Will County Gazette

The Will County Executive Committee met Feb. 2 to provide an IT assessment update.

Here are the meeting's minutes, as provided by the committee:

WILL COUNTY EXECUTIVE

COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES

302 N. CHICAGO ST.

JOLIET, IL 60432

FEBRUARY 2, 2017

County Board Committee Room Assignment Meeting 10:00 AM

I. CALL TO ORDER/ ROLL CALL

Chair Jim Moustis called the meeting to order at 10:18 AM

Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Jim Moustis Chair Present Charles E. Maher Vice Chair Present Darren Bennefield Member Present Herbert Brooks Jr. Member Present Mike Fricilone Member Present Donald Gould Member Present Suzanne Hart Member Present Judy Ogalla Member Present Lauren Staley-Ferry Member Present Ray Tuminello Member Present Tom Weigel Member Present Denise E. Winfrey Member Present Ragan Freitag Member Present

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

Mr. Brooks led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

1. WC Executive Committee - Assignment Meeting - Jan 5, 2017 10:00 AM

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Herbert Brooks Jr., Member SECONDER: Darren Bennefield, Member AYES: Moustis, Maher, Bennefield, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Gould, Hart, Ogalla, Staley-

Ferry, Tuminello, Weigel, Winfrey, Freitag

2. WC Executive Committee - Board Agenda Setting Meeting - Jan 12, 2017 10:00 AM

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Charles E. Maher, Vice Chair AYES: Moustis, Maher, Bennefield, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Gould, Hart, Ogalla, Staley-

Ferry, Tuminello, Weigel, Winfrey, Freitag

3. Executive Comm Executive Session Minutes 12jan17

(Executive Comm)

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Denise E. Winfrey, Member SECONDER: Tom Weigel, Member AYES: Moustis, Maher, Bennefield, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Gould, Hart, Ogalla, Staley-

Ferry, Tuminello, Weigel, Winfrey, Freitag

IV. OLD BUSINESS None.

V. OTHER OLD BUSINESS

None.

VI. NEW BUSINESS

1. Ann L. Schneider Contract

(Jim Moustis) Mr. Moustis stated the whole scope of this project is not only moving of freight, this study deals with workers mobility, land use issues and economic development.

Ms. Ann Schneider stated I and my associates were brought on to manage this from a program perspective for the county. We are overseeing the quality management, the vendor management and the budget management on this project. We have had some good interactions with the vendor team who is working on this. More importantly as we talk about this project, it will be the opportunity for input into the process and next Thursday we are having a forum at Joliet Junior College where we are going to be taking input. At that point we will be taking input as to the transportation challenges in the region and what projects some of the industry would like to see included in the plan going forward. We extend invitations for you to attend if you have the availability to be there. It is from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Mrs. Adams stated I will e-mail the flyer to everyone.

Ms. Schneider advised since we initially talked about this and the county made the commitment to go forward we have been able to obtain a $750,000.00 grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation through their State Planning and Research Program to go towards the cost on this. We have also worked with the CED who will be contributing $50,000.00 towards the study as well. We still have some irons in the fire that we are pursuing to also offset some of the county costs that you agreed to when we went forward with project and the selection of CDM Smith. February and March are going to be very busy months. We will be conducting the forum next week and will also have a workforce forum sometime later this month. We haven't set a date exactly yet. We will make sure everyone receives an invitation to that event as well. This will help us understand some of the workforce challenges for the transportation distribution logistics industry. We would like to be on the calendar for next month to give a more robust update on where we are with the project. We will be finished with the current state section of this project by then and well into the future state development.

Mr. Moustis stated next month after the Forest Preserve we will hold Executive in the board room and ask everyone to stay so Ms. Schneider can give the update.

Mr. Moustis stated there are other developments I would like to point out. When we started this we were rushing to a date to meet a grant deadline. The grant deadline was in January but then the federal government changed it and said it is now December which we could not meet. It allowed us to step back and I believe we will have a study that is even more comprehensive and as Ms. Schneider pointed out we are getting input and some expansion of the scope of this so it will take a little longer to do the study.

