Report of the Committee on Finance

 

May 6, 2009

(recessed and reconvened May 7, 2009, May 8, 2009 and May 18, 2009)

 

The Honorable,

The Board of Commissioners of Cook County

 

Attendance

 

Present:

Chairman Daley, Vice Chairman Sims, Commissioners Beavers, Butler, Claypool, Collins, Gainer, Gorman, Goslin, Maldonado, Moreno, Murphy, Peraica, Schneider, Silvestri, Steele and Suffredin (17)

 

Absent:

President Stroger

 

Also Present:

Patrick T. Driscoll, Jr. – Deputy State’s Attorney, Chief, Civil Actions Bureau; Elizabeth Reidy – Deputy Chief, Civil Actions Bureau, State’s Attorney’s Office; Takashi Reinbold – Director, Department of Budget and Management Services; Bruce Washington – Director, Bureau of Capital, Planning and Facilities Management; David R. Small – Chief Operating Officer, Cook County Health and Hospitals System; Warren L. Batts – Chairman of the Board, Cook County Health and Hospitals System; William Foley – Chief Executive Officer, Cook County Health and Hospitals System; Ben Oluwole Johnson – Deputy Comptroller, Office of the County Comptroller; Honorable Maria Pappas – Cook County Treasurer; Antonio Hylton – Chief, Bureau of Technology; Honorable James M. Houlihan – Cook County Assessor; Honorable Brendan Houlihan and Honorable Larry R. Rodgers, Jr. – Commissioners, Board of Review; Honorable Thomas Dart – Cook County Sheriff; Alexis Herrera – Chief Financial Officer, Sheriff’s Office; Honorable Anita Alvarez – Cook County State’s Attorney; Honorable David Orr – Cook County Clerk; Honorable Dorothy Brown – Clerk of the Circuit Court; Honorable Timothy C. Evans – Chief Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County; Earl Dunlap – Transitional Administrator, Juvenile Temporary Detention Center; Joseph M. Fratto – Chief of Staff, Office of the President, and Interim Chief Financial Officer, Bureau of Finance; Mark Kilgallon – Chief Administrative Officer, Bureau of Administration; Joseph Sova – Chief, Bureau of Human Resources; Patrick M. Blanchard – Independent Inspector General; Laura A. Burman – Cook County Auditor; Nicholas G. Grapsas – Public Administrator; Jack Weinrauch – Director, Department of Administrative Hearings; Matthew B. DeLeon – Secretary to the Board of Commissioners; Dr. Donna Alexander – Director, Department of Animal Control; Honorable Abishi C. Cunningham, Jr. – Cook County Public Defender; Rupert Graham – Superintendent, County Highway Department; Herbert Schumann – Chief Financial Officer, County Highway Department; Darlena Williams-Burnett – Chief Deputy Recorder, Recorder of Deeds Office; and Marynic Foster – Director, Department of Human Rights, Ethics and Womens’ Issues

 

Court Reporter:   Anthony W. Lisanti, C.S.R.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

        Your Committee on Finance of the Board of Commissioners of Cook County met pursuant to notice on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at the hour of 1:00 P.M. in the Board Room, Room 569, County Building, 118 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois, to consider Communication No. 299702, for the purpose of conducting departmental reviews of Fiscal Years 2007, 2008 and 2009 Capital Equipments Requests.

 

299702

COUNTY BOARD REVIEW OF CAPITAL EQUIPMENT REQUESTS (PROPOSED RESOLUTION).  Submitting a Proposed Resolution sponsored by Todd H. Stroger, President, Cook County Board of Commissioners.

 

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

 

COUNTY BOARD REVIEW OF CAPITAL EQUIPMENT REQUESTS

 

WHEREAS, Cook County Departments, Bureaus, the Health System and the separately Elected Officials have numerous capital equipment requests previously approved and/or pending that are essential to their successful operations; and

 

WHEREAS, a number of the 2007, 2008 and 2009 fiscal years’ capital equipment requests are necessary to comply with court orders, decrees and for the provision of quality and efficient service; and

 

WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners previously approved capital equipment requests and funding for fiscal years 2007 and 2008; however the Board has indicated its desire to review further said requests; and

 

WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners previously approved capital equipment requests and funding for fiscal year 2009, however, the Board of Commissioners has yet to approve the finance team which is necessary to issue the general obligation bonds and provide the funding for the purchase of the 2009 fiscal year capital equipment requests; and

