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Township Board Meeting

Regular Meeting

Urbana, IL · November 9, 2020

AgendaMinutes

Minutes

STATE OF ILLINOIS CUNNINGHAM TOWNSHIP Diane Wolfe Marlin, Chair Phyllis D. Clark, Township Clerk CUNNINGHAM TOWNSHIP BOARD Monday, November 9, 2020 The Cunningham Township Board met in regular session Monday, November 9, 2020 at 6:30pm. Due to Governor and Mayoral Emergency Declarations this meeting was conducted by virtual attendance via Zoom. ELECTED OFFICIALS PHYSICALLY PRESENT: Chair: Diane Wolfe Marlin Township Clerk: Phyllis D. Clark ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE: Trustees: Bill Brown; Bill Colbrook; Shirese Hursey; Jared Miller; Dennis Roberts; Maryalice Wu Supervisor: Danielle Chynoweth Assessor: Wayne Williams ELECTED OFFICIALS ABSENT: None OTHERS PRESENT: Frederic Grosser, Jason Liggett, Wendy Hundley; Public Input via Zoom: Allan Axelrod, Beau Barber 1. ROLL CALL With a quorum present, Chair Marlin called the meeting of the Cunningham Township Board to order at 6:30pm. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING Trustee Brown made a motion to approve the minutes of the October 12 , 2020 meeting. Motion seconded by Trustee Wu and carried by roll call vote as follows: Aye: Brown, Colbrook, Hursey, Miller, Roberts, Wu. Nay: None 3. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA There were none. 4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Appreciates Mayor Marlin and Supervisor Chynoweth for efforts to bring public attention to the problem of utility shutoffs; must continue to be proactive in helping those struggling to pay utility bills and should have moratorium on utility shutoffs through March, 2021; City of Urbana had 100 utility shutoffs within the period of a week; those who have had disconnections have been charged late fees and will have to pay reconnect fees. 5. COMMITTEE TO VERIFY BILLS The following items were presented in omnibus fashion: 1. Town Fund 2. General Assistance Fund Trustee Miller made a motion to approve the Town Fund expenses for $47,645.83 and the General Assistance Fund expenses for $72,669.45. Motion seconded by CM Roberts and carried by roll call vote as follows: Aye: Brown, Colbrook, Hursey, Miller, Roberts, Wu Nay: None 6. REPORTS OF OFFICERS Supervisor Chynoweth had an extensive memo. She said the participant list is 139 up from 134 last Cunningham Township Board Minutes November 9, 2020 Page 2 of 3 month. More people are getting Social Security reimbursement and more people going back to work. There are 60 homeless, with more homeless men than women. Utility shut offs have been a big issue and Champaign-Urbana Public Health District, through the Public Utilities Act, gets a list of all residents facing utility shut off from Ameren. She said she went door to door in east Urbana using a list from Ameren with potential shut offs and spoke to several residents. She has a petition being circulated concerning the utility shut offs, asking the governor for a moratorium on them. The Bucket Brigade has fed over 2,000 people since March. 7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Resolution No. T-2020-09-012R: A Resolution Setting Compensation of Cunningham Township Officials for the Four-Year Term Beginning May 15, 2021 (Cunningham Township Supervisor, Cunningham Township Clerk, and Cunningham Township Board), and Beginning January 01, 2022 (Cunningham Township Assessor) Trustee Miller moved to approve Resolution No. T-2020-09-012R. Motion seconded by Trustee Brown. Supervisor Chynoweth addressed this resolution and said this is more for the sake of the person who replaces her in the future and trying to pay enough to keep a person in the position. She clarified that there were two versions of the resolution attached; one version reflected a higher percentage increase than the other. Discussion ensued concerning the stipend suggested in the resolution for trustees, which was the same in both versions of the resolution. Trustee Miller clarified his motion to approve the resolution by saying he was supporting the resolution with the higher percentage of increase. Trustee Brown withdrew his second for the motion made by Trustee Miller. There was no second to the motion by Trustee Miller, and the motion died due to lack of a second. Trustee Wu moved to approve Resolution No. T-2020-09-012R, stating it is the version that starts the Township Supervisor at a salary of $68,009 and ends at $72,176 in the year 2025, for both the Supervisor and Assessor. Motion seconded by Trustee Colbrook. Trustee Miller suggested keeping the trustees’ stipend for future trustees. The motion to approve Resolution No. T-2020-09-012R for the lower percentage of increase was carried by roll call vote as follows: Aye: Brown, Colbrook, Hursey, Miller, Roberts, Wu Nay: None 8. NEW BUSINESS a. Resolution No. T-2020-11-021R: A Resolution Authorizing the Supervisor to Sign an Agreement with the City of Urbana for an Emergency Solutions Grant (COVID) for CTSO’s Rapid Rehousing Bridge to Home Program Supervisor Chynoweth said this has been in the planning phase for several months for rapid rehousing of the homeless and township could receive up to $220,000 in ESG funds. This resolution is for $128,000 in funds. Trustee Miller moved to approve Resolution No. T-2020-11-021R. Motion seconded by CM Wu and carried by roll call vote as follows: Aye: Brown, Colbrook, Hursey, Miller, Roberts, Wu Nay: None b. Resolution No. T-2020-11-022R: A Resolution Authorizing the Supervisor to Sign an Agreement NJS Enterprises for Case Management Software Supervisor Chynoweth said this resolution will add another seat for case management. Cunningham Township Board Minutes November 9, 2020 Page 3 of 3 Trustee Brown moved to approve Resolution No. T-2020-11-022R. Motion seconded by Trustee Hursey and carried by roll call vote as follows: Aye: Brown, Colbrook, Hursey, Miller, Roberts, Wu Nay: None c. Resolution No. T-2020-11-023R: A Resolution Authorizing the Cunningham Township Supervisor to Sign a Contract for Flexible Spending Account for Health Insurance Coverage with Key Benefit Administrators (Effective January 1, 2020). Supervisor Chynoweth said this is done every year to renew the Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for employees. Trustee Hursey moved to approve Resolution No. T-2020-11-023R. Motion seconded by Trustee Roberts and carried by roll call vote as follows: Aye: Brown, Colbrook, Hursey, Miller, Roberts, Wu Nay: None d. Closed Session: Regarding the Purchase or Lease of Real Property, Pursuant to 5 ILCS 12/2 (c)(5) At 7:41pm Trustee Colbrook made a motion to go into closed session. Motion seconded by CM Wu and carried by roll call vote as follows: Aye: Colbrook, Hursey, Miller, Roberts, Wu, Marlin Nay: None Mayor, trustees, township officials and staff left the open virtual meeting and went into a closed virtual session. At 8:22pm Trustee Brown made a motion to come back into open virtual session. Motion seconded by CM Wu and carried by roll call vote as follows: Aye: Brown, Colbrook, Hursey, Miller, Roberts, Wu Nay: None 9. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Marlin was not present when open session resumed. With no further business before the board, Trustee Roberts declared the meeting adjourned at 8:23pm. Kay Meharry Recording Secretary This meeting was taped and is viewable on demand Minutes Approved: December 14, 2020

