Mental Health Board

708 GENEVA COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH BOARD Commented [SK1]: September 8, 2015 The Geneva Community Mental Health Board met at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 8, 2015, at Geneva City Hall, Council Chambers, 109 James Street, Geneva, Illinois 60134. Present: Chairwoman Shogren, Members Buckley, Hamilton, Johnson, Kautz, McCollister, Wagner. Also present: Ms. Whitney Hussong with Victim Services. 1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL/GUESTS Chairwoman Shogren called the meeting of the Mental Health Board to order at 7:00 p.m. A quorum was present with seven (7) 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 by Hamilton to approve the Omnibus Agenda, seconded by Johnson. Motion carried by voice vote of 7-0. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES/PAYMENTS. A. *Regular Meeting Minutes of July 14, 2015 – approved by Omnibus Agenda. B. *Approve Payment to Recording Secretary for Services – approved by Omnibus Agenda. New member, Lauren Buckley was welcomed to the board. 5. NEW BUSINESS A. Update Regarding meeting with Whitney Hussong, Case Manager with Victim Services – Chair Shogren shared her and Hamilton’s meeting with Ms. Hussong, case manager for Victim Services (part of A.I.D.). Shogren recalled that this meeting came about via a dialog with the city administrator regarding some issues the city was experiencing with the homeless, and in particular, a mother and son who were refusing to receive services. Shogren recalled that Victim Services was available to the Geneva Police Department but said that the regularity with which Victim Services was called, was quite varied. At the meeting it was determined that Ms. Hussong would follow up with the police department to resolve some unanswered questions being raised. Ms. Whitney Hussong explained that her agency works with homeless individuals or those with mental illness. She stated she hoped to meet with the police commander to determine whether it was the city or police department actually seeing the problem. Johnson asked for the details of AID’s contract with the city. Hussong explained that each case Victim Services handles was very different and while their agency could provide individuals with resources, the individuals had to be willing to accept those resources. Members talked about how the board basically provided its advocacy by bringing the two entities together – Victim Services and the Geneva Police Department -- and the board had no authority to provide mental health services. A question arose as to how much training the police department received, if any, addressing individuals with mental health issues. Ms. Hussong shared that Victim Services does provide crisis management training for police officers, using the City of Huntley as an example, and that Geneva’s police department could receive training if they requested it. Wagner, however, cautioned the board of its original goals and objectives, i.e., distributing mental health funds to the agencies. At the same time, Johnson appreciated and recognized the board’s role, but still believed the board should continue to educate and advocate. Kautz added that, from her perspective as a board member, she wanted to be accountable to the city council within the confines of the board’s purpose and “to close the loop.” In closing the dialog, members agreed that Ms. Hussong should provide an update of her discussion with the police department to Chairwoman Shogren and in turn, Shogren would update City Admin. McKittrick regarding the meeting. B. ACMHAI Report – Member Johnson updated the board on information she received from Eileen Marionski (phonetic spelling) from the Capitol Facts newsletter, regarding the state being ordered to pay the various providers’ bills, which were, in fact, paid. Dialog followed that some agencies had to lay off employees due to the state not paying its bills and the fact it was affecting Geneva residents locally when trying to find services or doctors. On that point, Chair Shogren mentioned that point could be made to the city council during the board’s annual report in December.) 708 Geneva Community Mental Health Board - 2- July 14, 2015 6. OLD BUSINESS A. Discuss Capital Reserve Fund – Chair Shogren recalled for members that previously the board had discussed whether it wanted to remove the funds in the capital reserve account or not, or, divide it equally among the three areas of the population. She also recalled that a common theme among the agencies/speakers was the need for housing in the mental health population. She offered two suggestions: distributing the reserve funds by adding an addendum to the regular grant application for agencies to request those funds for housing or another pressing need and hold the meeting after the November meeting. Or, add the reserve funds to the regular grant application distribution in November, given the urgent need by local agencies to provide their services now. She and members agreed that the agencies would have to provide more information/data of their needs. Shogren explained the application process she envisioned the agencies would follow for the second disbursement meeting, followed by input from the members. Discussion then revolved around whether the board had a duty to disburse funds to its three areas and whether this process was becoming a bit challenging due to holding a second meeting. Since the application was already printed, Hamilton offered to draft (along with the chair) an addendum page to the application stating it was a one-time funding amount to be used for housing. Members then discussed the second meeting’s timeline. However, after further reading of the June minutes, Chair Shogren stated that in order to retrieve the funds from the capital reserve fund the board would have to draft a resolution rescinding the board’s old resolution and revising it so the reserve funds could be made available based on the legal outcome of the November funding meeting. It was recommended to place the resolution on the agenda for next month and Chair Shogren would have the city attorney review the old resolution and assist with drafting the new resolution. Members agreed that the former addendum that was discussed above would not be mailed out with the funding application; however, if the necessary documentation could get approved in October, it was possible to hand out the disbursal letter at the November funding meeting. B. Grant Application – Reprint? Addendum? Separate Application? – See above discussion. C. Discuss/Explain Dispersal Process for New Board Members – Shogren distributed the Excel spreadsheet that is used during the November meeting and noted the board will meet at 5:15 p.m. to discuss what questions they want to ask the agencies. Also, members would discuss what to bring at next month’s meeting. D. Distribute Copies of Board Policy Manual – Hamilton distributed copies of the mission statement and its three goals. In the process, she said three committees were formed under the former chairman and then set aside to discuss later. It occurred to her, after reviewing the Open Meetings Act, that if the formed committees held a meeting, it would constitute a public meeting and need to be publicly noticed, etc. Therefore, she proposed for next month’s agenda that the board vote to remove the three committees and have members work as a taskforce for certain projects. The objectives, however, would remain. Hamilton would retype her document. 7. OTHER BUSINESS A. Arc of the Year Review – Distribute copies of last year’s spreadsheet; suggestions for format of annual report to City Hall – Chairwoman Shogren explained to new members the annual report process that takes place at the December council meeting. Hamilton suggesting using last year’s format but to update it for this year’s December 7th council meeting. Because the board’s three working committees would be removed, Hamilton said she would retype the Arc of the Year document. B. Open Meetings Act On-line Class for Board Members Hamilton, Kautz & Buckley – Shogren will email the web link for this training class to member Kautz. On another matter, Shogren will follow up with McKittrick on whether ACMHAI’s annual dues were paid since this board approved payment in May, 2015. 8. PUBLIC COMMENTS/MAIL Shogren asked for guidance regarding an invitation to attend the Fox River Valley Initiative on October 20, 2015. 9. ADJOURNMENT The Geneva Mental Health Board meeting was adjourned at 8:36 p.m. on motion by Kautz, seconded by Wagner. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote 7-0. Recording Secretary, Celeste Weilandt