Homewood trustees welcomed three new full-time employees to the village at the board meeting Tuesday. In other business, the board approved a new sexual harassment policy, new stop signs at a residential intersection and a special use permit for a child care center.
Thomas Rodeghier, third from right, with
their families, display their new badges
after taking the oath of office as police
officers. (Photos by Quincy Crump/H-F
Chronicle)
Homewood trustees welcomed three new full-time employees to the village at the board meeting Tuesday.
Melanie Hamilton took the oath of office as street maintenance worker in the Public Works Department.
Larry Burnson, left,
congratulates Melanie
Hamilton after she took
the oath of office for a
full-time job with as a
street maintenane
worker for the village.
Public Works Director John Schaefer introduced her, noting that she was born and raised in Homewood and has been working for the department since 2012 in summer and seasonal positions.
She has a bachelor’s degree from Northern Michigan University, where she graduated with high honors.
“Mel is already a major asset to Homewood Public Works,” Schaefer said.
Poice Chief Bill Alcott introduced two new police officers before they took the oath of office.
Thomas Rodeghier graduated from Lincoln-Way Central High School in 2012. He received an associate’s degree from Joliet Junior College in 2014 and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Eastern Illinois University in 2016.
Timothy Rosenberg graduated from Peotone High School in 2006 and received an associate’s degree in applied science for criminal justice from Joliet Junior College in 2011.
Both are attending a 560-hour recruit training session at the Cook County Sheriff’s Police Academy. They are expected to graduate in late April and will then participate in the Homewood Police Department’s 15-week field training program.
The meeting agenda had noted a third new officer would be sworn in, but Alcott said plans had changed and the next candidate would attend the academy in late May.
In other business, trustees approved a state-mandated sexual harassment policy, installation of stop signs at a residential intersection and a special use permit and parking variance for a child care center.
The sexual harassment policy is very similar to the policy the village already had in place, according to Village Manager Jim Marino. He said the current policy was one recommended by the Illinois Municipal League as a model for municipal governments.
He said the village holds on-site sexual harassment training periodically, and those sessions are video recorded so employees who can’t attend can watch and receive the benefit of the session. Watching the video also is part of the orientation process for all new employees.
“We’ve been doing that for years,” Marino said.
The board also approved installation of four-way stop signs at the intersection of Loomis Avenue and Linden Road. The stops signs were requested by neighbors who hope to reduce speeding vehicles in their area. They submitted a petition with 41 signatures.
The board approved a request for a special use permit from Michelle and Alfred Saulsberry to operate a child care center at 18729-18731 Dixie Highway. They also gave the OK for a parking variance that was required because the Saulsberrys plan to replace four parking spaces at the rear of the building with a play area.
Mayor Richard Hofeld announced that of the $445,369 in bills the board approved, the biggest items were health insurance for village staff, $212,000; LED streetlight conversion, $37,000; and the new entrance to police department headquarters, $55,000.
At the end of the meeting, Trustee Larry Burnson noted it was National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. He thanked law enforcement officers around the nation for their service, but added a special shout-out to the men and women of the Homewood Police Department.
