MINUTES
Moraine Township Board of Trustees
Thursday, January 12, 2006 7:30 PM
Highwood City Hall, Council Chambers
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
January 12, 2006
The meeting was called to order at 5:05 PM, and upon roll call the following members were present: Supervisor Mari Barnes; Trustees Margoth Moreno, and Cynthia Plouché. Also Present: Assessor Peter Koukos; Clerk Ellen Gussin; Staff Tracy Coleman, Janet Freed, community member. Trustee Bryna Gamson arrived at 5:22 PM with apologies for thinking the meeting was at 7:30. Trustee Jeff Zaluda was absent.
Approval of Minutes
Trustee Plouché moved, seconded by Trustee Moreno, approval of the Regular Meeting Minutes of December 15, 2005 [not available online] with the correction that the tax levy passed should be for “2005,” not “2006” as presented at the December meeting. Motion carried.
Approval of Bills
Trustee Moreno moved, seconded by Trustee Plouché, approval of the bills. Upon roll call, motion carried. Supervisor Barnes passed out a Profit & Loss Budget vs. Actual expenditures from April through December. Assessor Koukos requested that he transfer (formerly allocated but currently in excess) funds from legal, printing and publishing, supplies outside temporary help, and equipment to cover the deficit in the Assessor’s and Office Staff salary account. Trustee Plouché moved, seconded by Trustee Moreno, to accept the transfer of funds as presented by Assessor Koukos. Upon roll call, motion passed.
Public Comment
None
Supervisor's Report
Supervisor Barnes reported that the township made it through the holiday and gave away many turkeys to the needy. She also passed out the monthly log from December which shows 289 total recipients of assistance.
Assessor's Report
Assessor Koukos is pleased to report that all existing staff has been retained and is most pleased with customer relations offered to the public by the Assessor’s Office. Staff is performing with absolute courtesy in spite of the time crunch due to the over 1900 appeals filed. Board of Appeals has denied almost every change that Assessor Healy had approved for tax payers who had come in to the office; these tax payers will have another opportunity to appeal before the Board of Review. The County Assessor’s office has agreed to help with the excessive workload. Assessor Koukos wishes to pursue our website development for the opportunity to communicate better with the public.
Committee Reports
Grant Process: Supervisor Barnes passed out Organization Funding amounts based on last year and proposed 2006-2007 Grant Guidelines & Review Criteria. She requested that all trustees get back to her as soon as possible with recommendations. Board suggested that a press release be developed to send to the newspaper, Welfare Council, and any other appropriate community organizations to publicize the process. Publicity should run by February 1 with applications for funding due by March 1.
Citizen Advisory Committee: Seven community members have expressed interest in serving and the Board is free to recruit others. Supervisor Barnes wants to get this going very soon.
Food Pantry: Trustee Moreno reported that food pantry is looking much better. She has organized a group of five kids thus far with goal of adding more that she supervises on Saturday mornings to help in the pantry.
Clothing Closet: Help is needed.
Old Business
Trustee Gamson reported on Tri-Con’s November request to the township for emergency funds, having determined that Trinity Church covered the costs of the repair. However, Tri-Con’s emergency reserve fund remains depleted. Trustee Gamson moved, seconded by Trustee Moreno, the township replenish the reserve fund in the amount of $300. Motion carried.
New Business
Clerk Gussin reported that Congregation Solel is recruiting volunteers to bring collected supplies to the Food Pantry on Sunday, February 5, from 9:30 to 11 AM with the plan to stay and help stock the shelves. Trustee Moreno and Clerk Gussin have volunteered to supervise.
Adjournment
With no further business to conduct, Trustee Plouché moved, seconded by Trustee Moreno, the meeting be adjourned at 9:00 PM. Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
_______________________
Ellen S. Gussin, Moraine Township Clerk
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