REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION,

INTERGOVERNMENTAL & VETERANS RELATIONS

 

February 2, 2009

 

The Honorable,

The Board of Commissioners of Cook County

 

ATTENDANCE

 

Present:

Chairman Suffredin, Vice Chairman Silvestri, Commissioners Butler, Claypool, Collins, Daley, Gorman, Goslin, Maldonado, Moreno, Murphy, Quigley, Schneider, Sims and (14)

 

Absent:

Commissioners Beavers, Peraica and Steele (3)

 

Also Present:

Jack Weinrauch – Deputy Liquor Commissioner; Derek Blaida – Special Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs; Pat Curtner – Managing Partner, Chapman & Cutler, Bond Counsel

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

        Your Committee on Legislation, Intergovernmental & Veterans Relations of the Board of Commissioners of Cook County met pursuant to notice on Monday, February 2, 2009 at the hour of 10:00 A.M. in the Board Room, Room 569, County Building, 118 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois.

 

        Your Committee has considered the following items and upon adoption of this report, the recommendations are as follows:

 

298138

ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING DIRECTOR (APPOINTMENT). Transmitting a Communication, dated January 6, 2009 from Todd H. Stroger, President, Cook County Board of Commissioners:

 

Pursuant to Chapter 2 Administration, Section 2-901(b) of the Cook County Code of Ordinances, I hereby appoint JACK WEINRAUCH to the position of Administrative Hearing Director effective immediately.

 

I submit this communication for your approval.

 

*Referred to the Committee on Legislation, Intergovernmental and Veterans Relations on January 13, 2009.

 

Commissioner Daley, seconded by Vice Chairman Silvestri, moved the approval of Communication No. 298138.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

 

 

 

 

 

**

Pursuant to Resolution 09-R-63, approved by the County Board on January 13, 2009, a meeting to discuss the Resolution, in relevant part:

 

NOW, THEREORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that, pursuant to Resolution 09-R-63, the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby request that a meeting of the Legislation, Intergovernmental & Veterans Relations Committee be convened at a time to be determined on Monday, February 2, 2009 to discuss the status of pending legislation, including the Federal Economic Stimulus Plan and the State of Illinois Capital Program; and

 

NOW, THEREORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that, pursuant to Resolution 09-R-63, Mr. Derek Blaida of the President’s Office governmental relations staff and the County’s hired lobbyists appear before the Committee Meeting an be prepared to update the Committee on legislation pending before the General Assembly and the U.S. Congress that effects Cook County’s services and operations and report on their 2008 activities.

 

**Approved by the County Board on January 13, 2009.

 

Derek Blaida, Special Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs, delivered an oral presentation.  He agreed to supply a written version of his presentation to the Commissioners.

 

Chairman Suffredin stated that he would look into putting together a subcommittee to meet with Senator Durbin, or alternately, to invite select elected officials to a Legislation, Intergovernmental & Veterans Relations Committee meeting.

 

Chairman Suffredin stated that he would work with Mr. Blaida to draft a resolution for the 02-04-09 Board Meeting regarding the two pending, federal Medicaid Rules.

 

Vice Chairman Silvestri, seconded by Commissioner Sims, moved to receive and file Mr. Blaida’s report.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

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

 

1.        Christine Boardman – President, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 73

2.        Janice Benson, M.D. – Medical Staff President, Stroger Hospital of Cook County

3.              Frank Borgers – Research and Legislative Analyst, National Nurses Organizing Committee

 

Pat Curtner, Managing Partner, Chapman & Cutler, Bond Counsel, spoke concerning the bonds currently under consideration by the Board of Commissioners.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chairman Suffredin requested that the following documents be entered into the record:

 

1.                  Letter dated 01-15-09 from Suzi Schmidt, President, and Larry Walsh, Vice President, METRO Counties of Illinois

 

2.                  Letter dated 01-29-09 from Richard R. Boykin to President Stroger

 

3.                  Letter dated 12-05-08 from Commissioner Suffredin to President Stroger

 

4.                  Cook County, Illinois Economic Stimulus Project Requests, submitted by Mr. Blaida

 

5.                  Jack Weinrauch’s written statement

 

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

 

YOUR COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS

WITH REGARD TO THE MATTERS NAMED HEREIN:

 

                        Communication No. 298138               Approved

                        Derek Blaida’s Report                         Received and Filed

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Committee on Legislation, Intergovernmental & Veterans Relations

 

 

 

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Larry Suffredin, Chairman

Attest:

 

 

 

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Matthew B. DeLeon, Secretary

 

*The audio recording for this meeting is available from the Office of the Secretary to the Board, 118 North Clark Street, Room 567, Chicago, IL 60602.