November 19, 2024 Regular Board Approved Minutes

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE OAK PARK TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES HELD TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2024, CONDUCTED IN-PERSON AND ELECTRONICALLY.

Call To Order

-7:00pm

Roll Call

In person-Manager Evan Michel; Supervisor, Tim Thomas, Trustee Eric Davis, Trustee Margaret Trybus, Trustee Ade Onayemi, Trustee Juan Munoz; Township Attorney John Garofalo 

Public Comments

N/A

Consent Agenda

Approval of Minutes: October 22, 2024 

Approval of Bills

Trustee Davis made a motion to accept the consent agenda. Trustee Onayemi seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously to approve.

Business Items

  • Presentation of the 2024 Property Tax Levy
    • Skitich made a presentation and outlined the priorities of the Township. Brought to the attention of the Board the townships rising personnel costs, the desire for capital planning, the interest in serving the community in alignment with the new normal and maintaining Future fund balances.
    • They provided several options to the board for May 2024 property tax levy. The board requested an option that aligned with CPI.
  • Ordinance: 2024 Property Tax Levy
    • The board postponed the property tax vote to obtain the option showing the levy in balance with the CPI.  
  • Supervisor’s Appointment of Members of the Community Mental Health Board
    • Manager Michel indicated that the Township will be reappointing the board members. He also provided information about the terms for each of the current sitting board members.
    • Trustee Trybus question the current term limits of the board members and how they staggered.
      • Supervisor Thomas indicated this issue will be looked into.
    • There was a motion to make the appointment submitted to the mental health board providing a memo explaining these staggering terms. The board voted unanimously to accept they Re-appointment of the board.
    • Trustee Munoz requested that the terms be set at three years For all future board members of the CMHB.

Discussion Items

  • Strategic Planning Update 
    • The manager indicated that the actions would be tied into the director’s plans. The manager will work closely with directors in creating the spreadsheet for the board.
    • Legislative office initiative
      • Looking forward to answering questions regarding initiatives. The manager would like the board to come up with big initiatives that they're looking four in the Township
    • With respect to the spreadsheet there are some changes that were requested 
      • With respect to transportation add the terms “identify” and “address gap”
      • With respect to the job placement program add the term “improve and expand”
    • Discuss the communication roles for the Township. The supervisor indicated that he made a decision to approve the positions. The supervisor indicated that based on the conversation, the director of the senior services approved of having one person that dealt with senior services and the Township in general. The manager indicated that having a person in this role under the roof of the Township is a big win.
      • Trustee Trybus ask for the director to engage their committees more
    • Trustee Trybus Made a comment regarding the spreadsheet provided by the manager. Her question dealt with not understanding the goals and the spreadsheet.
      • Trustee Davis indicated that the document should make reference back to the goals set previously under the needs assessment.
    • The manager asked if he could work with trustee Trybus In order to finalize the flow of the plan.
  • Township Supervisor Roles and Responsibilities 
    • Tabled

Brief Reports:

  • Township Manager
    • Attended the TOI conference where director Man the award for manager of the year. Traficano Also one in the ward regarding prevention. 
    • The Township is posting the position for the communication rules 
    • The Township presented the board with a policy binder outlining all the policies for the organization. 
    • The youth program is seeking to expand the girls on the rise program to a boys program called boys on the rise.
    • Met with senior services and the director to discuss transportation issues   
  • Township Supervisor
    • Attended the TOI Conference and strongly suggest that other board members attend in the future 
    • Attended the CMHB meeting with D97 board 
      • Discuss the Mindful Middle School program run by DePaul University 
    • Rolled out the employee award program 
      • Staff nominates each other for recognition 
    • Sent the staff a post-election video talking about the position of the Township and how the Township will move forward 

Trustee Liaison Committee Members 

  • Youth and Family Services (Trustee Trybus)
    • Rise on the rise program were run January through May of 2025. 
      • The pilot will target 6th grade boys
    • There is an Irving elementary program that deals with homework.
      • The program will run October through May.
    • Contractors’ night will be held January 8th 
    • There was an intergenerational presentation made 

Senior Services Committee (Trustee Davis)

  • No meeting. The next meeting is in January. They did have a program with the attorney general's office dealing with consumer fraud which was beneficial.

Community Mental Health Board 

  • No meeting

I-GOV (Trustee Onayemi)

  • Attendance was low 
  • Still discussing the form for candidates 

Adjournment of General Meeting

Motion to adjourn was made by Trustee Trybus. Motion was seconded by Trustee Onayemi. The board voted unanimously to adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 9:31 PM.

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