Mr. Moustis thanked Ms. Schneider for all expertise and working with us. This study is about a million dollars and Ms. Schneider's efforts along with others has now gotten $800,000.00 in grants so our cost went from $1 million to $200,000.00. CMAP has taken a really big interest in this and I think this will be very beneficial to Will County. I think they will get a renewed scope of the importance of Will County in the overall logistics world and how things develop in the Chicago region.

Mr. Moustis suggested we amend the contract for Ann Schneider & Associates. There will be a need for some additional funding for the additional work that is now going to be done.

Ms. Schneider stated it is just an extension of the current rate which extending it 3 months would be $55,000.00.

Mr. Moustis advised we would be extending this current work contract for $55,000.00 which I will bring forward. I would like to renegotiate parts of the contract and make Ann Schneider & Associates our transportation consultant. We had a transportation person that worked in the Executive's office that we never replaced. I am suggesting we renegotiate this contract for a 3 year extension where there are no dollars or have an annual retainer so we can just call and get advice. Consultants work with all departments, all the elected officials where it is appropriate and it is not just County Board.

Mr. Palmer agreed stating we have had a transportation planner but the person left and we decided to leave the position open. I think having someone with Ms. Schneider's credentials and contacts has been helpful. I think moving forward it could be very helpful to have an expert resource or to cover some meetings if needed. If we get to a more critical point where we need someone more involved on an employee basis then we can revisit that.

Mr. Moustis suggested Mr. Palmer work with ASA Tatroe to negotiate a contract and I will leave a space for it next week on the County Board agenda. Hopefully you will have all the terms worked out. I would like to have it for next Thursday if we could.

Mr. Palmer clarified this is to extend the current project.

Mr. Moustis stated it is to extend the current project and then for the next 3 years contract and retainer to be our general transportation consultant.

Mr. Bennefield stated the contract says 8 months and I know you are proposing adding 3 months, is there any way we can put a cap "not to exceed".

Mr. Moustis replied yes we could do that. Ms. Schneider stated she needs another 3 months to finish the project.

Ms. Schneider advised CDM is going to take 3 more months to complete their work and we want to make sure you are getting the best value on this particular project.

Mr. Palmer stated this is completing the plan and once that is completed then we go into implementation of that plan. That is for the next 3 years.

Mr. Moustis stated for the current work for the 3 month extension. We shouldn't have to go beyond that.

Mr. Bennefield stated we will have the 3 year plan, current work will be the first year, then a 2 year retainer.

Mr. Moustis replied yes.

Mr. Maher suggested we could extend this contract with that price value if this work goes over 3 months to the end of the work with a 3 to 5 month framework.

Mr. Moustis stated I want them to negotiate this so the rest would be a negotiated amount for future work. They are going to work on that extension of the contract and will bring it back. I will leave a space on the agenda for the contract with Ann Schneider. I’ll entertain a motion for a 3 month extension and an extension of a 3 year contract with a retainer. Any other projects would be negotiated.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] TO: Will County Executive Committee MOVER: Mike Fricilone, Member SECONDER: Herbert Brooks Jr., Member AYES: Moustis, Maher, Bennefield, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Gould, Hart, Ogalla, Staley-

Ferry, Tuminello, Weigel, Winfrey, Freitag

2. Motion to Allow County Executive to Execute IDOT Grant Documents for

$750,000.00 Mr. Palmer advised we received the paperwork for the IDOT funding which is the $750,000.00. That is going to next week's Executive Committee for acceptance and approval. I would like to have the County Executive sign it so we can get that paperwork back to IDOT.

3. Executive Branch IT Assessment Update

(Mike Shay) Mr. Moustis stated no county of any size does IT like we do. Larger counties have a centralized IT Department that does everyone, the entire county. It doesn't mean the judicial people don't have their own IT people in the centralized IT. The real large counties tend to contract the whole business out. For a number of years I have pushed for a consolidation of a centralized IT. I think some of it has been centralized. I think we should talk about not having these silo groups saying they have to do it on their own and can't be part of a centralized IT.

