September 28, 2021 Approved Minutes

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE OAK PARK TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES HELD TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021, CONDUCTED IN-PERSON AND ELECTRONICALLY.

CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

Clerk DaToya Burtin-Cox called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. and the meeting was conducted in-person and electronically. On the call of the roll the following participated: Supervisor Clarmarie Keenan, Trustees Margaret Trybus, Ade Onayemi, Eric Davis, Tim Thomas, and Clerk DaToya Burtin-Cox. Township Manager, Gavin Morgan, Attorney, John Garofalo, and Communication Specialist, Wendy Sender attended in-person. Senior Services Director Pamela Mahn, and CMHB Executive Director, Cheryl Potts and Former CMHB Director, Lisa DeVivo also participated in the meeting electronically.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Valerie Lester, Senior Citizens Services committee member and volunteer, delivered a written statement to the Board regarding the placement of excess funds taxed for specific purposes (General Assistance and Mental Health) in the Township Fund. See attached Letter from Valerie Lester.

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA

Trustee Eric Davis moved to approve the Consent Agenda, including the Minutes of the August 24, 2021, Regular Board of Trustees Meeting, and Township bills for the period of September 4, 2021 through September 17, 2021. Trustee Ade Onayemi seconded the motion which passed unanimously.

PROCCLAMATION OF FOR NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH

Township Manager, Gavin Morgan, introduced a Proclamation to be accepted by the Township Board. The Proclamation for National Recovery Month seeks to make the Oak Park Community aware of preventing and overcoming substance abuse disorders in order to achieve a healthy lifestyle. Serval Oak Park and surrounding area Community groups/programs are conducting outreach during the month of September 2021.

Trustee Margaret Trybus moved to approve the Proclamation for National Recovery Month. Trustee Eric Davis seconded the motion which passed unanimously.

The Township Supervisor, Clarmarie Keenan and Clerk, DaToya Burtin-Cox signed the proclamation on September 28^th, 2021, supporting National Recovery Month. See the Proclamation attached.

Compensation and Evaluation Planning

Township Manager Gavin Morgan Presented steps for handling Township employee compensation review (Board previously agreed to a merit-based increase to go into effect in October 2021).

The first step will be an October Merit Based increase. The Board directed Township Manager, Gavin Morgan, to provide the Board with a recommendation based on job performance over the past two years. The Township budget will be considered when the recommendation proposed. October pay increase. The Township budget has incurred saving over the past year, and the Township received grants that covered some budgetary obligations

The second stage will include a review of total pay and system for compensation delineation. The Township currently utilizes merit and cost of living. The new system for pay evaluations will account for a new job performance evaluation process, external market pay scales, and alignment with Culture and Climate analysis.

Trustee M. Trybus, recommend the usage of the term “Compensation Philosophy” when discussing pay increases.

Manager Morgan believe it is highly important that the Township establish a criteria for valued pay increases. Board directed Manager, Morgan, to come up with a recommendation for a 1 time pay increase and criteria for setting a compensation philosophy within the Township.

2021 PROPERTY TAX LEVY

2021 Tax levy must be approved by December, the CPI is 1.4%. Board agreed to offset unintended 2020 tax increase.

Township audit to be received by next board meeting

MANAGER’S REPORT

Susan Stearns, TIME Program Manager, put in resignation
- Opportunity to discuss Time program in Youth Services
Meeting re: Branding
- Determining core purpose/framework of messaging
  - Will incorporate culture and climate findings
- Vaccine status
  - Board passe vaccination policy with effective date of Oct. 18^th
    - 2 employees with medical issues – bringing paperwork
    - 2 employees still considering
  - Board members to provide proof of vaccination
    - Send cards to Kim Henry
  - Oak Park Park District
    - Vandalism issue with youth
      - Interventionists at Ridgeland Commons
      - Youth services working with Oak Park Police on drug sales and made recommendations to Parks staff about visibility
    - Community Rec Center
      - Discussing staffing & consideration of youth intervention
      - Community Foundation’s Community Works board looking into transportation and other community needs
    - Community Needs
      - Working on projects with River Forest, CMHB and Community Foundation with focus on mental health
    - Senior Services
      - Hired new head of nutrition program

TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR

Noted staff efforts over past 2 years during pandemic – APPRECIATED
Trustee liaison should provide update on Senior Services and youth Services committees
Manager will provide Senior Service and Youth Services meeting schedules for the year
Branding Report draft to be provided to the Board by next Board mtg
- Board had discretion regarding the Branding message

FORMER CMHB DIRECTOR

Welcome new Director, Cheryl Potts

SENIOR SERVICES DIRECTOR

New nutrition program manager
Working toward opening (looking at numbers)
- New mandates will come out this week

WELCOME NEW TOWNSIP STAFF

Community Mental Health Director – Cheryl Potts
Township Clerk – DaToya Burtin-Cox

NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Oak Park Township Board of Trustees will be a Regular Board of Trustees Meeting conducted in-person and electronically among Board members at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 12, 2021 at 7 pm at the Township Office locate at 105 S. Oak Park, Ave, Oak Park, IL.

ADJOURNMENT

Trustee Onayemi moved to adjourn at 8:15 p.m. Trustee Davis seconded the motion which passed unanimously.

Respectfully submitted by

and recorded in the office of

____________________________

DaToya Burtin-Cox, Township Clerk

Approved: October 12, 2021