The Public Policy Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Monday, January 14, 2002 at 6:30p.m. at the DeKalb County Administration Building’s Conference Room East.   Chairman Ruth Anne Tobias called the meeting to order. Members present were John Dlabal, Eileen Dubin and Pat LaVigne.   Mr. Brown, Mr. Barr and Mr. Metzger were absent. 

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

Moved by Mr. Dlabal, seconded by Ms. Dubin, and it was voted unanimously to accept the minutes from the December 2001 meeting.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Moved by Ms. LaVigne, seconded by Mr. Dlabal, and it was voted unanimously that the agenda be  approved.

PUBLIC COMMENT

No one was present for public comment.

NEW BUSINESS:  Intergovernmental Agreement with City of DeKalb – Nature Trail

            Chairman Tobias reviewed for the committee the resolution being proposed to go before the committee regarding the construction of a nature trail by the Nursing Home around the wetland area.  It’s a basic agreement, the land belongs to the City of DeKalb and they will agree to let us use the land for this nature trail. The County will be responsible for the maintenance and any changes made to the trail.  She also said that this resolution is already included in the county board packet that was mailed out last week so that all the board members could review prior to the board meeting.  Ms. Dubin asked if we knew which department would be responsible for maintaining the new trail?  Chairman Tobias asked Mr. Hanson that question.  He said that he believed it would be the Forest Preserve Department.  Mr. Hanson said that all parking would be available at the nursing home parking lot for the public to use when visiting the nature trail.

Chairman Tobias then informed the committee that at the Executive Committee meeting the other evening it was questioned as to whether or not this committee should wait for this item to be sent to the full board at this upcoming board meeting or wait until the February county board meeting?  She said that the concern is that our committee meeting date is on the same week as the county board meeting and that under the Robert Rules of Order and our County Board Rules that supposedly it is stated that because our meeting is two days before the board meeting that, that is not enough time for the rest of the board to review the materials.  Mr. Dlabal said that if the Forest Preserve is to be responsible for maintaining this trail then he offered to bring it to their attention tomorrow evening that way more board members will be notified.   The committee decided to forward the resolution onto the full board for this month’s meeting on January 16, 2002.

            Chairman Tobias then said that it raises the question as to when our meeting should be held?  This question was also discussed at the Executive Committee meeting. She said that supposedly it was mentioned that often things were not in the packet and the question was raised that there was not supposed to be any meetings between the Executive Committee meeting and the general board meeting.  Ms. LaVigne said that, that was the first time she had ever heard that.  Chairman Tobias said that she did look up the rules and they do not say specifically that there cannot be any meetings.  The rules say that the County Board Chairman is to receive the minutes of each committee meeting and if there are any board members that have further comments to make, those have to be received in writing a week before the county board meeting.  It is ambiguous because you don’t know if it means further comments have to be received a week before or all the meeting minutes to be received a week before.   It was suggested to us and the Forest Preserve Committee to discuss at our next meetings whether or not we want to change our meeting dates.  Ms. LaVigne said that she felt that “good sense” prevailed on this committee and that we haven’t tried to push anything through.  But, if it would make everyone feel better, then she had no problem with it.  It was agreed that the committee would hold off on making this decision until their February meeting, until all the committee members were present. 

            Moved by Mr. Dlabal, seconded by Ms. LaVigne, and it was carried unanimously to recommend the Intergovernmental Agreement with the City of DeKalb for the Nature Trail and to forward this motion onto the full board for approval.

OLD BUSINESS – Legislative Agenda Follow-up Activity:

            Chairman Tobias said that Representative Wirsing talked with his people in Springfield about the credit card legislation. She asked him how does she follow up on the legislative agenda with Springfield?   He suggested that the committee consider attending the Township Officials day on February 22, 2002 and see how things are done. 

OLD BUSINESS – Planning County Government Week:

            Chairman Tobias then asked Ms. Dubin about the status for the planning of County Government Week in April of this year?  Ms. Dubin said that she will be meeting with Ms. Joan Berkes-Hanson this Friday to discuss how IMO has helped the county departments to communicate better and more efficiently with the public.  She also suggested that maybe the committee could hold a meeting and invite the public during that week at the Sycamore Library because it might be less intimidating than the County courthouse.

            Ms. Dubin said that she has spoken with Representative Wirsing about whether there is funding for public transportation? He said that he knew of federal funds that may be available but that it would also have to extend to include Ogle County for a public transportation feasibility study.  She will inform the committee on the status of this at their next meeting.

            The committee discussed the meeting date for their February meeting because it falls on Washington’s Birthday, which is a holiday and county offices are closed.  The committee agreed to schedule their next meeting for Monday, February 25, 2002.

ADJOURNMENT

Moved by Mr. Dlabal, seconded by Ms. LaVigne, and it was carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting.

Respectively submitted,

______________________________
                                                                                                Chairman Ruth Anne Tobias

______________________________
Mary C. Supple, Secretary

A:011402.doc

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