Finances Occupy CCHHS Board

CCHHS Board Meeting--April 24, 2009

Chairman Batts reported on a meeting with President Stroger, et. al., at which the two discussed where new money from the State, derived from the re-negotiated Inter-Governmental Transfer (IGT), would go. CCHHS wants to use the funds for professional liabilities, capital expenditures, and operations. It is not clear whether the County will keep it for County operations. The accounting system is frustrating, making it difficult to track what actually goes to CCHHS. County Board Finance Committee Chairman Daley cautioned that a roll back in the sales tax rate could impact CCHHS funding. Staff still does not know if dollars anticipated from the sales tax were built into the current budget.

Many policies still need to be approved by the Board, especially policies regarding co-pays, accounting procedures, and procurement/purchasing. Sub-groups of the Board will review and forward.

Executive staff is over-stretched in meeting the budget timetable.

CEO Small reported that on short notice an update of capital budget requests was due today. All requests approved but not purchased in '07, '08, and '09 may be cancelled if not justified. On May 6 at 1 pm there will be a line-by-line review with the County Board. $11 million in projects have been approved, but not purchased due to delays in the process.

CCHHS does have one-time-money coming in this year that may be available for purchases.

In Information Technology (IT), 41 projects are on-going; all but 4 are on target. Most are clinically related: billing, site coordination, ambulatory surgery, and prescriptions.

180 positions are vacant, representing $10 million.

The adopted budget cannot yet be used; it has only generalized summaries.

CCHHS Committees:

Finance expects all vendors to comply with Minority- and Women-owned Business (MWB) requirements with no added stipulations.

Two Executive Search firms are under two year contracts, one in health care, the other in governmental resources. Their fees are 25% of a new hires' first year salary, as well as approved expenses. Both contracts were approved by legal and compliance departments at the County. A Strategic Planning Consultant, ICS, was chosen out of 4 candidates for a six month contract at $500,000.

A Retreat for Board and staff will be held all day Saturday, May 16, time and place to be determined. It is a public meeting. 8-10 more public meetings will be scheduled.

The Board adjourned to closed session to discuss an issue of collective bargaining.

--Submitted by Observer Nancy Staunton

Update on the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center by the Temporary Administrator

April 14, 2009 Meeting at the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center

Background: The Juvenile Temporary Detention Center of Cook County (JTDC) has been both criticized and scrutinized since the late 1990's clinic by many groups who have received and acted on complaints about the ineffective, even abusive, running of the facility. Suits were filed in federal court, first in 1999 by the ACLU, and then by other groups. JTDC management was removed from the Cook County Board of Commissioners, and taken over, temporarily, by the federal court.

In August, 2007, Earl Dunlap was appointed by the federal judge as a Transitional Administrator for the facility. Dunlap has a stellar record in juvenile corrections. When the federal court is convinced that the causes for legal action against the facility have been remedied, the office of the Presiding Judge of Cook County will assume the responsibility for management of the facility.

Earl Dunlap stated the new vision for the JTDC:

"To foster and promote, through ownership and transparency, a 'Culture of Caring and Learning' that embraces the fundamental principles of Accountability, Respect and Opportunity."

In following this vision, the JTDC is:

• moving from a custodial model for the youth, to behaviorally based programs and activities that are designed to enlighten them,
  
• fostering better behaviors, youth safety, and
  
• the development of a professional staff that is committed to a safe, healthy and helpful environment for the youth.

The JTDC is not a treatment facility. It is a pre-adjudication (pretrial) environment for youth. The average stay is 17 days, although some youth charged with adult crimes can stay for several years.

The Transitional Administrator has identified nine areas which deputy supervisors will oversee. This is a change from the past structure, in which responsibilities were often blurred and management was ineffective.

In 2007, when Dunlap assumed the administration of the facility, there were 400 staff members. His goal is to see 620 staff in place to serve the youth detained there. At the same time, he hopes to decrease the numbers of detainees held in the center from a current population of 400 to about 250.

In addition, his plans and structure include:

• professionalizing the staff with degree requirements for many workers
  
• staff orientation that is full, complete and team building (240 hours)
  
• ongoing staff training with CEU credit – 40 hours per year for direct contact staff
  
• developing smaller living units (3 groups of 18 units = 54 youth maximum) managed by a team leader and a cohesive staff. Two such units exist to date.
  
• staff development opportunities for all staff members
  
• increase volunteer involvement (now has full time director)
  
• gender relevant services (including gender identity issues) – now has full time director
  
• making the building more secure. Currently there are many entry and exit points for staff, which keeps from making it a secure, locked down facility.

All these are new developments, except for volunteer programs, which have always been welcomed in the facility.

