MINUTES
Moraine Township Board of Trustees
Thursday, November 13, 2008 7:30 PM
Moraine Township Office

MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
November 13, 2008

The meeting was called to order at 7:35 PM by Supervisor Barnes. Upon roll call the following members were present: Trustees Bryna Gamson, Margoth Moreno, and Jeff Zaluda. Also Present: Clerk Ellen Gussin, Director General Assistance Tracy Coleman, Assessor Peter Koukos, Charlie Barnes, Jan Leahy, Fred Seff and Jane Talesnick. Trustee Cynthia Plouché arrived before 8:00 PM.

Approval of Minutes
The Regular Meeting Minutes of September 25, 2008 and October 23, 2008 stand approved as written.

Approval of Bills
Trustee Gamson moved, seconded by Trustee Zaluda, approval of the bills. Upon roll call, motion carried.

Agency Presentations
Career Resource Center, Jan Leahy, Executive Director, and Fred Seff, Board Member:

Jan Leahy thanked the Board for its support, underscoring the significant need for people to get back into the work force. In the current economic downturn Career Resource Center’s (CRC) registrations are up 38% and they expect to experience continued increases. CRC mission is to help people through the unemployment process; they provide affordable services due to the many volunteers they utilize. Programs include education, mentoring and training. Strategies change on an individual case basis, but the goal is to provide long term job security. Fred Seff shared some personal stories, and reported that unemployment in Lake County was already up to 7.1% in August (5% is usually considered high,) and he is sure it is higher now. Jan Leahy highlighted the services that have been added because of Moraine Township funding -- expanded training and improved computer software to enable coordinated training sessions. Of the CRC clients, 81% rate CRC as providing a positive benefit; 73% continue to use the services after they are re-employed; 95% would recommend the agency. Trustee Gamson questioned what was available before CRC, and Ms. Leahy responded. Prior to the late 80s most unemployment was blue collar, but after the recession an outreach mission began and in ‘94 CRC was officially established. 81% of CRC clients receive no outsourcing help from their former employers. CRC believes severance pay may also become an increasing casualty for people losing their jobs.

Highland Park-Highwood Home Child Care Association, Jane Talesnick

The Association is in its 13th year of operation. Moraine Township funding has been used to help teenage moms. Five such moms have graduated from high school in the past five years; two more are currently in the program -- one who started as a sophomore and another who is a senior and wants to go on to Nursing School. Two of the five graduates are utilizing the home child care so they can continue working. There are three providers that have taken care of these moms as well as other child-care clients. The Association only takes on teenage-mom students who have a good chance of graduating. Overall mission is to be able to provide home care for all that need it in the community. Because infant care is so needed, but no large facility exists in the community, the licensing program provided by HPHHCCA is most helpful. A variety of training programs are offered. There is a nurse consultant, and they utilize the YWCA as a resource. They do some collaboration with Family Network whose clients are mostly non-working, and Jane Talesnick has done training for Family Network. Nine providers currently offer nurturing, loving environments, and there are a few child-care openings. Jane Talesnick does not supervise the providers, but she is in regular contact with each of them. There are no more than eight children, from birth to age 2 ½ to 3 years, in a home, and if there are as many as eight, two providers are required. Interested potential clients can call the Association at 847-609-2956.

Assessor’s Report
Appeals are down in Moraine Township in comparison to past years. Numbers of appeals on condo units are up. Most other townships have experienced an increase in the number of appeals. Assessor Koukos has suggested the State legislature change the statute to accommodate the current declining market values by using the preceding year at 100% of market value for the assessed valuation, allowing restoration to the two to three years currently used when the market picks up.

Tax Levy Discussion
Assessor Koukos explained the 2009 Levy, for which a formula was passed out to the Board. He is recommending the levy be set at $1,311,238, which includes a $60,000 cushion. The Board will vote at the December meeting on the amount of the levy. Trustee Zaluda asked if we are seeing foreclosures in Moraine Township, and Assessor Koukos affirmed that there are foreclosures but the bank continues to pay the taxes in most cases. Calculation of the Equalizer does not adjust for the low sales prices on foreclosed properties.

Public Comment
None

Supervisor’s Report
Supervisor Barnes reported on the question raised by the Zacharias Center at last month’s meeting concerning how victims of sexual abuse who go to the hospital are offered the services of this agency. As a result of Supervisor Barnes’ follow up, police will be working closer with the Zacharias Center. Efforts to coordinate a team approach have been promised, particularly for those victims that may not get to a hospital.

Willow Creek Church will no longer be donating food to the Township for distribution for Thanksgiving; in lieu of food they hope to send a donation after the holiday. Cheryl Levy is working with the Township as the representative to the schools for the food drive. She has also been instrumental in bringing in students to help with the Food Pantry. The Township continues to solicit students that are in need of a sponsor for their families for the program formerly operated by the Phyllis Santullano Fund. The Township hopes to have enough sponsors to serve all the needs of the community.

Two new citizens for the Latino Advisory Committee are confirmed. Several others have been interviewed, as several more are desired. Trustee Plouche suggested starting with a small group, and Trustee Zaluda suggested tapping people who may be connected with the community but not necessarily Latino.

The Township is going green with new food pantry bags -- one for canned goods and one for dry goods; Township will ask for a $1 deposit on the bags, encouraging people to bring them back with them on return trips for food.

Committee Reports
Grant Committee – Workshop for Grant Writing, Achieve (Local) Fund Raising Success on October 10 was very successful; in particular, the woman from the Donors Forum did an excellent job. About 45 to 50 people attended, and there was much enthusiasm from the day. Trustee Gamson thanks the Police Department for use of its facility as well as all the people who participated.

Talk of the Township newsletter will be out in January 2009.

Old Business
None

New Business
Supervisor Barnes has spoken to an architect about redesigning the Township offices. The Assessor’s offices are moving next door. Office staff has developed a wish list concerning ways to serve clients more efficiently, operations of the Food Pantry, and ADA compliance on the entryway and bathrooms. Five-year lease has been signed with the landlord.
The City of Highland Park has turned us down on funding transportation for City of Highland Park residents who do not live in Moraine Township, but there is hope that West Deerfield Township might participate to serve these residents within their Township.

Adjournment
With no further business to conduct, Trustee Moreno moved, seconded by Trustee Plouché, the meeting be adjourned at 8:45 PM. Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

_______________________
Ellen S. Gussin
Moraine Township Clerk

 

Return to Monthly Agenda & Minutes of the Township

Return to Home Page

Go to Agenda/Minutes Archive (from 2006...)