Mr. Moustis advised when I brought this up, the justice-judicial committee made it clear to me that the group had no intentions of looking at centralized IT and they didn't need the county board. They had their own money and I hope that is still the case because we should be putting our resources into a centralized system.

Mr. Shay stated to address the issue of consolidation the county is partially centralized and partially decentralized. The yellow on my chart is what is handled by ICT. The other colors are things that are handled by other departments independently or with consultants. The Health Department is stand alone, they are funded largely by the federal government, the state, and grants and have HIPPA and FERPA requirements. The Circuit Clerk has an IT staff that maintains the court system, the courtrooms and a few of their other smaller internal systems. The State's Attorney has 3 IT employees who maintain their own file service and handle their own court services. Supervisor of Assessments has their own IT staffer and the Sheriff has a substantial IT group who handles jail management, the cars. EMA handles radio. The ETSB is entirely their own agency and they are also separate.

Mr. Shay advised for other counties to varying degrees is not the case. Kane County the circuit clerk has 2 or 3 IT staffers, everyone else is in centralized IT. This is about the same for DuPage except they have DUCOM so their ESTB is separate. There have been efforts to move towards consolidation. The Recorder has been involved in consolidation. The Treasurer had a number of contracted services that have come in. The phone system, finance system, the network, external access and security are all handled by my department for everyone with the exception of the Health Department and ETSB. It is a fragmented environment and it complicates purchasing and a wide array of things. We do burn extra effort because we don’t have centralized IT. It is not as fully efficient as it should be.

Mr. Moustis stated that is something we should work towards and that is where our resources should go towards a centralized IT. I realize there will always be some departments that will need an IT person. Health Department is considered a different agency.

The discussion regarding the IT systems continued at this time.

Mr. Shay advised in late 2011 the Executive Branch IT Assessment which was an effort of the board led by Laurie Smith was completed. It laid out a time line and a list of resources, cost estimates and staffing needs. There are 21 key projects; 17 of those are complete or near complete. We were also doing other projects while we were doing this. An example came up this morning, property assessment and tax system that was how it was worded in the Executive Branch IT assessment. When we completed that project there was a lot of discussion on how that should be completed. The treasurer and county clerk at the time wanted to go with an off the shelf system of which there are very few. The supervisor of assessments and executive were more about recreating the basic system we had at that time. After researching and finding a consultant who could do it very efficiently that was the path that was selected. We took the existing system and converted all the code and all the data. We moved it to a new system that operated identically as the previous system.

Mr. Shay continued reviewing the supervisor of assessments IT system. They have purchased a system that makes their assessment side much more effective and efficient. If you want to take the dollar amount for that system and subtract it from the $1.4 to $4.4 million in savings that would be appropriate to do.

Mr. Shay continued reviewing the IT assessment report included with the agenda packet.

Mr. Shay stated I am looking to renew this plan in 2018 so for the 2018 budget I will be asking for the board to perform another assessment on my department. It has held up accountability, it has given us specific achievable goals and we have tried to achieve them as efficiently in this timely fashion as we can. One key part of that should be a better IT governance strategy which is tied to consolidation of services.

Mr. Tuminello asked why we have so many domains.

Mr. Shay replied originally we had 23 domains. We have consolidated that down to 7 actual domains but there are a number of domains that are fronts. Land Use is an example: if you get an e-mail from a land use employee, it says will county land use.com. They use to have their own domain. Now they don’t, they are on the MISlan with everyone else but they had that e-mail address. We A list them so they didn’t lose their contacts and they didn’t lose their history. As far as websites go at one point the county had 36 completely independent websites. That number has gone down precipitously. I think we are down to about 8.

Mr. Tuminello stated it is confusing and you go to one website and then something else is popping up. We should have one centralized website.

