Lake County Gazette

West Deerfield Township Board of Trustees met May 21.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

The regular monthly meeting of the West Deerfield Township Board of Trustees was called to order by Township Supervisor Alyson Feiger at 7:06 p.m. at the West Deerfield Township Center, 601 Deerfield Road, Deerfield, Illinois.

Roll call was taken by Clerk Kristen Scott. Present were Trustees Kaye Kharasch, Ron Levitsky, Ron Schwartz and Paras Parekh, and Supervisor Feiger.

Also present were Township Assessor Tom Healy, Township attorney Keri-Lyn Krafthefer, Robert Feiger, Robert Rosenbacher, Dennis Burke, and Quinton Snodgrass.

MINUTES

Trustee Schwartz motioned to approve the minutes from the April 9, 2019 Board meeting and was seconded by Trustee Kharasch. There being no discussion, a voice vote was taken. Trustees Levitsky and Parekh abstained from voting as they were absent April 9. All others were in favor and the minutes were approved.

PUBLIC COMMENT

None.

OLD BUSINESS

None.

NEW BUSINESS

A. Presentation by Quinton Snodgrass, United Way of Lake County

Outlining plans for a “211 Community Services Helpline” United Way is to planning to launch this year, Quinton Snodgrass, VP of Resource Development, described the program as a counterpoint to 911, providing information on all Health and Human Services resources available in Lake County. The Board asked several questions, including how the program could potentially help West Deerfield Township clients and residents. Dennis Burke, a Deerfield resident and new business manager for the United Way of Lake County, noted that Illinois is one of just two states which does not yet have the 211 program. Supervisor Feiger thanked the two men for their presentation.

B. Discussion and potential action: Dissolve Community Support Grants for Persons with Disabilities program

Supervisor Feiger noted that the program required updating to conform to new situations which may affect the administration of the support grants. To avoid receiving further applications before the new provisions are in place, she recommended dissolving the current grant program and reinstating it once it has been reviewed and retooled. She therefore moved to dissolve the current disability grant program, with the expectation that it will be reopened in the near future. She was seconded by Trustee Levitsky.

Brief discussion followed, then Clerk Scott took a voice vote. All were in favor and the motion was approved.

C. Discussion and potential action per Trustee Schwartz’s request: Township email addresses for all employees

Trustee Schwartz moved that all employees and contract workers of the Township be assigned email address as soon as practicable. Discussion ensued, including potential ramifications for part-time employees; Trustee Schwartz withdrew his motion.

D. Discussion and potential action per Trustee Schwartz’s request: Official ID for all Township employees

Citing his experience that government employees frequently receive discounts of 10-15% at various establishments, Trustee Schwartz motioned that every member of the Township Board, Assessor Healy, Clerk Scott, and all Township employees, be issued official ID. The motion failed for lack of a second.

E. Discussion and potential action to continue working with Faith in Action’s Auxiliary Transportation Program and allocation of funds for same

Supervisor Feiger remarked on the partnership the Township shares with Southeast Lake County FIA, and gave several examples of FIA supplementing the Township’s transportation program. Trustee Schwartz moved to allocate $6,000 for auxiliary transportation for West Deerfield Township clients provided by Faith in Action Volunteers. Trustee Kharasch seconded the motion. Supervisor Feiger asked to amend the motion to $7,000, which Trustee Schwartz accepted and Trustee Kharasch seconded. Discussion followed, including Trustee Levitsky’s suggestion that riders possibly make a small contribution toward their ride(s) to offset the cost of the program. Clerk Scott then took roll call: Trustees Kharasch (aye), Levitsky (aye), Schwartz (aye), and Parekh (aye), and Supervisor Feiger (aye). All being in favor the motion was approved.

SUPERVISOR’S REPORT

Supervisor Feiger apprised the Board of various issues, including (a) her attendance at Deerfield High School’s awards night; (b) a thank you to Trustee Kharasch who directed a young man to the Township office that day for assistance; (c) a local Brownie troop visited the Food Pantry and donated a case of Girl Scout Cookies; (d) Summer Packs for children of Food Pantry clients are being assembled; and (e) the “Gratitude Generation” philanthropy group would provide back-to-school bags for children of Pantry clients this fall.

OPEN DISCUSSION OF THE BOARD

Trustee Schwartz asked that the issue of official IDs for all Township employees be placed on the June agenda, as well as the appointment of a Parliamentarian for Township Board meetings. He wondered if the Annual Town Meeting would fall in the middle of Passover next year. Trustee Schwartz commended Clerk Scott on her excellent note taking and minute presentation.

AUDIT AND APPROVAL OF BILLS

Following discussion, Trustee Levitsky motioned to approve the bills as presented, and was seconded by Trustee Schwartz. There being no further discussion, Clerk Scott took roll call: Trustees Kharasch (aye), Levitsky (aye), Schwartz (aye), Parekh (aye), and Supervisor Feiger (aye). All being in favor the motion was approved.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, Trustee Levitsky motioned to adjourn the meeting and was seconded by Trustee Kharasch. A voice as taken; all were in favor and the meeting was adjourned by 8:38 p.m. The next regular Board Meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 18, 2019, at 7 p.m., at the West Deerfield Township Center, 601 Deerfield Road, Deerfield, Illinois.

http://westdeerfieldtownship.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/May_2019.pdf