MINUTES
Moraine Township Board of Trustees
Thursday, July 26, 2007 7:30 PM
Highwood City Hall, Council Chambers

MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
July 26, 2007

The meeting was called to order at 7:40 PM by Supervisor Barnes and upon roll call the following members were present: Trustees Bryna Gamson, Margoth Moreno and Cynthia Plouché. Trustee Zaluda was absent. Also Present: Chief Deputy Assessor Trish Lenzini and Clerk Ellen Gussin.

Approval of Minutes
The Regular Meeting Minutes of July 12, 2007 stand approved as written.

Approval of Bills
Trustee Gamson questioned the entries representing salaries paid through direct deposit which had no dollar amount for the item, and Supervisor Barnes responded that she would look into this peculiarity with the Quick Books program and report back to the Board. Trustee Gamson moved, seconded by Trustee Plouché, approval of the bills. Upon roll call, motion carried.

Public Comment
None

Assessor’s Report
Chief Deputy Assessor Trish Lenzini reported the Assessor’s Office is on track to close the books on August 27, as announced previously. The Township is looking at an average 5% increase in assessments across the entire Township for land and building, but the actual assessment increase is finalized by the Supervisor of Assessments at the County.

Trustee Gamson spoke about the research she has done since the last meeting on the "Developer’s Exemption" including conversations with Steve Stanger, West Deerfield Assessor. She has learned that the amount of assessed tax difference overall is fairly negligible and under state – not local – control, but she still believes that the practice amounts to a subsidy for the developers.

Supervisor’s Report
Supervisor Barnes reported on the costly process of reconfiguring the current office space, and is completing due diligence on potential other properties. She raises the question for the Board to consider about how much is appropriate to spend on a space we do not own. The landlord indicated that although he is willing to do much without charge or at reduced fee, the total cost will still be significant.

Committee Reports
Pantry Plants Garden: Pantry Plants Garden project needs weeding and the Food Pantry needs organization.
Food Pantry: The Board welcomed Trustee Moreno back from her trip abroad to celebrate her daughter’s wedding; she will be heading the reorganization effort for the Food Pantry.
Transportation: Supervisor Barnes reported the Moraine Door-to-Door vans are “wonderfully” busy and that the job sharing for the drivers is working out well. The quarterly report to the Healthcare Foundation of Highland Park was finalized and sent, and upon request of the Board she will email a copy of the letter to the Board.
The Lions Club will sponsor a free eye-screening event at the Lake County Health Clinic in Highland Park on September 6 and the Township will be providing transportation for those that request the van.
Website: Website progress is now almost completed by Trustee Gamson, who reported on all the information contained therein; Supervisor Barnes announced the address and welcomed everyone to visit at "http://www.morainetownship.org"
Citizen Advocacy: Trustee Plouché met with Highland Park Councilwoman Terri Olian to share ideas about the Advocacy Task Force, and she will now meet with Trustee Moreno at a meeting which will be open to the public to develop recommendations on establishing a Citizen Advocacy Advisory Committee to bring to the Board next month.

Old Business
Supervisor Barnes reported on the shortfall of $2070 that Bethany Child Care has incurred. The payment is still outstanding and the checks that were reported to be in the mail from the School Age Child Care Fund have not been received. Supervisor Barnes asked the Board to cover the outstanding amount as emergency funding with the assumption that Bethany would reimburse the Township when the money is received. The Board, concerned about setting a precedent for the Township granting loans, requested the Supervisor investigate further to determine whether this is truly a matter of emergency funding, in which case the Board is supportive of granting the request.

Clerk Gussin discussed the procedures and policies she follows with reference to the distribution, correction and filing of Township Minutes including the website postings. Consensus of the Board is to continue the practices with slight adjustments to the website postings, and to distribute minutes electronically to Board members only so as not to have any minutes in distribution prior to their approval.

New Business
Clerk Gussin reported that she has solicited entertainment for the November 2 dinner at which Moraine Township will be hosting Lake County Township officials – Erica Brett Holleb and her band. The Board consensus was to go forward with confirming the engagement.

Supervisor Barnes reported that the Township will officially take over the work previously done by the Phyllis Santullano Fund, as discussed at the last meeting. Needy families identified by social workers and others throughout the Township will receive Holiday gifts, and the Township will solicit volunteers to accomplish the tasks of fulfillment and distribution.

Adjournment
With no further business to conduct, Trustee Moreno moved, seconded by Trustee Plouché, the meeting be adjourned at 8:37 PM. Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

_______________________
Ellen S. Gussin
Moraine Township Clerk

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