Board Members Present:  Doug Fraley, Norm Gilbert, Robert Krogman, Charles Rose, Jeannette Vaupel

Board Members Absent:  Janice Abizaid, Julia Fullerton, Andrea Gargani, Regina Parker

Other Persons Present:  Office staff:  Elizabeth Carney.

                                          Community Members:  Kathy Ostdick, Kathy Dust, Margaret Elmer, Chuck Elmer,

                                       Sheila Ryan.

   I.  CALL TO ORDER

            The meeting was called to order by the President, Doug Fraley, at 7:09 p.m.

  II.  AGENDA 

Mr. Gilbert moved to approve the agenda as presented; seconded by Ms. Vaupel.  The motion

passed on a voice vote. 

 III.  INTRODUCTIONS 

            Upon Mr. Fraley’s request, the community members who were present introduced themselves. 

  IV.  MINUTES  

            Mr. Gilbert moved to approve the minutes of the October 2005 Board Meeting as presented;

            seconded by Mr. Rose.  The motion passed on a voice vote. 

            The Board discussed the current practice of only the Board Secretary signing the minutes after

they were approved.  The Board decided to change the practice so that both the person who took the

minutes and the Board secretary sign the minutes after they are approved. 

   V.  COMMUNITY INPUT   

            Ms. Elmer gave a presentation to the Board and guests about an on-line resource, Network of Care

for Behavioral Health, at ‘Networkofcare.org’.  This is a resource that provides access to a library

of articles about mental health and legislation, and can be used by a county or state to provide a

directory of services.  Ms. Elmer is advocating for the state of Illinois to participate in this network

so that mental health consumers can have easy access to the full array of services available in the state.  The Board thanked her for bringing the website to their attention and for her presentation. 

J/Board Meeting – Minutes/Board Minutes 11-21-05.  Page 1 of 4

  VI.  CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS  

            Mr. Krogman presented a column from “Parade” by Marilyn Vos Savant in which mental illness

was presented as being caused by “unhappy childhoods.”   The Board discussed that the stigma of

mental illness continues and that even nationally-syndicated columnists can be in need of

education about the causes of mental illness.

            Ms. Carney reviewed a letter from Jerry Lane, former Executive Director of the Board, that

            informs the Board that he has started a consulting business, Crisis Ready Consulting.

            Ms. Carney presented information about the following:

                        A.   The local NAMI Family Support Group has changed the week of their meeting to

                               avoid conflict with the Support Group meeting in St. Charles.  Ms. Dust presented

                               some information about the groups.

                        B.  Opportunity House has reached the goal of their capital campaign for their new

                              residence. 

                        C.  The community service activities of the Aktion Club of Opportunity House were

      featured in an article.  This group brings Opportunity House clients and community

      members together for service projects. 

D.  The Episcopal Mental Illness Network presented a conference, “The Good News Is

      For Everyone,” in Arkansas last November which was an excellent example of a faith

      community providing education about mental illness.  

                        E.  Jerry Lane and the Community Crisis Response Team presented a training for local

                             not-for-profit, social service, and mental health agencies on the importance of

                             agency disaster preparedness, how to develop a disaster plan, and how to plan for

                             clients’ needs after a disaster.  Social service and mental health agencies were well

                             represented at the training. 

 VII.  FINANCE REPORTS 

            Ms. Carney presented the monthly expenditure report.  As of October 31, 2005, the Board has

completed 92% of the Fiscal Year and has spent 85% of the budgeted funds.  There will be a 

year-end transfer from the reserve fund to the Building/Modification line item to cover a

deficit that is due to the Board’s allocation of capital funds to the Gordon Center’s remodeling

project in Fiscal Year 2005. 

            Mr. Gilbert moved to approve the November 2005 agency claims in the amount of $112,286.00;

seconded by Mr. Krogman.  The motion passed on a roll call vote. 

            Mr. Gilbert moved to approve the November 2005 office claims in the amount of $1,526.99;

seconded by Ms. Vaupel.  The motion passed on a roll call vote.

            Ms. Carney presented information on the Fiscal Year 2006 Levy Request.  The request submitted

to the County Board in July would have generated projected revenue of $1,780,700.  However,

J/Board Meeting – Minutes/Board Minutes 11-21-05.  Page 2 of 4

due to an increase in the anticipated Equalized Assessed Valuation for the county, our revenue is

now projected to be $1,812,000; an increase of $31,300.  The County Administrator and Finance

Director supported this increase in our revenue and have requested that the Board consider

allocating the increased amount to support the county’s efforts to establish a Drug Court.  The

Board discussed this request and will consider the request when additional information is available. 

