Monday, September 15, 2008
7:30 PM
Village of Lombard
Village Hall Trustees Room
Community Relations Committee
Trustee Laura Fitzpatrick-Chairperson, |
Trustee Rick Soderstrom -Alternate Chairperson, |
Pamela Bedard, Gerri Kuehl, Zachary Wilson, Andy Draus, Moon Khan and Lisa |
Biegalski |
Staff Liaison Joelyn Kott |
Meeting Minutes
Community Relations Committee
Meeting Minutes
September 15, 2008
1.0
Call to Order and Roll Call
Chairperson Fitzpatrick called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Laura Fitzpatrick, Pamela Bedard, Gerri Kuehl, Andy Draus, Zachary Wilson |
and Lisa Biegalski |
Present:
Rick Soderstrom and Moon Khan
Absent:
Also present: Joelyn Kott, Communications & Marketing Coordinator.
2.0
Public Participation
None.
3.0
Approval of Minutes
On a motion by Kuehl and seconded by Wilson, the minutes of the June 16, 2008 |
meeting were unanimously approved by the members present. |
4.0
Unfinished Business
Tim Sexton, Director of Finance, spoke about the circuit breaker program which is a |
State program which provides grants to seniors citizens and people with disabilities. He |
indicated that it is a benefit for most people. He also referenced that the program |
provides discounted license plates annually, grants for property taxes and prescription |
drug assistance. Also if someone is eligible for the state program, then they're eligible |
for the Village program. Eligibility is based on certain criteria including income levels for |
a single person, for a family, etc. |
Other programs offered by the Village include: |
1. Taxi Subsidy Program - offered to seniors age 65 or older or persons with disabilities |
based on circuit breaker program qualifications. A coupon book is purchased for $5 and |
can be used like cash…. There are no requirements other than being a senior citizen or |
a disabled person. |
Zachary Wilson asked how abuse is detected. Mr. Sexton indicated that the Village |
does not check. There are no restrictions on where the seniors can go. Expenditures |
come from the Village's General Fund. |
Trustee Fitzpatrick indicated that in the future there might be a circulator bus which |
would be cheaper, run more frequently, etc. It will consist of a main route with other |
routes within a six block radius from the main route. This is part of our big transportation |
program for the Village. Also, she mentioned the Free RTA senior free ride program. |
This is not a Village program but you can apply at Village Hall. Photos are taken and |
the application is processed. This program has been expanded to include people with |
disabilities as well. Circulator buses are NOT part of the free ride campaign. |
2. Vehicle Stickers are offered at reduced rates for seniors, veterans, and people with |
disabilities. Eligibility is also based on the circuit breaker program- 65 for senior citizen |
age. |
3. Assessment Freeze Program - once an individual reaches age 65 they can apply to |
have their assessment frozen at the current rate. |
4. Property Tax Deferment - This program is geared toward people who cannot afford |
to pay property taxes. A lien is placed on the house and the State charges 6.5 percent |
interest. The Village helps facilitate the forms and the filing of the application. |
5. Water bills - Whenever a resident cannot pay their water bill or has any financial |
issues that come up, DuPage County Office of Human Services maintains a referrals |
list. The Township offers a program which is the most frequently used and has |
provided the most help to people in the past. They have paid people's water bills as a |
one-time deal just to get them caught up. They work with them to offer payment plans |
(VOL) to help them out, i.e., can't afford to pay their water bill because of poor planning, |
sod, etc. Finance maintains the County referral list to keep on hand for referrals of all |
type. |
Andy Draus questioned whether or not the Village has a program to help people pay |
their water bill. Tim Sexton stated that this type of program doesn't exist but he |
referenced Catholic Charities and churches who also give assistance to people. |
Andy Draus asked about ambulance billing. Mr. Sexton answered that Medicare pays |
and then as required by law, the Village is required to write off the balance. There are |
also payment plans for ambulance billing. Billing comes from a third party billing agency |
on behalf of the Village. |
Zachary Wilson asked if there are other private utilities that we can negotiate with for |
lower rates. Mr. Sexton answered no. There is the Low Income Home Energy |
Assistance Program (LIHEAP) program but the Village has no utility negotiation ability. |
Andy Draus asked how many employees the Finance Department employs. Mr. Sexton |
answered 17 with two contract employees in IT, which is part of the Finance |
Department. |
Trustee Fitzpatrick indicated that social worker services is very confusing for people and |
overwhelming for the helpers. |
Lisa Biegalski offered that she is aware of someone who needs serious help. The |
walk-in ministry helps them once a year and then can refer people to these other places. |
Trustee Fitzpatrick and Joelyn Kott stated they will talk to the front counter employees to |
see what reactions and what kinds of scenarios people need and how to handle it. |
5.0
New Business
Medal of Character Excellence Award |
Request to nominate Abby Glenzinski and Thomas Glenzinski of Madison Elementary |
School for the Medal of Character Excellence Award. |
It was moved by Draus, seconded by Bedard, that this matter be approved to |
present Abby and Thomas Glenzinski for the Medal of Character Excellence |
Award. The motion carried by a voice vote |
2008 Senior of the Year Award |
Request to nominate one female and one male for the Senior of the Year Award. |
Trustee Fitzpatrick indicated that the nominees were invited to the Board of Trustees |
meeting on September 18. Winners will be awarded gift certificates and plaques and |
will be asked to be greeters at the Senior Fair. |
First, the committee went over the nominations for the female senior of the year. |
Nominations included Alvina VanDenend, Marymae Meyer and Bett Simmons. The vote |
was taken and Alvina VanDenend was the unanimous winner. |
Ray Dorn, Ray Thompson, Mike Mikulecky, Michael Wolatz and James Gresak were |
nominated for the male senior of the year. The winner was Mike Mikulecky. |
The committee felt that nominations should not come from the committee members and |
would not be accepted next year. Also the committee members are invited to the Board |
meeting for the nominees recognition. |
This matter was approved in regard to the nominations of Alvina VanDenend and |
Mike Mikulecky as Seniors of the Year. The motion carried. |
A. Seniors
Trustee Fitzpatrick mentioned that Gerri Kuehl and Pam Bedard are going to the Senior |
Citizens Council meeting and will report back at the next meeting. |
Joelyn Kott gave an update on the Senior Fair and went over the agenda for the day. |
Committee members signed up to volunteer for the day and everything seemed to be in |
order for the event. Secretary of State Jesse White is scheduled to make an |
appearance. There is a waiting list for vendors who would like to have participated but |
space is limited and it is full. |
B. Social Services
C. Youth
D. Intergovernmental Relations
E. Diversity
6.0
Other Business
7.0
Information Only
8.0
Adjournment
On a motion by Kuehl and seconded by Bedard the meeting was adjourned at 8:47 p.m.