July 26, 2022 Approved Minutes

MINUTES OF THE GNERAL BOARD MEETING OF THE OAK PARK TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES HELD TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022, CONDUCTED ELECTRONICALLY.

CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

Clerk DaToya Burtin-Cox called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. and the meeting was conducted in person and electronically. In-person the following participated: Trustee Eric Davis; Clerk, DaToya Burtin-Cox; Township Manager, Gavin Morgan, and Township Attorney, John Garofalo.  On the call of the roll the following participated: Trustees Margaret Trybus, Ade Onayemi, Tim Thomas, Supervisor Clarmarie Keenan.  Also in attendance:  Kelly O’Connor, Prevention Services and MeganTraficano, Youth Services.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

None available

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA

Trustee A Onayemi moved to approve the Township Minutes from June 28, 2022 with clarifications, Board Meeting and Bills for the period ending July 26, 2022. Motion was seconded by Trustee E Davis.

The Motion was approved unanimously.

BUSINESS ITEMS

No items

DISCUSSION ITEMS

Personnel Policies –

  • Updating FMLA
    • Making policy more user friendly
      • Township uses 12-month calendar for FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act)
      • Trustee Thomas inquire what trigged the policy update?
        • Manager Morgan indicates that the many questions from staff indicates a need for updates and clarification.
      • Township offers staff the choice to use sick and vacation time concurrently with FMLA or take unpaid leave.
      • Trustee Davis inquired about switching to Paid Time Off (PTO) and how it has can be used with FMLA.
        • Manager Morgan indicated that IMRF continues to use sick leave toward service credits and not PTO.
      • Create more robust DEI (Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion) statement
        • Seeking Trustee input
          • Trustee Thomas request that Trustees are sent a copy of the current DEI statement
          • Manger agreed to issue DEI statement to Board
        • Drug Free Office Policy
          • Policy update is necessary because of new cannabis legislation which allows for medicinal and recreation use
          • New legislation affects employment laws and Township policies/positions

Rotary Sponsorship Opportunity

  • Sponsorship of Food Truck Rally and other OPRF Rotary events
    • Supervisor Keenan suggest that Manager look at sponsorship history for the Township
    • Trustees indicate that many of the organizations supported by the Rotary are also supported by the Township
    • Trustee Davis inquires whether it makes sense to have Rotary apply for a grant through the Township
      • Trustee Onayemi, who serves as District Governor for Rotary, indicated that because the Rotary provides funding to other organizations it would not be fitting to apply for Youth Services grants.
    • Trustee Davis inquired whether the Rotary Club has supported the Ukrainian people
      • Trustee Onayemi indicated that the Rotary clubs has supported the Ukrainian people with financial support and resources.
    • The Board directed Manager Morgan, by consent, to sponsor OPRF Rotary on behalf of the Township at the $500 level for 2022-23. Trustee Onayemi recused himself because of his role with Rotary.

Township Employee, Committees, and Board Headshots

  • Schedules for 8/3 and 8/5
  • If individuals are not available on these dates the Township will circle back in the future and set another session

Oak Park Reparations Survey

  • Manager informed Board that the survey has gone out and that he has reached out to the point person, Christian, to be kept in the loop
  • Trustee Thomas and Clerk Burtin-Cox indicated that they have both received the survey
    • Trustee Thomas and Clerk Burtin-Cox indicated that the questions were general
    • Clerk Burtin-Cox indicated that the survey was developed by Concordia

Memorial Tree Dedication for Former Clerk Greg White

  • Manager Morgan indicated that he is waiting for response from Family of Greg White. The point person is out of town.

MANAGER REPORT

  • Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR- Comprehensive Annual Financial Report)/Audit
    • Township won the GFOA (Government Finance Officers Association) Award for financial reporting, as we have for the past 15 years.
  • Blood Drive
    • Trustee Davis Assisted in connecting the township
    • July event was a success
    • Drive will occur every other month. Next event is in September.
  • Township in discussion with roof contractor
    • Utilizing a public purchasing co-op to get bids from pre-approved vendors
  • Youth Services
    • Hosting a school supply drive
      • Collecting supplies until 8/5
      • Distributing supplies 8/12 from 4-6 pm at the 105 building
    • Senior Services
      • Received Age Options funding for Housing Specialist functions
    • Barrie Fest
      • Barrie Park, September 11, from 12pm-5pm
      • Southeast Oak Park Community group is hosting
      • Kelly from Prevention Services is coordinating
    • Committee vacancies
      • 2 openings in Senior Services
      • 2 openings in Youth Services
      • 2 openings on Financial Advisory Board
      • Application information available on webpage

Supervisor Keenan

  • Thank you to Manager, Board and Staff
  • Glad for the support of Trustee Onayemi at White Sox game
  • Request that the Board support Manager in filling committee vacancies
    • Would like committees full by September 1,2022
    • Request that Wendy place list of vacancies on the Township webpage

CMHB (Trustee Trybus)

  • Approved $70,000 for infrastructure
    • Supervisor Keenan request press release
    • Senior Services received grant for training
  • D97 invested $95,000 for Mindful Middle School Program
    • Gave to CMHB to distribute instead of directly to DePaul University program
  • Needs Assessment received 500 responses from Oak Park and 100 responses from Forest Park
    • Information will be instrumental for strategic planning
  • D200 joint event with Chamber supporting hiring of individuals with Developmental Disabilities

I-GOV

  • There will be a sustainability forum in the early Fall.

ADJOURNMENT

  • Trustee Davis moved to adjourn at 8:18 pm; Trustee M Trybus 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 in-person and/or electronically among Board members on Tuesday, August 23, 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

 

/s/ DaToya Burtin-Cox

DaToya Burtin-Cox, Clerk