Mr. Moustis confirmed everything that has come out of the IT Assessment AD Hoc Committee has been implemented. We have implemented everything you think should be implemented. Some items may not have been implemented because of resources not being appropriated. This may be a good time to put an IT Ad Hoc Assessment Committee together to go through to go through and have additional recommendations. Those issues may not have been addressed because of appropriations. Mrs. Ogalla comes from the IT world. Mrs. Ogalla would you have the time to chair the IT Ad Hoc Assessment Committee.

Mrs. Ogalla replied yes.

Mr. Moustis directed Mrs. Adams to send an e-mail to determine who may have an interest in serving on that committee. Mrs. Ogalla, if you have some people you would like to see on the committee have them submit their name. We will put this together and then it will be up to you on how you schedule meetings. I recommend you have 5 to 7 people on that committee. Have them send an e-mail to staff if interested.

4. Motion to form an Ad Hoc IT Assessment Committee

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Charles E. Maher, Vice Chair SECONDER: Judy Ogalla, Member AYES: Moustis, Maher, Bennefield, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Gould, Hart, Ogalla, Staley-

Ferry, Tuminello, Weigel, Winfrey, Freitag

5. Discussion Re: Request for State's Attorney's Opinion

(Jim Moustis) Mr. Moustis advised Mr. Maher has asked about keeping track of opinions that are asked of the State's Attorney's office. Some things are legal clarification and some ask for written opinions. All requests for written opinions come through the Executive Committee. In the cases of legal clarification for a committee, ASA Tatroe generally does that during committee times or looks at statute books.

ASA Tatroe stated you suggested it come through Executive Committee and if that is the case, then I suggest you amend your county board rules and provide that as a duty of the Executive Committee. It is not presently. The other committees would ask that it be an agenda item on the Executive Committee and I would expect them to be more formal, long term type operational opinions that we would formally respond to in writing.

Mr. Moustis stated I agree that we put it in the county board rules for written opinions which would be stressed. They would be something like the relationship or authority between different offices or where we may have a conflict with a municipality.

Mr. Maher clarified it would not be just looking at a statute to let us know what the statute says.

Mr. Moustis advised this is not for clarification questions. If you want a written opinion it comes through the Executive Committee for the official request. That way you will keep track of what is out there.

ASA Tatroe stated this way the question would get refined. I would also ask that the request not just be a vote but it be reduced to writing and submitted to the State's Attorney so we know what question is being asked and it doesn't change over time.

Mr. Moustis suggested putting in the rules that all written opinion requests will be put in writing to the State's Attorney.

ASA Tatroe stated this is a practice we had developed with Bruce Friefeld. When he thought we should be submitting a formal written opinion he would put the request in writing. I am looking for guidance as to the more informal where we need to come back. Where I am unable to look at the statute book and give you an answer at the meeting. Sometimes it gets lost at the following meeting. I would ask that it be put on the agenda item as a trigger. It could say something such as Report back from State's Attorney on this issue then it would be a logical time for us to respond.

Mr. Moustis stated when it is asked it would be placed on the following agenda under Old Business even though it may take longer to get the answer but it will be on the agenda.

Mrs. Winfrey suggested adding "opinion pending".

Mrs. Hart stated wouldn't it be the most direct of having the chairman of the committee being responsible for submitting that question and then releasing the answers.

Mr. Moustis replied all the chairman are on the Executive Committee.

Mr. Maher stated to make sure it was defined well, the chairman when requests come in they would be the one to come to the committee and advise they are looking for a written opinion and here is what it is so it gets discussed. Then the written question comes out of this committee.

Mr. D. Gould expressed his concern if there was something that needed to be expedited where we don't have time to go to the Executive Committee. I respect that you need time to research things but what if we are under some serious time constraints. Should we have a process where it can be expedited?

ASA Tatroe replied in the past we have worked with the Chief of Staff. Sometimes it doesn't require a report back to the committee as much as it requires as to then implement it in an agreement or ordinance or something like that.

