Hanover Township Mental Health Board

Minutes of the Regular Meeting

December 18, 2007

 

The meeting was called to order by Chair Mary Alice Benoit at 7:04 PM.

 

Roll Call:         Brian Gorcowski, Ruth Beckner, Rita Lopienski, Mary Alice Benoit - A quorum was established. Katy Dolan Baumer and Gabrielle Infusino were absent. Also present were Executive Director Danise Habun, Mel Runzel  (township resident) and Chris Van Herick (township resident)and Melynda Lithchfield (township resident).

 

Approval of/Addition to Agenda

                        Ruth Beckner made the motion to accept the agenda as presented; Rita Lopienski seconded the motion.  The agenda was approved by unanimous voice vote.

 

Minutes from November 20, 2007 (Regular Meeting)

                        Rita Lopienski made the motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of November, 2007 and Brian Gorcowski seconded the motion.   The Board unanimously approved the minutes by voice vote.

 

Minutes from November 20, 2007 (Executive Session)

                        Brian Gorcowski made the motion to approve the minutes of the executive session of November 20, 2007 and Ruth Beckner seconded the motion.  The Board unanimously approved the minutes by voice vote.

 

Financial Reports from November, 2007

                        Motion to accept the November  financial report was made by Ruth Beckner and seconded by Rita Lopienski.   The roll was taken and the motion carried.

                                    Ruth Beckner                        Yes

                                    Gabrielle Infusino                            Mary Alice Benoit    Yes

                                    Brian Gorcowski      Yes                  Rita Lopienski                        Yes

                                    Katy Dolan Baumer

Executive Director’s Report

                        Executive Director Habun presented report on activities from November, 2007.  Written report submitted. 

 

 ED Habun reported that the Community Resource Specialist, Veronica Laud Noland, presented her letter of resignation effective 01/11/08. 

 

Executive Director Habun reported that search for WebHost for Webbased Resource Directory has been narrowed down to 2 vendors (Bowman and Trilogy).  Detailed information will be presented to members of the mental health board at a future board meeting.

 

 

Mental Health Board Office Reconfiguration Project

                        Executive Director Habun reported successful completion of the reconfiguration of the Metal Health Board offices.  Waiting for new chairs to be delivered.  Project completed at under the projected cost.

Resolution to Approve FY09 HTMHB Proposed Budget

                        Ruth Beckner made the motion to approve the FY09 HTMHB Proposed Budget as presented by the Finance Committee at the November 20, 2007 meeting.  Rita Lopienski seconded the motion. 

 

                        Discussion occurred re: submitting the proposed budget to the Township Finance Committee.  Executive Director clarified that upon formal approval, the FY09 proposed budget would be submitted to the Township Finance Committee with the stipulation that the cost center related to agency funding would be completed and approved prior to the meeting date between the HTMHB and the Township Finance Committee.  This stipulation has been communicated to the Township Administrator who, in turn, obtained approval from the Township Finance Committee for the presented process.

 

                        Having no more discussion, a roll call vote was taken to approve the proposed budget.

Ruth Beckner                        Yes

                                    Gabrielle Infusino                            Mary Alice Benoit    Yes

                                    Brian Gorcowski      Yes                  Rita Lopienski                        Yes

                                    Katy Dolan Baumer

 

Mental Health Board By-Laws and Policies and Procedures Revisions Update

                        Executive Director Habun reported that she had completed the update of the By-laws for the Hanover Township Mental Health Board and that the updates had been disseminated to board members for their review and comment  prior to the Board meeting. No comments or additions had been received prior to the board meeting.  ED Habun asked for formal approval of the revised By-laws.

 

                        Ruth Beckner made a motion to approve the proposed revisions to the By-laws of the Hanover Township Mental Health Board.  Rita Lopienski seconded the motion.

                        Discussion followed.  Executive Director Habun re-clarified that the majority of the revisions resulted from the expansion and revision of the Illinois Community Health Act. Other highlighted revisions resulted from updating state and federal agency information.  Chair Benoit commented that revisions of the by-laws allows for future actions by future mental health board members. 

 

                       

Having no more discussion, a roll call vote was taken to approve the revisions to the by-laws  of the Hanover Township Mental Health Board.

 

Ruth Beckner                        Yes

                                    Gabrielle Infusino                            Mary Alice Benoit    Yes

                                    Brian Gorcowski      Yes                  Rita Lopienski                        Yes

                                    Katy Dolan Baumer

 

                        Executive Director Habun thanked Board members for their actions.  The next steps will be revisions to the policies and procedures of the Hanover Township Mental Health Board.