 

WHEREAS, it is essential to the successful operation of County business to move forward and provide funding for essential capital equipment requests; and

 

WHEREAS, there has been minimal support among the County Board to borrow funds long-term for the financing of capital equipment requests and to authorize the spending of funds previously approved for the fiscal years’ 2007 and 2008 capital equipment requests; and

 

WHEREAS, the Cook County Board should review in detail the 2007, 2008 and 2009 fiscal years’ capital equipment requests in order to determine which equipment requests are essential to providing quality service and to the successful operation of County government; and

 

WHEREAS, upon review of the capital equipment requests and said approval, the necessary funding and finance teams shall be approved by the County Board to fund capital equipment requests that are not covered by existing capital equipment funds.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners conduct a thorough review of the 2007, 2008 and 2009 fiscal years’ capital equipment requests and determine which capital equipment requests are necessary to the successful operation of County government; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the approved capital equipment requests not covered under existing capital funds shall be included in a general obligation bond for equipment.

 

* Referred to the Committee on Finance on 4/1/09.

 

Chairman Daley stated that committee members have received a revised book listing all Capital Equipment Requests, sorted by department and sequenced by item number.  Requests from the Health and Hospitals System beginning on page 40 with item number 68 will be considered today.

 

Commissioner Suffredin noted that the Cook County Health and Hospitals System has a request for $65.5 million.  He asked if the requests that are before the committee today are identical to the requests that were approved earlier during the budget process.

 

David R. Small, Chief Operating Officer, Cook County Health and Hospitals System, stated that an updated list of projects was distributed this morning.  There are ten items of deletions and two items of addition; the new total is $67,316,693.  (See Attachment #1)

 

Warren L. Batts, Chairman of the Board, Cook County Health and Hospitals System, introduced William Foley, Chief Executive Officer for the Cook County Health and Hospitals System.

 

Mr. Batts stated that the initial request for Fiscal Year 2009 was previously approved at approximately $63 million.  In response to Commissioner Suffredin’s question, Mr. Batts stated all of the items now requested by the Health and Hospitals System were previously approved at some point by the Cook County Board.

 

Chairman Daley asked the Secretary to the Board to call upon the registered public speakers, in accordance with Cook County Code, Sec. 2-108(dd):

 

1.   George Blakemore, Concerned Citizen

2.   Elliott El-Amin, Vice President, Sales, CE Services, LLC

 

Chairman Daley recessed the meeting to the hour of 10:00 A.M. on Thursday, May 7, 2009 in the County Building, Board Room, Room 569.

 

 


May 7, 2009

 

Pursuant to notice, your Committee reconvened its recessed meeting of May 6, 2009 on Thursday, May 7, 2009 at the hour of 10:00 A.M. in the Board Room, Room 569, 118 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois, to consider Communication No. 299702, for the purpose of conducting departmental reviews of Fiscal Years 2007, 2008 and 2009 Capital Equipments Requests.

 

Chairman Daley called upon the Honorable Maria Pappas, Cook County Treasurer, to address the Committee.

 

Treasurer Pappas informed the Committee that she will not require new capital equipment funding for Fiscal Year 2009.  She is withdrawing previously requested capital equipment items at this time, thereby reducing the total capital equipment request by $61,175.  (See Attachment #2)

 

Chairman Daley next called upon Antonio Hylton, Chief of the Bureau of Technology, to address the Committee.

 

Mr. Hylton distributed supplemental information amending the Bureau’s request for capital equipment.  (See Attachment #3)

 

Mr. Hylton stated that on March 30, 2009, the Bureau held its first ever Technology Summit, and prior to the May 5, 2009 Board meeting he issued a summary report of the 2009 Capital Projects that are being discussed at today’s meeting.

 

Commissioner Goslin asked if Mr. Hylton’s list was prioritized by most critical to least critical.

 

Mr. Hylton stated that was his intention.  He stated that Category 1 and 2 in the backup material lists those items that are already contractually committed; therefore he would ask the Committee for special consideration on those items.

 

Commissioner Goslin asked if there are any court orders associated with any of the items.

 

Mr. Hylton stated that Category 2 contains equipment for the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC), which may be mandated by court order.

 

Mr. Hylton stated that acquiring a second mainframe is an option the County may consider. He is studying the potential costs involved, and initial estimates are lower than expected.

 

Mr. Hylton stated that Category 1 and 2 items on the Bureau’s list are essential, while Categories 3, 4, 5 and 6 are lower priorities.