Mr. Moustis stated under our rules, the speaker can always ask to move something forward if something does need to be expedited. ASA Tatroe mentioned Bruce Friefeld a number of times and that is why I think our Chief of Staff needs to be an attorney because a lot of this work was done by Bruce. He may have done research and then discussed it with ASA Tatroe. There will be a good interaction between the Chief of Staff and the State's Attorney Office.

Mr. Moustis stated there are 26 of us and we can not have 26 members go up to ASA Tatroe in the hallway and say I need an opinion on this. If you need to ask for an opinion it has to come through the county board office and ASA Tatroe will tell you that you need to make the request to your office and they will make the request through me. Would you help us with the language in our rules and have it for next Thursday. Is a public hearing necessary?

ASA Tatroe replied no since it is a resolution.

Mrs. Adams advised we will bring it back next week.

Mr. Weigel stated he has an outstanding question for ASA Tatroe. Do I need to resubmit it? I want a definition/clarification of our ordinance. This came from me and some constituents.

Mr. Moustis advised it should come through part of a committee structure. I suggest you resubmit your question. Are you looking for a legal written opinion. Questions asked by individual board members will still come to this committee and we will leave it on there if they are clarifications. It will be under Old Business and it will be under status. Mr. Weigel resubmit it and we will do it next week and leave it on as a status.

Mrs. Adams requested they be resubmitted through the office so we can have them listed on the agenda.

Mr. Moustis replied yes, then we will put it on the agenda.

VII. OTHER NEW BUSINESS

Mr. Weigel advised next week we are having the groundwater study presentation. I was talking to the owner of an well drilling company in New Lenox and they are saying they have to dig their wells much deeper now. I wondered if you would like them to come to give some comments concerning local well conditions.

Mr. Moustis replied this is a public meeting and people can give comment under Public Comment. I will ask if there are any public comments after the presentation so they will have the ability to make comments.

Mr. Moustis stated we need to add some items on the agenda. We have an intergovernmental indemnification agreement with Bolingbrook for 95th Street. We will put this on the Executive Committee.

Mr. Moustis stated we also have the Northeast Illinois Area Agency on Aging grant. Since Health has already met for this month, we will keep it under the Executive Committee.

Mr. Moustis stated there is also the intergovernmental agreement for funding from IDOT for freight mobility study which will stay at Executive Committee.

1. Motion to place the committee assignments as recommended.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Mike Fricilone, Member SECONDER: Denise E. Winfrey, Member AYES: Moustis, Maher, Bennefield, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Gould, Hart, Ogalla, Staley-

Ferry, Tuminello, Weigel, Winfrey, Freitag

2. Motion for the posting of the janitorial position

Mr. Moustis advised there has been some movement in the maintenance and janitorial parts of our employment and now there is a position for a janitorial position. Mike Miglorini would like to post that. We go through an internal process first and then go to external. This is a replacement for a current position.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Herbert Brooks Jr., Member SECONDER: Denise E. Winfrey, Member AYES: Moustis, Maher, Bennefield, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Gould, Hart, Ogalla, Staley-

Ferry, Tuminello, Weigel, Winfrey, Freitag

VIII. COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT REQUESTS

A. Land Use & Development Committee

T. Weigel, Chair

1. PreAuthorization to Foreclosure Highland Ridge South PUD; Frankfort

Township (Jim Song)

2. Adopting the Revised Documents to the Will County Land Resource

Management Plan Entitled "Sugar Run Creek Area Neighborhood Plan" (Colin Duesing)

3. Authorizing Extension of Special Use Permit 17-001 for Zoning Case 6262- S, Richard and Marie Volek, Owners, for Pin #22-23-05-300-013-0000in Washington Township, Commonly Known as 3431 E. Brunswick Road, Beecher, IL (Brian Radner)

B. Finance Committee

M. Fricilone, Chair

1. Appropriating Grant Funds in Coroner's Budget

(Pat O'Neil/Mary Baudino)

2. Increasing Appropriations in Sheriff's FY2017 Budget from 911

Reallocation Grant (Jerry Nudera and Jackie Falbo)

