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.
_________________________
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.
_________________________
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.
_________________________
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
_________________________
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.
_________________________
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.