REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION, INTERGOVERNMENTAL

AND VETERANS RELATIONS

 

July 20, 2009

Recessed and Reconvened on July 21, 2009

 

 

The Honorable,

The Board of Commissioners of Cook County

 

ATTENDANCE (JULY 20, 2009)

 

Present:

Chairman Suffredin, Vice Chairman Silvestri, Commissioners Beavers, Collins, Daley, Gainer, Gorman and Sims (8)

 

Absent:

Commissioners Butler, Claypool, Goslin, Maldonado, Moreno, Murphy, Peraica, Schneider and Steele (9)

 

Also Present:

Clem Balanoff, Deputy County Clerk, Office of the Cook County Clerk; Mr. Fortino Carrillo

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

        Your Committee on Legislation, Intergovernmental and Veterans Relations of the Board of Commissioners of Cook County met pursuant to notice on Monday, July 20, 2009 at the hour of 10:00 A.M. in the Board Room, Room 569, County Building, 118 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois.

 

It was determined that a quorum was not present, however, discussion was held.

 

Mr. Carrillo delivered brief remarks.  His resume was entered into the record.

 

Clem Balanoff, Deputy County Clerk, Office of the Cook County Clerk, delivered remarks and answered questions.

 

Chairman Suffredin, in response to Commissioner Daley’s request, asked that the following documents regarding notice of changes in precinct boundaries in District 11 be entered into the record:

 

  1. Letter dated June 11, 2009 from Finance Chairman John P. Daley addressed to The Honorable Randy J. Keller, Mayor of Worth, Illinois

 

  1. Email dated July 16, 2009 from Chairman John P. Daley addressed to The Honorable Randy J. Keller, Mayor of Worth, Illinois

 

  1. Email dated July 16, 2009 from Mayor Keller to Commissioner John P. Daley

 

  1. Letter dated June 11, 2009 from Commissioner John P. Daley addressed to The Honorable Daniel O’Reilly, Mayor of the Village of Stickney, Illinois

 

  1. Email dated July 16, 2009 from John P. Daley, Finance Chairman, to The Honorable Daniel O’Reilly, Mayor of the Village of Stickney, Illinois

 

  1. Email dated July 16, 2009 from Mayor O’Reilly to Commissioner John P. Daley

 

  1. Letter dated June 11, 2009 from John P. Daley, Finance Chairman, addressed to The Honorable Michael Looney, Stickney, Illinois Committeeman

 

  1. Letter dated June 11, 2009 from John P. Daley, Finance Chairman, addressed to The Honorable John F. Murphy, Worth Township Supervisor

 

  1. Letter dated June 11, 2009 from John P. Daley, Finance Chairman, addressed to The Honorable Louis S. Viverito, Township Supervisor

 

Commissioner Daley also requested that the following be entered into the record: Cook County Clerk David Orr contacted all of the township committeemen and asked them whether they had any objections and, if so, directed them to contact Mr. Balanoff.  It is Commissioner Daley’s understanding that a few of the committeemen may have contacted Mr. Balanoff.  There has been notice given out to the township committeemen as well as all the Commissioners, and Commissioner Daley contacted the various mayors.

 

Commissioner Sims noted for the record that she sent letters of notification of changes in precinct boundaries to the mayors and supervisors in her District.

 

Vice Chairman Silvestri noted for the record that he sent letters of notification of changes in precinct boundaries to the mayors, supervisors and committeemen in his District.

 

Chairman Suffredin noted for the record that he sent letters of notifications of changes in precinct boundaries to the every mayor and village clerk in his District, as well as to Democratic and Republican committeemen.  Additionally, Chairman Suffredin’s office did approach Mr. Balanoff with some changes to Niles Township, and Mr. Balanoff accommodated those requested changes.

 

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.  George Blakemore – Concerned Citizen

 

Chairman Suffredin recessed the meeting to the Call of the Chair at 9:50 A.M. on Tuesday, July 21, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ATTENDANCE (RECONVENED JULY 21, 2009)

 

Present:

Chairman Suffredin, Vice Chairman Silvestri, Commissioners Butler, Collins, Daley, Gainer, Gorman, Goslin, Murphy, Peraica, Schneider and Sims (12)

 

Absent:

 Commissioners Beavers, Claypool, Maldonado, Moreno and Steele (5)

 

Also Present:    Clem Balanoff, Deputy County Clerk, Office of the Cook County Clerk

 

        Your Committee on Legislation, Intergovernmental and Veterans Relations of the Board of Commissioners of Cook County reconvened on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at the hour of 9:50 A.M. at 118 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois 60602.

