Dupage Policy Journal

DuPage County Judicial and Public Safety Committee met May 3.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

1. CALL TO ORDER

8:00 AM meeting was called to order by Chair Julie Renehan at 8:03 AM. Due to the Stormwater Committee meeting running late, the JPS Committee meeting started at 8:03 A.M.

2. ROLL CALL

PRESENT: Chaplin, Selmon, Ozog (Remote), DeSart, Deacon Garcia, Schwarze, Eckhoff, Puchalski (8:00 AM - 8:26 AM), Renehan, Zay

ABSENT: Covert, Krajewski

County Board member Sam Tornatore was also in attendance. Vice Chair Puchalski departed early to attend the Environmental Committee meeting.

Motion for Member Ozog to participate remotely

Chair Renehan informed the committee of the request from Member Ozog to participate remotely, pursuant to Section 7(a) of the Open Meetings Act.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Dawn DeSart, District 5 SECONDER: Elizabeth Chaplin, District 2 AYES: Chaplin, Selmon, Ozog, DeSart, Deacon Garcia, Schwarze, Eckhoff, Puchalski, Renehan, Zay ABSENT: Covert, Krajewski

3. PUBLIC COMMENT

No public comment was offered.

4. CHAIRWOMAN'S REMARKS - CHAIR RENEHAN

Chair Renehan greeted the committee and advised they would be voting on a Mobile Command Center that would be used for investigations and incident responses. She referenced conversations with Westmont Police Department Chief James Gunther back in November 2021 and thanked all law enforcement partners for reaching out with their public safety needs. The Metropolitan Emergency Response and Investigations Team (MERIT) has handled 550 incidents since its inception in August 2019. She noted that under informational items, the Committee would see the DuPage County crime statistics for 2019-2021. Calls for service appear to be down by 1,800 in the past year. She urged caution with reviewing statistics and expressed her concern for the unavailable specific crime data for DuPage County, which could lead to data manipulation and subjective interpretation. She related Kane County was exploring a law enforcement transparency open data portal, which would allow residents, businesses, and visitors to view more details regarding calls for service. She respectfully suggested DuPage County look into a similar process for transparency in order to prevent politicization and make budgeting decisions easier for the committee as the Safety, Accountability, Fairness, and Equity Today (SAFE-T) Act continues to go in effect. She concluded her remarks by thanking the committee for their efforts in ensuring adequate funding for public safety partners.

5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

A. Judicial/Public Safety Committee - Regular Meeting - Apr 5, 2022 8:00 AM

RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Elizabeth Chaplin, District 2 SECONDER: Donald Puchalski, Vice Chair AYES: Chaplin, Selmon, Ozog, DeSart, Deacon Garcia, Schwarze, Eckhoff, Puchalski, Renehan, Zay ABSENT: Covert, Krajewski

6. PROCUREMENT REQUISITIONS

A. 2022-46 Recommendation for the approval of a contract to Life Technologies Corporation, for the purchase of three Veriti Pro HID Thermalcyclers, for the Crime Lab, for a contract total not to exceed $19,800. Per 55 ILCS 5/5-1022 "Competitive Bids" (c) not suitable for competitive bids - Sole Source. (Sheriff's Office)

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Paula Deacon Garcia, District 2 SECONDER: Elizabeth Chaplin, District 2 AYES: Chaplin, Selmon, Ozog, DeSart, Deacon Garcia, Schwarze, Eckhoff, Puchalski, Renehan, Zay ABSENT: Covert, Krajewski

B. 2022-48 Recommendation for the approval of a contract to Kelly Graham, to identify job placement for unemployed probationers, for the period May 29, 2022 through May 28, 2023, for a contract total amount not to exceed $20,625. Other professional services not subject to competitive bidding per 55 ILCS 5/5-1022(a). Vendor selected pursuant to DuPage County Code Section 2-353(1)(b). (Probation & Court Services)

Member DeSart asked for additional information regarding job placement for unemployed probationers. Director of Probation & Court Services Robert McEllin related the county works with workNet DuPage as well as approximately twenty other agencies. Job placement partners have worked with probation officers for the last 15-20 years and provide job readiness skills, mock interviews, resume writing skills, and more as part of the program, which is in its second year.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Dawn DeSart, District 5 SECONDER: Elizabeth Chaplin, District 2 AYES: Chaplin, Selmon, Ozog, DeSart, Deacon Garcia, Schwarze, Eckhoff, Puchalski, Renehan, Zay ABSENT: Covert, Krajewski

C. JPS-P-0152-22 Recommendation for the approval of a contract to LDV Inc., for the purchase of a Mobile Command Post, for the Sheriff's Office and MERIT, to provide such vehicle for safe, effective and efficient on-scene operational needs for long term and complex investigations and incident responses, for a contract not to exceed $802,667. GSA pricing. (Sheriff's Office)

