meeting of the Budget & Finance Committee to order at 6:30 pm. Members present: Mayor Peterson, Sally Bennett, Connie Kieffer, Jodi May and Dave Winters Staff present: Dan Barber, Dan Baumgartner, Tricia Diduch and Chief Hollinger Also present: Dave Bennington

Absent: Scott Danielson

Motion by Ms. May, second by Mr. Winters, to waive the reading of and approve the minutes of January 21, 2025. All ayes. Motion approved 2-0.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Ms. Diduch advised the Committee that she is currently working on the comprehensive plan request for proposal (RFP) and has a date for the RFP to be awarded before the new trustees are sworn in. Ms. Diduch wanted to verify that the Committee was okay with this timeline. Mr. Winters said that he would like to get approval to hire a recruiting company for the Village Administrator position at the next set of meetings. Ms. May stated that the Village doesn’t have to have a Village Administrator hired before the comprehensive plan is started. Ms. Diduch said that once the Village hires someone for the position, they can participate in the process. Ms. May commented that the Village Administrator would just be missing out on what company to hire for the comprehensive plan. Ms. Diduch advised the Committee that she will have a final RFP to approve at the next set of meetings as well. Mr. Winters asked Mayor Peterson to let the recruitment company know that we would like to move forward with them in regards to the hiring process for a Village Administrator.

SPECIAL WARRANT CONSIDERATIONS

None.

RECOMMENDATION OF PAYMENT

Bills were reviewed and recommended for approval in the amount of $191,438.44.

MAYOR PETERSON

Mayor Peterson said that the Village is starting to work on a budget and that it will be a 6-month budget if the Village changes over to a calendar year budget beginning January 2026. Ms. Diduch stated that the Village should wait another year and switch over to a calendar year budget once we hire new staff.

VILLAGE TREASURER, SALLY BENNETT

Mrs. Bennett spoke to the Committee about her ordering a signature stamp in case they run into another situation like last week when she and the Village Collector were both out of the office due to illness. Mrs. Bennett said that the Village Clerk could secure the stamp in the safe and that the Village Collector would only have access to it through the Village Clerk. Mrs. Bennett said that this would be a backup system if Mayor Peterson wasn’t available as well. The Committee was okay with this.

Mrs. Bennett stated that she received an email from Ms. May inquiring about IT expenses that weren’t entered in the correct place. Mrs. Bennett said that she will correct this and do a journal entry for them. Mrs. Bennett said that part of the problem is that there isn’t anyone from the Administration Committee signing off on them. Mrs. Bennet inquired if the Village should assign an employee to do this or if this is something that the Village Administrator can solve after one is hired for the position.

DAVE WINTERS, CHAIRMAN

None.

JODI MAY, TRUSTEE

None.

SCOTT DANIELSON, TRUSTEE

None.

VILLAGE COLLECTOR

Ms. Kieffer stated she received an email from Dave Syverson in reference to the Village’s health insurance. Ms. Kieffer said that the Village needs to make a decision on how much of the increase the Village is going to absorb. Mr. Winters said that with the Village needs to keep it the same because of the police contract which is 12%. Mayor Peterson said that we should also keep it the same for the Village employees and that if employees wants an explanation in regards to their benefits then they can set up a meeting with Mr. Syverson. Chief Hollinger and Mr. Barber advised that they will talk to their employees about an in-person meeting versus a zoom meeting and see what they would like to do.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS ALLOWED BY LAW

None.

ADJOURN

Motion by Ms. May, second by Mr. Winters, to adjourn at 6:51 pm.

https://rocktonil.gov/vertical/sites/%7B5EFC50B8-A3D6-48DC-ACA0-E05F307CFA0B%7D/uploads/2-4-25_Budget__Finance_Minutes.pdf