MINUTES
Moraine Township Board of Trustees
Thursday, March 27, 2008 7:30 PM
Highwood City Council Chambers

MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
March 27, 2008


The meeting was called to order at 7:37 PM by Trustee Jeffrey Zaluda and upon roll call the following members were present: Trustees Bryna Gamson and Margoth Moreno, as well as Trustee Zaluda. Supervisor Mari Barnes and Trustee Cynthia Plouché were absent. Also Present: Assessor Pete Koukos, Clerk Ellen Gussin.

Approval of Minutes
The Regular Meeting Minutes of March 13, 2008 stand approved as written.
The Executive Session Minutes of February 28, 2008 stand approved as written.

Approval of Bills
Trustee Gamson moved, seconded by Trustee Moreno, approval of the bills.

Public Comment
None

Agency Presentation
A Safe Place
Mellisa Albach represented the agency and explained that A Safe Place is a domestic violence organization, providing housing for abused women and their children, a crisis line, advocacy including court room support, and abuser intervention services. Most of the abusers that come to A Safe Place are court-ordered and they are counseled at a separate location than where abused victims are housed. Melissa is the Grant Writer for A Safe Place. The main emergency shelter allows a maximum stay of six weeks, but in addition A Safe Place provides transitional housing in the form of 20 apartments where women and their children can stay for up to six months. A Safe Place is the only agency in Lake County dedicated to providing these services. Staff is bi-lingual and volunteers also help to translate when necessary. Dollars contributed by Moraine Township go to the general operating budget, which is a little over $2 million. People served come from all over the Chicago metropolitan area. A Safe Place also receives State and Federal funding.

Assessor’s Report
Assessor Pete Koukos reported on a meeting which will take place with fellow Lake County Assessors tomorrow, March 28, concerning a State bill aimed at addressing concerns about property assessments. Assessor Koukos expressed concern that the provisions of the bill would require an increase in staff to carry them out and that the bill may not fully address the issues and inequities that exist. He hopes to be able to convince his fellow Assessors to go to the legislators to address the inequities, believing that high value homes are under-assessed, and low value homes are over assessed. One of the core problems, in his view, is that properties are not assessed at the most recent sale price (due to a conflict with the due process provided by the 14th amendment). There have been 63 bills in this legislative session having to do with property assessments.

Supervisor’s Report
None

Committee Reports
Grant Committee – Trustee Gamson reported that the committee is ready to present their recommendations to the Board, which will now take place at the April 24 meeting. She expressed confidence that the Board will be able to provide assistance to Bethany Church in their quest to provide care for infants. Additionally, the Township should be able to provide in-kind assistance, through a donation of toys, to Bethany for the new program. The Board will receive packets on the Committee’s recommendations before the April meeting.

Food Pantry – Trustee Moreno reported that the Pantry shelves are pretty empty. Township is looking forward to the May 10 Postal Drive. Trustee Zaluda asked if we had yet received any food from the Boy Scouts’ recent food drive, and Trustee Moreno answered that we have not to date. She also reported on a new group named Chispa which is forming to help Latinos throughout our community. It encompasses Latino Leadership from various Lake County organizations and will try to get parents from Oak Terrace and Highland Park High School involved.

Old Business
None

New Business
Moraine Township Annual Meeting on Tuesday, April 8 at 6:00 PM at the Township offices.

Adjournment
With no further business to conduct, Trustee Moreno moved, seconded by Trustee Gamson, the meeting be adjourned at 8:07 PM. Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

_______________________
Ellen S. Gussin
Moraine Township Clerk

 

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