Will County Executive Committee met February 8.
Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:
I. Call To Order / Roll Call
Chair Jim Moustis called the meeting to order at 10:13 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;
Annette Parker; Member; Present;
Lauren Staley-Ferry; Member; Present;
Ray Tuminello; Member; Absent;
Tom Weigel; Member; Present;
Denise E. Winfrey; Member; Present;
Also Present: R. Freitag and M. Johannsen.
Present from State's Attorney's Office: M. Tatroe
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 4, 2018 10:00 am
Result: Approved [Unanimous]
Mover: Charles E. Maher, Vice Chair
Seconder: Denise E. Winfrey, Member
Ayes: Moustis, Maher, Bennefield, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Gould, Hart, Ogalla, Parker, Staley-Ferry, Weigel, Winfrey
Absent: Tuminello
2. WC Executive Committee - Board Agenda Setting Meeting - Jan 11, 2018 10:00 am
Result: Approved [Unanimous]
Mover: Mike Fricilone, Member
Seconder: Herbert Brooks Jr., Member
Ayes: Moustis, Maher, Bennefield, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Gould, Hart, Ogalla, Parker, Staley-Ferry, Weigel, Winfrey
Absent: Tuminello
3. WC Committee of the Whole - Regular Meeting - Jan 11, 2018 9:45 am
Result: Approved [Unanimous]
Mover: Darren Bennefield, Member
Seconder: Judy Ogalla, Member
Ayes: Moustis, Maher, Bennefield, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Gould, Hart, Ogalla, Parker, Staley-Ferry, Weigel, Winfrey
Absent: Tuminello
IV. Old Business
V. Other Old Business
VI. New Business
1. Grant Writer Update - Attachment Added
(Lois Mayer) Ms. Lois Mayer reviewed the report in the agenda packet.
Mr. Maher asked when you apply for the private grants is there a particular theme?
Ms. Mayer replied we reach out to the foundations and ask for a meeting with the County Executive and myself. We have reached out to several County departments to learn their specific needs. When we meet with the foundations, we suggest several projects to them where we have strong needs. CenterPoint committed money to the Sheriff’s Department Drug Free Community and has given us $100,000; we are looking at the third piece of a multi-year grant in the amount of $50,000.
Mr. Maher asked for information on the Amazon and Citgo grants.
Ms. Mayer answered Amazon asked us to submit several projects we wanted funded. We are waiting to hear back. If you have connections with any private companies, please let me know so I can reach out. Weather Tech is an international company from Bolingbrook; I would like to see them provide some community funding for our projects. My plan is to reach out to them in the next quarter.
Mr. Moustis stated the Andrew Foundation participates with Frankfort Township and they are interested in local projects.
Mr. Mayer stated there is a Fire Department grant I sent to Mr. Damron and he sent it to all the fire departments. The funding is for over 1,000 projects across the country.
Mr. Moustis asked when will know about the awarding of the TIGER grants?
Ms. Mayer responded by the end of March.
2. Amending Policy Prohibiting Discrimination and Harassment Including Sexual Harassment
(Bruce Tidwell)
Result: Moved Forward [Unanimous]
To: Will County Board
Mover: Charles E. Maher, Vice Chair
Seconder: Tom Weigel, Member
Ayes: Moustis, Maher, Bennefield, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Gould, Hart, Ogalla, Parker, Staley-Ferry, Weigel, Winfrey
Absent: Tuminello
3. Discussion Re: Compensation for Elected Officials
(Discussion) Mr. Moustis stated six months prior to the November election, we set the compensation for the offices currently up for election. We will discussion this at our next Executive Committee meeting.
Mr. Brooks asked how many years has it been since there has been an increase?
Mr. Moustis replied about 12 years for countywide elected officials and County Board Members. Any change would affect only those up for election in November. I could make a justification for County Board Members, as your compensation was decreased because the State removed you from IMRF; a benefit that was part of your overall compensation. The countywide elected officials should come and make a justification. I don’t think because they have not received an increase in 12 years is a justification. I believe the salaries are adequate. When you look at the elected officials total package; their salaries are around $100,000, their pensions adds another $30 to $40,000, if they take health insurance there is another $50,000. If the elected officials want an increase, they can come to the next meeting, get in front of the taxpayers and the Board and say why their office should be compensated more. Having employees making more than you do, is not a justification. If we take no action, which we have done, everything stays the same.
