April 25, 2023 Approved Minutes

MINUTES OF THE GENERAL BOARD MEETING OF THE OAK PARK TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES HELD TUESDAY, APRIL 25 2023, CONDUCTED IN-PERSON and ELECTRONICALLY.

CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

Clerk DaToya Burtin-Cox called the meeting to order at 7:11 p.m. and the meeting was conducted in person and electronically. The following participated in-person: Township Manager, Gavin Morgan; Supervisor, Clarmarie Keenan; Trustee, Ade Onayemi; Trustee, Margaret Trybus; Clerk, DaToya Burtin-Cox; Attorney, John Garofalo; Trustee Eric Davis; Megan Traficano, Director of Youth & Family Services; and Ashley Elane, Communications Coordinator.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

None.

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA

Trustee Davis moved to approve the Consent Agenda with corrections. Trustee Onayemi seconded the motion. The remaining Board members voted to pass the motion unanimously.

BUSINESS ITEMS

  • Proclamations 
    • Alcohol Prevention 
      • Trustee Davis inquired about whether there is a trend (i.e. gender) 
      • Trustee Trybus indicated that topic precipitated Parent University 
      • Trustee Onayemi suggested positing proclamation 
      • Trustee Trybus suggested an article about the proclamation 
      • Trustee Davis made motion to accept the proclamation 
      • Trustee Onayemi seconded the motion 
      • The Board unanimously approved the motion 
    • Older Americans Month 
      • Older American Month is 5/11 thru 5/18 
      • Trustee Onayemi made a motion to accept the proclamation 
      • Supervisor Keenan seconded the motion 
      • The Board unanimously approved the motion 
  • Youth and Family Services Budget 
    • Budget with normal projects with adjustments 
    • FY24 budget incorporates Prevention budget 
    • The balance between the direct services and contract/grant supported services 
      • Previous years/administrations had hybrid services 
      • Current administration has a hybrid services 
      • FY23 – 9.8% spent on external projects 
      • FY24 – 8.6% spent on external projects 
      • Supervisor Keenan indicated that OPT should emphasize the outcome/results of direct services and contracted programs 
      • Trustee Trybus indicates that we should be building capacity in other sectors of the community 
    • Director Traficano indicates that there are systems in place to help with staff burnout 
      • Mental health check-ins 
      • Starting healing circles 
    • Trustee Davis indicates that OPT should do broadcast media coverage 
      • Programs 
      • Tuition assistance 
        • Manager Morgan indicates that this is publicized 
    • Trustee Onayemi inquired why community outreach is down 
      • Director Traficano indicates indicated that FY23 community outreach budget was only supposed to be supportive.  Believes that expenditures were not properly coded. 
    • Trustee Onayemi inquired about whether OPT received feedback/responses from grant recipients 
      • Director Traficano indicated that they have received feedback and signed contracts 
    • Trustee Trybus inquired about whether Youth and Family Services received awards from Township Officials of Illinois 
      • Director Traficano indicated that awards are given and that she is on the AITCOY awards committee 
      • Dominique Hickman received Staff Person of the Year at last year’s TOI Conference 
    • Trustee Davis inquired about future trend patterns that Youth/Family Services sees and areas to serve 
      • Director Traficano indicates that OPT has been asked to do more direct services in area of Family Services, Boys Programs, more direct services 
    • Trustee Trybus brought up a program she heard about – Keep Family Communities Together 
      • Holistic mentoring 
      • Corporate sponsorship 

DISCUSSION ITEMS

  • Decennial Committee
    • Received two names 
    • Sending out questionnaire 
    • Trustee Trybus when is first meeting 
      • Manager Morgan said the committee must be established by June and four meetings in the following 18 months 

MANAGER REPORT

  • Website kickoff occurred this week. Website should be ready by the new year 
    • Laura from Y/F Srvcs received her LCSW 
    • D97/ Girls on the Rise met w/ leaders to discuss expansion 
    • Requested meeting w/ Police Chief Johnson, re: collaboration
  • Working with other government bodies and Community Foundation, re: portrait of young Oak Park and River Forest resident
  • Manager Morgan completed High Performance Leadership Training 

SUPERVISOR REPORT

  • Publicize OPT accomplishments 
    • Direct Services conversation (what OPT achieved) 
  • May 1, 2023 – Statement of Economic Interest due 

CMHB

  • 5/8 move to CRC 
  • 5/21 ribbon cutting 
  • 5/24 50th anniversary 
    • Director Potts filming about history 
  • Alternative Call Response team 
    • 4/28 – final report going to Village Manager 
  • Over 200 attended Parent University 

I-GOV

  • 5/6 event Board mtg re: social media and email 

Senior Services (Pam Mahn)

  • 2 vacancies on committee 
    • Trustee Thomas not present.  No report. 

Youth and Family Services

  • Did not meet since last Board Meeting 
  • 2 vacancies on committee 

ADJOURNMENT

Trustee Trybus moved to adjourn at 8:32 pm; Trustee Onayemi seconded the motion which passed unanimously. 

NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Oak Park Township Board of Trustees will be The Annual Township Meeting followed by a Regular Board of Trustees Meeting conducted in-person and/or electronically among Board members on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at 7:00 pm at the Township Senior Center locate at 130 S. Oak Park, Ave, Oak Park, IL. 

Respectfully submitted by
and recorded in the office of

/s/ DaToya Burtin-Cox
DaToya Burtin-Cox, Clerk

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