 

Chairman Daley reminded Mr. Hylton that prior to voting on Capital Equipment requests, the Committee will need to be informed of any change in his priorities.  

 

Chairman Daley informed the Committee that if the Commissioners were to approve all the items under the Cook County Health and Hospitals System, along with the items requested by the Bureau of Technology, all available money for capital equipment would be gone.

 

Chairman Daley next called upon the Honorable James Houlihan, Cook County Assessor, to address the Committee.

 

Mr. Houlihan referred to earlier remarks by Mr. Hylton, and noted for the record that the Assessor’s Office was the lead agency in creating the GIS System for Cook County.  The Assessor’s Office has a history of working in cooperation with the Bureau of Technology, and his office is willing to participate in further efforts to benefit from efficiencies of scale.

 

Mr. Houlihan stated that his request contained nothing new for Fiscal Year 2009; all items contained in this $1 million request were previously submitted, and are necessary to keep their system functioning as a result of a workforce reduction of 100 individuals due to automation efforts within the County.  He provided the Committee with a priority ranking of six (6) proposed projects.  (See Attachment #4).

 

Chairman Daley next called upon the Honorable Larry R. Rodgers, Jr., Commissioner of the Board of Review, to address the Committee.

 

Commissioner Rodgers stated that his office needs additional IT staff, and this may be requested in next year’s budget.  Their capital equipment request totals $319,000, which originally included $68,000 in furniture and the remainder in technology.  Upon further review, they have determined to allocate the entire $319,000 to technology.  (See Attachment #5)

 

Chairman Daley next called on the Honorable Thomas Dart, Cook County Sheriff, to address the Committee.

 

Sheriff Dart noted for the record that his original request for capital equipment was for $30 million, but currently the request has been decreased to $25 million.  This figure includes $10 million to purchase needed vehicles.  (See Attachment #6)

 

Chairman Daley next called upon the Honorable Anita Alvarez, State’s Attorney, to address the Committee.

 

Ms. Alvarez presented the Fiscal Year 2009 Capital Equipment Request for her office, and indicated the entire request of $7.6 million was needed.

 

Chairman Daley next called on the Honorable David Orr, Cook County Clerk, to address the Committee.

 

Clerk Orr stated that he is amending his original request for $378,000.  That amount has been decreased by $108,000, resulting in a new total of $270,000.  A high priority for his office is the Microsoft Upgrade project, Item 493.  (See Attachment #7)

 

Chairman Daley next called upon the Honorable Dorothy Brown, Clerk of the Circuit Court, to address the Committee.

 

Clerk Brown informed the Committee that she has cut her original capital equipment request of $35.1 million; it has been reduced to $16.5 million, $5 million of which can come from special purpose funds.  The net amount needed from bond proceeds is $11.5 million.  (See Attachment #8).

 

Chairman Daley next called upon the Honorable Timothy C. Evans, Chief Judge, to address the Committee.

 

Judge Evans informed the Committee that the Office of the Chief Judge has decreased their original request of $3.1 million by $1.3 million, for a new total request of $1.8 million.  Judge Evans stated that this total is exclusive of the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC).

 

Chairman Daley called upon Earl Dunlap, Transitional Administrator for the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, to address the Committee.

 

Chairman Daley asked Mr. Dunlap to address the issue with regard to the sign-in system at the JTDC that is inoperable.

 

Mr. Dunlap stated that he was aware the County purchased an employee timekeeping system several years before he assumed his position at the JTDC, but the system was never installed.  Since that time, he has been working collaboratively with the Chief Judge’s management information staff to initiate an automated program for the time clocks.

 

Mr. Dunlap stated that he anticipated that the automated time clock system will probably come on line in the next six months.

 

Chairman Daley next called upon the Honorable Eugene Moore, Cook County Recorder of Deeds, to address the Committee.

 

Darlena Williams-Burnett, Chief Deputy Recorder, Recorder of Deeds Office, informed the Committee that Recorder Moore was unavailable, and that she would speak on his behalf.

 

Chairman Daley stated that he had been informed that there was $2.4 million available in the Document Storage Fund.  Chairman Daley asked Ms. Williams-Burnett whether that money could be used to purchase capital equipment, thus reducing the amount of bond proceeds that would be needed for the Recorder’s Office.

