NEW ITEMS
Meeting of the Cook County Board of Commissioners
County Board Room, County Building
Tuesday, April 9, 2002, 10:00 A.M.
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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
ITEM #1
Submitting a Proposed Resolution sponsored by
JOHN H. STROGER, JR., President, Cook County Board of Commissioners
Co-Sponsored by
JERRY BUTLER, ALLAN C. CARR, EARLEAN COLLINS, JOHN P. DALEY, GREGG GOSLIN,
CARL R. HANSEN, TED LECHOWICZ, ROBERTO MALDONADO, WILLIAM R. MORAN,
JOSEPH MARIO MORENO, MIKE QUIGLEY, HERBERT T. SCHUMANN, JR.,
PETER N. SILVESTRI, DEBORAH SIMS, BOBBIE L. STEELE and CALVIN R. SUTKER,
County Commissioners
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, counties secure America. The terror attacks on September 11 spotlighted the work county officials do 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year; and
WHEREAS, counties are the first to respond to emergency situations and are primarily responsible for planning for disasters; and
WHEREAS, county officials keep citizens protected and communities thriving. Due to the planning, cooperation and dedication of America's counties, emergency response professionals from all across the nation are able to mobilize and respond quickly and effectively; and
WHEREAS, counties still are dealing with the after effects of September 11 and the ensuing health threats; and
WHEREAS, there are 3,066 counties in the United States collectively responsible for the well-being of more than 230 million residents; and
WHEREAS, counties have a long history of serving and providing for the American people. In this new and trying time, counties help safeguard our way of life, remaining vigilant protectors of our citizens; and
WHEREAS, Cook County has the largest unified court system in the nation, helping cities and towns throughout the County protect the public; and
WHEREAS, Cook County Jail, located at 26th and California, in Chicago, is the largest single site jail in the nation; and
WHEREAS, Cook County Hospital, built in 1835, has Chicago's largest burn unit and the busiest Level One trauma center; and
WHEREAS, county governments are the citizen's local government voice, providing solutions that bring communities together; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of the leadership, innovation and valuable service provided by our nation's counties.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of the more than five million residents of Cook County, does hereby designate April 7-13, 2002, to be “National County Government Week” in all of Cook County, in recognition of contributions made and the leadership offered by the counties of our nation.
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Commissioner Daley, seconded by Commissioner Hansen, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be considered. The motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Daley, seconded by Commissioner Hansen, moved that the Resolution be approved and adopted. The motion carried unanimously.
PROPOSED ORDINANCE
ITEM #2
Submitting a Proposed Ordinance sponsored by
CARL R. HANSEN, County Commissioner
PROPOSED ORDINANCE
The Cook County Contracting and Purchasing Ordinance is amended as follows:
Add the following language to Section 10-7.2:
No contract or sub-contract for auditing services for Cook County or any agency of Cook County may be awarded to any firm or subsidiary also providing consulting services for Cook County or any agency of Cook County.
Rationale:
Allowing auditing and consulting services to be provided by the same firm risks conflict of interest.
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Commissioner Daley, seconded by Commissioner Hansen, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be considered. The motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Hansen, seconded by Commissioner Daley, moved that the Proposed Ordinance be referred to the Committee on Finance (Comm. No. 251021) and the Audit Committee (Comm. No. 251022). The motion carried unanimously.
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
ITEM #3
Submitting a Proposed Resolution sponsored by
WILLIAM R. MORAN, County Commissioner
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, according to Illinois Statute (10 ILCS 5/6-70), no one employed by or appointed to the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners may participate in any manner for a political party or any candidate for public office; and
WHEREAS, this statute avoids any possible appearance of wrongdoing by ensuring no official can favor any political party or candidate over any other; and
WHEREAS, avoiding the appearance of impropriety is important for officials beyond the City of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, officials and employees who oversee elections should be seen as being outside any political influence; and
WHEREAS, although political activity is a fundamental right of any United States Citizen, this right has been limited for the Election Commissioners and employees of Chicago, and for the same reasons it should be limited for Election officials across the State of Illinois; and
WHEREAS, County Clerk’s, other elected officials and employees, who are responsible for reporting and collecting election returns, activities in politics can lead to the same appearances of impropriety as for the Chicago Board of Elections Commissioners; and
WHEREAS, individuals responsible for ensuring the validity of elections in the State of Illinois should be held to the same high standard set for the Chicago Board of Elections by the State Legislature.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners urges the Illinois General Assembly to review the Illinois State Statutes concerning the political actions and involvement of officials and employees for state and local governments who are responsible for counting and reporting election returns.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be sent to the Honorable George H. Ryan, Governor and the Honorable Members of the Illinois General Assembly.
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Commissioner Daley, seconded by Commissioner Hansen, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be considered. The motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Moran moved that the Resolution be approved and adopted. The motion died for lack of a second.
PROPOSED ORDINANCE
ITEM #4
Submitting a Proposed Ordinance sponsored by
GREGG GOSLIN, County Commissioner
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.
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:
President of the Cook County Board
Each Member of the Cook County Board (excluding the Finance Chairman and the President of the Board of Commissioners, if the President is also a Commissioner)
Finance Chairman of the Cook County Board
Cook County Recorder of Deeds
Cook County Assessor
Cook County Clerk
Cook County Treasurer
Cook County Sheriff
Members of the Board of Review
Appointments of Members -Terms
The Board shall consist of seven members appointed in the following manner: The President of the Cook County Board shall make appointments to the board, subject to approval by a simple majority of the Board of Commissioners, which will include three members from the City of Chicago; two members from the northern suburbs of Cook County defined as those areas directly north and northwest of North Avenue; and two members shall be from the southern suburbs of Cook County defined as areas directly south of North Avenue.