Mr. Maher stated the conversation should not be about the person and how long they have been in office, but about the position.
4. Awarding Bid for Electronics Recycling Collection - One-Day Events
(Rita Weiss)
Result: Moved Forward [Unanimous]
To: Will County Board
Mover: Tom Weigel, Member
Seconder: Darren Bennefield, Member
Ayes: Moustis, Maher, Bennefield, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Gould, Hart, Ogalla, Parker, Staley-Ferry, Weigel, Winfrey
Absent: Tuminello
5. Authorizing the County Executive to Execute an Intergovernmental Agreement between Frankfort Township and the County of Will, Illinois for Electronics Recycling (Marta Keane)
Result: Moved Forward [Unanimous]
To: Will County Board
Mover: Charles E. Maher, Vice Chair
Seconder: Darren Bennefield, Member
Ayes: Moustis, Maher, Bennefield, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Gould, Hart, Ogalla, Parker, Staley-Ferry, Weigel, Winfrey
Absent: Tuminello
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)
Result: Moved Forward [Unanimous]
To: Will County Board
Mover: Charles E. Maher, Vice Chair
Seconder: Tom Weigel, Member
Ayes: Moustis, Maher, Bennefield, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Gould, Hart, Ogalla, Parker, Staley-Ferry, Weigel, Winfrey
Absent: Tuminello
7. Declaring Sheriff's Seized Vehicles Surplus & Authorizing Disposal
(Rita Weiss)
Result: Moved Forward [Unanimous]
To: Will County Board
Mover: Charles E. Maher, Vice Chair
Seconder: Denise E. Winfrey, Member
Ayes: Moustis, Maher, Bennefield, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Gould, Hart, Ogalla, Parker, Staley-Ferry, Weigel, Winfrey
Absent: Tuminello
8. Declaring Various Equipment Surplus and Authorizing Disposal
(Rita Weiss)
Result: Moved Forward [Unanimous]
To: Will County Board
Mover: Darren Bennefield, Member
Seconder: Donald Gould, Member
Ayes: Moustis, Maher, Bennefield, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Gould, Hart, Ogalla, Parker, Staley-Ferry, Weigel, Winfrey
Absent: Tuminello
9. 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)
Result: Moved Forward [Unanimous]
To: Will County Board
Mover: Denise E. Winfrey, Member
Seconder: Tom Weigel, Member
Ayes: Moustis, Maher, Bennefield, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Gould, Hart, Ogalla, Parker, Staley-Ferry, Weigel, Winfrey
Absent: Tuminello
10. Replacement Hire Pre-posting for County Executive's Office
(Jennifer Scharf)
Result: Approved [Unanimous]
Mover: Herbert Brooks Jr., Member
Seconder: Judy Ogalla, Member
Ayes: Moustis, Maher, Bennefield, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Gould, Hart, Ogalla, Parker, Staley-Ferry, Weigel, Winfrey
Absent: Tuminello
11. Replacement Hire for the County Executive - SHNH Maintenance Worker
(Bruce Tidwell) Mr. Moustis stated I have had a number of people ask about the hiring process. Can you explain the process when there are no internal candidates and a job is opened to the public? Some of the feedback I am getting is a number of qualified people have applied for truck driver jobs at the Highway Department and don’t get interviewed, it has become a closed process and people are not getting a real opportunity. I have had complaints from the minority community. Since County Board has the advice and consent, we can weigh in on the process, we just never have chosen to do so. If people are losing confidence in the process, we have to let them know it is a fair, impartial, transparent process. Mr. Tidwell, at our next meeting can you give us a presentation on the process? I am not talking about positions like the Chief of Staff for the County Executive.
Mr. Tidwell indicated he would have a presentation at the next meeting.
Mr. Moustis continued until then, we may not be voting on new hires unless they are crucial or necessary to make sure everybody has been given a fair chance.
Mr. Tidwell stated the positions at Highway are union positions and many times are internal candidates.
Mr. Moustis stated our policy is not intended to hire at the lowest level and bring a person to an executive position bypassing advice and consent of the Board. I would like to work with Mr. Palmer and Mrs. Tatroe to understand internal candidates and tighten up where internal transfers can go.
Mrs. Tatroe stated HR does have policies on how people can move up. An internal transfer is a contractual provision where people in a bargaining unit have first opportunity to fill a vacant position over any external candidate, if is a union position.
