NEW ITEMS
Meeting of the Cook County Board of Commissioners
County Board Room, County Building
Tuesday, March 18, 2003, 10:00 A.M.
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PROPOSED ORDINANCE
ITEM #1
Submitting a Proposed Ordinance sponsored by
GREGG GOSLIN, County Commissioner
Co-Sponsored by
JERRY BUTLER, JOHN P. DALEY, ELIZABETH ANN DOODY GORMAN, PETER SILVESTRI,
and DEBORAH SIMS, County Commissioners
PROPOSED ORDINANCE
Establishing the Cook County
Elected Officials Compensation Review Board
WHEREAS, the County of Cook is a home rule unit pursuant to Article VII, Section 6 of the 1970 Illinois Constitution; and
WHEREAS, as a home rule unit, Cook County may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs; and
WHEREAS, at this time there is no impartial board to review the compensation of elected officials in Cook County; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners shall establish a Cook County Elected Officials Compensation Review Board, hereinafter referred to as the Compensation Review Board, to review and establish the compensation for the following elected county officials:
Appointments of Members - Terms
The Board shall consist of five members appointed by the President of the Cook County Board to serve for a period of 3 years without compensation.
Members shall be at least 21 years of age and shall be residents of Cook County. Members may not be elected officials covered under this act or their employees. Members shall serve without compensation but shall receive an allowance for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Such allowance shall be $75 per meeting or any other rate determined by the Cook County Board of Commissioners.
Members will serve three-year terms and may be reappointed to a second term for a total of 6 consecutive years of service.
The President of the County Board will appoint a staff member from the County Board to serve as Executive Director and Secretary for the Compensation Review Board.
PROPOSED ORDINANCE continued
ITEM #1 cont'd
Meetings of the Board; Determining Compensation; Public Hearings; Reports
The Compensation Review Board shall meet as often as necessary but not less than annually, and shall determine upon a vote requiring at least 4 affirmative votes, the compensation for those Cook County elected officials named in this ordinance.
In determining the compensation for each office, the Cook County Elected Officials Compensation Review Board shall consider the following factors:
a) the skill required,
b) the time required,
c) the opportunity for other earned income,
d) the value of public services as performed in comparable state,
e) the value of such services as performed in the private sector in Illinois and comparable counties based on the responsibility and discretion required in the office,
f) the average consumer prices commonly known as the cost of living,
g) the overall compensation presently received by the public officials and all other benefits received,
h) the interests and welfare of the public and the financial ability of the county to meet those costs,
i) such other factors, not confined to the foregoing, which are normally or traditionally taken into consideration in the determination of such compensation.
The Compensation Review Board shall conduct public hearing prior to filing its report.
At the public hearings, the Board shall allow interested persons to present their views and comments. The Board may prescribe reasonable rules for the conduct of public hearings, to prevent undue repetition. The meetings of the Board are subject to the Opening Meetings Act.
The Board shall file an initial report with the Cook County Board. Subsequent reports shall be filed therewith before May 1 in each even-numbered year thereafter stating the annual salary for the Cook County elected officials covered under this ordinance subsequent to the next general election.
The salaries in the report, or as reduced by the Cook County Board of Commissioners shall take effect as provided by law.
Salary Changes - Reports
If the Compensation Review Board fails to recommend a change in salary or the Cook County Board of Commissioners disapproves the report as provided in subsection (b), and a new term for any officer provided for in the Act begins, the salary for the new term shall be the same as the salary in effect when the previous term ended.
(b) The Cook County Board of Commissioners may disapprove the report of the Compensation Review Board in whole, or reduce it in whole proportionately, within 30 days after the report is filed by adoption of a Resolution by a majority of the Cook County Board. Such Resolution shall be binding upon the Cook County Elected Officials Compensation Review Board.
This ordinance shall take effect upon passage.
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Commissioner Hansen, seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be considered. The motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Goslin, seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved that the Proposed Ordinance be referred to the Committee on Finance. (Comm. No. 258277). The motion carried unanimously.
PROPOSED GRANT APPLICATION
ITEM #2
Transmitting a Communication, dated March 13, 2003 from
RUTH M. ROTHSTEIN, Chief, Bureau of Health Services
requesting authorization in accordance with Section 30 of the 2003 Cook County Budget Resolution to apply for a grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in the initial amount of $650,000.00 under the joint application process for the Community Health Centers and Public Housing Primary Care programs. The application will be made on behalf of four health centers in the Ambulatory and Community Health Network of Cook County - Cottage Grove Health Center (Ford Heights), Englewood Health Center, Robbins Health Center and Woody Winston Health Center (Phoenix) and will provide funding for primary and preventive health care services in medically-underserved areas. The grant will fund 11.5 full time equivalent personnel.
