MINUTES
Moraine Township Board of Trustees
Thursday, May 8, 2008 5:00 PM
Moraine Township Office

MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
May 8, 2008

The meeting was called to order at 5:04 PM, and upon roll call the following members were present: Supervisor Mari Barnes and Trustees Bryna Gamson and Cynthia Plouché. Trustee Margoth Moreno arrived at 5:20 PM. Also Present: Assessor Peter Koukos, Chief Deputy Assessor Trish Lenzini and Director General Assistance Tracy Coleman. Trustee Jeff Zaluda and Clerk Ellen Gussin were absent.

Approval of Minutes
The Regular Meeting Minutes of April 24, 2008 stand approved as written and distributed.

Approval of Bills
Trustee Gamson moved, seconded by Trustee Plouché, approval of the bills. Discussion ensued regarding grant distributions and payments made to the City of Highland Park. The payments to the City are for employee parking permits and fuel for the vans. Upon roll call, motion carried.

Public Comment
None

Assessor’s Report
Assessor Koukos reported that the office has been busy since the mailing of tax bills last week. Many of the calls being fielded are regarding differences in tax amounts, which often vary significantly due to exemption amounts. He expects the next publication and appeal period to begin in early September.

Supervisor’s Report
Supervisor Barnes attended the Housing Commission meeting last night. The Commission has agreed to set aside dollars to fund crisis housing, and they will establish a board to review cases that are referred by a local case manager. Guidelines are being finalized.

Committee Reports
Food Pantry -- The US Postal Service Food Drive is May 10, 2008. Volunteers are scheduled to be working at the Township office from 2:00 p.m.

Communications -- The next issue of Talk of the Township is in the works. A press release has gone out and is posted on the web site regarding Pantry Plants. Volunteers are sought for a planting day on 5/31/08.

New Business
Emerald Ash Borer (tree disease): The City has begun surveying locally to determine if trees in Highland Park are at risk.

Budget Revisions: The Auditors have requested that the Board of Trustees approve certain budget revisions for the 2007 –2008 fiscal year recently ended. A memo distributed to the Board documenting the requested revisions will be amended to reflect the correct date. Trustee Plouché moved, seconded by Trustee Moreno, to approve the budget revisions. Upon roll call, motion carried. See copy of the revisions on file.
Protocol: The Trustees discussed protocol for Board members wishing to request staff services. Supervisor Barnes reiterated her policy that the elected officials should make those requests directly to her.

Latino Advisory Committee: Trustee Gamson provided an overview of a proposed Latino Advisory Committee. Those present discussed the scope of such a committee and which issues it might address. Trustee Plouché moved, seconded by Trustee Moreno, to establish the Committee as proposed. Upon roll call, motion carried. Trustees Gamson and Moreno will work on guidelines for the Committee and present such to the Board at the June 12th meeting.

Adjournment
With no further business to conduct, Trustee Gamson moved, seconded by Trustee Moreno, the meeting be adjourned at 6:01 PM. Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

_______________________
Ellen S. Gussin, Moraine Township Clerk with sincere appreciation to Trish Lenzini for taking the minutes in her absence

 

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