 

Ms. Williams-Burnett responded in the affirmative.  Further, Ms. Williams-Burnett informed the Committee that the Office of the Recorder of Deeds had been told to resubmit previous capital requests at this time, because the amount of bonds that may be issued was still under discussion.

 

Chairman Daley stated that the Committee had expressed its intent to reduce the amount of bond funding by any means possible, including the use of special purpose funds for purchase of capital equipment where appropriate.

 

Ms. Williams-Burnett stated that the Recorder of Deeds would comply with this directive.

 

Chairman Daley recessed the meeting to the hour of 10:00 A.M. on Friday, May 8, 2009 in the County Building, Board Room, Room 569.

 

May 8, 2009

 

Pursuant to notice, your Committee reconvened its recessed meeting of May 6, 2009 and May 7, 2009, on Friday, May 8, 2009 at the hour of 10:00 A.M. in the Board Room, Room 569, 118 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois, to consider Communication No. 299702, for the purpose of conducting departmental reviews of Fiscal Years 2007, 2008 and 2009 Capital Equipments Requests.

 

Chairman Daley called upon Joseph M. Fratto, Chief of Staff, Office of the President, and Interim Chief Financial Officer, Bureau of Finance, to address the Committee.  Mr. Fratto stated that the only request for additional funding in any of the offices under the President comes from the Department of Human Rights, Ethics and Womens’ Issues.

 

Chairman Daley called upon Marynic Foster, Director, Department of Human Rights, Ethics and Womens’ Issues, to address the Committee.

 

Ms. Foster addressed the Committee regarding her request for $2,476.

 

Chairman Daley next called upon Mark Kilgallon, Chief Administrative Officer, Bureau of Administration, to address the Committee.  Mr. Kilgallon noted that Item 25 is a request for $750,000 for a sprinkler system which does not belong in Capital Equipment, but rather belongs under Capital Improvements.  This item will be withdrawn from the Capital Equipment Request.

 

Kimberly Leonard, Business Manager, Office of the Medical Examiner, provided an explanation of the reductions in the Medical Examiner’s request, as follows:  Item 14 is removed.  Four of the lines under Item 16 are removed:  the $1,000 (bench top pH meter), $2,500 (sonicator), $850 (water bath), and $1,000 (shakers).  Under Item 17, the following will be removed:  the Tiffin 62 and 65 mm, and the Promaster chargers and batteries.  Under Item 20, the microscope tables are removed for a $26,000 reduction.  Under Item 22, the following will be removed:  $43,500 for a vacuum tissue processor.  Item 23 is being removed from the request in its entirety, which is $12,600.  Item 24 is also being removed in its entirety, $11,000.  Under Item 26, both the $78,000 and the $2,000 requests are being removed.  Under Item 27, desk chairs are being reduced from $9,308 to $3,580, and the following amounts are being removed from that item:  $5,835, $1,890, and $1,200.  The net reduction, including the relocation of the sprinkler system, is $1,114,222, resulting in a new total request of $939,961.

 

Chairman Daley next called upon Rupert Graham, Superintendent of the Highway Department, to address the Committee.  In response to a question from Commissioner Gainer about the size of the snow removal fleet, Superintendent Graham indicated a written response would be provided.  (See Attachment #9).

 

Herbert Schumann, Chief Financial Officer of the Highway Department, responded to a question from Commissioner Gainer about the merits of leasing verses buying.  He indicated the Department believes leasing is not a less expensive option in the long run.

 

Chairman Daley called on the Honorable Abishi C. Cunningham, Jr., Cook County Public Defender, to address the Commissioners.

 

Mr. Cunningham began with page 17:  Items 31 and 32 were removed from the request.  Item 34, vehicles, was modified from $16,000 to $8,000.  Item 41, projectors, was modified from $14,000 to $10,000.  Item 42, scanners, was modified from $13,000 to $10,000.  Item 46 was removed.  The new total is $1,712,000.

 

Chairman Daley next called upon Dr. Donna Alexander, Director of the Department of Animal Control, to address the Committee.  Dr. Alexander stated that her department had the ability to pay for its capital equipment needs with resources available in the Animal Control Fund, and therefore its $80,000 request is being withdrawn from consideration as part of the bond issuance.

 

Chairman Daley next called upon Bruce Washington, Director of the Bureau of Capital, Planning and Facilities Management, to address the Committee.

