Mental Health Board

708 GENEVA COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH BOARD April 14, 2015 The Geneva Community Mental Health Board met at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14, 2015, at Geneva City Hall, Council Chambers, _109 James Street, Geneva, Illinois 60134. Present: Chairman Ford, Members Goldstein, Hamilton, Johnson, McCollister, Wagner. Absent: Shogren. Also present: City Administrator Mary McKittrick. 1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL/GUESTS Chairman Ford called the meeting of the Mental Health Board to order at 7:00 p.m. A quorum was present with six (6) voting members. 2. AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA Goldstein asked to add the panel discussion on Mental Health in Kane County as Agenda Item 7.C. 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 by Goldstein, seconded by Wagner to approve the omnibus agenda. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote of 6-0. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES/PAYMENTS. A. Regular Meeting Minutes of March 10, 2015 – approved by Omnibus Agenda. B. Approve Payment to Recording Secretary for Services – approved by Omnibus Agenda. 5. GUEST SPEAKER City Administrator Mary McKittrick – Finances – Admin. McKittrick distributed copies of the city’s “Development Schedule, City of Geneva 2015-2016 Budget” and explained that the city begins the budget process in November but its fiscal year starts May 1st. She explained how she and staff determine the city’s goals, works them into the budget, and places them on the calendar for city council approval. (A copy of the Budget Worksheet Report was distributed.) Out of the city’s $90M budget, a certain amount of money goes toward the Mental Health board which receives its funds out of levies – the same as public safety, police, and fire protection funds. The cap for mental health, McKittrick explained, can be increased but in doing so, it decreases the funding amounts elsewhere in the city, such as snow plowing, streets, police, etc. McKittrick noted that the city could take over the capital budget since it was a city budget. She emphasized the board’s funds had to be used for mental health board purposes since they were levied for mental health board purposes. Asked if the board should review its ending savings/spending annually, McKittrick believed it was a policy decision the board had to make. To date, she stated the board was using its funds in accordance with the city’s plans. McKittrick explained that the board can donate some of its money into a foundation but it has to have “a city purpose” and be very clear. As to charged staff services, McKittrick said she was happy to help the board using her intern. However, there was a charge for legal advice because the city attorney was contracted. As to the question of the city council being able to eliminate the board, McKittrick stated it could be done by ordinance. (Copies of the ordinance were distributed.) McKittrick pointed out that the referendum may not have been a binding referendum but more of an advisory resolution to gauge the interest of the public in establishing a levy. Ford asked if McKittrick could forward him a copy of the referendum for the board’s files. Goldstein asked if this board’s charge could intersect with some of the city’s other committees, such as the affordable housing committee, wherein McKittrick explained the ad hoc committee for affordable housing was dissolved but a plan did exist and was adopted by the city for compliance with the state. Further details followed regarding development, redevelopment and the challenges of the city not being home rule. Chairman Ford offered to send McKittrick a copy of this board’s strategic plan. McKittrick recommended that a copy of same be sent to the city council also. Other dialog followed as to what the State of Illinois was taking from the city’s budget and how the city was addressing its own budget cuts. Asked how this board could increase funds for the Mental Health board at the time of budget discussions, McKittrick recommended this board draft a budget and submit it to her since she reviews all of the budgets. But, she cautioned the board about the governor’s proposed cuts. She also suggested that of the $155,000 the board receives, it could set aside more in its savings and distribute less than the current $139,000, or, if it wanted to increase the $155,000, the board would have to make a case of where the funds would come from. 708 Geneva Community Mental Health Board - 2- April 14, 2015 Discussing how the board intends to raise awareness about the Mental Health Board, McKittrick stated that her intern, Ethan Pearce, can assist with the board’s awareness projects. 6. OLD BUSINESS A. Grant Application – Chairman Ford reported that McKittrick forwarded the grant application to the city attorney for review and he expects to have a report next month. B. Discuss Resolution 10-01 – Chairman Ford raised discussion on how the board should use the $139,000 in its reserve fund, i.e., continue to save it, spending it annually, break it out in smaller amounts, or partner with AID, since they were looking at housing. He stated the current resolution could remain as a tool or the board could dissolve it. Dialog followed that the saved money seemed to be saved for group homes when it could be used in other areas for mental health such as addiction or prevention. Wagner questioned whether a home for battered women or a home for substance recovery patients was ever considered. On that note, Hamilton raised the point that there could be two processes – one for the distribution of the funds to the agencies, and one for the capital fund. Chairman Ford agreed that while it did appear the board’s funds were going towards developmental housing, they did not necessarily need to do so. Therefore, he offered to put on the October 2015 agenda a discussion about the balance between addiction, developmental disability, and mental illness so that it carried into the November meeting. Conversation then followed that the board should discuss over the next two meetings when it should disburse funds; how to disburse them and what process would be used. Pointing out the various changes occurring with housing and the fact that AID was working to find different types of housing than the normal group home, the chairman suggested that the board align itself with what was working best for the providers and to update Resolution No. 10-01. Concern was raised that the board’s capital funds could be taken away by the city council, wherein members pointed out that the $10,000 usually set aside could either be disbursed among the agencies on funding night or the agencies could apply for the funds in a separate process. Wagner moved to keep this topic (capital funds) on the agenda for the next couple of months, seconded by Johnson. Motion carried by voice vote of 6-0. C. May as Mental Health Month Report – Wagner shared activities planned for Mental Health Month which included a display at the library as well as tying green ribbons around City Hall and the Geneva Library on April 30th sometime after 3:00 PM. D. Objective Nos. 1, 2, and 3 Updates – Chairman Ford reported that for the past several years the recording secretary has maintained the grant funding process and he began questioning whether that was a fiduciary responsibility to be handled by the members. Ford summarize the steps he envisioned for the grant funding meeting under the Funding Committee and said he would have more information next month to discuss. Adding to that, Hamilton pointed out that the board has basically broken off as three committees (Funding, Education and Advocacy Committees) that are aligned with the three goals. She believed what the chairman was proposing for the Funding Committee was a formalization of same and should be done for each strategic goal. Chairman Ford asked Hamilton to draft a committee structure which would help implement Goal #2. Adding to the discussion, Johnson strongly urged members to contract their state reps and start advocating for mental health assistance. Dialog followed regarding the snowball effect resulting from the state’s cuts. 7. NEW BUSINESS A. Creation of the Geneva 708 Funding Committee – Discussed under Agenda Item 6.D above. B. ACMHAI Dues of $620 are due in August – Per the chairman, the board will have to decide whether it wants to continue membership. Chairman Ford stated he may have to invite Jerry Murphy from the INC Board to speak to the board. C. Panel Discussion on Mental Health in Kane County – Goldstein reported that a panel discussion on mental health issues will be taking place at the St. Charles Public Library on April 28, 2015, 7:00 PM to 8:45 PM. She asked to include a discussion of that on next month’s agenda. Also, on April 21, 2015, Kane County Judge Brawka will be speaking about mental health and the court system at the Eagle Brook Country Club. 8. PUBLIC COMMENTS/MAIL – None. 9. ADJOURNMENT The Geneva Mental Health Board was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. on motion by McCollister, seconded by Johnson. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote 6-0. Recording Secretary, Celeste Weilandt (as transcribed by mp3 file)