Cook County Board Meeting July 23, 2014

President, Toni Preckwinkle, called the meeting to order.

Public testimony at the beginning of the board meeting included a representative of AFSME who represents Adult Probation Officers. He is concerned about providing a fair contract for Adult Probation Officers. There was also a comment presented by Attorney Richard Boykin, Barnes & Thornburg in support of the proposed referendum on mental health services.

Some of the other Resolutions included:

A resolution honoring police officers in Arlington Heights for their bravery on December 12, 2013 by responding to a call concerning a man with a gun. Another resolution in the memory of Agnes Elizabeth Schevers Hamer, mother of Commissioner Gorman was presented.

Criminal Justice Committee report from July 22:

The Juvenile Accountability Block Grant in the amount of $366,240 was approved (funding from the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission). This Grant will implement programs that will address the following goals: keeping youth out of the criminal justice system when possible, providing effective developmentally appropriate support and services for youth that are already in the system, and will help place youth on a trajectory for positive outcomes that enhance public safety.

A resolution was presented by Commissioner Collins to identify children at risk: those who have a mental disorder who have committed a minor offense be kept out of jail. Resolution was passed.

Two referenda were proposed for the November ballot:

1) A resolution in support of a Cook County Ballot Referendum regarding Mental Health Funding in Illinois

Sponsors: President Preckwinkle and Commissioners Gorman, Daley, Steele, Butler, Fritchey, Murphy, Silvestri, Suffredin and Tobolski

“Shall the General Assembly of the State of Illinois appropriate additional funds to provide necessary mental health services for the people of the State of Illinois.”

2) A proposed Advisory Referendum regarding the Illinois Public Safety Act.

Sponsors: President Preckwinkle, Commissioners Collins, Daley, Garcia, Murphy, Reyes, Sims, Steele, Suffredin and Tobolski

“Shall the Illinois General Assembly enact the Illinois Public Safety Act (Senate Bill 3659) which would require universal background checks for firearm transfers and prohibit the sale and transfer of assault weapons, assault weapon attachments and high capacity ammunition magazine.”

Both were approved for the November ballot.

Other items

Approval of proposed ordinance-Cook County Surplus Highway Property Policy

Sponsor: Commissioner Suffredin

This ordinance concerns remnants of old highways that Cook County owns. This will require the Highway department to transfer surplus lanes of pavement of 1 mile or less and any surplus parcel of land 1 mile or less to the appropriate municipality via an intergovernmental agreement.

Approval of resolution--Cook County Special Purpose Fund Reporting

Sponsor: Commissioner Fritchey

This resolution would require that the director of Budget & Management Services provide to the Cook County Commissioners a quarterly detailed report on the expenditures of the Special Purpose Fund. They will also need to show that the expenditures were appropriate.

Approval of resolution requiring a monthly update on the Cook County Managed Care Community Network

Sponsors: Commissioners Gainer, Daley, Schneider, President Preckwinkle

This will be a monthly report from HHS on Cook County Managed Care to the Commissioners so that they can monitor expenditures and reimbursements.

Also of interest:

F. Thomas Lynch , Director, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) presented a proposed contract amendment to allow Denovo to provide for an HR/Payroll Upgrade. There was much discussion on this. Commissioner Suffredin was concerned with the increase of the contract. The new contract begins August 7 so there are no other alternatives. This was passed with caution.

Deanna Zalas, Director of Risk Management presented a contract with PricewaterhouseCoopers, to provide a variety of services for the Risk Management Department and the Bureau of Human Resources including development of a multi-year Health and Group Benefits strategy. There was much discussion among the commissioners. They were concerned about problems when Pricewaterhouse managed the hospital. The commissioners thought that Deloitte was hired to do an evaluation of HIPA & HR. The contract was denied.

Submitted by Nancy Marcus and Linda Christianson