In order to comply with HRSA regulations, the grant application will be made in conjunction with a Co-Applicant Board, a majority of whose members are patients of the four health centers. The responsibilities of the Co-Application Board will be set forth in an agreement between the Bureau and the Co-Applicant Board.
The Bureau is contemplating including additional health centers in future applications under these programs, which could lead to additional grants in future years in the amount of $650,000.00 annually.
Qualification of the Ford Heights, Phoenix and Robbins health centers under these programs will make pharmaceuticals purchased for those centers eligible for discounted pricing under the Section 340B drug-pricing program. The Bureau estimates this could save $1.5 million annually.
Estimated Fiscal Impact: None. Grant Award: $650,000.00. Funding period: October 1, 2003 through September 30, 2004.
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Commissioner Hansen, seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be considered. The motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Silvestri, seconded by Commissioner Daley, moved that the request of the Chief of the Bureau of Health Services be approved.
Commissioner Silvestri, seconded by Commissioner Daley, moved to reconsider the motion.
Commissioner Daley, seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved that the communication be referred to the Committee on Health and Hospitals. (Comm. No. 258278). The motion carried unanimously.
PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS
ITEM #3
Submitting a Proposed Resolution sponsored by
LARRY SUFFREDIN, County Commissioner
Co-Sponsored by
JOHN P. DALEY, JOAN PATRICIA MURPHY, ROBERTO MALDONADO, MIKE QUIGLEY,
DEBORAH SIMS and PETER N. SILVESTRI, County Commissioners
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
Honoring Jennifer Welch
WHEREAS, Jennifer Welch left her position as the Executive Director of the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women’s Network on February 28, 2003; and
WHEREAS, Jennifer Welch had held this position since 1994 and under her leadership, the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women’s Network grew from an organization with one employee to an organization with 30 employees and a budget of approximately $1 million dollars; and
PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS continued
ITEM #3 cont'd
WHEREAS, Jennifer Welch is a tireless advocate for victims of domestic violence and in particular, she worked to improve services for victims residing in Cook County including obtaining financial and political support for and overseeing the operation of the Chicago Domestic Violence Helpline; and
WHEREAS, Jennifer Welch worked with County and City officials to improve public policies and procedures for victims seeking legal remedies and using the Cook County Courthouses; and
WHEREAS, Jennifer Welch advocated and lobbied for state-level policies and remedies for Cook County domestic violence victims as a member of the Illinois Department of Human Services Domestic Violence Advisory Council; and
WHEREAS, Jennifer Welch was one of the main leaders of the advocacy community’s effort to lobby the Cook County Board for a modernized user-friendly domestic violence courthouse; and
WHEREAS, Jennifer Welch has joined the Illinois Attorney General’s Office as the Policy Advisor on Women’s Issues.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby thank Jennifer Welch for her work on behalf of domestic violence victims and wish her success in her new position with the Attorney General’s Office; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be tendered to Jennifer Welch as a symbol of this auspicious occasion and let it also be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body.
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Commissioner Suffredin, seconded by Commissioner Hansen, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be considered. The motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Suffredin, seconded by Commissioner Quigley, moved that the Resolution be approved and adopted. The motion carried unanimously.
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ITEM #4
Submitting a Proposed Resolution sponsored by
JOHN H. STROGER JR., PRESIDENT, EARLEAN COLLINS, JERRY BUTLER, DEBORAH SIMS
and BOBBIE L. STEELE, County Commissioners
Co-Sponsored by
JOHN P. DALEY, FORREST CLAYPOOL, ELIZABETH ANN DOODY GORMAN,
GREGG GOSLIN, CARL R. HANSEN, ROBERTO MALDONADO, JOSEPH MARIO MORENO,
JOAN PATRICIA MURPHY, ANTHONY J. PERAICA, MIKE QUIGLEY, PETER N. SILVESTRI and
LARRY SUFFREDIN, County Commissioners
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
COMMENDING THE FUNERAL DIRECTORS WHO ASSISTED
THE FAMILIES OF THE E2 VICTIMS
WHEREAS, February 17, 2003 will be recorded as a very gloomy day in the City of Chicago because twenty one (21) young people lost their lives; and
WHEREAS, this tragedy brought tremendous grief to the families, friends, and the people of Cook County, it also brought out the best that the people of Chicago have to offer in terms of compassion, and assistance to the bereaved families; and
WHEREAS, the Police and Fire Departments of the City of Chicago performed in a very admirable way by assisting the injured, restoring order, and maintaining the safety of bystanders, friends, and relatives of the injured; and
PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS continued
ITEM #4 cont'd
WHEREAS, we are proud of the young people, who risked their lives to help with the evacuation of those in attendance and the outpouring of support from religious and civic leaders, and the community during this tragic time; and
WHEREAS, several funeral directors deserve commendation because they were extremely generous in making certain each victim was buried with dignity; and
WHEREAS, today we applaud Randy Wallace, Smith and Thomas, A.R. Leak, House of Branch, Hudson, Jennings-Peoples, W.W. Jackson, Lenoir, and Johnson funeral homes for their generosity.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the President and the Members of the Cook County Board recognize these charitable acts of kindness and extend to each of the participating funeral directors our appreciation; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an executed copy of this Resolution be tendered to each of the nine funeral directors in recognition of their good works and that an official copy of the same be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body.
