March 25, 2025 Regular Board Approved Minutes

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE OAK PARK TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES HELD TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2025, CONDUCTED IN-PERSON AND ELECTRONICALLY.

Call To Order

-7:02pm

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 Garfalo; Clerk DaToya Burin-Cox. Also present, Youth Services Director, Traficano and Ast. Director, Hickman; Director Potts, CMHB. 

Public Comments

N/A

Consent Agenda

Approval of Minutes: March 11, 2025

Approval of Bills

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

Business Items

  • Adoption of the Oak Park Township strategic plan 
    • Board was provided with final draft of the strategic plan. The plan included additional language regarding sustainability.
    • A motion to accept the plan as written was made by Trustee Eric Davis. The motion was seconded by Trustee Trybus And the board unanimously approved.
  • Approval of the youth and Family Services contracted programs
    • Director Traficano made presentation of programs that requested funding. 
    • For fiscal year 2026 contract programs recommended by the committee 
    • Beat Root
      • $10,000 requested 
      • intergenerational program 
      • flower beds will be ADA compliant 
    • Wonder works
      • $5000 requested
      • intergenerational program in the art space
      • There was a question brought up by the board regarding the intentionality of the art projects and whether they will be beneficial to both these seniors and the youth. 
  • There were 5 requests for funding of joint programs 
    • Concordia stem program
      • request it $5000
  • Oak Park program request 
    • intramural sports at high school
      • Requested $11,000
    • chess Academy
      • program will be located at the Oak Park library
      • requested $12,000 
    • Oak Park park district  
      • requested $10,000 for scholarships 
    • styles for kids  
      • requested $14,00 
    • KUMBA 
      • Requested funding for scholarship in the amount of 15,000
    • Oak Park library 
      • Requested $13,600 for mentoring program  
    • D97 
      • Program located at Irving Elementary school  
      • program provides academic assistance 
      • requested $8300  
      • Continuous student participation over the years
  • Approval of annual meeting agenda 
    • Motion was made by Trustee Davis. Motion was seconded by Trustee Trybus and the board voted unanimously to approve.
  • Adoption of a resolution opposing Township consolidation 
    • Matter was tabled. 
    • Township Supervisor provided board with the digital copy of the resolution to make suggestions or comments on the resolution.     

Discussion Items

  • Girls on the Rise 
    • Assistant director Hickman made presentation 
    • Outline the numbers and the successes of the program 
      • continuous increase in student participation over the years
    • Provided goals for future of the program 
    • Provided future needs for the program 
      • The  need to increase facilitator position to meet the needs of the students 

Brief Reports:

  • Township Manager
    • Cook County SEI is due May 1, 2025 
    • There is an audit being done in the senior service division regarding Protective Services 
    • Oak Park Chamber application for internship program has been completed and submitted  
    • April 2, 2025, the Township will make a presentation to the Rotary Club regarding the supply drive
  • Township Supervisor
    • Attended MCA in Springfield 
      • discussed Township bills 
        • Bill 2504 was given an extension 

Trustee Liaison Committee Members

Youth and Family Services (Trustee Trybus)

  • No additional information beyond the information provided by Director Traficano 

Senior Services Committee (Trustee Davis)

  • The accreditation process has began with the National Association of Senior Services 
  • Celebrating seniors week will be May 8 - May 18th 

Community Mental Health Board 

  • approval process for 4 million in funding requests will begin on April 1st 
  • joint consortium breakfast 
    • breakfast will occur at the Carlton hotel 
    • the breakfast will be held on April 20th at 9:00 AM 
  • beginning strategic plan work
    • have received 400 responses to the survey out of the 700 sought. 
  • The board retreat is scheduled for June of 2025
    • job at the retreat is to culminate the data received for the strategic plan   

I-GOV (Trustee Onayemi)

  • the meeting was in low attendance 
  • did not complete the brochure/questionnaire regarding running for election in Oak Park 

Adjournment of General Meeting-9:03 pm

  • motion to adjourn was made by Trustee Onayemi. Motion was seconded by Trustee Davis. The board voted unanimously to adjourn.
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