MINUTES
Moraine Township Board of Trustees
Thursday, February 14, 2008 5:00 PM
Moraine Township Office

MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
February 14, 2008

The meeting was called to order at 5:07 PM by Supervisor Barnes and upon roll call the following members were present: Trustees Bryna Gamson, Margoth Moreno, and Cynthia Plouché. Trustee Jeff Zaluda was absent. Also Present: Chief Deputy Assessor Trish Lenzini and Clerk Ellen Gussin.

Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the Regular Meeting of January 24, 2008 were approved as written.
The minutes of the Special Meeting of January 26, 2008 were approved as written.

Approval of Bills
Trustee Moreno moved, seconded by Trustee Gamson, approval of the bills. Upon roll call, motion carried.

Public Comment
None

Budget 2008 Discussion
Assessor Koukos’s request for budget transfers, emailed to the Board, were agreed upon by consensus. The Assessor’s Office Budget for 2008-09 has been submitted to the Supervisor and the Board, about which Trustee Gamson commented that the Township will probably be sending two newsletters in the coming fiscal year versus the three in the Assessor’s budget.

Supervisor Barnes will be working on combined budget for the Township, and will have more information for review by the Board for the next meeting. The Budget Hearing can take place at the March, April or May meeting.

Assessor’s Report
Chief Deputy Assessor Lenzini reported that the final day of hearings was Tuesday, February 12. Of 1,378 appeals filed, about 85 were withdrawn and about 700 were reduced.

Supervisor’s Report
The contract renewal for the Township auditor Evans, Marshall, & Pease, P.C. will be renewed.

Supervisor Barnes distributed the Emergency Response Plan developed by the Small Emergency Task Force to each member of the Board. This will be presented for adoption at the February 28 meeting.

The Township is trying to provide short-term emergency shelter for a specific client through a grant from the City of Highland Park Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
Supervisor Barnes and Director of General Assistance Tracy Coleman have been working on written General Assistance Guidelines. These are intended to specify structure for various situations, set boundaries, and offer strategies for encouraging clients to help themselves as best as possible.

Committee Reports
Trustee Gamson reported on the Grant Advisory Committee. A new representative of the Latino community has joined the committee; his name is Isaac Nava. There are now five committee members, of whom four are continuing from last year, but more would be welcome. Eighteen applications have been received. The first meeting of the Grant Advisory Committee will be February 27 at 7:30pm at the Township Office.

Discussion Concerning New Township Office Space
Supervisor Barnes requested a motion be made to go into Executive Session which was so moved by Trustee Plouché and seconded by Trustee Moreno at 5:51 PM. The Board went into Executive Session to discuss a possible land acquisition for the future home of the Township. The Regular Meeting reconvened at 6:34 PM.

Old Business
None

New Business
None

Adjournment
With no further business to conduct, Trustee Moreno moved, seconded by Trustee Plouché, the meeting be adjourned at 6:35 PM. Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

_______________________
Ellen S. Gussin
Moraine Township Clerk

 

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