Peoria Standard

The Peoria County Health, Public Safety and Justice Committee met Sept. 26 to reallocate space.

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

Approved 10/24/16 MINUTES Health, Public Safety and Justice Committee September 26, 2016 @ 2:00 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Robert Baietto - Chairman; Brian Elsasser (via teleconference), Thomas O'Neill, Rachael Parker, Lynn Pearson, Michael Phelan, Phillip Salzer, Sharon Williams - Committee Members MEMBERS ABSENT: Carol Trumpe OTHERS PRESENT: Scott Sorrel - County Administrator; Larry Evans - State's Attorney's Office; Mary Ardapple - County Board Member; Eric Dubrowski - Chief Financial Officer; Randy Brunner - Finance; Gretchen Pearsall - Director of Strategic Communications; Angela Loftus - Asst. Director of Human Resources; Dan O'Connell - Facilities Director; Mark Little - Chief Information Officer; Karen Raithel - Sustainability & Resource Conservation; Gene Huber - Health Department; David Tuttle - ETSB; Dan Hunt - Probation & Court Services; Jennifer Shadid - Courts; Patrick Risen - Circuit Clerk; Steven Richter - Heddington Oaks; Gregory Adler - Heddington Oaks; Bridget Domenighini - PCAPS; Doug Gaa - Sheriff's Office Call to Order Chairman Baietto called the meeting to order at 2:06 pm. The participation of member Brian Elsasser via teleconference was approved upon a motion by Ms. Pearson and second by Mr. Salzer. Approval of Minutes A motion to approve the minutes of August 18, 2016 and August 24, 2016, 2016 was made by Mr. O'Neill and seconded by Ms. Williams. The motion carried. Informational Items / Reports / Other Minutes / Updates • No questions or comments from committee. PCAPS Monthly Department Report • Mr. Tuttle commented on a statewide mandate requiring smaller ETSB boards to consolidate, and noted that it is the goal of the ETSB to complete transfer by next spring. ETSB • No report. No questions or comments from committee. Emergency Management Agency Update • No report. No questions or comments from committee. Public Defender Report • Ms. Huber provided an update to the Committee regarding the routine operations of the Peoria City/County Health Department. The following are a list of topics discussed: Board of Health • Roadwork on Sheridan Road continues, necessitating a portion of the parking lot to be utilized as a bus route. • Work on space reallocation for staff has begun; with additional work on the vacated space to begin early next year. • Staff is completing paperwork to submit to IDPH on becoming a certified public health department. • The Health Department has discussed conducting liquor license inspections in addition to the food inspections, noting that the Board of Health has stated that many health departments already have this responsibility. Ms. Parker asked if the addition of the inspection would increase the fee, and Ms. Huber advised that the fee would remain the same. • Ms. Raithel advised that Peoria County is collecting and disposing of tires collected on public right-of-ways. Ms. Ardapple asked that a discussion on approaches to decreasing the amount of food waste in the landfill be brought forward to a future committee meeting. Sustainability and Resource Conservation Office • ? Marketing Report Heddington Oaks Update Mr. Richter advised that the overall numbers for August decreased due to the recent unfavorable publicity. He stated that the month of August saw 37 referrals, 13 admissions and 26 discharges, and noted that the majority of the discharges were back to home care. He also commented that the number of tours decreased from 21 in July to only 6 in August. He anticipates an improvement in the September data. He advised that the Medicare Unit is anticipated to be open soon. ? Financials Mr. Brunner advised that accounts receivable were up slightly in July, mainly due to private pay. Both total revenue and patient revenue are below budget and lower than last year; however, operational expenses are also below budget and lower than last year, even when demolition costs are factored out. Mr. Sorrel updated the committee on past personnel related issues, noting that one former employee is in the prosecution phase. He stated that a series of policy decision have determined that the Administrator position is best served by being an employee of the County versus a third party individual, and that position is currently posted. He also advised that a Finance Director position has been created, and that position is currently posted as well. He commented that an Assistant Director of Nursing has been hired, and interviews have been completed for the Director of Nursing position. Mr. Phelan asked to whom the Administrator would directly report, and Mr. Sorrel advised that the position technically reports to Assistant County Administrator Musselman; however, he will be deeply involved and engaged in the hiring process and daily oversight. Mr. Phelan commented that the position would be best served by reporting directly to the County Administrator. He asked if Mr. Sorrel has conferred with the State's Attorney's Office regarding language to strengthen the County's position regarding termination if a hired individual does not meet expectations. Mr. Sorrel advised that there is a six month probationary period within the Personnel policies, and both he and Ms. Musselman have authority to reconsider if expectations are not being met within that period, with the ability to extend that period if improvement is needed, but is being shown. After the probationary period, the position must meet expectations, and if not, a disciplinary program would be put in place. He also advised that expectations will be clearly articulated, and Mr. Phelan strongly recommended that those expectations be put in writing. Mr. Sorrel advised that a 3-point strategy to address concerns related by family members and employees has been created, and a Family Forum was conducted in which family members were given further opportunity to voice their concerns and/or support and ask questions. He added that an Advisory Task Force comprised partially of family members is in the process of being formed. • Resolutions A motion to approve was made by Mr. O'Neill and seconded by Ms. Pearson. Mr. Hunt advised that the Sheriff's Department, State's Attorney's Office, Public Defender, and the Probation Department, Judge Wilson and Community Treatment Agency developed a program to provide enhanced supervision of the courts to multiple repeat DUI Offenders. The Chief Judge approved the program contingent on finding funding for the expansion of the existing DUI Court. Mr. Hunt advised that a grant application submitted to IDOT was approved in the amount of $271,635.51. He stated that the grant begins October 1, 2016 and runs through September 30, 2017. He commented that the grant maintains the portion of the existing continuation grant and increases the amount for the additional expansion. The motion carried. Approval of SFY 2017 Grant Agreement with IDOT fur DUI Court • A motion to approve was made by Mr. Salzer and seconded by Ms. Parker. Ms. Shadid advised that the Illinois Supreme Courts approved State Fiscal Year 2016 resources for Probation salary reimbursements, however, at the time the budget was submitted the department was not aware of those additional funds. Staff recommends the addition of $85,000.00 to the current budget for probation. The motion carried. Appropriation of Additional FY 2016 Funds to reflect increase in Probation Salary Reimbursements • A motion to approve was made by Mr. Salzer and seconded by Mr. O'Neill. Mr. Sorrel advised that the Coroner's Office has received a Death Certificate Surcharge Grant in the amount of $4,333.75; the resolution allows the recognition of the revenue and the appropriation of the grant dollars to be utilized for autopsy and medical supply purposes. The motion carried. Appropriation into FY 2016 Budget for Death Certificate Surcharge Grant for the Coroner's Office Adjournment The meeting was adjourned by Chairman Baietto at 2:50 p.m. Recorded & Transcribed by: Jan Kleffman