September 27, 2022 Approved Minutes

MINUTES OF THE GENERAL BOARD MEETING OF THE OAK PARK TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES HELD TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2022, CONDUCTED IN-PERSON.

CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

Clerk DaToya Burtin-Cox called the meeting to order at 7:07p.m. and the meeting was conducted in person and electronically. The following participated in-person: Trustee Eric Davis; Trustees Margaret Trybus; Trustee Tim Thomas; Clerk, DaToya Burtin-Cox; Township Manager, Gavin Morgan; and Township Attorney, John Garofalo.  Also in attendance electronically: Supervisor Clarmarie Keenan; and Trustee Ade Onayemi. Township Assessor participated in the Board meeting for a segment of the meeting.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

None available

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA

Trustee Trybus moved to approve the Township Minutes from September 13, 2022. Trustee Davis seconded the motion which was approved unanimously.

The Township bills were not provided at the meeting but are to be provided at the next meeting.

BUSINESS ITEMS

Town Hall Office Renovation Contract

  • Build out of Office was bid upon.
  • Township is part of coop for vendors.  Contract was identified through the purchase coop.
  • Township Assessor participated in the conversation regarding how the build out will affect the Assessor’s services.
  • Trustee Davis inquired whether the Office construction will affect the Township ability to be a polling place and Assessor’s Services.
    • Clerk Burtin-Cox indicated that the Township will only host 1 precinct for the November 2022 election
    • Manager Morgan indicated that the Township has historically only hosted 1 precinct prior to COVID which caused the Township to host 2 precincts at 105 and 130 locations.  Also, the assessor has not been part of the discussion surrounding the office construction.
  • Assessor El Shaffer indicated that the construction change to the Township will not affect the services provided.  The Pandemic has changed house the services are being provided by the Assessor’s Office.
  • Trustee Davis made a motion to approve the Town Hall construction and window replacement for the cost of $211,390.27.  Trustee Thomas seconded the motion, which was approved unanimously.   

DISCUSSION ITEMS

 

Township shredding events

  • Manager Morgan indicated that Supervisor Keenan provided an article regarding stainability associated with large shredding event.
    • Shredded paper and be bundled and recycled
  • OPT current vendor charges $245 for first 10 boxes and $9 for each additional box.
    • Trustee Trybus inquired if people can bring individual boxes which are not completely full.
      • Manager Morgan indicated that this is not an issue and the vendor has a means of properly computing the volume of the amount shredded.
  • Trustee Onayemi thanked Manager Morgan for the layout plans and inquired whether the construction will affect polling space
    • Manager Morgan indicated that they layout will be sufficient with 1 precinct
  • Trustee Davis inquired if construction would affect how loaner medical equipment stored and space for community during regular Board meeting
    • Manager Morgan indicated that medical equipment generally store in the Township basement and that meeting may be moved to 130 location.
  • Supervisor Keenan inquired building a second floor was an option
    • Manager Morgan indicated that building a second floor is costly and would require two sets of stairs and an elevator.

Public Act 102-1088

  • June 2023 is the deadline for forming a committee
  • Board must set up committee to study efficiency of Township government.
  • Supervisor Keenan indicated that she wants to be attentive to the new law requirement and ahead of the game
    • 1 Township has already complied with the law
  • Trustee Trybus inquired what is the criteria for determining the 2 public members of the committee.
    • Suggested that the public committee be aware of the Township government
    • Trustee Davis recommend former Township Supervisor
    • Manager Morgan recommend public policy professors in the Township
      • The Board will work to identify possible individuals to fill positions.

Township Reopening

  • Issue was discussed at supervisory staff meeting.
  • Many services are already in-person.
  • Senior Services congregant meals are not fully in-person; partially reopened for Bingo and Tai Chi.
  • Trustee Davis inquired whether this event will be available to seniors and whether it can be coordinated with Senior Services
    • Manager Morgan indicated that the event will be alternate of the Village Shredding event and will be in January and July
  • Trustee Davis inquired whether the Township budget will need to be amended.
    • Manager Morgan indicated that the budget does not need to be amended.
  • Village Dept of Public Health has reported report shows community transmission low over the past 3 weeks.
  • Senior Services is not open for walk-in services
    • Township is working on getting staff comfortable with full reopen
    • Concern during full reopen – access to public bathrooms.
    • Township hopes to fully reopen services within 30 days.

MANAGER REPORT

  • Township received refund from Bank related to fraudulent check incident
  • D90/D97/D200 have expanded Girls on the Rise to elementary schools (4th and 5th grade
  • Dominique Hickman of Youth Services awarded Staff Member of the Year Award from the Association of Illinois Townships Committees on Youth (AITCOY).
  • Members of the Township sit on various committees of the Homelessness Coalition
    • April – re-entry committee
    • Cheryl – Street Outreach/Policy
    • Gavin Morgan – community
    • Homeless Coalition is requesting funding
    • Morgan indicated that there is historical precedence for funding; suggested that the Coalition makes a specific ask
    • Supervisor Keenan indicated that the Board would need a report indicating total funding and how it is being used
    • Trustee Trybus indicated that the Homelessness Coalition received money from another source in the amount $50,000 from Michael Reese.
  • D97/D90/D200 are looking into Bully Prevention program
    • Application for funding being considered
      • Discussions in the beginning phase
  • Cook County Guaranteed Income Program
    • Township General Assistance and Attorney looking into whether lottery winners in OPT on General Assistance will be affected
    • Township Roof Work project to begin in Mid-November

Supervisor Keenan

  • Thank you to Manager, Board and Staff
  • Continue to maintain committees at full capacity.
    • Youth Services has 3 vacancies
    • Senior Services has 2 vacancies
  • Dedication for Greg White
    • Manager Morgan indicated that he has not heard back from family.
  • Keep track of the weather for the January shred event
  • Check with Senior Services Committee member regarding fraud presentation

CMHB (Director Potts)

  • YEMBA received a grant from CMHB
    • 130 families signed up to receive information re YEMBA services 
    • YEMBA received a $300,00 grant 
    • Supervisor Keenan suggested that a press release goes out
  • CMHB in need of Fiscal records
  • Needs Assessment
    • 600 returned responses (500 from OP; 100 from RF)
      • Most responses from people 55-60 yrs. Old
  • Trustee Davis suggest a quarterly report outlining positive endeavors
    • Trustee Thomas suggest use of several means to publicize
    • Trustee Onayemi suggest use of Constant Contacts
    • Requesting psychiatry services
    • 66% of responses did not know where to obtain services
    • Trustee Trybus inquired as to when Communications Specialist position will be filled
      • Manager Morgan indicated that the Township is working on this,

I-GOV 

  • 9/24/2022 – Sustainability Forum There will be a sustainability forum went well
    • D97 creating sustainability committee 
    • Village/Park/Library participated
  • Trustee Trybus inquired whether there will be a follow-up event
    • Trustee Davis responded yes.

Senior Services

  • Considering using former Board to fill committee positions
  • Trustee Trybus suggest looking at PTO members for positions
  • Review the report put out by the Director

Youth Services

  • New name – Youth and Family Services
  • Prevention Services Manager – Kelly O’Connor
  • Next meeting will discuss RFP processes
    • Considering having youth involvement
      • Trustee Davis and Trybus inquire whether this will be a conflict
  • Trustee Davis inquired about the Youth Services Community Justice Manager
    • When will the position be posted to community.
    • What will be the positions duties Manager Morgan indicated that info will be coming soon

ADJOURNMENT

  • Trustee Davis moved to adjourn at 8:42 pm; Trustee Thomas 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, October 11, 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