The Health and Human Services Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Thursday, September 8, 2005 @ 6:00 p.m. in the Administration Building's Conference Room East.  Chairman Robert Rosemier called the meeting to order. Members present were Marlene Allen, Sally DeFauw and Eileen Dubin.  Members absent were Eric Johnson, Julia Fullerton and Ruth Anne Tobias.  Others present were Ray Bockman, Gary Hanson, Greg Millburg, Mary Olson, Gil Morrison, Jeff Whelan and Liz Carney.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

          Moved by Ms. Dubin, seconded by Ms. Allen, and it was carried unanimously to approve the minutes from August 2005.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

          Moved by Ms. DeFauw, seconded by Ms. Dubin, and it was carried unanimously to approve the agenda as presented.

REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS ANNUAL REPORT

          Mr. Gil Morrison, Regional Superintendent of Schools for DeKalb County, briefly reviewed his annual report (attached to these minutes) for the committee.  He passed out a one-page explanation of the DeKalb County Schools’ Calendars.  This calendar showed the various schools that report to our region and how many days they are paid for half-day sessions.  If they  have a half-day session that lasts until 1:00p.m. then they are paid by the State for a full day.

          Mr. Morrison briefly informed the committee about the latest news about his office.  He said that the Governor last year decided to zero out the budget for all the offices for Regional Superintendent of Schools.  That was in April of 2003.  During May and June of 2003, most of the Regional Offices were able to respond by lobbying their constituents that they serve to write letters, make phone calls, etc. to show support.  During that process the Governor learned that he could not eliminate their offices because they are elected officials, but he still withheld their money.  Through the negotiation package he agreed to return half of their money and they would have to agree to reduce their offices by half by July of 2005.  That agreement was made by 5 regional superintendents and the director of the budget for the Governor.  In March of 2005 there was a bipartisan effort under House Resolution 201, Bipartisan Effort to Support the Regional Office of Education.  It states that the Governors Office is not authorized to change the number of regional superintendents.

Therefore, they began to hold subject matter hearings with regard to the delivery of services.  So far, they have only held two hearings, to date, and he has not heard of anything else. The committee will have to report their findings and make recommendations by January 2006.  This will allow them to remain in office till the end of this year, pickup petitions to run for office again and they should be good until 2011.  So far he said there are 45 offices, and the total budget equals about $10 million dollars.    The State therefore, gave them half of the money like they said.  He also pointed out that Representation Pritchard did support the office.

He said that he has enough money to fund his position and his assistant.  His secretary is paid for by the County.

His annual budget is based on the 2004-2005 school year.  He thanks the County Board and the Health and Human Services Committee for their financial and personnel support that they give his office.   He thanked various offices throughout the County that they work with for their continued cooperation with his office.  He said that $105,000 was his budget last year and hopes that it remains.  Most funds that they receive are filed electronically now and this is the way most funds flow through his office.  He continued then by explaining various highlights from his report.

The committee thanked Mr. Morrison for his very informative report.

          Chairman Rosemier mentioned to the committee that at next month’s meeting he will be including other educational offices to make presentations to the committee.  He has invited Ms. Evelina Cichy, Director, of the Literacy Program and (ESL) English as a Second Language Program at Kishwaukee College, Ms. Jill Hirsch from the Camelot School in DeKalb, Ms. Carolyn McQuillan of the Kishwaukee Education Consortium and he will also be inviting a representative from the Indian Valley Vocational Center (IVVC).

BUDGET DISCUSSION AND APPEALS

          Chairman Rosemier asked Ms. Olson to explain the different parts of her budget.  Her budget comes in two different places.  The main budget is under Community Services and then there is the second portion that deals with revolving loans and financial aid.  That fund is nearly economic development loans and most of the money has gone to a Shabbona Hardware Store.  The third part of her budget is the Senior Tax Levy money. 

          Chairman Rosemier said that he would like to schedule a tentative date somewhere at the end of the month to help with the deadlines for the budget appeals process if needed.  The committee agreed to tentatively schedule a meeting for September 26, 2005 @ 6:00p.m. 

          Mr. Gary Hanson, Deputy County Administrator, reviewed the Administrative Recommendations and budget process with the committee.  