 

Chairman Daley informed the Committee that a handout from Mr. Washington is being distributed with his priority projects identified, while other projects are deleted.  Chairman Daley stated that the new amount requested by the Bureau is $7.7 million.  (See Attachment #10)

 

Mr. Washington stated that initially his Bureau submittal a total request of $16.2 million.  After reviewing the request and re-prioritizing, an amended request was prepared at a reduction of $8.5 million.

 

Chairman Daley next called upon Joseph Sova, Chief, Bureau of Human Resources to address the Committee.

 

Chairman Daley stated that Mr. Sova would address Item 392, which was included in the Fiscal Year 2009 request, and was previously approved at $2 million.

 

Commissioner Gainer asked Mr. Sova if he could purchase the requested equipment for a lower amount.

 

Mr. Sova informed Commissioner Gainer that he would negotiate with the vendor in order to obtain the lowest price possible.

 

Chairman Daley next called upon Laura Burman, County Auditor, to address the Committee.

 

Ms. Burman informed the Committee that her request for capital is for seven (7) laptop computers; the current equipment is six years old and is used by field auditors on a daily basis; the equipment fails often and impacts their productivity.

 

Chairman Daley called upon Patrick M. Blanchard, the Independent Inspector General, to address the Committee.

 

Mr. Blanchard stated that there are four (4) separate categories that the Independent Inspector General’s Office is asking for:  1) vehicles; 2) computer equipment; 3) furniture; and 4) security equipment.

 

Mr. Blanchard stated that in regards to the furniture request, there are new employees being hired and they do not have adequate furnishings at this time.

 

Chairman Daley inquired of Bruce Washington whether they had checked in the warehouse to see if any furniture was available.

 

Mr. Washington stated that he has been working with Mr. Blanchard and has identified the space which is being renovated at this time, but there is not enough furniture to outfit the entire request.

 

Chairman Daley next called upon Matthew B. DeLeon, Secretary to the Board of Commissioners, to address the Committee.

 

Chairman Daley referred to a request in the amount of $250,000 to update the Commissioner’s Offices for wireless technology.  He believes it would be inappropriate to approve a request of this nature, at a time when many other similar requests for equipment upgrades are being rejected by the Board.

 

Mr. DeLeon stated that the original budget for this project was $500,000, but after examining the priorities it was reduced by half.  The remaining elements of the project relate to network connectivity in the offices of the commissioners, and this work is necessary.

 

Mr. DeLeon stated that Mr. Hylton indicated that the $250,000 would provide for a new system, while a lesser amount of $75,000 would repair the existing equipment and it would carry the office through a shorter term.

 

Chairman Daley expressed his preference for the lower amount of $75,000, only if the work truly was necessary.

 

Chairman Daley next called upon Nicholas Grapsas, Public Administrator, to address the Committee.

 

Mr. Grapsas explained his request for $15,900 in new computer equipment.

 

Chairman Daley next called upon Jack Weinrauch, Director of the Department of Administrative Hearings, to address the Committee.

 

Mr. Weinrauch explained the need to increase his request from $12,500 to $37,500.  (See Attachment #11)

 

Chairman Daley recessed the meeting to the Call of the Chair.

 


May 18, 2009

 

Pursuant to notice, your Committee reconvened its recessed meeting of May 6, 2009, May 7, 2009 and May 8, 2009 on Monday, May 18, 2009 at the hour of 10:00 A.M. in the Board Room, Room 569, 118 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois, to consider Communication No. 299702, for the purpose of conducting departmental reviews of Fiscal Years 2007, 2008 and 2009 Capital Equipments Requests.

 

Chairman Daley stated the Budget Director has distributed to all members a revised book detailing the current requests for capital equipment.  It was revised based upon statements made by the Elected Officials, Department Heads and Bureau Chiefs during their presentations before the Finance Committee.

 

Further, Chairman Daley stated that the Committee has received a memo from Commissioner Suffredin.  In the memo, Commissioner Suffredin suggested that in order to give full management discretion to each department, the Commissioners should approve lump-sum appropriations for Capital Equipment.  Additionally, his memo proposed amended total amounts for each department, for a revised total request amount of $106,034,599.

 

Commissioner Suffredin stated that there is timeline issue which he has discussed with the Budget Director; the timeline issue is that the Commissioners are still going to have to amend the underlying Bond Ordinance to add whatever dollar amount of bonding this would add up to.  Amending the previously adopted Bond Ordinance is not currently before the Board of Commissioners, and the earliest date that it could be considered is June 2nd, 2009.  In conclusion, Commissioner Suffredin stated that his proposed action would be to grant all capital equipment requests under $2.5 million.  For amounts over $2.5 million, the Committee would approve a proportional flat amount that would apply to each department, thus allowing for department heads, bureau chiefs, and elected officials to make their priority choices within that limitation.

