Hanover Township Mental Health Board

Minutes of the Regular Meeting

November 18, 2008

 

The meeting was called to order by Chair Mary Alice Benoit at 7:02 PM.

 

Roll Call:         Mary Alice Benoit, Gabrielle Infusino, Rita Lopienski, Melynda Litchfield, Chris Van Herick, Mel Runzel.  A quorum was established.  Also present was Danise Habun, Executive Director.  Ruth Beckner arrived at 7:20 PM.

 

Approval of/Addition to Agenda

                        Rita Lopienski made the motion to accept the agenda as amended to indicate the item related to personnel policies would be tabled until the next meeting. Melynda Litchfield seconded the motion.  The agenda was approved by unanimous voice vote.

 

Minutes from October 21, 2008  (Regular Meeting)

                        Mel Runzel  made the motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of October, 21,  2008 and Chris Van Herick seconded the motion.   The Board unanimously approved the minutes by voice vote.

 

Minutes from October 21, 2008 (Executive Session)

                        Mel Runzel  made the motion to approve the minutes of the executive session of October 21, 2008 and Rita Lopienski seconded the motion.  The Board unanimously approved the minutes by voice vote.

 

Financial Reports from October, 2008

                        Motion to accept the October, 2008 financial report was made by Mel Runzel  and seconded by Chris Van Herick.   The roll was taken and the motion carried.

                                    Melynda Litchfield   Yes                  Ruth Beckner            -

                                    Gabrielle Infusino    Yes                  Mary Alice Benoit    Yes

                                    Brian Gorcowski      -                       Rita Lopienski                        Yes

                                    Katy Dolan Baumer -                       Mel Runzel                 Yes

                                    Chris Van Herick      Yes

Executive Director’s Report

                        Executive Director Habun presented report on activities from October.  Written report submitted.  Ms. Runzel had questions related to an ongoing issue with PACE.  Executive Director reviewed the actions taken during the month of October and the subsequent actions that would occur in November.

OLD BUSINESS

 

Community Resource Center

                        Executive Director Habun reported that the Epilepsy Foundation of Chicago would not be renewing their lease in 2009.  An invitation for possible tenancy will be sent to all agencies receiving mental health board funds with a response date of December  1, 2008.  Thus far, Safe from the Start has indicated an interest in increasing offices.

 

Hanover Township Network of Care Website Report

                        Executive Director Habun provided written report on usage of NOC for the months of September and October, 2008

Life Changes. Disabilities Expo

                        Executive Director Habun supplied Board members with evaluation information from the October 25th event.  Response was overwhelmingly positive.  In response to question about total costs for the event, the following information was provided:

                        Catering Expense    $2089.50

                        Printing (Flyers)                        $644.00

                        T-shirts (150)                 $972.40

                        Stipend for Miss IL      $50.00

                        Total                            $3755.90

                        Underwriting             -$1700.00

                        Total Event Cost       $2055.90

Maintenance Agreement Parlance

                        Board members reviewed the information provided by Palance Technology that was supplied in response to questions raised during the October, 2008 meeting.

 

                        Motion to approve the maintenance agreement with Parlance Technology at a quarterly cost of $958.80 was made by Melynda Litchfield with Ruth Beckner providing the second to the motion.  Roll Call was taken and the motion passed:

                                    Melynda Litchfield   Yes                  Ruth Beckner                        yes

                                    Gabrielle Infusino    Yes                  Mary Alice Benoit    Yes

                                    Brian Gorcowski      -                       Rita Lopienski                        Yes

                                    Katy Dolan Baumer -                       Mel Runzel                 Yes

                                    Chris Van Herick      No

Senior Center Capital Grant Request

                        Board members reviewed the information provided by Director of the Hanover Township Senior Services Department in response to questions raised during the October, 2008 meeting.

                       

                        Motion to approve  the Hanover Township Senior Services Department ‘s capital grant request of $3,500.00 was made by Mel Runzel and seconded by Chris Van Herick.  Roll call was taken and the motion passed.

                                    Melynda Litchfield   Yes                  Ruth Beckner                        yes

                                    Gabrielle Infusino    Yes                  Mary Alice Benoit    Yes

                                    Brian Gorcowski      -                       Rita Lopienski                        Yes

                                    Katy Dolan Baumer -                       Mel Runzel                 Yes

                                    Chris Van Herick      Yes

NEW BUSINESS

Finance Committee Report

                        Members of the finance committee met with Lee Howard, accountant to discuss FY10 budgeting process.  $880,000 is projected as the tax revenue for FY10.  In addition, there will be roll over monies from the current year.  The Finance Committee will meet in December to develop the FY10 draft budget to present for approval at the December, 2008 meeting of the Mental Health Board. 

Funding Request from Catholic Charities

                        Board members reviewed a request for $350.00 for community education program provided by Catholic Charities to caregivers of seniors within Hanover Township area.

 

                        Motion to approve the funding request of $350.00 by Catholic Charities was made by Mel Runzel and seconded by Rita Lopienski.  Roll call was taken and the motion passed

 

Melynda Litchfield            Yes                        Ruth Beckner                        yes

                                    Gabrielle Infusino    Yes                  Mary Alice Benoit    Yes

                                    Brian Gorcowski      -                       Rita Lopienski                        Yes

                                    Katy Dolan Baumer -                       Mel Runzel                 Yes

                                    Chris Van Herick      Yes

 

Open Comment

                         

Chris Van Herick raised a question about the Hanover Township Mental Health Board writing a letter of support for a senate bill under consideration.  Chair Benoit clarified that the Hanover Township Mental Health Board does not engage in lobbying.  She further clarified that individual board members are welcome to send individual letters of support regarding issues of interest. 

 

Mel Runzel stated that she had given the letter written by the attorney for the Hanover Township Mental Health Board to the Township Administrator for distribution to the Hanover Township Board of Trustees and Supervisors.  Chair Benoit clarified that the letter was public information.  She further clarified that the information contained in the letter was for consideration, not necessarily direct action, by the members of the Hanover Township Mental Health Board

Discussion was held about attendance of Board members at various events offered by community partners and funded agencies.  Chair Benoit and Executive Director Habun review the current practice:  The costs of board members and staff to attend events of interest would be covered by the Hanover Township Mental Health Board.  The cost for partners to attend would be not. 

 

Adjournment

                        With no further business to discuss, 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 7:50  pm.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Danise Habun

Executive Director