Mr. Palmer stated Mr. Tidwell will prepare a presentation for you and will address your comments. People do not understand the process completely and the union contract drives these hires; specifically, at the Highway Department. People want to be a truck driver, but there are 25 union people ahead of you with seniority. We have a few entry positions and once a person is hired into the union they can start climbing the ladder. Non-union positions or union positions with no internal candidates, can go to the wider community.
Mr. Moustis asked if a person applies for a truck driver position and the job is filled, if a month later you post for another driver, does the person reapply or does the application stay on file for six months?
Mr. Tidwell stated we have to keep records of all jobs and applicants. If a position opens up within 30 day, we can go back to the original pool of candidates. If it is more than 30 days, contractually we are required to post and they have to reapply. We make a notation on every posting, you must apply. We don’t hold them and go back.
Mr. Moustis stated that is important for people to know. In the private sector applications are usually kept on file for six months. If you had a great candidate you interviewed, but they didn’t make the cut for that particular job, can you call them back?
Mr. Tidwell replied we can call them and ask them to reapply.
Result: Moved Forward [Unanimous]
To: Will County Board
Mover: Herbert Brooks Jr., Member
Seconder: Judy Ogalla, Member
Ayes: Moustis, Maher, Bennefield, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Gould, Hart, Ogalla, Parker, Staley-Ferry, Weigel, Winfrey
Absent: Tuminello
12. Proclamation(s)
Mr. Brooks reviewed the Proclamation.
13. Appointment(s) by the County Executive
Mr. Brooks stated last year we received an opinion from the State's Attorney regarding whether a sitting County Board Member can hold the seat on the Metra Board. Since then I have not heard anything about it and am wondering what the process is? Does the County Executive need to resubmit this name? What takes place next?
Mr. Moustis replied the Board will take this up at the appropriate time. There have been a number of people who have expressed interested, who give a more diverse representation for the County. The Lincoln-Way area has the largest Metra ridership in the county. Mr. Partelow came from the northern part of the county, and I would like to see someone from the eastern end, who understands the eastern part of the county. Maybe we should have these appointments come and talk to this Committee before they are placed on the agenda.
Mrs. Tatroe stated I think you would need to place them on the agenda to give a presentation.
Mr. Moustis stated as part of our advice and consent, there is nothing wrong with asking a candidate the County Executive has put forward, to come here and talk to the Committee about their qualifications. We are not going to ask appointees for drainage and lighting districts to come, it would be appointments with a countywide or regional impact, including Fire Trustees. It could part of the process, after they are nominated and their name has been put forward by the County Executive, they come and talk about their qualifications and why they want to serve.
Mrs. Tatroe indicated the Board could do that.
Mr. Moustis stated there are some appointments that cover the entire area, while others are very local. By statute we need representation on the PZC throughout the county. Members are picked from certain areas. Mr. J. D. Ross at the RTA, the parent company to Metra is from Joliet. It would be nice to have someone with a background in finance or transportation.
Mr. Maher stated this positions not only affects Will County, but the region and I think it is important for us to meet the person.
Ms. Freitag stated this is not part of the policy you have in place.
Mr. Moustis asked who would you potentially interview? People who have a countywide position or could it be at our discretion? I don’t want to get into an arbitrary situation.
Mrs. Tatroe indicated she would look at the policy and set parameters. You are only speaking with the appointee of the County Executive, not multiple candidates.
Mr. Moustis clarified it would only be the name being brought forward by the County Executive.
Mrs. Tatroe stated you have the right to know this person’s position and make a decision as to whether or not you want to grant the consent.
Mr. Maher asked do we need to change our policy?
Mrs. Tatroe stated this is a legitimate part of the vetting process. If you are going to make it an on-going process, then you should set parameters. If this is a one- time deal, I think you can do it.
Mr. Moustis stated I don’t want this to be a one-time deal. I am looking to not make it arbitrary. I might want to talk to someone appointed to Historical Preservation. That is a countywide impact position, when they are deciding for the entire county.
Mrs. Tatroe stated it is clear from what you are saying this is the type of position you want to go forward. I think you can go forward. If you want to set a broader policy; that could take some time.
Mr. Moustis stated rather than get into a deep policy, we will use good judgement for now.