 

Commissioner Suffredin stated that based upon information he received from the Budget Director, there is an extra $20 million that could be added to the total request.

 

Takashi Reinbold, Director of the Department of Budget and Management Services, stated that the $20 million figure Commissioner Suffredin has identified comes from the difference between what was originally allocated for capital spending, and what was adopted.  Originally $262 million was approved, yet the Board has adopted a $242 million balance.

 

Chairman Daley asked if a County-wide emergency were to arise that required an unanticipated capital expense, from where would that money be taken?

 

Mr. Reinbold stated that $242 million was approved which was a combination of $127.5 million for Fiscal Year 2009 and $115.3 million for Fiscal Year 2010.  There is nothing set aside for unexpected emergencies.

 

Chairman Daley stated that the Budget Office should prepare a report regarding how much Cook County can expect to receive from the federal stimulus package.

 

Commissioner Collins suggested that a grant department be established, which would focus only on grant writing.

 

Mr. Reinbold informed Commissioner Collins that in the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget, there was a business unit created in his department in which there is a person who is responsible for grant writing.  Also, an individual in the Comptroller’s Office is responsible for coordinating the effort to maximize the flow of stimulus money to Cook County.

 

Commissioner Collins inquired whether that individual was present.  Ben Oluwole Johnson, Deputy Comptroller for Cook County, identified himself and addressed the Committee regarding his duties.

 

Chairman Daley asked Mr. Johnson if he would be able to meet with each commissioner to brief them on his work to capture federal stimulus money.  Mr. Johnson indicated he would do so.

 

Commissioner Silvestri inquired whether the proposal from Commissioner Suffredin includes additional projects in the Sheriff’s Office that were previously approved.

 

Commissioner Suffredin responded that those projects were not included because approval was already granted.

 

Mr. Reinbold informed the Commissioners that they have previously approved $8.4 million in projects for the Sheriff, and that $4 million of that has already been encumbered and has purchase order numbers assigned.

 

Alexis Herrera, Chief Financial Officer for the Sheriff’s Office, concurred that $8.4 million in projects were previously approved.  Last week Mr. Reinbold informed her that $4.2 million was already in purchase orders and it did not have to be included in the total request before the Finance Committee at this time.  The balance of $4.2 million is part of the jail management information system, but they do not have purchase orders prepared as of yet.

 

Commissioner Silvestri asked about the source of the remaining $4.2 million.

 

Commissioner Suffredin explained that the last time a bond amendment was adopted, the Commissioners raised it to $252 million, and that new total included $8.4 million for the projects requested by the Sheriff.

 

Commissioner Suffredin stated that the remaining balance of $4.2 million in the Sheriff’s request was addressed by increasing the Sheriff’s amount and reducing the request for the Health and Hospitals System by a corresponding amount.  This adjustment was discussed with the Health and Hospitals System, and they have agreed to accept it.

 

Chairman Daley asked for leave to have the Health and Hospitals System state for the record that they accept the reduction.

 

William Foley, Chief Executive Officer for the Cook County Health and Hospitals System, stated that they agree with Commissioner Suffredin and accept the modification.

 

Chairman Daley stated that Commissioners Collins, Gorman, Goslin, Maldonado, Schneider, Silvestri and Steele have asked to be added as sponsors.

 

Commissioner Suffredin, seconded by Commissioner Goslin, moved to accept the Substitute Resolution for Communication Number 299702.  The motion carried.  Commissioner Butler voted no.

 

Commissioner Suffredin, seconded by Commissioner Goslin, moved that the Substitute Resolution (Communication Number 299702) be approved and adopted, as amended.  Commissioner Silvestri called for a Roll Call, the vote of yeas and nays being as follows:

 

ROLL CALL ON MOTION TO approve as amended

 

Yeas:

Commissioners Collins, Gainer, Gorman, Goslin, Maldonado, Schneider, Silvestri, Vice Chairman Sims, Steele, Suffredin and Chairman Daley (11)

 

Nays:

Commissioner Butler (1)

 

Absent:

Commissioners Beavers, Claypool, Moreno, Murphy and Peraica (5)

 

THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE SUBSTITUTE RESOLUTION WAS APPROVED AND ADOPTED, AS AMENDED.

