Cook County Board Meeting 6/16/09

Finance Committee [a committee of the whole]

There was some discussion regarding the transfer of $15,114.83 to the Assistant State's Attorney's Office, specifically the expense incurred by Stuart Nudelman, Special Prosecutor, to investigate the remaining cases of Police brutality filed against John Burge. Commissioner Peraica stated that the expenses were merely for storage of the case files. ASA Driscoll stated that Presiding Judge Biebel had appointed former Judge Nudelman to determine if any of the remaining cases had merit. In the event that Judge Nudelman would need to prosecute the cases, and as there were no funds to handle the cases, the Chief Judge's Office was requesting a transfer from his account. Commissioner Suffredin requested seeking State funds. Commissioner Peraicea protested the use of County funds for the Special Prosecutor. The item was passed.

There was discussion of special meals provided by Aramark Correctional Services for pregnant women in the Juvenile Detention Center. The item passed.

Contract Compliance was discussed. There is a need for greater monitoring and accountability.

All Zoning and Building and Roads and Bridges agenda items were passed without discussion.

Board Meeting

Commissioner Peraica protested about the management of the County Building at 69 W. Washington, because, he said, the contract never went out to bid. A representative from the Bureau of Capital, Planning and Facilities Management said that other rates were "looked at", and that their rates were "much more" than the current management company,"69 WWMC". Apparently this was good enough for the rest of the commissioners as they all voted "aye", but Commissioner Peraica stuck to his guns and voted "no".

Agenda Item 47, reducing the number of election precincts, was moved to the Veterans Affairs Committee. There was some discussion regarding the elimination and combining of precincts, but Commissioner Silvestri said that voters would not have to go to another polling place as currently there were multiple precincts in the same location, and that this was a cost cutting measure. This item was slated to be discussed further at the second meeting in July.

Commissioner Collins spoke up and complained that the people of Oak Park should come to the meetings, implying that citizens could see her at work at the board meeting. Collins said that an Oak Park and River Forest-based newspaper had printed an article saying that she doesn't do anything.

A "new" list of agenda items was passed out to the commissioners, but to no one else. The Board discussed School Superintendent Flowers and the Regional Board of Education. Specifically, Dr. Flowers had borrowed $190,000 from Cook County and failed to pay it back. There were various comments of outrage by the commissioners who had been "sidetracked and buffaloed" and called Dr. Flowers' behavior "a disgrace and an insult".

--Submitted by Observer Beverly Graham

Forest Preserve District moves forward with improvements

Cook Country Forest Preserve Meeting June 3, 2009

The meeting was opened by Pres. Pro tem John Daley.

Several commissioners postured for about an hour over the merits of the staff's recommendation to accept a bid for the restoration of (historic) Limestone Picnic Shelters. After several roll call votes, they agreed with the staff so that the work could be completed during this season.

Steve Mayberry, Public Affairs Director, presented an excellent new public awareness campaign for the Forest Preserve, including a new website. Not only does it feature the activities of the Cook County Forest Preserve, it is easy to locate hiking and biking trails in at least 48 states. I didn't check Alaska and Hawaii.

Dr. Stuart Strahl, Director of Brookfield Zoo, presented the zoo's master plan for 2009 which includes securing a companion elephant for Christy, their only elephant at this time.

--Submitted by Observer Mary Ann Tate

CCHHS Board Authorizes Use Of Group Purchasing

CCHHS Board Meeting June 4, 2009

CEO William Foley reported that recruitment of top management staff continues with several nearing closure, including HR, PR and Compliance Officer. He noted that the remaining two year window of the ordinance under which CCHHS operates may cause difficulty in recruiting top candidates. The Strategic Planning schedule includes 6 public meetings to start in late July. From the public input at those meetings and the input from internal groups a draft Plan will be written and circulated at more town meetings.

The IT consultant from Affiliated Computer Services (ACS) gave a progress report. In addition to upgrades of various systems that address the electronic medical record, but not electronic billing, a system-wide website will be ready by late July. It will include agendas and minutes of meetings which are now on the website of Secretary to the Board, contracts, procurement policies, job lists and applications. It was noted that maintaining the website is essential. Board members urged an integration of clinical/financial data.

