MINUTES
Moraine Township Board of Trustees
Thursday, November 15, 2007 7:30 PM
Highwood City Hall, Council Chambers
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
November 15, 2007
The meeting was called to order at 7:37 PM by Supervisor Barnes and upon roll call the following members were present: Trustees Margoth Moreno, Cynthia Plouché, and Jeff Zaluda. Trustee Gamson arrived at 7:39. Also Present: Clerk Ellen Gussin and Director General Assistance Tracy Coleman.
Approval of Minutes
The Regular Meeting Minutes of October 25, 2007 stand approved as written.
Approval of Bills
Trustee Plouche moved, seconded by Trustee Zaluda, approval of the bills. Upon roll call, motion carried.
Agency Presentations
Jean Wallace Baker, Highland Park Community Nursery & Day Care, thanked the Board for the opportunity to speak. There are 130 children enrolled in a number of programs supported by the Township: Before School Program, for children ages 5 – 10; they are bussed to school; Half-day or full-day, part-time or full-time Day Care Program
After Kindergarten Enrichment Program; children are bussed to the center from school and stay until up to 5:30 PM. Regular Nursery School program not supported by Moraine Township is in addition to the programs listed above.
Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM, 49 weeks per year. Diversity among the student population is widespread beyond the Latino community. There is a sliding scale fee for all students; full price day care cost is $34 per day, which includes breakfast, lunch and snack. One-third of student population is subsidized by the State of Illinois or scholarship; balance is funded by Moraine Township and grants from other agencies and organizations. This year there is a new program, Pre-School for All at Risk funded by State dollars. They also run an ESL Program for adults from 3 PM to 5 PM, where day care is available only to those already enrolled in one of the center’s programs. There is a great deal of community support with volunteer staffers and donations of furniture and other materials.
Bob Wolf, Family Service introduced Digna Rivera, a senior therapist in the Wauconda office of Family Service. Together they thanked the Township for its support and explained several of their many programs which serve 1,364 Moraine Township residents. Approximately 52% of those residents are served through the Family Resource Center in Highwood where a variety of programs are offered including the Homework Club, summer camp services, GED preparation, computer classes, and preventative services including health education and counseling. They strive to connect 100% of clients without medical coverage with a doctor at the Lake County Health Center. Also offered is an at-home ESL Program, funded in partnership with DePaul University, and the Baxter Foundation has recently expressed interest in helping to fund such programs. A partnership with Catholic Charities offers programs six times per year in the Highland Park Family Service office on topics such as budgeting and money management. Family Services has converted candy snacks to fruit in an effort to demonstrate healthy best practices, and Yoga has been introduced, now offered twice per week. The Township funds support the Individual Family Counseling Program serving 471 people dealing with a variety of issues including pre-natal care, emotional anxiety, and schooling problems. The Community Support Group serves 179 Township residents; there are two groups which meet at the Highland Park Senior Center – a widow and widower group, and a new program to help seniors who have dependent adult children living with them. The Community Support Group also deals with seasonal topics such as how to cope with the holidays when faced with the loss of a loved one, and how to reconnect with your adult children. For the second year, Family Services will sponsor a Pesado celebrated nine days before Christmas; this year on December 16 at the Immaculate Conception Church in Highland Park, they are planning to host 400 attendees from 6:30 to 10:30 PM.
Assessor’s Report – No one from the Assessor’s office was in attendance.
Supervisor’s Report
It will soon be time to determine the tax levy. A copy of the proposed levy ordinance was distributed, and Supervisor Barnes asked the board members to take it home to review and discuss at the public hearing at the December 13 meeting. She pointed out the 10% levy for General Assistance. The Assessor helped with the levy numbers, and they will be posted in office.
Supervisor Barnes suggested a Budget Workshop be held in the beginning of the next calendar year in the office.
There is a building going up for auction at 3500 Western Ave on December 4. The Township lawyer advised that approval of an attempt to purchase such a building would need to be done at the Township Annual Meeting; however Supervisor Barnes will investigate the matter further and report back to the Board before the auction. There are viewing times weekly for anyone interested.
Supervisor Barnes and Director of General Assistance Tracy Coleman have been attending Emergency Task Force meetings where it was suggested that specific roles for specific people be assigned. The Township has been asked to be the offsite center for the responsibility of delegating activity in the event of an emergency outbreak. Trustees and Clerk asked if they would be willing to serve as an emergency resource, either as a team or as individuals, and positive response received.
On November 11 the Human Relations Commission sponsored a program held at the Immaculate Conception Church in Highland Park after mass at 6:30 PM. Trustee Plouche represented the Township and explained to all attendees the History and Programs offered by Moraine Township. Approximately 100 people attended, where the City of Highland Park, school districts, Lake County Health Center, Highalnd Park Hospital, and the Park District were represented. The Mayor of Highwood said he would like to do something similar for Highwood.
Trustee Zaluda appeared at the November 13 meeting of the City Council of Highland Park meeting on behalf of the Phyllis Santullano Drive; response from the Department of Public Works to help sponsor a family for the drive. Banana Republic is also going to adopt a family, as well as the Zaluda family. Supervisor Barnes announced to the public that additional support is welcomed from the community at large; there are 500 children to be sponsored thus far.
Volunteers are needed for picking up holiday baskets donated by the Willow Creek Church and being held in the Lou Malnati’s warehouse in Northbrook on Saturday, November 17, in the morning.
Mentoring Project
Trustee Gamson suggested the Township consider becoming a nexus for putting together talent and resources for people in need in the form of a mentoring project. Supervisor Barnes expressed that much of this may be accomplished by other organizations like Catholic Charities; Big Brothers/Big Sisters; Family Service, Senior Center. It was agreed that the Township would continue to think about this early next calendar year and start by finding out what kind of models already exist. Trustee Gamson and Supervisor Barnes will inquire as to whether the Volunteer Pool might also be interested.
Committee Reports
Food Pantry – District 112 Schools are hosting a food drive which will bring in new stock. Trinity Church has offered its Community Room to be used for the distribution of Phyllis Santullano baskets on December 20, 21 and 22.
Human Relations Commission – Following the November 11 event, the HRC will be looking for a new project at the December meeting.
Newsletter – Talk of the Township will be going to print next week.
Transportation – There were over 400 passengers served this October as compared to 80 last year. Also, the Township’s Door-to-Door Transportation Program was awarded “the most innovative senior program” among townships in Illinois.
Old Business
The November 2 dinner hosted by Moraine Township for Township Officials of Illinois was a success; plates used were purchased at less cost than the rental would have been and will be re-used by the Township Food Pantry in distribution to clients in need. Attendees at the November 2 event paid the cost of the dinner and cocktails.
New Business
None
Adjournment
With no further business to conduct, Trustee Moreno moved, seconded by Trustee Plouché, the meeting be adjourned at 8:54 PM. Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
_______________________
Ellen S. Gussin
Moraine Township Clerk
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