Agenda

CUNNINGHAM TOWNSHIP BOARD Monday, November 9, 2020 6:30 PM Virtual Meeting 400 S. Vine St., Urbana, IL 61801 AGENDA 1. ROLL CALL 2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING a. October 12, 2020 3. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA 4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 5. COMMITTEE TO VERIFY BILLS a. Town Fund b. General Assistance Fund 6. REPORTS OF OFFICERS 7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Resolution No. T-2020-09-012R: A Resolution Setting Compensation of Cunningham Township Officials for the Four-Year Term Beginning May 15, 2021 (Cunningham Township Supervisor, Cunningham Township Clerk, and Cunningham Township Board), and Beginning January 01, 2022 (Cunningham Township Assessor) 8. NEW BUSINESS a. Resolution No. T-2020-11-021R: A Resolution Authorizing the Supervisor to Sign an Agreement with the City of Urbana for an Emergency Solutions Grant (COVID) for CTSO's Rapid Rehousing Bridge to Home Program b. Resolution No. T-2020-11-022R: A Resolution Authorizing the Supervisor to Sign an Agreement NJS Enterprises for Case Management Software c. Resolution No. T-2020-11-023R: A Resolution Authorizing the Cunningham Township Supervisor to Sign a Contract for Flexible Spending Account for Health Insurance Coverage with Key Benefit Administrators (Effective January 1, 2021) d. Closed Session: Regarding the purchase or Lease of Real Property, Pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5) 9. ADJOURNMENT *Due to the Governor Pritzker and Mayoral Emergency Covid-19 Orders, the Urbana City Council Chambers will be not be open to the public during this meeting. Council Members will meet remotely using Zoom Webinar. You may watch the meeting on streaming services, or on Urbana Public Television, or attend via Zoom. You are invited to a Zoom webinar. When: Nov 9, 2020 06:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada) Topic: Cunningham Township Board / Urbana City Council Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83543110172 Or iPhone one-tap : US: +13126266799,,83543110172# or +13017158592,,83543110172# Or Telephone: Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 312 626 6799 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 929 205 6099 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782 Webinar ID: 835 4311 0172 International numbers available: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kd1HFFOKzT Persons with disabilities needing special services or accommodations for this meeting should contact the City of Urbana's Americans with Disabilities Coordinator at 217-384-2366. PUBLIC INPUT GUIDELINES The City of Urbana welcomes Public Input during open meetings of the City Council, the City Council’s Committee of the Whole, City Boards and Commissions and other City-sponsored meetings. Our goal is to foster respect for the meeting process, and respect for all people participating as members of the public body, city staff, and general public. The City is required to conduct all business during public meetings. The presiding officer is responsible for conducting those meetings in an orderly and efficient manner. Public Input will be taken in the following ways: Zoom Webinar Participant Click on the link listed in the agenda to join the Webinar. You must provide your name and email address in order to join the Webinar. If you wish to speak during Public Input, “raise your hand” and wait to be called on by the meeting host. You must state your first and last name for the meeting record. Participants will be muted except when they are called on to speak; video will remain off for all members of the public when speaking. Telephone Participant Call the phone number listed on the Agenda. Enter the Webinar ID followed by the # key. All callers are muted by default. If you wish to speak, “raise your hand” by pressing *9 once. When you are called on by the host or presiding officer you will be un-muted. You must state your first name and last name for the meeting record. Email Input Public comments must be received prior to the closing of the meeting record (at the time of adjournment unless otherwise noted) at the following: citycouncil@urbanaillinois.us. The subject line of the email must include the words “PUBLIC INPUT” and the meeting date. Your email will be sent to all City Council members, the Mayor, City Administrator, and City Clerk. Emailed public comments labeled as such will be incorporated into the public meeting record, with personal identifying information redacted. Copies of emails will be posted after the meeting minutes have been approved. Written Input Any member of the public may submit their comments addressed to the members of the public body in writing. If a person wishes their written comments to be included in the record of Public Input for the meeting, the writing should so state. Written comments must be received prior to the closing of the meeting record (at the time of adjournment unless otherwise noted). Verbal Input Protocol for Public Input is one of