 

#299702 AS AMENDED

 

RESOLUTION

 

Sponsored by

THE HONORABLE LARRY SUFFREDIN, JOHN P. DALEY, BRIDGET GAINER,

EARLEAN COLLINS, ELIZABETH “LIZ” DOODY GORMAN, GREGG GOSLIN,

ROBERTO MALDONADO, TIMOTHY O. SCHNEIDER, PETER N. SILVESTRI

AND ROBERT B. STEELE, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

 

COUNTY BOARD REVIEW OF CAPITAL EQUIPMENT REQUESTS

 

WHEREAS, Cook County Departments, Bureaus, the Health System and the separately Elected Officials have numerous capital equipment requests previously approved and/or pending that are essential to their successful operations; and

 

WHEREAS, a number of the 2007, 2008 and 2009 fiscal years’ capital equipment requests are necessary to comply with court orders, decrees and for the provision of quality and efficient service; and

 

WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners previously approved capital equipment requests and funding for fiscal years 2007 and 2008; however the Board has indicated its desire to review further said requests; and

 

WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners previously approved capital equipment requests and funding for fiscal year 2009, however, the Board of Commissioners has yet to approve the finance team which is necessary to issue the general obligation bonds and provide the funding for the purchase of the 2009 fiscal year capital equipment requests; and

 

WHEREAS, it is essential to the successful operation of County business to move forward and provide funding for essential capital equipment requests; and

 

WHEREAS, there has been minimal support among the County Board to borrow funds long-term for the financing of capital equipment requests and to authorize the spending of funds previously approved for the fiscal years’ 2007 and 2008 capital equipment requests; and

 

WHEREAS, the Cook County Board should review in detail the 2007, 2008 and 2009 fiscal years’ capital equipment requests in order to determine which equipment requests are essential to providing quality service and to the successful operation of County government; and

 

WHEREAS, upon review of the capital equipment requests and said approval, the necessary funding and finance teams shall be approved by the County Board to fund capital equipment requests that are not covered by existing capital equipment funds.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners conduct a thorough review of the 2007, 2008 and 2009 fiscal years’ capital equipment requests and determine which capital equipment requests are necessary to the successful operation of County government; and that the Cook County Board of Commissioners approves Capital Equipment Requests for Fiscal Year 2009 in the following amounts, pursuant to Attachment A

 

Offices Under the President                                                                  $             2,476

Bureau of Administration                                                                       $      8,310,814

Bureau of Finance                                                                                 $      1,080,287

Cook County Health and Hospitals System                                          $    37,791,754

Bureau of Human Resources                                                                $      2,000,000

Bureau of Capital, Planning, and Facilities Management                      $      7,755,329

Bureau of Technology                                                                            $    21,132,450

County Auditor                                                                                       $           14,000

Office of the Independent Inspector General                                         $         145,000

Public Administrator                                                                               $           15,990

Administrative Hearing Board                                                                $           37,498

County Board of Commissioners                                                          $           75,000

Cook County Assessor                                                                          $      1,028,727

Board of Review                                                                                    $         319,475

Chief Judge                                                                                            $      7,032,426

Clerk of the Circuit Court                                                                       $      4,000,000

County Clerk                                                                                          $         250,000

Office of the Sheriff                                                                                $      9,043,373

State’s Attorney                                                                                      $      6,000,000

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the approved capital equipment requests not covered under existing capital funds shall be included in a general obligation bond for equipment.

 

ATTACHMENT A TO COMMUNICATION NO. 299702

 

DEPARTMENT                                                          REQUEST                     PROPOSAL          _

                                                                                                            Under $2.5M      Over $2.5M

 

Offices under the President

 

002   Human Rights, Ethics & Women’s Issues                  $2,476             $2,476

 

Total Offices under the President                                   $2,476             $2,476

 

Bureau of Administration

 

011   Chief Administrative Officer                                     $711,718         $711,718

161   Environmental Control                                             $228,500         $228,500

259   Medical Examiner                                                 $1,068,022      $1,068,022

260   Public Defender                                                    $1,614,274      $1,614,274

452   Veterans’ Assistance Commission                             $5,300             $5,300

500   Highway                                                                $4,683,000      _________      $4,683,000

                                                                                                               $3,627,814      $4,683,000

 

Total Bureau of Administration                                 $8,310,814      $8,310,814

 

