Dupage Policy Journal

DuPage County Human Services Committee met Dec. 3

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

1. CALL TO ORDER

9:30 AM meeting was called to order by Vice Chair Paula Deacon Garcia at 9:30 AM.

2. ROLL CALL

Other Board members present: Member Saba Haider, Member Andrew Hoenig, Member Sheila Rutledge, Member Yeena Yoo (9:45)

Staff in attendance: Renee Zerante (State's Attorney Office), Nick Kottmeyer (Chief Administrative Officer), Evan Shields (Public Information Officer), DeAndre Redd (Contracting Equity Administrator), Henry Kocker (Procurement), Julie Hamlin (Community Development Administrator), Gina Strafford-Ahmed (Community Services Administrator), and Janelle Chadwick, remote (DuPage Care Center Administrator).

MOTION TO ALLOW REMOTE PARTICIPATION

Paula Garcia stated a physical quorum of members is present. She entertained a motion to permit Member Childress to participate via Zoom, due to personal illness or disability, employment purposes for business of the board, or for family or another emergency. Member Galassi, second Member LaPlante.

RESULT: APPROVED

MOVER: Lynn LaPlante

SECONDER: Dawn DeSart

3. PUBLIC COMMENT

No public comments were offered.

4. CHAIR REMARKS - CHAIR SCHWARZE

Vice Chair Garcia spoke on behalf of Chair Schwarze, who was absent, expressing his gratitude to all for a great year at the Human Services Committee. He is very appreciative of all the work accomplished on this committee in 2024, and he looks forward to working with many of the board members in 2025.

Ms. Garcia stated DuPage County received a request from the DuPage Senior Services Citizens Council that they need more financial funding to round out the year 2024. They need $42,450 to continue their senior meals for this year. Chair Schwarze and Vice Chair Garcia discussed this request with County Board Chair Conroy. They determined the funds should be taken out of the funds set aside for food insecurity, believing that is a good use of that money.

Ms. Garcia believes the formal request will go straight to County Board next week for approval.

This is informational for the Human Services Committee.

DuPage Pads is also in need of funding. They have 87 people they are trying to house. 70 of them they can but 17 they can’t for various reasons. They have enough funding until January but are looking for $353,000 dollars. The DuPage Foundation will reach out to their donors. Per Chair Conroy, they will allocate the money from AD-Hoc Affordable Housing. April Redzic, the President and CEO of DuPage Pads, will attend the Finance or County Board meeting on December 10 to give a presentation explaining why they need the funding and their future plans.

Nick Kottmeyer stated that as of December 2, DuPage Pads has raised $100,000 through private fundraising, which will reduce the request of $353,000.

5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

5.A. 24-3249

Human Services Committee - Regular Meeting - Tuesday, November 19, 2024

RESULT: APPROVED

MOVER: Lynn LaPlante

SECONDER: Kari Galassi

6. COMMUNITY SERVICES - MARY KEATING

6.A. FI-R-0235-24

Revision to Personnel Budget. (Community Services)

RESULT: APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE

MOVER: Lynn LaPlante

SECONDER: Kari Galassi

6.B. FI-R-0237-24

Acceptance and appropriation of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program HHS Grant PY25 Inter-Governmental Agreement No. 25-224028, Company 5000 - Accounting Unit 1420, $3,487,312. (Community Services)

RESULT: APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE

MOVER: Lynn LaPlante

SECONDER: Kari Galassi

6.C. HS-R-0021-24

Approval of issuance of payments by DuPage County to energy assistance providers through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program HHS Grant PY25 Inter-Governmental Agreement No. 25-224028 in the amount of $2,849,134. (Community Services)

RESULT: APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE

MOVER: Lynn LaPlante

SECONDER: Kari Galassi

7. DUPAGE CARE CENTER - JANELLE CHADWICK

7.A. HS-P-0054-24

Recommendation for the approval of a contract purchase order issued to LeadingAge Illinois, for annual membership dues for the DuPage Care Center, for the period January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025, for a total contract total amount not to exceed $32,400. Other professional services not suitable for competitive bid per 55 ILCS 5/5-1022(c). Vendor selected pursuant to DuPage County Procurement Ordinance 2-353(1)(b).