The Drug Court Committee has hired a grant writer and will be meeting again in the near future. 

Ms. Carney will be a member of the Committee and will keep the Board apprised of developments. 

VIII.  DIRECTOR’S REPORT

            Ms. Carney presented the following information:

                        A.   As recommended by the Community Mental Health Board, the County Board

                               Chairman and the County Board approved Mr. Krogman’s appointment to another

                               four-year term. 

                        B.  The Gordon Center has hired a psychiatrist, Mohammad Sami, M.D., as the medical

      director.  He will be available to see clients at the Center soon.

                        C.  Ms. Carney will be attending the annual Community Behavioral Healthcare Association

                              of Illinois conference in Chicago on December 5 and 6.  The theme of the conference

                              is “Advancing Policies to Increase Care…. With No New State Money.”  The

                              Board’s state association, the Association of Community Mental Health Authorities,

      will present a workshop on the Medicaid Match process, a mechanism by which 708

      Boards can generate additional funds for local mental health services. 

                        D.  Ms. Carney will participate in a National Incident Management System training on

                              December 7.  This is the first of seven courses for the Professional Development Series

                              offered by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency for persons new to the

                              emergency management field.  This training will assist her in meeting the Board’s

                              responsibility for the planning and implementation of the county disaster plan for

                              mental health services.  

                        E.  The group of area funders that are collaborating to develop a plan for a community

                              needs assessment met recently with the director of the Northern Illinois University

                              Regional Development Institute, a division of the NIU Center for Governmental Studies.

                              He will present a preliminary proposal for the assessment to the group in January and

                              Ms. Carney will bring information back to the Board. 

  IX.  COMMITTEE REPORTS   

            There were no standing Committee reports.  

            The Board discussed the standing Committee structure.  It was decided to have only one

            standing Committee, the Personnel Committee.  The Nominations Committee (which was

            attached to the Personnel Committee), as well as the Special Projects and Capital Committees

            will be disbanded.  Ad Hoc committees will be appointed to address these issues as the

            need arises. 

J/Board Meeting – Minutes/Board Minutes 11-21-05.  Page 3 of 4

The following members will serve on the Personnel Committee: Ms. Vaupel, Chair; Mr.

            Gilbert, Ms. Parker, and Mr. Fraley, ex officio.  The Personnel Committee will prepare

            for the Executive Director’s annual evaluation in February. 

   X.  OLD BUSINESS   

            Mr. Fraley and Mr. Krogman reviewed the questions that had arisen during their review of the

            Board’s By-Laws.  These dealt with the Board’s role in the development of the annual plan,

            primary and secondary consumers as Board members, and the need to clarify the Board’s

expectations regarding meeting attendance.  The members will continue this discussion at

next month’s meeting.  

            The Board reviewed the definition of a “quorum” as used in the By-Laws, affirming that the

            quorum required for the Board to conduct business was based on the number of current Board

            members, not the maximum number of Board members. 

  XI.  NEW BUSINESS   

            The Board adopted the 2006 Meeting and Funding Hearings calendar as presented.  The Funding

               Hearings will be held March 13, 15, 20, and 22.   The March Board meeting and the Hearings are

scheduled during the second and third weeks of the month to allow the Executive Director, and

any Board members who wish to do so, to attend the Association of Community Mental

Authorities of Illinois spring conference during the fourth week. 

 XI.  EXECUTIVE SESSION

            Ms. Vaupel moved that the Board go into Executive Session to discuss a personnel issue; seconded

            by Mr. Gilbert.  The motion passed on a voice vote.  The Board went into Executive Session at 8:46

p.m.

            Ms. Vaupel moved that the Board return to an open meeting; seconded by Mr. Gilbert.  The motion

passed on a voice vote.  The Board returned to an open meeting at 9:09 p.m.

XII.  ADJOURNMENT    

            Mr. Gilbert moved to adjourn the meeting.  The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

________________________________________                            __________________________________

Regina Parker, Board Secretary/Treasurer                                          Elizabeth Carney, Recording Secretary

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