MINUTES
Moraine Township Board of Trustees
Thursday, November 16, 2006 7:30 PM
Highwood City Hall, Council Chambers
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
November 16, 2006
The meeting was called to order at 7:33 PM, and upon roll call the following members were present: Supervisor Mari Barnes; Trustees Bryna Gamson, Margoth Moreno, Cynthia Plouché, and Jeff Zaluda. Also Present: Assessor Peter Koukos; Clerk Ellen Gussin; Director General Assistance Tracy Coleman; Janet Freed, community member; Jordan Friedman, Family Network; Jan Leahy and Dave Craigmile, Career Resource Center.
Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the Regular Meeting of October 12, 2006 stand approved as written. Also, the minutes of the Executive Session of October 12, 2006 stand approved as written.
Approval of Bills
Trustee Gamson moved, seconded by Trustee Plouché, approval of the bills for October. Upon roll call, motion carried.
Public Comment
None
Agency Presentations
Two grantee agencies are invited each month to discuss their programs.
Family Network – Jordan Friedman, Center Director, thanked the Board and citizens of Moraine Township for their past support. He explained the three core programs of Family Network – the Parent/Child Drop-In Center which includes a Drop-In program on Tuesday through Friday mornings; the Right From the Start Program for pre-natal and newborn support; and the After School Activity Program at both Wayne Thomas and Indian Trail Schools for children who come after school two to five afternoons each week. They are affiliated with Family Focus in Chicago.
Career Resource Center (CRC) – Jan Leahy, Executive Director and Dave Craigmile, Director of the Board and Advisor to the organization, thanked the Township for its first year of support. Funding helps bridge the gap between the $60 fee and the $200 program cost. Clients served include 54 Highland Park, 3 Highwood, and 30 Lake Forest residents residing in Moraine Township. Most people who lose their jobs receive four weeks of severance and no outplacement CRC is a not-for-profit organization run primarily by volunteers (110) dedicated to helping people get back on their feet, add structure, and regain financial stability. They provide a safety-net for people in job transition, frequently preventing the need for other social services. 1000 clients are served per year, and surveys show 61% greater satisfaction in new positions. Dave Craigmile, a former CEO for manufacturing companies, cited the Internet as an extremely impersonal and difficult vehicle for job searching, often becoming the black hole for sending resumes without response. Networking is particularly beneficial, and CRC provides individualized approaches for each unique situation. The process, on average, takes five to nine months. CRC utilizes job postings but does not perform employment placements. They maintain Tuesday evening hours.
Township Tax Levy 2006
Supervisor Barnes introduced the tax levy and called upon Assessor Koukos to make the recommendation. He suggests a request for a 5% increase to $1,150,000 for 2007. Formal action will be taken at next month’s meeting. Assessor Koukos reported that the Siegel property at 405 Sheridan Road in Highland Park has been declared tax exempt by the U.S. Marshall’s office.
Township Investment Policy
Supervisor Barnes explained the document presented to the Board for approval, which provides written procedure for making and handling of all Township investments. The Township invests very conservatively as appropriate for a public sector organization. Trustee Plouché suggested attaching a copy of the Illinois Compiled Statutes. Trustee Zaluda moved, seconded by Trustee Moreno, adoption of the Investment Policy, and upon roll call the motion carried. (Copy to be included in Minutes book)
Grant Program 2007
Trustee Gamson had distributed guidelines to the Board prior to the meeting for next year’s Grant Program. She encouraged any agencies that have questions to call for guidance. The changes attempt to make the process simpler and clarify the focus. She is recommending adoption by the Board and there was consensus to do so. Applications for Grants are due February 1, 2007, and the guidelines will be posted on the Township website at www.morainetownship.org. A Citizens Advisory committee will again steer the process prior to Board approval.
Assessor's Report
Assessor Koukos complimented Trustee Gamson on the excellent finished product of the Township Newsletter, Talk of the Township. Appeal process is proceeding well, with this year’s number of appeals at 639, down from 1000 last year and 1500 the year before. Some of the appeals were encouraged by the Assessor’s office, and he is happy to report that there has been a good degree of agreement between appellate and the office. Sam Whitehead has announced his retirement at the end of 2007; the office will be looking for a replacement expecting it to be difficult to match Sam’s expertise and computer skills.
Supervisor's Report
This Saturday is the Thanksgiving Baskets pick-up and distribution; the trustees have signed on to help. Supervisor Barnes announced we will have abundant Christmas donations as well. The Takeda Company and Ken Johnson, a Moraine Township resident, has designated part of its Annual Meeting on December 6 as a Community Service Day, during which volunteers will be making 100 Soup-In-A-Jar donations for the Township Food Pantry. Talk of the Township, Moraine Township’s newsletter, will be posted on line. Supervisor Barnes commended Trustee Gamson for her excellent effort in its publication.
Committee Reports
1. Food Pantry and Clothes Closet are well-stocked.
2. Transportation – no official report; Trustee Zaluda reported that high school students are discussing how to provide transportation to students who may need rides when they are unfit to drive. He suggested that the Transportation Committee address networking possibilities for calling for taxis, publicizing the availability and the numbers.
Trustee Gamson reported that the Township is partnering with Lake County Coordination Transportation Committee to implement "Ride Lake", a project patterned after the successful Ride DuPage program to enhance transportation options within the County.
Moraine Door-to-Door Paratransit Van program is working well and the Township will continue to try to get funding for a second van.
3. Human Relations Commission – Celebrating Diversity 2007 is a collaborative event being planned for April 2007 by the City of Highland Park, The Art Center, Library, Highland Park High School, District 112, and East on Central gallery.
4. Grants – Trustee Gamson announced that the Citizen Grant Advisory Committee is looking for at least one if not several new members to fulfill the following characteristics: at least one male to replace one who has moved out of the Township; a Highwood resident; and/or financial or development background.
Old Business
None
New Business
None
Adjournment
With no further business to conduct, Trustee Moreno moved, seconded by Trustee Plouché, the meeting be adjourned at 8:44 PM. Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
_______________________
Ellen S. Gussin, Moraine Township Clerk
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