MINUTES
Moraine Township Board of Trustees
Thursday, January 25, 2007 7:30 PM
Highwood City Hall, Council Chambers
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
January 25, 2007
The meeting was called to order at 7:35 PM, and upon roll call the following members were present: Trustees Bryna Gamson, Margoth Moreno, Cynthia Plouché, and Jeff Zaluda. Also Present: Chief Deputy Assessor Trish Lenzini; Clerk Ellen Gussin; Director General Assistance Tracy Coleman; community member Janet Freed; Pam Feinberg, Director, Tri-Con Child Care Center; Amy Lubin and Carol Brusslan, Board Members, Highland Park/Highwood Home Child Care Association.
Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the Regular Meeting of January 11, 2007 stand approved as written.
Approval of Bills
Trustee Gamson moved, seconded by Trustee Plouché, approval of the bills. Upon roll call, motion carried.
Public Comment
None
Agency Presentations
Highland Park/Highwood Home Child Care Association – Board Members Amy Lubin and Carol Brusslan explained the large poster they brought, illustrating the agency’s services. They were founded 11 years ago as a result of a city-wide needs assessment which showed a lack of services for infants and toddlers. An appointed task force decided that home care was the way to go, and licensed homes were set up for that purpose. The program subsidizes the gap between the cost of home health care and what parents can pay for the service. The agency has helped providers to attain continuing education. There are seven licensed homes currently and two more interested in becoming providers. It is not difficult to become licensed. Interested parties should call the Coordinator Jane Talesnick at 847-604-2956.
Tri-Con Child Care Center – Pam Feinberg, Director, thanked the Board for the opportunity to speak. Tri-Con was founded 35 years ago through a partnership of Trinity Church, NCJW (the National Council of Jewish Women) and the Immaculate Conception Church. They have a capacity of 35 children plus and additional 10 during the summer, but services are provided to a total of about 60 children in any given year, which includes after-school care. Approximately 82% of the students reside within the township, and the remaining 18% have parents who work within the township. Every child is subsidized either by the State of Illinois’s program or Tri-Con’s scholarship program. Average cost is $200 per child per week. There are currently 20 children in the scholarship program, 14 who reside in the township. Tri-Con provides a warm, nurturing environment where high-quality, early education is encouraged and provided by an extremely loyal and long-term staff. Studies show that for every dollar spent in early education, a $7 savings is realized on a variety of remedial services. Waiting list is high – about 30 to 40 potential students. Questions should be directed to Pam at 847-433-1450.
First Hearing/Discussion on Budget, April 2007 through May 2008
Supervisor Barnes passed out the budget drafts for the Township and Assessor’s Office. Because we did not levy for General Assistance there will be no expenditure items in the budget for GA. (deleted previous line as corrected on May 24, 2007) Supervisor Barnes suggested the Board review the budgets as well as Assessor Koukos’s notes on the increases requested for the Assessor’s Office. The Budgets will be further discussed at the next meeting.
Assessor’s Report
Chief Deputy Assessor Trish Lenzini reported that they are hoping to make a decision on a new hire by February 15 with the new staff member in place by March 1.
Supervisor’s Report
Supervisor Barnes reported that one-half of the agencies the Township has funded have appeared at our meetings. She asked the Board how they feel about re-inviting those that have not requested a time to appear before the Board. Trustees expressed how informative the presentations have been and that it is a good idea to require all that receive money to come in for 10 minutes so that the Board can make an informed decision about the dollars awarded. Trustee Gamson pointed out that some of the grants are for as little as $250 and questioned whether we require all to appear. Consensus of Board is to require the agencies to which grants are awarded for next year to appear before the Board next year.
Carbon monoxide detectors are on order and will be available to those that request. The Fire Department will install them and subsidy will be provided where needed. Trustee Zaluda complimented Supervisor Barnes for her efforts on this issue.
Supervisor Barnes shared the letter from the Healthcare Foundation of Highland Park awarding the Township a $60,000 grant to support a second van for the Medical Care Transportation Program. Supervisor Barnes requested that the Board read over the letter and call or email her as soon as possible if anyone has reservations, since she has been asked to sign the agreement and return within the next 15 days. Supervisor Barnes publicly thanked Highland Park Mayor Belsky for his help in securing this grant. This transportation program for medical visits will be open to Highland Park and Highwood residents and people of all ages that need the service.
Committee Reports
Transportation – The Lake County Coordinated Transportation Committee has widened its affiliations. An RTAP $300,000 grant has been awarded to the LCCTC [per Minutes correction May 24, 2007] to survey transportation needs, and matching funds will be provided by PACE.
Food Pantry and Clothing Closet – Progressing extremely well; although the committee is doing their best to keep up with demand, there is sometimes a shortage of pre-prepared bags of food. Office staff assembles the food bags when not pre-prepared; a large number of client recipients continue to visit the Pantry.
Pantry Plants Garden Project – Supervisor Barnes has been promoting the garden; she hopes to appoint a committee to start planning for next summer, and she invites the public to call 432-3240 to volunteer.
Grant Committee – Trustee Gamson reported on the first meeting that took place two weeks ago; the members of the Grant Committee are most enthusiastic. Trustee Zaluda suggested the Grant Committee pay special attention to areas where duplication of services may exist.
Citizen Advisory – Trustee Gamson suggested consideration of a second Citizen’s Advisory committee (which she credited to a suggestion by the Grant Committee) to further educate the community on the needs and opportunities that exist. Supervisor Barnes shared Carol Spielman’s desire to make this happen on the County level; there seems to be a continuing need to inform the public of what services exist and how to access them. Supervisor Barnes also advised that the Township does provide assistance to clients who have questions about where to go for specific services, and commented that before we establish another committee we need to develop a clear understanding of the scope and responsibilities.
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 8:46 PM. Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
_______________________
Ellen S. Gussin, Moraine Township Clerk
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