MINUTES
Moraine Township Board of Trustees
Thursday, February 28, 2008 7:30 PM
Highwood City Hall, Council Chambers
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
February 28, 2008
The meeting was called to order at 7:43 PM by Supervisor Barnes, and upon roll call the following members were present: Trustees Bryna Gamson, Margoth Moreno, Cynthia Plouché and Jeffrey Zaluda. Also Present: Assessor Peter Koukos, Chief Deputy Assessor Trish Lenzini, Director of General Assistance Tracy Coleman, community members Anne Flanigan Bassi, Bill Fisher, John Manchester, and Gary Smith. Clerk Ellen Gussin was absent.
Approval of Minutes
The Regular Meeting Minutes of February 14, 2008 stand approved as written.
Approval of Bills
Trustee Plouché moved, seconded by Trustee Moreno, approval of the bills. Upon roll call, motion carried.
Public Comment
Anne Bassi, Lake County Board member, addressed the Board concerning two issues. First a new on-line Human Services Resource Guide developed by United Way of Lake County with some sponsorship by Lake County and other organizations. Find the guide at http://findhelplakecounty.org. This address will be posted on the Township website.
Secondly, she invited everyone to attend a public meeting on March 18 at 7 PM at the Highland Park Country Club at 1201 Park Avenue West concerning strategic planning for the County’s future.
Agency Presentations
Glenkirk – John Manchester and Bill Fisher represented the agency and spoke about the program the Township funds, Next Generation Services. 170 total people are served by the program of which 30 are from Moraine Township. The program incorporates structured workshops as options for Glenkirk clients, including a physical workout/health club, classes in voting, horticultural therapy, self-defense, and cooking. Glenkirk has also taken over the secure document destruction group from Opportunity, Inc, which closed recently, folding it into their vocational program options and preserving jobs for the 20 remaining clients employed there. Trustee Margoth Moreno suggested that perhaps Glenkirk clients might enjoy participating in our Pantry Plants Garden Project this coming season.
Josselyn Center – Gary Smith, President, spoke about the mental health facility which has been serving the community for 57 years since its founding by Irene Josselyn. They serve 15 communities in all; of 989 total clients, 107 are from Moraine Township, which is an 11% increase over last year. 20% of their clients are Medicaid. Overall, 73% are adult, and 27% are child/youth. Of the Moraine Township clients served, 84% took advantage of Josselyn's sliding scale fees. ($12/hour is the lowest rate and 37% of the Moraine Township clients are served at this fee level.) Josselyn provides a new, on-line Mental Health Screening tool which preserves the anonymity some seem to need. They have opened a new, Adult Mental Health Drop-In Center, the only such facility of its kind in the area. When asked about services for Spanish speakers, he said that they do not yet have a Spanish-speaking therapist, but they do hire an interpreter when necessary. They have hired a new Community Mental Health Outreach Coordinator.
Budget Discussion
Supervisor Barnes passed out the Budget vs. Actual expenditures for the current year as well as next year’s Budget for the Board to review before the next meeting.
Adoption of Emergency Response Plan
Supervisor Barnes informed the Board about the Small Emergency Task Force Emergency Response Plan. Trustee Zaluda moved, seconded by Trustee Gamson, adoption of the Plan.
Assessor’s Report
Assessor Koukos reported on the completion of the property tax appeals to the County’s Board of Review. Those appeals denied can still be appealed to the State Property Tax Appeal Board, so not everything is finalized. The State of Illinois had 63 bills introduced this year regarding property tax assessment, including one to raise the Homestead Freeze to $60,000 income level which is still pending.
Supervisor’s Report
Supervisor Barnes urged attendance at the 2008 Strategic Plan meeting on March 18.
Supervisor Barnes thanked the Immaculate Conception Parish who donated $2,000 to the Food Pantry.
Moraine Township was recognized for its Door-To-Door and Taxi transportation programs as the most innovative township at a November Convention of Townships of Illinois (TOI.) Award noted again due to last month’s meeting not being televised.
Committee Reports
Food Pantry – Trustee Moreno stated the hours of operation—Tuesday through Thursday from 9 am to 11 am, and 1 pm to 3 pm—in Spanish as well as English for the benefit of the cable television audience.
Transportation – Trustee Gamson reported that she hoped the concept of totally free rides for Seniors would be knocked down by a "trailer" bill, sponsored by Rep Kathy Ryg and passed overwhelmingly in the House in January, would go through the Senate as well and fix various transportation problems on the State level. The bill would add a needs test by certifying only those seniors qualifying for Circuit Breaker and also adding disabled riders.
Grants – Isaac Nava is the newest member of the committee, which now has five members. The committee met on February 27, and applications were thoroughly discussed. Several agency applications required follow-up, and members will digest one another's comments. A March 12 meeting should finalize recommendations for funding from a total of 19 applications, requesting $155,000. Grants awarded will be within the budgeted amount of $100,000.
Old Business
None
New Business
None
Adjournment
Before adjournment, Supervisor Barnes asked for a motion to go into Executive Session to discuss a potential land acquisition. At 8:30 pm Trustee Gamson so moved, seconded by Trustee Moreno, and upon roll call, motion carried. At 8:45 pm the Board reconvened, and with no further business to conduct, Trustee Plouché moved, seconded by Trustee Zaluda, the meeting be adjourned at 8:47 pm. Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
____________________
Ellen S. Gussin
Moraine Township Clerk
with sincere appreciation to Tracy Coleman for taking the minutes in her absence
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