Du Page County Judicial and Public Safety Committee met Sept. 1.
Here is the agenda provided by the committee:
1. CALL TO ORDER
8:00 AM meeting was called to order by Chairman Grant Eckhoff at 8:06 AM.
2. ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Covert (Remote), DiCianni (Remote), Eckhoff, Elliott (Remote), Krajewski (Remote), Larsen, Noonan, Puchalski, Renehan (Remote), Tornatore, Zay
ABSENT: Healy
3. PUBLIC COMMENT
4. CHAIRMAN'S REMARKS - CHAIR ECKHOFF
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
A. Judicial/Public Safety Committee - Regular Meeting - Aug 18, 2020 8:00 AM
RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Sean T. Noonan, District 2
SECONDER: Brian J. Krajewski, District 3
AYES: Covert, DiCianni, Eckhoff, Elliott, Krajewski, Larsen, Noonan, Puchalski, Renehan, Tornatore, Zay
ABSENT: Healy
6. RESOLUTIONS
A. JPS-R-0484-20 RESOLUTION -- Acceptance and Appropriation of the IL DCFS Children's Advocacy Center Grant PY21, Inter-Governmental Agreement No. 1351299011, Company 5000 - Accounting Unit 6580, $65,464
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: James Zay, District 6
SECONDER: Julie Renehan, District 3
AYES: Covert, DiCianni, Eckhoff, Elliott, Krajewski, Larsen, Noonan, Puchalski, Renehan, Tornatore, Zay
ABSENT: Healy
7. GRANTS
Grants and Informational items were combined and approved.
A. Grant Proposal Notifications -- GPN 067-20 Illinois Court Improvement Program FY20 - Administrative Office of the Illinois Court - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Circuit Court $10,000
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Donald Puchalski, District 1
SECONDER: Sadia Covert, District 5
AYES: Covert, DiCianni, Eckhoff, Elliott, Krajewski, Larsen, Noonan, Puchalski, Renehan, Tornatore, Zay
ABSENT: Healy
8. INFORMATIONAL
A. Informational -- Public Defender's Office July 2020 Monthly Statistical Report
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Donald Puchalski, District 1
SECONDER: Sadia Covert, District 5
AYES: Covert, DiCianni, Eckhoff, Elliott, Krajewski, Larsen, Noonan, Puchalski, Renehan, Tornatore, Zay
ABSENT: Healy
9. BUDGET PRESENTATIONS
A. 18th Judicial Circuit Court
Daniel P. Guerin, Chief Judge, presented an overview of all seven budgets prepared by the 18th Judicial Circuit Court. He began by stating that four are general revenue funded and include Circuit Court, Jury Commission, DUI Evaluation, and Probation. One is tax levy funded (Juvenile Transport), while the Law Library and Probation Fees budgets are fee funded. Collectively the budget summary for fiscal year 2021 reflects a reduction of $125,072. He noted that the last three years the Office came in with an overall reduction, referencing a $106,465 reduction in fiscal year 2019. He added this was the fifth straight year the State gave no additional money to Judicial. Fiscal year 2020 also saw four of the seven budgets reduced. That year also received full reimbursement from the State on probation positions. The Director of Probation worked with the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts to again obtain full reimbursement for 15 positions, which will provide $568,371 in increased funding. He noted that the Office has been careful stewards with the taxpayer's money, achieving more with less, and supported the County's needs when necessary. He indicated the Office benefited from the County Board's efforts to support a fair, efficient, and effective justice system. Achievements by the Office were elaborated, including the Family Violence Coordinating Council, courtroom conversions, traffic court restructuring, and formation of the arts commission and the Lapinski Hall of Justice. The impact of COVID on the courts and the adjustments made by the use of Zoom were discussed. Other measures taken in response to COVID were also provided, including remote bail hearings and self-help stations in the library. The Court is currently developing plans for traffic court via Zoom; concerns regarding this roll out were discussed. Effects of cuts to the budget of various percentages were provided. Revising the Jury Commission structure resulted in budget reductions. Various courtroom conversions and the roll outs of each were discussed. The County Board was thanked for allocating funds for these reconfigurations. DUI Evaluation and probation budgets would remain flat. He noted their biggest accomplishment was drug court certification by the Illinois Supreme Court, which took nearly three years to obtain. MICAP (Mental Illness Court Alternative Program), FOCUS (First Offender Call Unified for Success) Court, and Veteran's Court were mentioned. It was noted that staffing and court contact with these probationers never stopped, whether it was remote or in-person. Statistics and responsibilities of the probation department were noted, including electronic monitoring. He noted that positions and services, including electronic monitoring and drug testing, would have to be reduced, given a 10-30 percent budget cut. Statistics on Juvenile Transport were presented; it was noted that the budget is flat due to contracted services with Kane and Will Counties. Efficiencies continue to be made with the Law Library and have led to a 3.81 percent budget reduction. Finally, the Probation Fees budget remains the same. Member Larsen commended the Chief Judge's Office and stressed that DuPage County's judges continue to lead in their field. He verified the anticipated roll out of Civil Zoom trials and asked for clarification on a line item in the budget, to which the Chief Judge answered. Member Puchalski questioned whether the Chief Judge was anticipating additional funding needs as the County redesigns court rooms. Member Puchalski also inquired on crime statistics, referencing the recent budget presentation from the Sheriff's Office. Chief Judge observed increased activity in the juvenile and orders of protection courtrooms. Chairman Eckhoff thanked the Chief Judge and his staff for continuing to deliver court services.
B. Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Murray Snow, Director, briefly presented a budget overview. He introduced staff present, including Security Chief Keith Briggs, Support Section Supervisor Corey Mulryan, and Operations Section Supervisor Kali Thomas. He noted that the members should have already received copies of the slide show presentation via email, and welcomed their questions. He highlighted specific line item reductions in the Security budget, including furniture, machinery, equipment, and other professional services. No increase was requested for salaries, and the requested budget for Security is a 3.1 percent overall reduction. The Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (OHSEM) budget handout was also previously distributed. It was noted that approximately 95 percent of the budget goes to salaries. Any and all reductions were made, which included the line items operating supplies and materials, furniture, machinery, equipment, and dues and memberships. This amounted to $9,400. Fiscal year 2020 salaries amounted to $700,059. For fiscal year 2021, a 3.8 percent increase, to $726,504, was requested. This increase was due to the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA). The 2020 budget was $836,359. For fiscal year 2021, a 2.6 percent increase, to $858,404, was requested. He concluded with referencing a quote from Washington, Illinois Mayor Gary Manier after a tornado decimated his town in 2013. The role of Emergency Management with regards to putting together plans for departments at the county, municipal, state, and federal levels was stressed. Member Larsen requested clarification on the line items for salaries, to which Snow referenced the COLA as well as the agreement with the Health Department. Member Larsen requested additional clarification, to which Snow deferred to Finance. CFO Jeffrey Martynowicz stated this was an allocation issue due to part of the salary line coming from the Health Department. He stated he would look into the allocation to make sure the general fund is being charged correctly and work with Snow and the Health Department.
10. OLD BUSINESS
11. NEW BUSINESS
12. ADJOURNMENT
Without objection, the meeting was adjourned at 9:03 A.M.
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