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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/10/1991 COW minutes Minutes COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE September 10, 1991 I Rgll Call The meeting was called to order at 7.38 p m. by Mayor Gerald L. Farley. Trustees present were Mark Busse, George Clowes, T~m Corcoran, Leo Floros, Paul Hoefert, and Irvana Walks Also present were Vdlage Manager John F Dixon, Finance D~rectur David C. Jepson, Human Services Administrator Nancy .Morgan, Assistant Human Services Adnumstrator Jan Abernethy, five members of the news med~a and three residents II Minutes The Committee of the Whole Minutes of August 27, 1991 were accepted and filed as ~ ~ __ subniitte~d III Citizens to be Heard No one expressed a desire to address the Comnuttee. IV Revtew of Policy_ Granting Funds to Social Service Agenci~,5 Human Services Admimstrator Nancy Morgan gave a brief summary of the history of the funding of Social Service Agencies (SSA's) by the Village. She said that the Village started funding SSA's in 1982/83 in the amount of $6,100. This amount increased each year and reached $36,000 in 1988/89, although only $30,000 was actually d~stributed. For the 1991/92 fiscal year, no funds were recommended, but $16,500 was added during the work sessmns It was agreed during the budget hearings that the issue would be revaewed prior to the preparation of the 1992/93 budget. Trustee Coreoran asked how funding for SSA's by the Village started Ms. Morgan rephed that it started prior to the time that the Village had a Semor Center or a Human Servaces D~v~s~on. Trustee Floros stated that there was no formal policy adopted but that the Village Board merely responded to requests that had been made. Mayor Farley added that the Board perceived there was a need and met it Mayor Farley said that as the number of requests increased, the Board requested the Finance Commassion to evaluate the requests and that for a number of years the F~nance Commission has not recommended that any SSA's be funded Trustee Hoefert asked which agencies we made referrals to and if we used certain agencies if we should then contribute to them. Ms Morgan replied that we use both Wheeling and Elk Grove Townships, CEDA, MERC and the Kenneth Young Mental Health Center on a regular basis She said that most of the agencies are funded by many different sources and that they are not necessarily funded by Villages Trustee Hoefert said there were too many agencies that could look to the Village for funding and that the Village should not become a roam Umted Way Trustee Coreoran then asked what recommendations the Village Staff was makang Village Manager D~xon stated that the 1991/92 budget was prepared on the basis that the Finance Comrmsslon had recommended the Village not fund any SSA's As a compromase, it was suggested that the Village fund Shelter and the Salvation Army in 1991/92 at the same level as last year, reduce funding to 50% in 1992/93 and eliminate funding in 1993/94 Trustee Corcoran then asked Ms. Morgan if she agreed with the recommendation of the Finance Commission and the compromise presented Ms. Morgan said that it was a very difficult and sensitive decision She added that many municipalities do not fund outside SSA's and many municipalities do not provade any social servaces through the Village. Ms Morgan said traditionally social services have been provided by Township governments, the Umted Way and through private groups Trustee Corcoran said that he supported the recommendation but that if the Human Sernces Division thought the funds should be reinstated in the future he would go along He added that he thought the services provided by the Human Services Division are worthwhile services and the Human Servaces budget dollars are well spent. Trustee Busse asked why the requests peaked in 1988/89. Finance Director Jepson responded that the increase in the requests coincided wath the ehrmnation of Federal Revenue Sharing grants to the townships. Trustee Busse then said he would like to fund all the agencies but he realized this was not possible. He said he also was pleased with the servaces provided by the Human Services Division Trustee Busse added that he agreed with a gradual reduction in funding, but that if the Human Services Division thought there was a need to reinstate the funding they should bring the need back to the Village Board Trustee Wllks said that she also thought the servaces from the Human Services Division were excellent and that the Village was getting a lot for the money. She added that she thought there was some value in contributing to the SSA's because it allowed the Village to scrutlmze their operations Trustee Wllks said that some of the SSA's are very helpful to the health and welfare of the residents of the commumty and she preferred not to ehrmnate the funding for the social agencies. She said it was a step m the wrong direction. Trustee Clowes asked about the practice of funding SSA's in other communities Ms. Morgan responded that policies vary but that Northbrook and Prospect Heights do not fund any SSA's. Niles, which has a Human Services Division like Mount Prospect does not fund SSA's Ms. Morgan said that even though the funding requests for certain SSA's was a small amount, the review process took a great deal of staff time Trustee Clowes said he preferred keeping the system as simple as possible and that he did not think it was cost effective for the Village to select SSA's for funding. He said his preference was for the funding to come from the Townships and from private donations. Trustee Floros said he supported the recommendations of the Human Services Division and the Finance Commission He added, however, that he hoped the Human Services Divaslon would never let policies stand m the way of serving human needs. 2 Richard Bachhuber, Finance Commission Chairman stated that the Finance Commission had wrestled uath this problem for a number of years He smd the Finance Commissmners thought the sermces provided by SSA's were good and needed, but that Village tax monies should not be used to support social agencies. Mayor Farley asked Mr. Bachhuber ff he would feel the same way ~f the Village was a Township Mr. Bachhuber replted that Townships raise money for that specific purpose Mayor Farley stated the consensus was to reaffirm the policy of reducing the funding to 50% in the upcormng year and then to eliminate n in the followang year. He concluded by saying that the Board Members were all sensmve to the need that exists and he urged the Human Services D~v~slon to come back to the Board ~f c~rcumstances change. Review of Vehicle Sucker Program for Advisory Boards and Comrmss~ons Vdlage Manager Dtxon stated that the Village Board had previously passed a resolution granting one free vehicle license to members of all Ad~sory Boards and Commissions. Additionally, free hcenses are given to the members of the Emergency Services D~saster Agency and the Volunteer Fire Department as well as to Disabled Veterans and Handicapped persons Mr. Dixon said questions had been raised regarding members of ad hoc comrmttees and members of Boards and Commissions that are no longer functlomng Mr Dtxon pointed out that the following Boards and Commissions are no longer meeting Architectural Comnussion, Board of Health, Board of Local Improvements, Cable Telewston Cormmssion and the Electrical Commission The Comrmttee supported the recommendation of the Village Manager to elmunate the free licenses for members of Boards and Comn-asslons which are no longer funct~omng Additionally, the Cornn~dttee smd they would like to review the charters of the inactive Boards and Comrmssions to see if they should be abolished VI Manager's Report Village Manager D~xon reported that over 30 contractors had taken out bid specifications for the new Police and Fire Building. He also said the groundbreahng ceremony was scheduled for Friday, October 11, 1991 at 7.00 am. VII Other Business There was no other business brought to the Corrmuttee. VIII A~ournment The Comrmttee of the Whole meeting adjourned at 9'04 pm. Respectfully Submitted, David C. Jepson, Finance Director 3