A study of FTEs is in progress; reductions are anticipated Sept. 1. A problem exists at Provident Hospital regarding nursing staff where all budgeted money for Registry nurses has been spent. There is discussion of reducing beds, transferring patients to Stroger hospital. The Finance Committee requests a complete report promptly.

In the Quality Committee report it was noted that there is a backlog in critical services referrals at the Ambulatory Community Health Network (ACHN). The consolidation of surgical services at Stroger proceeds with some labor relations issues surfacing. Questions continue regarding staffing productivity.

The Finance Committee reported on a five hour long meeting at which group purchasing (GPO) was the prominent issue. The budget was built on the assumption of group purchasing as an option. It appears to run up against existing relationships. But the GPO as well as any other vendor must comply with all County ordinances and goals, including those regarding minority and women business hiring. To keep the relationship with vendors transparent, the GPO must log all inquiries and report on past history. A GPO could offer an opportunity as an umbrella for minority companies, offering mentoring and networking. The Board adopted the Committee report, thereby authorizing the use of GPOs.

The Board adjourned to Executive session to discuss several issues, including unionizing of physicians at Stroger Hospital.

--Submitted by Observer Nancy Staunton

Another veto, another attempt at an override

June 2, 2009 Cook County Board of Commissioners Meeting

SALES TAX ISSUES:

President Stroger addressed and vetoed the second attempt by some commissioners to repeal part of the sales tax increase, which has been in effect for about a year. Some commissioners again tried to override the veto, but failed to have enough votes. Comm. Beavers, Butler, Moreno, Murphy, Sims, and Steele voted against the override. Comm. Collins voted "present"--again. Comm. Maldonado was absent. Almost all commissioners expressed dismay at the continuing vetoes and override attempts. Comm. Daley suggested a finance meeting next week (which has since been cancelled) to work out a compromise with Stroger and the Board members. He stated that sales tax revenues are down $1,000,000.00; other county income has dropped even more this year and the budget will need trimming in all elected officials' departments.

Once again commissioners expressed their viewpoints on the sales tax. Several weren't sure if there was a county sales tax on cars. Sims said to look at the retail mark-up of products and related her experience with pants being marked up 50%. Butler does not want any repeal of the sales tax because the .25% is only "a quarter of a penny and won't make any difference." It appears the Hospital Board indicated to Gorman that cuts could be made; and to Sims that no cuts could be made. Peraica pointed out that Cook County Hospitals have 9 employees per patient bed compared with 4-5 in the private sector, so positions could be cut there.

SHAKMAN DECREE:

Comm. Peraica noted that Illinois paid $500,000.00 in "corruption tax" last year, half of which is in Cook County. Collins agreed with Peraica that this patronage needs to stop. Since 2007, Cook County has paid out about $2.5 million due to the Shakman Decree -- court cases, 150 settlements to employees hurt because of patronage, and monitoring of hiring practices by the Compliance Administrator and her staff. Laura Lechowicz-Felicione of Pres. Stroger's staff reported that Cook County is heading in the right direction regarding Shakman--training of employees is being done and hiring plans have been implemented. Butler asked if there was such a thing as "legal patronage." (Yes--for exempt positions) Several commissioners desired a desk audit to determine which positions are exempt and a description of each job's requirements and duties. As was pointed out at a previous board meeting, much of this could be done by each manager in-house with no extra cost. It appears this still isn't being done.

OTHER NOTED INFORMATION:

It was brought up that pay outs for Workmen's Compensation and costs for litigation are very high.

It was noted that an ordinance passed previously required commissioners to report and file (with receipts) expenses incurred by their offices. This is to be done quarterly; previously no receipts were required to obtain the money and several commissioners took it as extra salary.

Comm. Steele proposed a lengthy procedure to more closely monitor contracts of over $1,000,000.00. This was referred to the Finance Committee for further review.

Comm. Gorman proposed an ordinance amendment to establish a familial relationship disclosure requirement for all persons contracting with Cook County. This was also sent to Finance Committee.

A resolution by Comm. Murphy to honor the League of Women Voters was made. This commemorated the Palos-Orland Park LWV for their 50 years of service.