In addition

• A new policy manual is in progress
  
• Dunlap has set up a 501(c)(3) entity so that businesses and individuals can get tax benefits from donating to the JTDC
  
• New programs are being developed in conjunction with the Nancy B. Jefferson school
  
• Residents are now assured of getting due process when they have complaints (this was one of the points in the lawsuits – that residents did not get due process.)

Positive change has occurred in the JTDC. There is more to do, but the new staff organization, and the new policies, should assure positive change occurs in the future.

--Submitted by Juvenile Justice Committee Chair Millie Juskevice

Many Commissioners like to fish, but few wish to cut bait

Cook Country Forest Preserve Meeting
April 2, 2009

Two excellent speakers presented information on the FIRST Illinois High School Association (“ISHA”) bass fishing tournament to be held in Tampier Lake, Busse Woods and Skokie Lagoon, on April 24, 2009.

Student-athletes from three Chicago area high schools, Oak Park, Regina and Simion Academy were in attendance.

The presentation of the planned statewide tournament was made by the Asst. Executive Director of IHSA, Dave Gannaway and radio personality, Chauncey Niziol of ESPN radio.

Mr. Niziol said that bass fishing, as a high school sport, has been well received nationally, but Chicago will have the first tournament on April 24, 2009..

The commissioners gave Mike Quigley (D-10) a rousing farewell as this meeting would very likely be his last as Chairman of Finance Committee of the Forest Preserve. He is a candidate for Rahm Emanuel’s seat in the 5th Congressional District, April 7th. Positive comments from the Commissioners ran 15 to 2 in Quigley’s favor.

--Submitted by Observer Mary Ann Tate

Rolling back the Sales Tax? Cutting the Commercial Real Estate Tax?

Cook County Board Meeting -- April 15, 2009

New Cook County Board member Commissioner Bridget Gainer was introduced and congratulated. She replaces Commissioner Mike Quigley who was recently elected to the U.S. Congress.

Once again, Comm. Peraica pointed out that another $400,000.00 was spent by the board for compliance administration regarding the Shakman Decree. He called it a corruption tax which taxpayers need to pay due to continuing patronage abuses.

A lot of active discussion centered on a proposed amendment to the Real Property Assessment Classification Ordinance sponsored by Comm. Murphy and Sims. This ordinance is designed to give a tax break to businesses that have had a reduction in income of at least 40% in a year. Commissioner Claypool argued that it is unfair and counterproductive to give tax breaks to unsuccessful businesses and not to their competition, which may exist in the same community. Taxes would need to be raised for others to make-up the loss. Other commissioners pointed out that if these businesses fail, then no taxes will be collected. The Assessor's Office noted it is difficult to determine the criteria for a business failing--who would qualify for this tax abatement. Comm. Silvestri called this part of "piecemeal efforts to re-do taxation." The ordinance passed 9 to 5 for a duration of 5 years.

President Stroger and Comm. Peraica both submitted separate ordinance proposals to roll back the county sales tax. Stroger proposed a .25% decrease per $100 to go into effect next January 2010. Peraica proposed a 1% decrease (the entire amount of last year's sales tax increase). Pres. Stroger declared Peraica's ordinance "out of order" and didn't want it to go further. There was quite a bit of back and forth rancor over this but finally both ordinances were sent to the finance committee (which is the entire board) for consideration.

Commissioner Suffredin submitted a proposed resolution requesting an opinion of the State's Attorney on the procedures required to recognize the will of the voters in Barrington, Hanover and Palatine townships to disconnect from Cook County. This was sent to the legislation committee.

For 3 days in May (the 6th, 7th, and possibly 8th), the finance committee will review the budgets for years 2007, 2008, 2009 in the area of Capital Equipment. The intent is to re-prioritize the expenditures and reduce costs. This was already done for the Capital Improvement budget a few weeks ago. Because of this, many commissioners did not want to approve new Capital Improvement expenses at this meeting. Comm. Beavers insisted the new expenditure proposals be passed or sent to his committee on technology. In the end, all further expenses in the Capital Equipment Fund were delayed until the re-prioritizing could be completed.

Procurement Continues To Draw Fire at CCHHS

Meeting of the Health and Hospitals System Board (CCHHS)

April 9, 2009

Six people gave Public Comment prior to the meeting and all addressed procurement issues. These included delays, transparency, and particularly the minority/women requirements in bids. Later in the meeting, the Board adopted a Procurement Policy that has been in process for several months and been determined by the States Attorney to be consistent with the County Code but places control in the CCHHS. It addresses among other issues equal opportunity, added transparency, protection for "whistle-blowers", non-solicitation for charities, and re-states the ethics code. It will be a public document and all procurement information will be put on the internet website as soon as practical and all communications will be memorialized. It will be implemented as staff is assembled under the new CEO who arrives early May. In the interim, contracts will continue to flow through the County office. Bringing this function under the CCHHS is intended to speed up the process and facilitate monitoring.