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.
PROPOSED ORDINANCE continued
ITEM #4 cont'd
Members will serve four-year terms and may be reappointed to a second term for a total of 8 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.
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 Daley, seconded by Commissioner Hansen, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be considered. The motion carried unanimously.
This item was WITHDRAWN at the request of the sponsor.
PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS
ITEM #5
Submitting a Proposed Resolution sponsored by
CARL R. HANSEN, County Commissioner
Co-Sponsored by
JOHN H. STROGER, JR., PRESIDENT, JERRY BUTLER, ALLAN C. CARR, EARLEAN COLLINS,
JOHN P. DALEY, GREGG GOSLIN, TED LECHOWICZ, ROBERTO MALDONADO,
WILLIAM R. MORAN, JOSEPH MARIO MORENO, MIKE QUIGLEY,
HERBERT T. SCHUMANN, JR., PETER N. SILVESTRI, DEBORAH SIMS, BOBBIE L. STEELE and
CALVIN R. SUTKER, County Commissioners
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Elizabeth Bowes Lyon, the Queen Mother of Great Britain, has passed away at the age of 101, and
WHEREAS, The Queen Mother, daughter of a Scottish Lord, became Queen of England when her husband, George VI, became King in 1936, and
WHEREAS, during the dark days of World War II, the Queen Mother, as England's Queen, and her husband, King George VI, stayed in their home in London throughout the relentless air attack by Germany, and
WHEREAS, by this fortitude and loyalty, the Queen Mother served as an inspiration not only to the British people, but also to the thousands of men and women from all nations who were fighting Axis oppression, and
WHEREAS, with the death of King George VI in 1952, his daughter Elizabeth became Queen, and Elizabeth Bowes Lyon's life began a new chapter, as grandmother and loving matriarch, and
WHEREAS, for more than four decades, the Queen Mum, as she was affectionately called, continued to inspire not only the people of Britain, but all people of good will, as she embarked on more than 40 foreign tours and was a patron of more than 350 charitable and civic organizations, and
WHEREAS, as the Queen Mum aged, she continued to attract the attention and affection of each new generation, and was honored by many on her 100th birthday, now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Commissioners of Cook County, Illinois, in the United States of America, does hereby express its profound sorrow at the passing of Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, and extends to her family and to the people of Great Britain its deepest sympathy at the loss of this great lady.
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Commissioner Daley, seconded by Commissioner Hansen, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be considered. The motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Hansen, seconded by Commissioner Sutker, moved that the Resolution be approved and adopted. The motion carried unanimously.
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ITEM #6
Submitting a Proposed Resolution sponsored by
JOSEPH MARIO MORENO and ROBERTO MALDONADO, County Commissioners
Co-Sponsored by
JOHN H. STROGER, JR., PRESIDENT, JERRY BUTLER, ALLAN C. CARR, EARLEAN COLLINS,
JOHN P. DALEY, GREGG GOSLIN, CARL R. HANSEN, TED LECHOWICZ,
WILLIAM R. MORAN, MIKE QUIGLEY, HERBERT T. SCHUMANN, JR., PETER N. SILVESTRI,
DEBORAH SIMS, BOBBIE L. STEELE and CALVIN R. SUTKER, County Commissioners
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) was founded in 1968 in San Antonio, Texas and is the leading nonprofit Latino litigation, advocacy and educational outreach institution in the United States; and
WHEREAS, MALDEF's mission is to foster sound public policies, laws and programs to safeguard the civil rights of the 35 million Latinos living in the United States and to empower and expand the opportunities of Latinos to participate fully in society and to make a positive contribution toward its well being; and
WHEREAS, MALDEF achieves its objectives through advocacy, community education, collaboration with other groups and individuals, the awarding of higher education scholarships in law and communications and, when necessary, through the legal system; and
WHEREAS, MALDEF has been at the forefront of civil rights litigation, setting precedent in many cases and establishing new systems to elect officials, hire and promote employees and educate children; and
WHEREAS, MALDEF through its leadership development program trains and empowers Latinos to serve on policy-making boards and commissions at the local, state and national levels and through its parent leadership programs also provides parents with the knowledge and tools necessary to advocate for a quality education for their children; and
WHEREAS, MALDEF’s Headquarters are located in Los Angeles, and has regional offices in Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Antonio, Chicago and Washington, D.C., with a satellite office in Sacramento, California and program offices in Phoenix, Arizona, Albuquerque, NM, and Houston, Texas. The thirty-five member Board of Directors is comprised of leaders from the public and private sector, government, and law firms.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners acknowledges MALDEF's 22nd Annual Chicago Awards Dinner and extends our congratulations on their continued success; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be tendered to Antonia Hernandez, President and General Counsel on behalf of MALDEF in recognition of their 22 years of service and their continued efforts towards creating a vibrant Hispanic community by securing the rights of Latinos, through the promotion of civil rights.
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Commissioner Daley, seconded by Commissioner Hansen, moved to suspend the rules so that this matter may be considered. The motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Moreno, 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, George Blakemore, addressed the President and Members of the Cook County Board of Commissioners. Mr. Blakemore expressed his concerns regarding the Human Rights Ordinance.