3. Increasing Appropriations in RTA & Capital Budget

(ReShawn Howard)

4. Transferring and Increasing Appropriations in Various County Budgets to

Fund Year End Shortfalls (ReShawn Howard)

5. Authorizing County Executive to Execute Necessary Documents for

Delinquent Tax Program (Julie Shetina)

C. Public Works & Transportation Committee

D. Gould, Chair

1. Adopting the Long Range Transportation Plan Known as the Will Connects

2040 (Bruce Gould)

2. Limiting the Gross Weight of Vehicles on Channahon-Minooka Road (CH 32) from US Route 6 West to Bell Road from Legal Limit to 14 Tons, County Board District #6 (Bruce Gould)

3. Authorizing Approval of Additional Professional Services Agreement for Design Engineering Services (Phase II) with AECOM Technical Services Inc. for Roadway/Bridge and Appurtenant Work on 95th Street Extension (CH 89) between Plainfield-Naperville Road (CH 14) and Boughton Road, using County’s Allotment of County RTA Tax Funds ($16,781.17) County Board Districts #3 & #11 (Bruce Gould)

D. Judicial Committee

D. Bennefield, Chair

E. Public Health & Safety Committee

J. Ogalla, Chair

1. Authorizing County Executive to Enter Into FY17 Illinois Prevent Prescription Drug/Opioid Overdose-related Deaths (IPDO) Uniform Grant Agreement (Nick Palmer)

2. Support of Silver Oaks Hospital

(Discussion)

3. Authorizing the County Executive to Execute an Intergovernmental Agreement between the County of Will and the City of Braidwood for the Provision of Animal Control Services (County Executive)

4. Authorizing the County Executive to Execute an Intergovernmental Agreement between the County of Will and the Village of Channahon for the Provision of Animal Control Services (County Executive)

5. Authorizing the County Executive to Execute an Intergovernmental Agreement between the County of Will and the Village of Elwood for the Provision of Animal Control Services (County Executive)

6. Authorizing the County Executive to Execute an Intergovernmental Agreement between the County of Will and the Village of Godley for the Provision of Animal Control Services (County Executive)

7. Authorizing the County Executive to Execute an Intergovernmental Agreement between the County of Will and the Village of Homer Glen for the Provision of Animal Control Services (County Executive)

8. Authorizing the County Executive to Execute an Intergovernmental Agreement between the County of Will and the Village Of Manhattan for the Provision of Animal Control Services (County Executive)

9. Authorizing the County Executive to Execute an Intergovernmental Agreement between the County of Will and the Village of New Lenox for the Provision of Animal Control Services (County Executive)

10. Authorizing the County Executive to Execute an Intergovernmental Agreement between the County of Will and the Village of Plainfield for the Provision of Animal Control Services (County Executive)

11. Authorizing the County Executive to Execute an Intergovernmental Agreement between the County of Will and the Village of Shorewood for the Provision of Animal Control Services (County Executive)

12. Authorizing the County Executive to Execute an Intergovernmental Agreement between the County of Will and the Village of Symerton for the Provision of Animal Control Services (County Executive)

13. Authorizing the County Executive to Execute an Intergovernmental Agreement between the County of Will and the City of Wilmington for the Provision of Animal Control Services (County Executive)

F. Legislative & Policy Committee

S. Hart, Chair

G. Capital Improvements Committee

R. Tuminello, Chair

H. Executive Committee

J. Moustis, Chair

1. Authorizing the County Executive to Execute Intergovernmental Service Provider Agreement with Pace for Continuation as the Service Provider for the Will County Mobility Management Project (Wendie Garlich)

2. Authorizing the County Executive to Execute an Intergovernmental Agreement with the City of Joliet for Recurring Electronic Recycling Collection Events (Marta Keane)

3. Authorizing the County Executive to Execute an Intergovernmental Agreement with New Lenox Township for Recurring Electronic Recycling Collection Events (Marta Keane)

4. Authorizing the County Executive to Execute an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Village of Peotone for Recurring Electronic Recycling Collection Events (Marta Keane)

