February 22, 2022 Approved Minutes

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE OAK PARK TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES HELD TUESDAY, February 22, 2022, CONDUCTED ELECTRONICALLY.

 CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

Clerk DaToya Burtin-Cox called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. and the meeting was conducted electronically. On the call of the roll the following participated: Supervisor Clarmarie Keenan; Trustees Margaret Trybus, Ade Onayemi, Tim Thomas, Eric Davis; Clerk, DaToya Burtin-Cox; Township Manager, Gavin Morgan, and Township Attorney, John Garofalo. Megan Traficano, Youth Services; Kelly O’Connor of Prevention Services, Wendy Senger, Township Communication Specialist; and Anne Fussichen, Youth Services Committee Candidate also participated in the meeting electronically.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

None available

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA

Trustee E Davis moved to approve the Township Bills for the period of January 29, 2022, through February 11, 2022. Trustee M Trybus seconded the motion which passed unanimously.

February 8, 2022, Board Meeting minutes were also accepted pursuant to the motion.

YOUTH SERVICES COMMITTEE MEMBER

Supervisor Keenan introduced Anne Fussichan, candidate for the Youth Services Committee

  • Candidate is an OP resident, has 2 children in OP public schools, and has a background in education
  • Trustee A Onayemi indicated that candidate is a good fit for committee
    • Recommend candidate for board
      • Motion – Supervisor Keenan
      • 2nd - Trustee A Onayemi
      • Unanimous vote
    • OP needs total of 9 committee members
      • Still 4 vacancies

INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEENT

SENIOR SERVICES

  • Agreement lang. same as previous years
    • Rate change
      • 3 – Financials
        • Expenditures [portion of salaries]
        • Pay for srvc to RF residents

YOUTH SERVICES ASSISTANCE

  • 5% increase from last year

** Await all 3 intergovernmental agreements to combine for approval on MARH 8

Trustee M Trybus – inquired about evaluation of antigovernmental agreement

  • Keenan indicated that Township Supervisors have discussion re: whether agreements work

Supervisor Keenan – inquired about the issue of committee member terms

  • Manager Morgan – turnover due to recent resignations
  • Keenan suggested need to keep committee responsible for attendance
  • Manager Morgan indicated he will provide Advisory Committee Policy to Boar for review
  • Trustee M Trybus inquired if RF re-evaluate General Assistance rates
    • Manager Morgan indicate that he is unaware of rate change. Number of General Assistance applications in RF low.

TAX LEVY ADJUSTMENT

  • Manager Morgan indicated that he and Assessor are still putting together options for Board to review prior to entering ordinance
  • Assessor will be at March 8 meeting
  • Ordinance must be decided by April 1
  • Trustee M Trybus indicated that draft ordinance is well written
  • Trustee Davis inquired about #2 in draft ordinance
    • Inquired whether it creates new increment

PUBLICATION INFO STRATEGY

  • Comm Specialist inquired about cost associated with OP FYI
    • Color/doubled sides - $ 2435/insert
      • Other taxing districts collab to reduce individual cost
        • OPT to look into collab.
        • OPT does not suggest being in all issues, maybe2-3 per year
      • Distributed to approx.. 27000
      • household/businesses
      • Issue come out every 2 months
      • Past concern
        • Residents did not read FYI
        • Increase confusion between taxing bodies
          • Currently FYI includes side bar listing all taxing bodies
        • Wednesday Journal
          • Supervisor Keenan will seek meeting in next few weeks
        • Other outlets
          • Age Options – spotlight OPT senior services clt. in newsletter
            • Sent to Beat Reporter
          • Trustee Thomas
            • Senior srvc committee concerned that OPT events not publicized
          • Concern that Village has not post OPT article in OP FYI
            • Manager indicated new village manager appointed and will reach out

MANAGER REPORT

  • Village Manager Search
    • Have identified candidate
  • Village Dept of Public Health
    • I Plan conversation
      • OPT Focus on Mental Health
    • Sustainability Plan
      • Working with Village
    • Community Foundation
      • Focus
        • Community work
        • Success of Youth
      • COVID
        • lift mask mandate as of 2/28
        • OPT waiting on direction from OP Dept. of Public Health
          • Mtg 2/23
        • Senior Service
          • Age Options / Food Distrib.
            • No directions on congregant dinning
            • Need more vol. to consider opening donning/food distrib.
          • Community Safety Assessment
            • Conversation with Village consultant re policing in the community
            • Trustee Thomas expressed concern re camera
              • Identified as issue in Village mtg
            • Needs Assessment
              • In contact with comm partners
                • Dept of Aging
                  • Has senior service back in the field

SUPERVISOR KEENAN

  • Thank you to staff
  • Reiterated that Board should provide alternative emails to guarantee communication
  • Board expected to attend meetings and respond to meting request
  • Remote meeting for next few Board meetings

Youth Services Committee (Trustee Onayemi)

  • Yth Srvc funding schedule
    • Review mtg is 6/30
  • Still working on grants

CMHB (Trustee Trybus)

  • Allocations complete
    • Potts did excellent job of reviewing past data, billing, and need of service
  • 97 and De Paul Prog.
    • Potts met with D97 and they committed $90,000 to budget

Senior Services (Trustee Thomas)

  • Celebrate Senior Srvc dates
    • Will get back to Board with dates
  • Concerned about servicing without masks
  • Senior Services did exceptionally well in the Ill. Dept. of Aging audit/review of services

ADJOURNMENT

  • Trustee Trybus moved to adjourn at 8:12 p.m., Trustee M Davis seconded the motion which passed unanimously.

NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Oak Park Township Board of Trustees will be a Regular Board of Trustees Meeting conducted electronically among Board members at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, 2022, at 7 pm at the Township Office locate at 105 S. Oak Park, Ave, Oak Park, IL.

 

Respectfully submitted by

and recorded in the office of

 

DaToya Burtin-Cox, Township Clerk

 

Approved: 3/8/22