 

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

 

300846

CALLING UPON THE GOVERNOR TO VETO VIDEO POKER (PROPOSED RESOLUTION).  Submitting a Proposed Resolution sponsored by Earlean Collins, County Commissioner; Co-Sponsored by Bridget Gainer, Joan Patricia Murphy, Elizabeth “Liz” Doody Gorman and Deborah Sims, County Commissioners.

 

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

 

CALLING UPON THE GOVERNOR TO VETO VIDEO POKER

 

WHEREAS, Cook County is a home rule unit of local government pursuant to Article VII, Section 6 (a) of the 1970 Illinois Constitution, and as such may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs; and

 

WHEREAS, the Cook County Board recognizes the tremendous economic challenges facing the State of Illinois and the nation, we also recognize that there has to be revenue in order to meet essential challenges like capital development and improvements in order to ensure the safety and welfare of the people we represent; and

 

WHEREAS, we feel that the proposed revenue projection from video poker does not provide a solid revenue stream for capital bonds proposed in the State budget; and

 

WHEREAS, the proposed Video Poker Bill which does not fall under the purview of regulations and monitoring of the Illinois Gaming Act raises serious questions as to the fiscal impact upon local units of government to enforce any unlawful acts or behavior rising out of the operation or customers utilization of such gaming machines; and

 

 

WHEREAS, the portion of money that is estimated to go to County government is questionable as to meet the additional financial need to ensure law and order; and

 

WHEREAS, there is no responsibility for the treatment of those who may become addicted to such machines also poses additional health cost to and already overburdened health system.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the President and the Cook County Board of Commissioner call upon the Governor and the leadership of both houses of the General Assembly to reevaluate the negative consequences of unregulated or monitored video gambling before moving forward on signing such Act into law.

 

*Referred to the Committee on Legislation, Intergovernmental and Veterans Relations on June 2, 2009.

 

Commissioner Gainer, seconded by Vice Chairman Silvestri, moved to Receive and File Communication No. 300846.  The motion carried.

 

301189

COOK COUNTY CLERK, David Orr, by Jan Kralovec, Director of Elections, transmitting a Communication:

 

The Clerk is submitting for approval changes in precinct boundaries under the jurisdiction of the Cook County Election Department.  The Clerk proposes to eliminate 350 361 voting precincts changing the total number from 2,290 to 1,940.  More than half of these precincts share a polling place with other precincts.

 

Reducing the number of precincts and combining precincts will save the costs associated with the Judges of Elections, equipment programming, equipment delivery and polling place rental fees.

 

*Referred to the Committee on Legislation, Intergovernmental and Veterans Relations on June 16, 2009.

 

Mr. Balanoff answered questions.

 

Vice Chairman Silvestri, seconded by Commissioner Daley, moved to Amend Communication No.  301189.  The motion carried.

 

Vice Chairman Silvestri, seconded by Commissioner Daley, moved to Approve Communication No. 301189 as Amended.  The motion carried.

 

Commissioner Schneider voted No on the above Item.

 

 

 

 

301511

CENTRAL STICKNEY SANITARY DISTRICT (APPOINTMENT).  Transmitting a Communication, dated June 30, 2009, from Todd H. Stroger, President:

 

Please be advised that I hereby appoint FORTINO CARRILLO to the Central Stickney Sanitary District to fill the vacancy created by the recent passing of Edward Provost.  Mr. Carrillo’s term shall expire May 1, 2010.

 

I submit this communication for your approval.

 

*Referred to the Committee on Legislation, Intergovernmental and Veterans Relations on July 2, 2009.

 

Commissioner Daley, seconded by Commissioner Murphy, moved the approval of Communication No. 301511.  The motion carried.

 

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

 

YOUR COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS

WITH REGARD TO THE MATTERS NAMED HEREIN:

 

Communication Number 300846         Received and Filed

Communication Number 301189         Approved as Amended

Communication Number 301511         Approved

 

 

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.