Chairman Rosemier asked Mr. Hanson about the Referendum item for the Veteran’s Commission Office.  He asked if the referendum fails does the County still have to fund it?  Mr. Hanson said yes. 

          Ms. Dubin asked if anyone has thought about putting the Drug Court Office in the current Kishwaukee Hospital building when it is vacated?  What are they doing with that building?  Ms. Allen said that they will be moving a lot of satellite offices in there, that she knows of.

          The committee asked Mr. Bockman and Mr. Hanson if they could see how much property we have at the County Home facility parcel in the future?  They said yes, they could do that.

EXEMPT EMPLOYEE EVALUATION – COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR

          Ms. Olson explained the three sections in the budget book that pertain to her department to the committee.  She said that pertaining to the Senior Services budget, her department is paid $6,000 for administering it.   Next year she feels that the Senior Tax Levy amount will be a little over the $407,000.00.

          She also mentioned that all employee benefits are paid out of the grant monies that she receives, for her employees.

          Regarding her work plan, she was not able to go to all the classes this past year because it would have cost a lot of money, that she did not have because of her reduced grants monies.  She did go to a free seminar and took online courses through Career Track.

          Ms. Dubin asked Ms. Olson if there were any major challenges that she saw?  Ms. Olson said with the funding problems that she has had this year she had to juggle the budget a little.  She has seen the level of funding come and go over the last several years.            Ms. Dubin then mentioned that she thought Ms. Olson did a great job of letting people know about the fact that her Block Grant was going to be cut.

          Chairman Rosemier asked Ms. Olson if she gave an annual report to the committee each year?  Ms. Olson said no, but that she has always given quarterly reports and updated the committee when they needed to be notified of something important coming to pass.  Chairman Rosemier said that maybe she could start thinking of presenting an annual report to the committee also.

          Chairman Rosemier mentioned that he wanted Ms. Carney, Director of the Mental Health 708 Board Office, to explain her budget a little to the committee before they move into executive session. 

          Ms. Carney said that she is very pleased with the support shown to her department from the Administrative Recommendations.   Some things that are built into the budget is a reserve fund.  With that fund, she is asking the mental health board to establish an internal operating reserve fund.  They are going to be fixing the Ben Gordon roof and heating and cooling ventilation system that they will need replacement for soon.  There is a new line item #7743, which is for building up the budget with savings for future capital projects.  Hopefully, her board will continue to fund it for next year. 

          Ms. Carney also mentioned that there is some other funding source called the 377 Board, which she will be bringing up to her Advisory Board.   The committee asked her where could the fund be obtained?  This board can be established through a referendum, she said.  Chairman Rosemier pointed out to the committee that the 708 Board funds are used for the those needing mental health services and the 377 board funds pay for the developmentally disabled clients.  This could free up funds from the remaining 708 monies that could be used for other purposes.

          Chairman Rosemier said that there was one other item that he was to inform the committee about and that is that Ms. Olson notified him that there was one agency this year that did not use all of their money under the Senior Tax Levy allocations.  Therefore, they will be returning $20,000.00 to the fund.  The agency was the Family Service Agency that said that there were not a sufficient number of clients this year as they had previously projected.  He continued by stating that the choice that Ms. Olson and he had was to carry over the money into next year’s allocations or they could have a second bidding process for the money by the remaining agencies.  They chose to carry it over into next year’s allocations.

          Chairman Rosemier also wanted the committee to know that there is a new director for the Youth Services Bureau.  The new Director is Deanna Cada who used to work for the County in the Court Services Department.

          The grant survey has not been sent out yet and he wanted the committee  to  know that he will be doing that soon. 

EXECUTIVE SESSION – PERSONNEL

          Moved by Ms. Dubin, seconded by Ms. DeFauw, and it was carried unanimously to move into executive session to discuss personnel by a roll call vote with all members voting yes.

          It was moved by Ms. Allen, seconded by Ms. DeFauw, and it was carried unanimously to return to open session.

ADJOURNMENT

Moved by Ms. Allen, seconded by Ms. DeFauw, and it was carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

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Robert Rosemier, Chairman

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Mary C. Supple, Secretary