Mental Health Board

708 GENEVA COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH BOARD May 13, 2014 The Geneva Community Mental Health Board met at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13, 2014, in the Geneva City Hall Chambers, 109 James Street, Geneva, Illinois 60134. Present: Chairman John Ford; Members Goldstein, Johnson, Shogren, Hamilton, Goc (at 7:09 p.m.), Wagner. Also present Recording Secretary Celeste Weilandt. 1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chairman Ford called the Mental Health Board meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. A quorum was present with six (6) voting members. 2. AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA - None. 3. OMNIBUS AGENDA ( OMNIBUS VOTE ) All items listed with an asterisk ( * ) are considered to be routine by the Mental Health Board and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion on these items unless a board member or citizen so requests, in which event the item will be removed from the Omnibus (Consent) Agenda and considered in its normal sequence on the Regular Agenda. Motion made by Goldstein, seconded by Shogren, to approve the Omnibus Agenda. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote of 6-0. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES *A. Regular Meeting Minutes of April 8, 2014 - Approved by Omnibus Agenda. 5. OLD BUSINESS A. Continue Welcome of New Members - Chairman Ford acknowledged the new members on the board and welcomed their new ideas to discuss while on the board. Asked whether the board funded additional agencies besides its regular agencies listed on the funding spreadsheet, Chairman Ford explained some of the agencies that have come and gone over the years, i.e., Living Well, CASA, Day One and Easter Seals. (Member Goc arrives.) A suggestion was made to include courtesy name plates on the dais. On that point, members went around the dais announcing their name and explaining why they joined the Mental Health Board. Ford also shared that the board is obligated to hold four meetings per year but meets about 10 times a year. B. Follow-up from Ms. Rhoads’ Presentation - Member Shogren stated she emailed Geneva High School principal, Tom Rogers, extending herself as liaison between the high school and this board regarding addressing any mental health issues and as well as to the counseling office. Per Shogren, Chairman Rogers would follow up with his counseling staff. Returning to thoughts about the presentation, member Wagner indicated that mental health issues have to be addressed earlier (middle school or earlier) in a child’s life with more parental involvement. Examples followed. Discussion then turned to this board’s mission statement, wherein it was noted that none existed. Member Hamilton suggested, over the long-term, creating and working on a mission statement during the board’s meetings to channel its efforts. She offered to draft a discussion guide to develop a mission statement. Chairman Ford offered to bring to the next meeting a book he received from Phyllis Russell on how to draft a strategic plan. Member Johnson and Chairman Ford briefly described for the new members what Jerry Murphy (with 708 Inc. Board) does within the mental health arena and explained how 708 boards developed initially. C. Follow-up from 377 Referendum - Chairman Ford briefly announced that he recently found out there is a county advisory board to educate the county board of the shortfall of mental health services in the county. Details followed. He will follow up to see if minutes exist for the county advisory group and whether that board addresses housing needs. As to the referendum Goldstein said there is a concern about the rollback of the state’s income tax increase and large cuts directed towards to human services. She encouraged members to contact their state legislators. D. June Selection of Board Officers - Members were reminded there were three officers to nominate and vote on at the June meeting. He would like to chair one more year and see another member step up. E. December Council Format - Chairman Ford shared some of the previous presentations that were done at the December City Council meeting and asked for ideas to change it up. Ideas included asking the top four agencies to speak 10 or 15 minutes versus all 16 or 17 agencies. F. Review Funding Spreadsheet - A review of the funding spreadsheet process followed and how 10% of the funding is placed in a reserve fund with the remaining $139,000 to be distributed to the various agencies. It 708 Geneva Community Mental Health Board - 2- May 13, 2014 was noted that the recording secretary would be the backup person for inserting the funding figures on the overhead. The chairman emphasized to members that when they vote to do what’s best for the community. 6. NEW BUSINESS A. Future Topics for Discussion - Members were asked to think about future discussion topics. Hamilton suggested using the mission statement as a topic and working on that. Chairman Ford mentioned possibly having drug court as a future topic. B. Review Purpose of Reserve Fund - A history of the reserve fund was explained and how its initial funding was used towards the purchase of a group home, located on South Street, for the developmentally disabled. However, Chairman Ford explained how the city’s revised budgeting process took approximately $30,000 of this board’s funding reserve to be placed into the police department’s pension fund. As a result, he does not see holding onto future monies for long lengths of time but, instead, saving funds for a year or two and using them for smaller projects. Hamilton suggested drafting a document to set aside a certain percentage of the funding as part of the board’s strategic plan wherein it was noted the board passed a resolution (Res. No. 10-01) doing just that. Other ideas included promoting advocacy and promoting this board by sending out newsletters or smaller mailings. However, it was pointed out that in order to do that, this board needed a reason as to why the community should know the board exists. Lastly, Chairman Ford explained what the law allowed for collecting revenue for mental health services through property taxes and also pointed out how the city can take this board’s reserve funding and use it as it wants since this board does not have a state law which protects its money. Some members shared their concerns about the board’s existence through a referendum and the city’s previous funding processes, wherein Chairman Ford offered to invite city administrator Mary McKittrick to speak to the board, if desired. 7. OTHER BUSINESS A. Board Liability Insurance Coverage - Chairman Ford confirmed that members were covered under the city’s liability insurance. B. Excel Knowledge - See Agenda Item 5.F, 8. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND MAIL Correspondence - Ecker Center was hosting its Wishes for Wellness brunch on Sunday, May 18, 2014, 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. 10. ADJOURNMENT The board adjourned at 8:44 p.m. on motion by Goldstein, seconded by Johnson. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote of 7-0. Recording Secretary, Celeste K. Weilandt