Member Garcia asked questions regarding the expectations from the 36 communities, including maintenance and costs for the vehicle. Deputy Chief Dan Bilodeau related MERIT is a countywide task force that encompasses SWAT, major crimes, major crashes, drone teams, forensics, digital forensics, public information teams, and more. Approximately 9,500 hours of manpower were documented last year. MERIT includes 36 communities as well as the DuPage County Sheriff's Office, the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office, and the DuPage County Forest Preserve. The vehicle would be maintained, insured, and serviced by the County. Member DeSart requested pictures of the vehicle and a comparison to the armored vehicle purchased last fall, which was provided and described to the committee.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Dawn DeSart, District 5 SECONDER: Elizabeth Chaplin, District 2 AYES: Chaplin, Selmon, Ozog, DeSart, Deacon Garcia, Schwarze, Eckhoff, Puchalski, Renehan, Zay ABSENT: Covert, Krajewski

7. BUDGET TRANSFERS

Motion to combine items A through C

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Elizabeth Chaplin, District 2 SECONDER: Paula Deacon Garcia, District 2 AYES: Chaplin, Selmon, Ozog, DeSart, Deacon Garcia, Schwarze, Eckhoff, Puchalski, Renehan, Zay ABSENT: Covert, Krajewski

Motion to approve items A through C

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Paula Deacon Garcia, District 2 SECONDER: Elizabeth Chaplin, District 2 AYES: Chaplin, Selmon, Ozog, DeSart, Deacon Garcia, Schwarze, Eckhoff, Puchalski, Renehan, Zay ABSENT: Covert, Krajewski

A. Budget Transfers -- Transfer of funds from account no. 6540-53020 (information technology svc) to account no. 6540-53610 (instruction & school) in the amount of $15,000 to pay for a management training program. (State's Attorney)

B. Budget Transfers -- Transfer of funds from account nos. 4510-52000 (furn/mach/equip small value), 4510-52100 (i.t. equipment-small value), 4510-53090 (other professional services), 4510-53510 (travel expenses), 4510-53610 (instruction & schooling), and 4510-54110 (equipment and machinery) to account no. 4510-52200 (operating supplies & materials) in the amount of $18,104. Due to the COVID pandemic, all training was done virtually, so there were extra funds budgeted for travel and registration for the ISHI conference and the Technical Leaders' Summit. The original budget overestimated for the thermalcycler and the QAS audit. The new CODIS computer was purchased with funds from another grant. The extra funds were transferred to the supply category. (Sheriff's Office)

C. Budget Transfers -- Transfer of funds from account no. 4510-53800 (printing) to account no. 4510-53806 (software licenses) in the amount of $65,600. Money was entered in printing and should have been entered in software licenses. (Sheriff's Office)

8. GRANTS

A. Grant Proposal Notifications -- GPN 026-22: Donated Funds Initiative Grant PY23 - Illinois Department of Human Services - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - $77,339. (State's Attorney)

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Elizabeth Chaplin, District 2 SECONDER: Paula Deacon Garcia, District 2 AYES: Chaplin, Selmon, Ozog, DeSart, Deacon Garcia, Schwarze, Eckhoff, Puchalski, Renehan, Zay ABSENT: Covert, Krajewski

9. INFORMATIONAL

A. Informational -- Public Defender's Office March 2022 Monthly Statistical Report (Public Defender)

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Donald Puchalski, Vice Chair SECONDER: Elizabeth Chaplin, District 2 AYES: Chaplin, Selmon, Ozog, DeSart, Deacon Garcia, Schwarze, Eckhoff, Puchalski, Renehan, Zay ABSENT: Covert, Krajewski

B. State of Illinois Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Statistics - DuPage County, 2019-2021

RESULT: ACCEPTED AND PLACED ON FILE [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Elizabeth Chaplin, District 2 SECONDER: Paula Deacon Garcia, District 2 AYES: Chaplin, Selmon, Ozog, DeSart, Deacon Garcia, Schwarze, Eckhoff, Puchalski, Renehan, Zay ABSENT: Covert, Krajewski

10. OLD BUSINESS

Member Zay expressed his opinion regarding crime data transparency and expressed his support for the Sheriff's Office, local law enforcement, and the State's Attorney's Office. Chair Renehan stressed her extreme desire to keep politics out of things and focus solely on the statistics. Vice Chair Puchalski, as well as members Chaplin, DeSart, Eckhoff, Garcia, and Ozog, contributed to the discussion surrounding the Sheriff, public safety, statistics, transparency, the upcoming election, prior resolutions, and the SAFE-T Act. Chair Renehan noted today's approval of the mobile command center shows the committee's support for public safety and response to law enforcement partners' requests.

11. NEW BUSINESS

No new business was offered.

12. ADJOURNMENT

Motion to adjourn

Without objection, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 A.M.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Greg Schwarze, District 6 SECONDER: Elizabeth Chaplin, District 2 AYES: Chaplin, Selmon, Ozog, DeSart, Deacon Garcia, Schwarze, Eckhoff, Renehan, Zay ABSENT: Covert, Krajewski, Puchalski

A. This meeting has been adjourned to Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at 8:00 A.M.

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