MINUTES
Moraine Township Board of Trustees
Thursday, May 24, 2007 7:30 PM
Highwood City Hall, Council Chambers
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
May 24, 2007
The meeting was called to order at 7:38 PM by Supervisor Barnes, and upon roll call the following members were present: Trustees Margoth Moreno, Cynthia Plouché, and Jeff Zaluda. Trustee Bryna Gamson was absent. Also Present were Chief Deputy Assessor Trish Lenzini, Clerk Ellen Gussin, Director General Assistance Tracy Coleman, and Jean Wallace-Baker, Executive Director, Highland Park Community Nursery School and Day Care Center.
Approval of Minutes
The Regular Meeting Minutes of May 10, 2007 stand approved as written. There are two corrections to the minutes of January 25, 2007, requested by the Auditor: first to delete the second sentence in its entirety from the First Hearing/Discussion on Budget, April 2007 through May 2008, and second to insert “the LCCTC to” after “awarded to” in second sentence under Committee Reports, Transportation. Motion by Trustee Zaluda, seconded by Trustee Moreno, to approve these corrections, carried.
Approval of Bills
Trustee Zaluda moved, seconded by Trustee Plouché, approval of the bills and payroll as distributed. Upon roll call, motion carried.
Public Comment
None.
Agency Presentation
Jean Wallace-Baker, Executive Director, Highland Park Community Nursery School and Day Care Center, thanked the Board for the opportunity to speak and for the grant from Moraine Township used to help families who cannot pay full fees. Begun in 1951 because Highland Park had no licensed day care program, the Center now serves approximately 130 children. The nursery school program is self-supporting. The day care program is for working parents; subsidies enable the attendance of many children in the program. A strong Latino population is served by bilingual teachers. Twenty additional children come after morning kindergarten for an enrichment program. The Center provides many special programs including music, screenings from Lake County Health Department, and a library check-out program. Fire House Youth Committee students also come to the center to read to the children. The social worker is available to the Centers’ families for a variety of services. Food is prepared on-site. Additional volunteers come to the school to read to the children, lead art projects and conduct woodworking classes. Ravinia Festival has an outreach program that visits the school. Almost all students in the program are local residents. The nursery school program has a variety of half-day programs for different age groups and about 56 children are served. The diversity of the population adds interest; as many as 19 different countries have been represented by first-generation Americans enrolled in the program. Summer camp, both nursery school and day care, are offered, and there is a waiting list for both programs. Jean has been Director for 25 years, and the entire staff has significant longevity.
Assessor’s Report
Deputy Assessor Trish Lenzini announced that this coming year’s blue cards will be mailed the end of September. There is still time for seniors to take the Homestead exemption; requirements include being age 65 or older, and the home must be the primary residence. The Senior Freeze is for seniors who have a combined annual income of less than $50,000.
Fiscal Year 2006 Budget Adjustment
Supervisor Barnes distributed a list of accounts to which reallocation of dollars is required. The bottom line of the budget is unchanged. See attached list for the accounts adjusted. Trustee Zaluda moved, seconded by Trustee Moreno that the changes be approved. Upon roll call the motion carried.
Supervisor’s Report
The auditor will be in the Township next week.
Anton’s has graciously volunteered to donate vegetables to the Pantry Plants Project. The community planting day will be Saturday, June 2, and all residents are invited to participate. One student intern will be in charge of the garden during the summer, and another will be working on the cemeteries administered by the Township.
Committee Reports
Food Pantry – Trustee Moreno reported that all food donated on May 12 as a result of the Postal Drive has been properly shelved; she thanks all the wonderful volunteers that pitched in to help.
Transportation – The second van is up and running. Supervisor Barnes reported that an automated device is needed for the van to help seniors and handicapped persons more easily step up into the van. A similar device was purchased for the first van. The cost is approximately $2,700 and the Board was in agreement with the purchase.
Old Business
Newsletter has gone to print and should arrive in people’s homes in mid-June. Trustee Plouché asked about the new Advocacy Group discussed at the last meeting. There is an announcement of same in the Talk of the Township asking for interested community members who might want to serve on this new Citizens Advisory Committee. The goal is for volunteers to be advocates for seniors, handicapped and others in need.
New Business
The Senior Picnic in Independence Grove will be sponsored by Lake County on June 13. The Township will provide transportation for any seniors who need and request transportation to the picnic.
Adjournment
With no further business to conduct, Trustee Moreno moved, seconded by Trustee Plouché, the meeting be adjourned at 8:20 PM. Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
_______________________
Ellen S. Gussin, Moraine Township Clerk
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