Board Meeting Covers Police Training Expenditure, Grant Funding For Radio Equipment Purchase
The Town of Cicero trustees during their bi-weekly board meeting on Tuesday, December 12, 2023. April Alonso/Cicero Independiente
By Luis Velazquez
The Town of Cicero Board of Trustees, along with President Larry Dominick, held one meeting in December 2023 to approve various items.
Agenda decisions included the town securing a grant of more than $900 thousand to upgrade fire department radio equipment and spending $15,730 on police training classes. President Larry Dominick also criticized Cicero Independiente after a series of stories about town leaders and the air quality in Cicero, Illinois.
Access the documents referenced in this recap by clicking here. For the live stream of this meeting, visit our Facebook page.
Here is a breakdown of approved agenda items:
RESOLUTIONS
The Town of Cicero began its meeting by approving the Paid Leave for All Workers Act in Cicero. Starting from the first day of the 2024 year, the act mandates that employers provide specific paid leave to their employees, unless the employer is subject to an existing municipal or county ordinance requiring them to provide any form of paid leave.
In addition, the town approved the purchase of a cyber security insurance policy from Chubb Insurance Co. for the “effective administration of government and in the best interests of the town and its residents,” according to the agenda.
The purchase amount of the insurance policy was not disclosed in the agenda.
TOWN SPENDING
The Town of Cicero, the Village of Stickney and the Village of Forest View were awarded the Assistance to Firefighters grant in the amount of $996,718.90 from FEMA for a project that cost $1,096,390.80. According to the agenda, the town will recover 90% of the project funded by making reimbursements to FEMA.
All municipalities applied to the grant to upgrade their dispatch services, which includes their radio equipment, as they all collaborate on emergency 911 communications and dispatch services for fire and medical emergencies. Radio equipment will be purchased by Beep, LLC. The Town of Cicero will administer the grant on behalf of all municipalities and are required to contribute non-Federal funds equal or greater than 10% which amounts to $99,671.90 the town is contributing.
The town will also recover 31% of the unfunded portion of this project through Stickney and Forest Views for their portion of radio equipment.
A total of $15,730 was spent by the town for five police recruits to enroll in a basic metropolitan training program at the Chicago Police Metro Academy. This decision was made because there is a need to hire five additional police officers for the town of Cicero, according to the agenda.
The town approved a public water supply loan application for the replacement of lead service lines from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. The town proposed a budget of more than $9 million to support their project to replace the lead service lines.
An additional application was also approved for grant funding from the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standard Board. The funding will assist the Town of Cicero to purchase ballistics equipment. According to their application, they are requesting $24,999 to purchase portable fired cartridge case scanning equipment, one year of service and 50 rapid ballistics cases.
SETTLEMENTS OF LITIGATION
The Town of Cicero agreed to pay Olivia Sandoval $60,000 due to a lawsuit against the Town of Cicero. Sandoval reported an alleged slip and fall incident that occurred on the sidewalk in front of 5043 W 32nd Place on May 25, 2021.
RESIDENT COMMENTS
On December 12, 2023, the town spokesperson, Ray Hanania, presented updates to the town president, Larry Dominick, and the board of trustees on the community efforts to help residents affected by the apartment fire. April Alonso/Cicero Independiente
Various members of the community, including police officers, showed gratitude for the Town of Cicero’s efforts to help residents during the July flooding and an apartment fire that occurred on December 1st 2023, that left 17 residents without a home. Individuals that discussed the fire mentioned that a community effort was made to help these residents with donations.
At the end of the meeting, President Larry Dominick criticized Cicero Independiente and called them “jerks” after a series of stories of town leaders and local regulators.
Dominick later mentioned that Cicero Independiente reporters don’t stand for the pledge.
“From now on, I don’t think I’ll let anyone there talk that does not stand for the pledge,” said Dominick.
Watch the full meeting here.
Luis Velazquez is the editor at Cicero Independiente.
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