November 13, 2019 Approved Minutes

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE OAK PARK TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES HELD WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019, AT OAK PARK TOWNSHIP HALL, 105 SOUTH OAK PARK AVENUE, OAK PARK, ILLINOIS

CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

Clerk White called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. On the call of the roll the following were present: Trustees Margaret Trybus, Ade Onayemi, Eric Davis, and Clerk Gregory White. Township Manager Gavin Morgan was also present.
Trustee Davis moved to allow Supervisor Keenan to participate in the meeting via speakerphone. Trustee Onayemi seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
Trustee Michelle Mbekeani-Wiley joined the meeting at 7:08 p.m.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Elector and Township Financial Advisory Committee member Kitty Conklin addressed the Board, objecting to the Board’s approval of additional revenue due to the TIF expirations. A copy of her Comments is attached to and made a part of these minutes.
CMHB Executive Director Lisa DeVivo spoke in favor of the Township’s decision for additional revenue from the TIF expirations for expanded services, including the Township participation in the formation of a Community Wellness Center.

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA

Trustee Trybus moved to approve the Consent Agenda, including the Minutes of the October 22, 2019 Regular Board of Trustees Meeting, Minutes of the October 22, 2019 Executive Session Meeting, and Township bills for the period October 19, 2019 through November 8, 2019. Trustee Davis seconded the motion which passed unanimously.

APPROVAL OF 2018 TENTATIVE PROPERTY TAX LEVY

Manager Morgan shared a memorandum with the Board recommending that the Township capture at least a portion of the revenue available due to the expiration of the Downtown and Madison Street Tax Increment Financing districts to compensate for lost revenue, to fund programming that will fill identified community needs, and to provide financial security for the Township with the least impact on current and future property tax payers. He also noted that this is the one opportunity the Township will have to capture the value from the TIFs expiration.
After discussion, Trustee Trybus moved to approve ORDINANCE 2019-02, TENTATIVE TOWNSHIP 2019 PROPERTY TAX LEVY, in the following amounts, to be taken to Public Hearing on December 9, 2019:
Town Fund $3,737,396
General Assistance Fund $139,141
Community Mental Health Fund $1,564,530

TOTAL LEVY $5,441,067

Trustee Onayemi seconded the motion. On the call of the roll, the vote was as follows: ayes: Trustees Trybus, Onayemi, and Mbekeani-Wiley; nays: Trustee Davis and Supervisor Keenan. The motion was passed by a 3-2 vote, with the Tentative Levy to be taken to public hearing on December 9, 2019. A copy of the Tentative Levy is available for inspection in the Clerk’s Office.

APPROVAL OF AUDIT SERVICES PROPOSAL

Board members reviewed a Service Proposal for auditing services from Sikich LLP-Government Services to continue performing auditing services for the Township. Based on overall quality and satisfaction with the firm’s past services to the Township, Trustee Davis moved to approve the Service Proposal for Auditing Services Prepared for Oak Park Township by Sikich LLP-Government Services. Trustee Mbekeani-Wiley seconded the motion which passed unanimously.

APPROVAL OF INSURANCE RENEWAL

Manager Morgan shared a memorandum with Board members on the research performed by Connor Gallagher for insurance renewal, and reported on the positive experience the Township has had with this broker. Proposed renewal rates reflected a cost drop of 2.9%.
Trustee Davis moved to approve the agreement for general liability, workers’ compensation and cyber security insurance through Illinois Counties Risk Management Trust (ICRMT) as presented by Connor Gallagher OneSource. Trustee Trybus seconded the motion which passed unanimously.

TOWNSHIP MANAGER’S REPORT

Manager Morgan reported on topics and workshops at the Township Officials of Illinois Fall Conference in Springfield. Monthly reports for General Assistance and Youth Services were shared. Youth Services Director Megan Traficano has been meeting with contracted agencies on reporting procedures and expectations.

TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR’S REPORT

Supervisor Keenan congratulated Senior Services for their fine work and being named Township Of The Year by the Township Officials of Illinois at the recent conference. The Township’s Holiday Party for staff will be held on January 17 at Pin Stripes in Oakbrook. Board members agreed to underwrite the cost of a chartered bus to and from the event. The Supervisor and Manager Morgan have communicated their disagreement with the Village of Oak Park Board regarding its decision to withdraw from funding the Youth Interventionist Program, which is a collaborative project relying on support of all local governments.

CLERK’S REPORT

Clerk White reported that a Legal Notice will be published and posted on the Township’s website for the December 9 Public Hearing on the 2019 Township Levy. Inquiries are underway for procedures in the 2020 primaries, and the Candidate’s Guide is available at the Cook County Clerk’s website. The Township will again serve as a polling place on Election Day.

FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER

Trustee Davis reported that he has written a draft for the Village Board’s reconsideration regarding zoning for cannabis locations.

NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Oak Park Township Board of Trustees will be a Public Hearing on the Tentative Township Tax Levy Ordinance for 2019, immediately followed by a Regular Board of Trustees Meeting, at 7:00 p.m. Monday, December 9, 2019, at the Oak Park Township Hall, 105 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL.

ADJOURNMENT

Trustee Onayemi moved to adjourn at 7:58 p.m. Trustee Mbekeani-Wiley seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted by
and recorded in the office of
_____________________________
Gregory White, Township Clerk
Approved: 12/09/2019