Bureau of Finance

 

007   Revenue                                                                   $133,500         $133,500

014   Budget and Management Services                           $40,883           $40,883

020   Comptroller                                                              $165,004         $165,004

022   Contract Compliance                                               $300,000         $300,000

030   Purchasing Agent                                                    $440,900         $440,900

 

Total Bureau of Finance                                             $1,080,287      $1,080,287

 

Cook County Health and Hospitals System (CCHHS)

 

240   Cermak Health Services                                       $1,917,775      $1,917,775

568   JTDC – Health                                                           $12,960           $12,960

890   Chief Health Administrator                                  $21,706,651                              $10,000,000

891   Provident Hospital                                                 $8,230,261                              $  3,000,000

893   Ambulatory & Community Health Care Network     $358,473         $358,473

895   Public Health                                                            $340,544         $340,544

897   Stroger Hospital                                                  $27,524,315                              $20,162,002

898   Oak Forest Hospital                                              $3,899,020      _________      $  2,000,000

                                                                                                               $2,629,752      $35,162,002

 

Total CCHHS                                                              $63,989,999    $37,791,754

 


 

DEPARTMENT                                                          REQUEST                     PROPOSAL          _

                                                                                                            Under $2.5M      Over $2.5M

 

Bureau of Capital, Planning & Facilities Management

 

013   Planning and Development                                        $14,838           $14,838

031   Capital Planning and Policy                                  $6,990,491                              $6,990,491

200   Facilities Management                                             $750,000         $750,000      __________

                                                                                                                  $764,838      $6,990,491

 

Total Capital, Planning & Facilities Management   $7,755,329      $7,755,329

 

Bureau of Technology

 

009   Chief Information Officer                                     $22,820,950                              $12,500,000

012   Management of Information Systems (MIS)       $14,765,700                              $  4,500,000

016   Telecommunication Operations                              $132,450         $132,450

023   Office Technology                                                 $5,545,450          _______      $  4,000,000

                                                                                                                  $132,450      $21,000,000

 

Total Bureau of Technology                                    $43,264,550    $21,132,450

 

Chief Judge

 

305   Public Guardian                                                       $139,500         $139,500

310   Chief Judge                                                              $903,350         $903,350

326   Juvenile Probation and Court Services                   $479,196         $479,196

569   Juvenile Temporary Detention Center                  $5,510,380          _______      $5,510,380

                                                                                                               $1,522,046      $5,510,380

 

Total Chief Judge                                                        $7,032,426      $7,032,426

 

Sheriff

 

211   Fiscal Administration and Support Services      $11,992,271                              $4,000,000

230   Court Services                                                           $49,000           $49,000

231   Police Department                                                   $156,375         $156,375

239   Department of Corrections                                   $4,837,998          _______      $4,837,998

                                                                                                                  $205,375      $8,837,998

 

Total Sheriff                                                               $17,035,644      $9,043,373

 

 

018   Board of Commissioners                                        $75,000           $75,000

 

026   Administrative Hearing Board                               $37,498           $37,498

 

040   Assessor                                                              $1,028,727      $1,028,727


 

DEPARTMENT                                                          REQUEST                     PROPOSAL          _

                                                                                                            Under $2.5M      Over $2.5M

 

050   Board of Review                                                    $319,475         $319,475

 

070   County Auditor                                                         $14,000           $14,000

 

080   Independent Inspector General                          $145,000         $145,000

 

110   County Clerk                                                          $250,000         $250,000

 

250   State’s Attorney                                                  $7,521,720                              $6,000,000

 

335   Clerk of the Circuit Court                                $11,536,200                              $4,000,000

 

390   Public Administrator                                                $15,990           $15,990

 

         Total                                                                                            $13,850,728      $92,183,871

 

                                                                                      Requested       Proposed

GRAND TOTAL                                                        $171,415,135  $106,034,599

 

Commissioner Silvestri, seconded by Vice Chairman Sims, moved to adjourn the meeting.  The motion carried and the meeting was adjourned.

 

YOUR COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS

WITH REGARD TO THE MATTER NAMED HEREIN:

 

Communication Number 299702                   Approve as amended

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Committee on Finance

 

 

 

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

John P. Daley, Chairman

 

Attest:

 

 

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Matthew B. DeLeon, Secretary

 

The transcript for this meeting is available in the Office of the Secretary to the Board, 118 North Clark Street, Room 567, Chicago, IL  60602.