Mr. Palmer stated Will County did not always have a Metra rep, we had to share it with the other collar counties and it was always someone from McHenry County. Now we have our own rep, the seat is vacant because Mr. Partelow is unable to serve and has resigned. There are important decisions being made at Metra regarding fare structure and cutting services. The positive news is we just opened a new station in Romeoville. If the process does not complete itself, we won’t have a nominee. For the Metra appointment we have received a number of applications from mayors around the county and others.
Mr. Moustis stated when we talk about the process, we are advice and consent. The County Executive has the ability to withdraw the appointment. In the future, when there is advice and consent and it does not appear there is consent, the advice is there will not be within the advice and consent process there is leeway for the County Executive when he thinks it might be in the best name of the nominee and the general public. We will take this up next month.
1. February 2018 Appointments to Boards and Commissions
(County Executive)
Result: Moved Forward [Unanimous]
To: Will County Board
Mover: Tom Weigel, Member
Seconder: Charles E. Maher, Vice Chair
Ayes: Moustis, Maher, Bennefield, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Gould, Hart, Ogalla, Parker, Staley-Ferry, Weigel, Winfrey
Absent: Tuminello
VII. Other New Business
VIII. Request For State's Attorney's Opinion
IX. Committee Reports
1. Land Use & Development
Motion to Save Space on the County Board Agenda for Three Zoning Cases
Result: Approved [Unanimous]
Mover: Tom Weigel, Member
Seconder: Charles E. Maher, Vice Chair
Ayes: Moustis, Maher, Bennefield, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Gould, Hart, Ogalla, Parker, Staley-Ferry, Weigel, Winfrey
Absent: Tuminello
2. Finance
Mr. Fricilone reviewed the Resolutions.
3. Public Works & Transportation
Mr. Gould reviewed the Resolutions and indicated there is an $18 million appropriation to the State for Weber Road. The money is coming from MFT.
Mr. Moustis stated the Highway Department has done a great job with the budget reserving for these big projects.
4. Judicial
5. Public Health & Safety
6. Legislative & Policy
Motion to Save Space on the County Board Agenda for One Resolution
Result: Approved [Unanimous]
Mover: Suzanne Hart, Member
Seconder: Charles E. Maher, Vice Chair
Ayes: Moustis, Maher, Bennefield, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Gould, Hart, Ogalla, Parker, Staley-Ferry, Weigel, Winfrey
Absent: Tuminello
7. Capital Improvements
Mr. Moustis stated the County Board gave the Capital Committee authority to approve certain expenditures. At the last meeting there was a change to add a membrane to prevent water seepage in the courthouse basement, for $200,000. Since these don’t go to the full Board, I am requesting a written report be included in the County Board agenda each month.
8. Executive
X. Approval Of The County Board Agenda
1. Approval of County Board Agenda
(Information)
Result: Approved As Amended [Unanimous]
Mover: Darren Bennefield, Member
Seconder: Mike Fricilone, Member
Ayes: Moustis, Maher, Bennefield, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Gould, Hart, Ogalla, Parker, Staley-Ferry, Weigel, Winfrey
Absent: Tuminello
XI. Public Comment
XII. Chairman's Report / Announcements
XIII. Executive Session - Necessary To Discuss Bargaining
1. Motion to go into Executive Session for Labor Negotiations at 11:18 am
Result: Approved [Unanimous]
Mover: Charles E. Maher, Vice Chair
Seconder: Darren Bennefield, Member
Ayes: Moustis, Maher, Bennefield, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Gould, Hart, Ogalla, Parker, Staley-Ferry, Weigel, Winfrey
Absent: Tuminello
2. Motion to Come Out of Executive Sesson at 12:05 pm
Result: Approved [Unanimous]
Mover: Charles E. Maher, Herbert Brooks Jr.
Seconder: Darren Bennefield, Member
Ayes: Moustis, Bennefield, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Gould, Hart, Ogalla, Parker, Staleyferry, Weigel, Winfrey
Absent: Tuminello
Left Meeting: Maher
XIV. Adjournment
1. Motion to Adjourn at 12:07 pm
Result: Approved [Unanimous]
Mover: Darren Bennefield, Member
Seconder: Mike Fricilone, Member
Ayes: Moustis, Bennefield, Brooks Jr., Fricilone, Gould, Hart, Ogalla, Parker, Staleyferry, Weigel, Winfrey
Absent: Tuminello
Left Meeting: Maher
Next Meeting - March 1, 2018
https://willcountyil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=15&ID=2918&Inline=True
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