5. Authorizing the County Executive to Execute an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Village of Romeoville for Recurring Electronic Recycling Collection Events (Marta Keane)

6. Authorizing the County Executive to Execute an Intergovernmental Agreement with the City of Naperville for the Operation of a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility (Dean Olson)

7. Awarding Bid for Electronics Recycling Collection - Turn-Key

(Rita Weiss)

8. Awarding Bid for Farm Lease for Agricultural Purposes on Approximately

53.33 acres of County Landfill Property (Rita Weiss)

9. Declaring Various Equipment Surplus and Authorizing Disposal

(Rita Weiss)

10. Declaring Sheriff's Seized Vehicles Surplus & Authorizing Disposal

(Rita Weiss)

IX. ACCEPT COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT REQUESTS

1. Motion to Accept Committee Assignment Requests as Amended

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Mike Fricilone, Member SECONDER: Denise E. Winfrey, Member AYES: Moustis, Maher, Bennefield, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Gould, Hart, Ogalla, Staley-

Ferry, Tuminello, Weigel, Winfrey, Freitag

X. PUBLIC COMMENTS

Mr. Brooks requested an executive session after this meeting regarding land acquisition.

Mr. Moustis agreed to hold the executive session.

XI. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mr. Moustis stated I have dealt with a number of county board members over the years, probably over 100 county board members. I have disagreed with many of them on many things. We all have to have a certain tolerance because the freedom of speech, freedom from suppression is extremely important. You can express yourself too and I have watched county board members outside of the county board activities and county activities do things I may have strongly disagreed with. They have their right to do what they feel they want to do. They have done things that were a mistake, me included.

Mr. Moustis advised I have received a lot of e-mails on Mr. Balich's blog and even though I would like to say leave off of your blog that you are a county board member. It is reposting of things that others have written. This one post that I do disagree with because I thought it was in poor taste. Words do count, how you say something really counts. I want to make it clear that anything that goes on any county boards outside activities is their view. It is not my view, it not the view or position of this board and I am sure everyone at this table gets these e-mails of what are you going to do. There is nothing I can do. I certainly would never infringe on anyone's free speech or expression of free speech. Even though I strongly disagree with what was posted on Mr. Balich's and certainly I want to make it clear doesn't reflect my view. I would like to see an apology, he doesn't need to but I have talked to Mr. Balich and I do think it was something he posted without taking a hard look at. He did remove it immediately when he became aware of some of the feedback. I would like to see this issue at rest and tell the people they can still send e-mails but I don't have the power to remove anyone.

Mr. Balich stated I reposted an article written by someone else that was opinion based and it offended some people. My goal is not to be offending people so I apologize to anyone who was offended. I want to make it real clear that I support women's rights 100% and I also support the rights of every citizen 100%. I don't know what else to say. I took it down already.

Mr. Fricilone stated I want to thank Mr. Balich for apologizing. It is the Steve Balich Will County News. It is not the Will County News and is not representative of this group. It is a representation of what is going on out there. I know Mr. Balich likes to keep everyone informed and has a lot of followers. His intent is to inform people about what people are saying. As we all know in this PC world, words do hurt and we have to watch what the words are and they are when they are expressing their opinion.

1. Motion to go into executive session at 11:27 a.m. for the purpose of land acquisition

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Donald Gould, Member SECONDER: Charles E. Maher, Vice Chair AYES: Moustis, Maher, Bennefield, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Gould, Hart, Ogalla, Staley-

Ferry, Tuminello, Weigel, Winfrey, Freitag

XII. EXECUTIVE SESSION

1. Motion to come out of executive session at 11:35 a.m.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Herbert Brooks Jr., Member SECONDER: Mike Fricilone, Member AYES: Moustis, Maher, Bennefield, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Gould, Hart, Ogalla, Staley-

Ferry, Tuminello, Weigel, Winfrey, Freitag

XIII. ADJOURNMENT

1. Motion to Adjourn at 11:35 a.m.