RESULT: APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE

MOVER: Dawn DeSart

SECONDER: Kari Galassi

7.B. HS-P-0055-24

Recommendation for the approval of a contract purchase order issued to McKesson Medical Surgical Government Solutions, LLC, for prime supplier for general medical and surgical supplies, for the DuPage Care Center, for the period of January 15, 2025 through January 14, 2029, for a contract total not to exceed $1,115,000. Contract pursuant to the Governmental Joint Purchasing Act, 30 ILCS 525/2 (MMCAP Contract #M-487(5)).

RESULT: APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE

MOVER: Kari Galassi

SECONDER: Lynn LaPlante

7.C. HS-P-0056-24

Recommendation for the approval of a contract purchase order issued to Music Speaks, LLC, for music therapy services for the residents at the DuPage Care Center, for the period January 12, 2025 through January 11, 2026, for a contract total not to exceed $60,462, per renewal of RFP #21-087-CARE, third and final optional renewal.

RESULT: APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE

MOVER: Lynn LaPlante

SECONDER: Dawn DeSart

7.D. 24-3250

Recommendation for the approval of a contract purchase order issued to Illinois Aging Services Network (ILASN), to negotiate managed care contracts for Medicaid, eldercare advantage and commercial plans, for the DuPage Care Center, for the period January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025, for a contract total amount not to exceed $17,536.85.

Other professional services not suitable for competitive bid per 55 ILCS 5/5-1022(c). 

Vendor selected pursuant to DuPage County Procurement Ordinance 2-353(1)(b).

RESULT: APPROVED

MOVER: Dawn DeSart

SECONDER: Kari Galassi

7.E. 24-3251

Recommendation for the approval of a contract purchase order issued to Relias LLC, for a Learning Management System, for the DuPage Care Center, for the period January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025, for a total contract not to exceed $21,673.02; per RFP #24-114-DCC.

RESULT: APPROVED

MOVER: Dawn DeSart

SECONDER: Kari Galassi

8. TRAVEL

8.A. 24-3252

Administrator of Community Development to attend the NACCED NACo legislative conference and committee meetings in Washington, D. C. from February 26, 2025 through March 2, 2025. Expenses to include registration, transportation, lodging, and per diems for approximate total of $2,629. Grant funded. (Community Services)

RESULT: APPROVED

MOVER: Dawn DeSart

SECONDER: Kari Galassi

9. RESIDENCY WAIVERS - JANELLE CHADWICK

No residency waivers were offered.

10. DUPAGE CARE CENTER UPDATE - JANELLE CHADWICK

Janelle Chadwick, Administrator of the DuPage Care Center, stated that they are on covid protocol with 23 residents and six staff testing positive for covid in one unit. Their infection control practices are effective in keeping covid confined to one unit. The Care Center has had struggles getting visitors to wear masks, to the point of involving security. Acting Chair Garcia asked about the vaccination rates at the DuPage Care Center. The residents’ covid vaccination rate is just under 70%, influenza rate is about 86%. The staff covid vaccination rate is 20% and the influenza rate is 53%. The Care Center is holding clinics offering vaccinations. Ms. Chadwick wants 100% of people responding that they have received the vaccine or to provide one of the two exceptions, which are for medical or religious purposes.

The Care Center is getting ready for Christmas with trees going up this week. The committee is invited to attend the employee breakfast on Wednesday, December 18 from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and in the evening from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The renovations in 3N and 3C are moving along. They are expecting construction to be 90% complete in a few weeks, which is when they will submit paperwork to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), informing them of the 90% completion to schedule inspections.

11. COMMUNITY SERVICES UPDATE - MARY KEATING

No remarks were offered.

12. OLD BUSINESS

No old business was discussed.

13. NEW BUSINESS

No new business was discussed.

14. ADJOURNMENT

https://dupage.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=M&ID=1144341&GUID=4A618820-F6B9-4F56-9E48-D589003EFBA1