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Commissioner Collins, seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be considered. The motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Collins, seconded by Commissioners Claypool and Sims, moved that the Resolution be approved and adopted. The motion carried unanimously.
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ITEM #5
Submitting a Proposed Resolution sponsored by
JOHN H. STROGER, JR., President, Cook County Board of Commissioners
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
SMALL POX VACCINATION PROGRAM
WHEREAS, in November 2002, the United States Congress enacted the Homeland Security Act of 2002, which became effective on January 24, 2003; and
WHEREAS, Section 304 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 authorizes the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services to issue a Declaration if he concludes that an actual or potential bioterrorist incident or public health emergency makes it advisable to administer countermeasures identified by the Secretary to particular categories of individuals; and
WHEREAS, on January 24, 2003, HHS Secretary Thompson issued a Declaration declaring it advisable that the Smallpox Vaccine (“Vaccine”) and certain related countermeasures be administered to certain categories of health care workers, smallpox response teams and public safety personnel who may be called upon to respond to a smallpox threat; and
WHEREAS, by its terms, the Declaration is in effect for a period of one year, unless modified by the HHS Secretary, and the activities described in the Declaration are generally referred to herein as the Smallpox Vaccine Program; and
WHEREAS, the Smallpox Vaccine Program consists initially of the administration of the Vaccine to public health department workers who will, in turn, be responsible for administering the Vaccine to the other categories of persons identified in the Declaration, such as hospital workers, smallpox response teams and certain public safety personnel; and
PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS continued
ITEM #5 cont'd
WHEREAS, the Illinois Department of Public Health has requested local health departments such as the Cook County Department of Public Health to voluntarily participate in the administration of the Smallpox Vaccine to hospital workers and has requested hospitals throughout the state to voluntarily participate in the Smallpox Vaccine Program by identifying workers from their facilities who may be willing to receive the Vaccine; and
WHEREAS, the Cook County Department of Public Health, which is an affiliate of the Cook County Bureau of Health Services (“Bureau”) and is subject to the direction of this Board, serves an essential public health function in Cook County; and
WHEREAS, the Cook County Department of Public Health will be responsible for administering the Smallpox Vaccine to health workers who volunteer to receive the Vaccine from 22 hospitals within the areas it is designated to serve which elect to participate in the Smallpox Vaccine Program; and
WHEREAS, in order to prepare to administer the Vaccine and to provide public health services including, but not limited to, the monitoring or treatment of persons who receive the Vaccine, it is anticipated that qualified personnel from the Cook County Department of Public Health will volunteer to receive the Vaccine; and
WHEREAS, in addition to the Cook County Department of Public Health, the Bureau includes affiliates which provide essential services to the public and which may participate in the Smallpox Vaccine Program; and
WHEREAS, in light of its significant role as a provider of hospital and emergency care to the people of Cook County, the Bureau is initially planning to participate in the Smallpox Vaccine Program at the John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County where the Bureau will identify certain health workers who may volunteer to receive the Vaccine from the Chicago Department of Public Health as the local health department for hospitals located in the City of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, after the initial vaccination of health workers, it is anticipated that other County departments, such as the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, may be called upon to identify responders who may volunteer to receive the Vaccine; and
WHEREAS, the Board wishes to express its support of the Bureau’s planned participation in the Vaccine Program and to recognize and extend its appreciation to those County employees who volunteer to receive the Vaccine as part of the Smallpox Vaccine Program for their willingness to assist the County in preparing to protect the citizens of Cook County in the event of a smallpox threat; and
WHEREAS, despite the careful screening measures that will be undertaken to prevent persons who have known contraindications from receiving the Vaccine, there are risks of adverse reaction and the County wishes to assure those County employees who volunteer to receive the Vaccine as part of the County’s participation in the Smallpox Vaccine Program that it will consider such reactions to be work-related and will provide workers’ compensation/occupational disease benefits for such reactions in accordance with the provisions of the Illinois workers’ compensation and workers’ occupational disease laws.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED, by the Board of Commissioners of Cook County that the Bureau of Health Services proceed with its planned participation in the Smallpox Vaccine Program; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that County employees who are identified by the Bureau or the Sheriff as individuals who may volunteer to receive the Smallpox Vaccine as part of the County’s participation in the Smallpox Vaccine Program and who do in fact volunteer to receive the Vaccine shall be entitled to all benefits which are properly payable for compensable injuries or illnesses arising out of and in the course of the employment under Illinois law in the event those employees experience an adverse reaction to the Vaccine; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Congress of the United States is hereby urged to establish a Smallpox Vaccine Compensation Fund to provide additional sources of compensation for health providers and other first responders, as well as their families and close contacts, so that they may be fairly compensated in the event of adverse reactions to the Vaccine.
PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS continued
ITEM #5 cont'd
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Commissioner Hansen, seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be considered. The motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Maldonado, seconded by Commissioner Murphy, moved that the Resolution be approved and adopted. The motion carried unanimously.
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ITEM #6
Submitting a Proposed Resolution sponsored by
JOHN H. STROGER, JR., President, Cook County Board of Commissioners
Co-Sponsored by
JERRY BUTLER, FORREST CLAYPOOL, EARLEAN COLLINS, JOHN P. DALEY,
ELIZABETH ANN DOODY GORMAN, GREGG GOSLIN, CARL R. HANSEN,
ROBERTO MALDONADO, JOSEPH MARIO MORENO, JOAN PATRICIA MURPHY,
ANTHONY J. PERAICA, MIKE QUIGLEY, PETER N. SILVESTRI, DEBORAH SIMS,
BOBBIE L. STEELE and LARRY SUFFREDIN, County Commissioners
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, with the impending retirement of Cook County Public Defender Rita Fry, Cook County Government will lose a supremely gifted, compassionate and forward thinking attorney, and
WHEREAS, as the Chief Executive of the public Defender’s Office, the nation’s second largest, her responsibilities are monumental; Ms. Fry plays a central role in allocating the $56 million annual budget as well as designating liaisons to all county and court agencies involved in the administration and funding of the office; and
WHEREAS, a graduate of Loyola University of Chicago and Northwestern University Law School, Ms. Fry started to make a profound positive contributions to society early in her legal career; and
WHEREAS, over her distinguished career, attorney Fry gained worldwide reputation as being an unflinching advocate for the legal rights of the less fortunate; and
WHEREAS, never one to run from a challenge, Ms. Fry aggressively championed the cause of death penalty reform; she was even a member of Governor Ryan’s commission on capital punishment; and
WHEREAS, with a host of options before her, Ms. Fry will take some time off and then delve into the public policy arena; and
WHEREAS, Rita Aliese Fry is a consummate professional whose myriad contributions to Cook County Governmental will be sorely missed; and
WHEREAS, Cook County Public Defender Rita Fry’s legacy in the legal arena is one that public servants and legal scholars will admire for generations to come.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that I, John H. Stroger, Jr., along with all the Members of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of all citizens of Cook County, do hereby congratulate and thank Rita Aliese Fry for her many years of exemplary service and send “best wishes” for good health and happiness as she enters a new phase in her professional life; and
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be tendered to Rita Aliese Fry in recognition of the profound contributions she has made to Cook County Government.
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Commissioner Hansen, seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be considered. The motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Daley, seconded by Commissioner Silvestri, moved that the Resolution be approved and adopted. The motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
ITEM #7
Pursuant to Rule 4-30, Trudy Janisch, Maternity BVM Church, addressed the President and Members of the Cook County Board. Ms. Janisch expressed support for a health care clinic in Humboldt Park.
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ITEM #8
Pursuant to Rule 4-30, Maria Gonzalez, a member of the Blocks Together Women's Committee, addressed the President and Members of the Cook County Board. Ms. Gonzalez expressed support for a health care clinic in Humboldt Park.
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ITEM #9
Pursuant to Rule 4-30, Jose Nunez, a member of Blocks Together, addressed the President and Members of the Cook County Board. Mr. Nunez expressed support for a health care clinic in Humboldt Park.