Agency Allocation Workshop

                        Executive Director Habun clarified that the date for Agency Allocation Workshop would be Monday, 1/14/08.  Worksheets for grant requests will be sent to all board members by the end of the week with a return date in the first week of January, 2008. A summary of all information will be provided to Board members prior to the Agency Allocation Workshop.

 

Site Visit/Audit Report

                        Information was submitted in Board packets on the results and recommendations of the site visits conducted at 10 funded agencies.  Executive Director Habun responded to questions from Board members regarding site visit report. Two agencies were found to not be in compliance with contracts.  Subsequent remedial action has been communicated to one of the agencies (Easter Seals)  ED Habun also clarified that she had been unable to complete an audit with one agency (NWCASA) and that questions have arisen about the validity of statistics reported.  Executive Director Habun requested  that the members of the Mental Health Board approve a recommendation to withhold 4th quarter funds from NWCASA pending a completed audit.  Ruth Beckner made a motion to withhold 4th quarter funds ($2000) from NWCASA pending the successful completion of an agency audit.  Brian Gorcowski seconded the motion.

 

                        Discussion followed.  Executive Director Habun clarified that a successfully completed audit will involve meeting with the ED, Board Chair or designee, program staff and a complete review of all files related to persons who have been reported as township residents receiving agency services. 

 

Having no more discussion, a roll call vote was taken to approve the proposed budget.

Ruth Beckner                        Yes

                                    Gabrielle Infusino                            Mary Alice Benoit    Yes

                                    Brian Gorcowski      Yes                  Rita Lopienski                        Yes

                                    Katy Dolan Baumer

 

Appreciation Dinner for Hanover Township Mental Health Board

                        Chair Benoit asked for tentative dates to hold an appreciation dinner for board members after the holiday season.  Executive Director will poll board members on best dates of availability following meeting.

 

Request to Amend Strategic Plan

                        Executive Director Habun clarified that there is an item on the Strategic Plan (Memorandum of Understanding between Township and Mental Health Board) that is slated to be completed by the end of current fiscal year.  It has proven difficult to move ahead with this action item.  Executive Director Habun requested that the Mental Health Board members formally amend the Strategic Plan to place this action item into year 3 of the plan.  Rita Lopienski made a motion to formally amend the Strategic Plan of the Hanover Township Mental Health Board to reflect the completion of a signed Memorandum of Understanding between the Hanover Township Board and the Hanover Township Mental Health Board by the 4th quarter of FY11.  Ruth Beckner seconded the motion.

                       

                        The motion carried by voice vote.

 

Approval of 2008 PACE reimbursement agreement

                        Chair Benoit presented the contract and documents related to the annual agreements between PACE, Hanover Township and the Hanover Township Mental Health Board for formal approval.  Brian Gorcowski made a motion to approve 2008 PACE reimbursement agreement.  Ruth Beckner seconded the motion.

                        Having no more discussion, a roll call vote was taken to approve the proposed budget.

Ruth Beckner                        Yes

                                    Gabrielle Infusino                            Mary Alice Benoit    Yes

                                    Brian Gorcowski      Yes                  Rita Lopienski                        Yes

                                    Katy Dolan Baumer

Report on Board Recruitment

                        Executive Director Habun reported that 4 township residents have expressed interest in an appointment to the Hanover Township Mental Health Board.  3 of those residents contacted the Township Supervisor, Mike Kelly, received initial orientation material and attended meetings.  Board members acknowledged presence of potential board members in audience and thanked them for their interest.

January, 2008 meeting date change

                        Chair Benoit asked that the allocation workshop and the January 2008 Mental Health Board meeting be combined on one date (January 14th).  Board members approved the change.  The allocations workshop will begin @ 6:30 PM on January 14, 2008 followed immediately by the regular meeting of the Hanover Township Mental Health Board. Executive Director Habun will make necessary public meeting notice changes.

 

Adjourn into Executive Session

                        Brian Gorcowski  made a motion at 8:10 PM to adjourn into Executive Session pursuant to Section 2c1(Personnel) of the Open Meetings Act; Rita Lopienski seconded the motion.  By unanimous voice vote, the motion carried.

 

Adjourn back into the Regular Meeting

                        Chair Mary Alice Benoit  called the meeting to order after returning from Executive Session at 8:55 PM.

 

Open Comment.  

                        Executive Director presented dates for upcoming events sponsored by several agencies and asked for board member availability to attend.

 

                       

Adjournment

                        With no further business to discuss, the Vice Chair asked for a motion to adjourn; the motion was made by Ruth Beckner and seconded by Rita Lopienski; motion passed unanimously.  The meeting adjourned at 9:10 pm.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Danise Habun

Executive Director

 

 

Approved 2/19/08