The Finance Committee will begin a review of all capital expenditures, past and proposed but not executed at a meeting on May 6.

The intergovernmental agreement with the County Board and State of Illinois is under review. Payment increases are anticipated from the State; where the funds are assigned is under negotiation.

The ad hoc Strategic Planning Committee, with the help of a consultant, ICS, has developed a three year plan which will begin with a retreat in May for Board and staff looking at data, direction and environment, finances and action. Public meetings will start in mid May to involve "stakeholders" and the public. Urgent issues suggested by the Board were mission, money source, partners, regional impact, and outcomes.

---Submitted by Observer Nancy Staunton

HHS Finance Committee discusses purchasing practices

FINANCE COMMITTEE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF COOK COUNTY HEALTH AND HOSPITAL SYSTEMS

4/3/09

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Representatives of several minority vendors spoke to express concern about the policy of the Health and Hospitals to purchase goods and services from GPO (Group Purchasing Order). They felt that minority businesses were denied the ability to bid on contracts. These representatives also felt that the GPO would be more expensive to the Hospital system because it was eliminating competitive bids.

CONTRACTS AND PROCUREMENT APPROVALS

Leslie Duffy, Director of Procurement for Hospital and Health Systems, presented projects that were requiring bids and contracts. Much of this presentation involved a discussion of the need to have more minority companies involved in doing business with the county. The head of the Cook County Minority and Women Business office spoke and explained that their office should be involved in this process as soon as possible, so they can help facilitate the process to ensure compliance with meeting the County's minority standards. She explained they will help a majority business meet these standards. They may be eligible for minority credit, if, for example, they have used minority businesses to do work for them such as putting on a roof. A discussion ensued of whether minority businesses are able to become a member of the GPO. The Minority Business Office is hearing that this is not happening, even though one business went out of state to meet at the headquarters of one of the GPOs and offered to pay an $18,000 fee but was still denied inclusion.

CONTRACT WITH INTEGRATED CLINICAL SOLUTIONS

Will begin negotiating this contract

INTERGOVERNMENTAL TRANSFER BETWEEN STATE, COUNTY AND COOK COUNTY HEALTH SYSTEM

Discussion held about new way the hospital will be reimbursed for services. Some money now to come from the stimulus package, but it was brought up that the way this is set up this money to go directly to the Cook County and not to the Health Systems, so they have to now obtain this from them. Further discussion will need to go on with the Board downtown.

UPDATE ON 2009 BUDGET

The capital budget is to be reviewed line by line by the Cook County Board.

Lowering Capital Fund Expenses & Complying with Court Orders

Cook County Board of Commissioners Meeting

April 1, 2009

Three main topics of this meeting were inspecting the Capital Fund budget, complying with court orders (Duran Decree and Shakman Decree) against Cook County government, and the contact bid process.

Early in the meeting, Comm. Peraica forcefully noted that the county is still spending millions of dollars because of court case pay outs due to patronage in the system.  He also stated that the Duran (court) decree needs to be addressed by the board.  This entails spending about $8.4 million for Cook County jail software (keeping track of the inmates and their court appearances--the current system failed recently for 18 hours) and about $5 million for the  replacement of two outdated buildings (which will take until 2011 to complete).  After consultation with Comptroller Morales, it was decided to use money in the operating budget to begin these expenditures immediately.  The $8 million amount would be added to the Capital Fund budget.

Comm. Sims proposed that to comply with the Shakman (court-ordered) Decree each department head evaluate the job descriptions, titles, and placement of people in these jobs under their direction.  After discussion with newly hired Human Resources director Joe Sova, it was decided this could and should be done within each department for no extra cost.  The HR department could help with this but does not have the man-power to do the whole job.

There was a heated discussion among commissioners about the bidding process for contracts in Cook County.  One contract for interpreters in the court system has been rebid four times since early fall.  Comm. Silvestri complained that the bid process is too cumbersome and confusing to vendors and that good vendors may stop doing business with Cook County because of this.  The bid process has caused controversy at many board meetings I have attended since September.

Commissioner Schneider proposed that the board go over each line item in the Capital Fund budget to see where cuts could be made, ostensibly to lower the bond amount.

Comm. Beavers stated that there was no need to go over this budget again.  He indicated it was a tactic to delay choosing a bond team, stating that if the bond team were white instead of African-American, this would have been done already.  I left the meeting after that, but according to the next day's newspaper, enough items in the capital fund budget were deleted to bring the total down  over $20 million from about $262 million.  Further cuts were to be looked at during the continuation of this meeting on Thursday.