respect for the process, and respect for others. Ridicule, obscene or profane language, lack of respect for others, and personal attacks are not acceptable behavior. Public Input shall not be used to air personal grievances. Speakers should address all comments to the public body as a whole and not to individual members or City staff. Public comment shall be limited to no more than four (4) minutes per person. The Public Input portion of the meeting shall total no more than one (1) hour, unless otherwise shortened or extended by majority vote of the public body members present. The presiding officer or the city clerk or their designee, shall monitor each speaker's use of time and shall notify the speaker when the allotted time has expired. All public comments should be addressed to the public body as a whole. A person may participate and provide Public Input once during a meeting and may not cede time to another person, or split their time if Public Input is held at two (2) or more different times during a meeting. The presiding officer may give priority to those persons who indicate they wish to speak on an agenda item upon which a vote will be taken. The presiding officer or public body members shall not enter into a dialogue with citizens. Questions from the public body members shall be for clarification purposes only. Public Input shall not be used as a time for problem solving or reacting to comments made but, rather, for hearing citizens for informational purposes only. Accommodation If an accommodation is needed to participate in a City meeting, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at least 48 hours in advance so that special arrangements can be made using one of the following methods:  Phone: 217.384.2366  Email: CityClerk@urbanaillinois.us *In order to maintain reasonable decorum at a meeting, the presiding officer or any member of the public body may call a speaker “out of order”. The presiding officer of the meeting shall have the authority to provide a verbal warning to a speaker who uses abusive, harassing, threatening, or defamatory language, or who engages in disorderly conduct that disrupts, disturbs, or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of a meeting. If the speaker refuses to cease such remarks or conduct after being warned by the presiding officer, the presiding officer shall have the authority to mute the speaker’s microphone and/or video presence at the meeting. The presiding officer will inform the speaker that they may send the remainder of their remarks via email to the public body for inclusion in the meeting record. *Definitions of Types of Language and Conduct That May Warrant Verbal Warning: “Abusive” means harsh, violent, profane, or derogatory language which would demean the dignity of an individual or which is intended to humiliate, mock, insult or belittle an individual. https://www.lawinsider.com/dictionary/abusive-language “Harassing” means to annoy or bother someone in a constant or repeated way; to make repeated attacks on another person. https://www.learnersdictionary.com/definition/harass “Threatening” means to say that you will harm someone or do something unpleasant or unwanted especially in order to make someone do what you want. https://www.learnersdictionary.com/definition/threaten “Defamatory” means a statement or communication that tends to harm a person's reputation by subjecting the person to public contempt, disgrace, or ridicule, or by adversely affecting the person's business. A statement that is likely to lower that person in the estimation of reasonable people and in particular to cause that person to be regarded with feelings of hatred, contempt, ridicule, fear, or dislike. Black's Law Dictionary (11th ed. 2019) Citations that Authorize the Presiding Officer to Bar Offensive Language During Public Comment: The following citations provide the legal basis for adopting UCC Section 2-5(b)(1)(d) that allows the presiding officer of a City Council, Committee of the Whole, or a City-sponsored board or commission regulate “abusive, harassing, threatening, or defamatory language” during public comment. The following Attorney General binding opinions and case law essentially classify abusive, “harassing, threatening and defamatory language as “manner”, not “content”, of speech that can be reasonably regulated under the First Amendment. UCC Section 2-5(c) (Ordinance No. 2020-09-049. Attorney General binding opinion numbers 2019 PAC 59187, 2018 PAC 55462, 2016 PAC 45349; Milestone v. City of Monroe, Wisconsin, 665 F.3d 774, 783-784 (7th Cir. 2011); Vega v. Chicago Board of Education, 338 F.Supp.3d 806, 811 (N.D. Ill. 2018); Sandefur v. Vill. of Hanover Park, 862 F.Supp.2d 840, 847 (N.D. Ill. 2012); I.A. Rana Enterprises, Inc. v. City of Aurora, 630 F.Supp.2d 912, 920-923 (D.C. N.D. 2009). Persons with disabilities needing special services or accommodations for this meeting should contact the City of Urbana's Americans with Disabilities Coordinator at 217-384-2366.

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