Board Members Present:  Doug Fraley, Norm Gilbert, Robert Krogman, Janice Abizaid, Jeannette Vaupel,

                                              Eileen Dubin

Board Members Excused Absence:  Regina Parker, Andrea Gargani

Board Members Absent:  Charles Rose

Other Persons Present:  Office staff:  Elizabeth Carney, Kathy Ostdick

                                          Others:  Margaret Elmer, Michael Flora, John Lewis, Jim Banovetz

I.  CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by the President, Doug Fraley at 7:01 p.m.

II.  AGENDA 

Mr. Gilbert moved to approve the agenda; seconded by Ms. Abizaid.  The motion passed on a voice vote.

III.  INTRODUCTIONS

The guests introduced themselves to the board.

IV.  MINUTES  

Mr. Gilbert moved to approve the minutes of the April 2006 Board meeting as presented; seconded by Ms. Vaupel.   The motion passed on a voice vote.

V.  COMMUNITY INPUT   

Ms. Elmer briefly discussed a book titled “Crazy: A Father’s Search Through Madness” by Pete Earley that she thought would be of interest to the Board members.

Mr. Flora mentioned the Mental Health Month’s “Brown Bag and Lunch” presentations at the Center. 

VII.  CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS  

Ms. Carney discussed the progress being made on streamlining the Board meetings.

Mr. Krogman discussed an article that he had brought in regarding the use of protocols by Chicago police for dealing with persons who have been identified as having a mental illness. 

Ms. Dubin educated the Board about the current efforts by the National Association of Counties to

address the mental health needs of inmates in county jails. 

Ms. Carney directed attention to an article regarding the retirement of John Kroos, Executive

Director, of Opportunity House.  The director’s position will be filled by a current staff member. 

VIII.  FINANCE REPORTS 

Ms. Carney presented the monthly revenue and expenditure report.   The expenditures are well

within the expected monthly and year-to-date percentages.  Also Ms. Carney presented the final

report for Fiscal Year 2005. 

Mr. Gilbert moved to approve the May 2006 agency claims in the amount of $116,186.00;

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

Mr. Gilbert moved to approve the May 2006 office claims in the amount of $1,485.10; seconded

by Ms. Abizaid.   The motion passed unanimously on a roll call vote.

IX.  DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Ms. Carney presented the following: 

     A.  A review of requirements for compliance with the Open Meeting Act.  

     B.  An update on the possible merging of Family Service Agency with Kishwaukee Hospital.

           The agencies have decided to not pursue this option at this time. 

     C.  An update on the Community Needs Assessment project.  Ms. Carney recommended that

           the Board continue to participate in this project with other area funding entities as a social

           services assessment has not been completed for many years and the information will be

           helpful to the Board.  But she recommended that the Board conduct its own, in-depth 

           assessment of mental health services and unmet needs to obtain needed information to

           assist in funding decisions.  She will bring further information to a future meeting.

     D.  An update on the County Drug Court.  The planning process is on schedule and Ms. Carney

           attributed this to the work of the Drug Court Administrator, Marilyn Stromborg. 

X.  COMMITTEE REPORTS   

There were no committee reports.

XI.  OLD BUSINESS   

Children’s Advocacy Center:  Sue Plote, Executive Director of Family Service Agency, was unable to attend to discuss the Children’s Advocacy Center. 

Agency Allocations:  The Board office will give a Grant Year 2007 allocations chart to the Board members for their reference during the coming year. 

Gordon Center Lease:  A packet was presented to the Board which included the last two communications with the Gordon Center regarding the lease.  Mr. Fraley then asked for volunteers for a committee to review the lease, elicit information from the Gordon Center Board, meet with our attorney, and make a recommendation to the Board regarding the lease. The committee will include Mr. Krogman,  Mr. Fraley and Ms. Carney.  Mr. Fraley will contact Mr. Rose, Ms. Gargani, and Ms.

Parker to see if they would also like to serve on the committee. 

Gordon Center Roof:  The Board received a copy of the architect’s progress report.  The project

is on schedule. 

Board Office Space:  A packet was distributed that included a survey on commercial office space,

preliminary square footage requirements for occupants of the future Home Care building, a site map

for the new building, and a project timeline.  Mr. Fraley asked for volunteers for a committee to study

the option to contribute to the construction costs for the building and then to house the Board office there.   The committee will consist of Mr. Fraley, Ms. Dubin, Ms. Abizaid, and Ms. Carney.  Mr.

Gilbert asked that information be distributed to Board members regarding the impact on agency funding if the Board were to move to this building.   

Board retreat:  Tabled until fall.

Definition of Excused Absence:  Mr. Krogman discussed the review of the Board’s By-Laws that he and Mr. Fraley had completed which was the impetus for their recommendation that the Board adopt

a policy that supports regular attendance at Board meetings and a procedure for members to notify the Board if they will be absent. 

The proposed policy was as follows:

            “Each sitting member of the Board will be accounted for in one of the following ways

              at each meeting of record.  

              1.  Present

              2.  Unexcused Absence (Member absent without official notification to either the Board

                   President or Executive Director)

              3.  Excused Absence (Member officially notifies either the Executive Director or the

                   Board President about his absence any time prior to the start of the meeting.  Appropriate

                  methods of communication will be by phone, letter, e-mail,or personally.) 

A Motion was made by Mr. Krogman to adopt the Definition of Excused Absence as presented; seconded by Ms. Dubin.  The motion passed unanimously on a voice vote.

XII.  NEW BUSINESS

Ms. Vaupel noted that the Nominations Committee will present a slate of nominations for Board

officers at the June meeting. 

XIII.  ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 7:58 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

________________________________________     __________________________________

Regina Parker, Board Secretary                                                          Kathy Ostdick, Recording Secretary

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