Township Board Meeting
Regular MeetingUrbana, IL · November 9, 2020
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):
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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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