REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION, INTERGOVERNMENTAL & VETERANS RELATIONS

 

October 19, 2009

 

The Honorable,

The Board of Commissioners of Cook County

 

ATTENDANCE

 

Present:

Chairman Suffredin, Vice Chairman Silvestri, Butler, Collins, Daley, Gorman, Maldonado, Murphy, Peraica, Reyes, Schneider and Sims (11)

 

Absent:

 Commissioners Beavers,  Claypool,  Gainer, Goslin, Moreno, Steele (6)

 

Also Present:

Mr. Ray Ruel Babilla; Mr. Rob Breymaier; Mr. Juan Calixto; Ms.  Constance M. Kravitz, CPA; Ms. Annie I. Shaw

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

        Your Committee on Legislation, Intergovernmental & Veterans Relations of the Board of Commissioners of Cook County met pursuant to notice on Monday, October 19, 2009, at the hour of 11:00 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:

 

302612

COOK COUNTY COMPTROLLER (APPOINTMENT).  Transmitting a Communication, dated September 10, 2009 from Todd H. Stroger, President, Cook County Board of Commissioners:

 

Pursuant to § 2-411 of the Cook County Code, I hereby appoint Ms. CONSTANCE M. KRAVITZ to the position of Comptroller, effective immediately. 

 

Ms. Kravitz is a Certified Public Accountant with 19 years of government accounting and auditing experience, both in the private and public sectors.  Ms. Kravitz has held significant and key accounting and auditing positions with several sister agencies, including St. Clair County where she held the titles of Finance Director and Deputy Clerk, the City of Chicago where she served as the Assistant Comptroller, and the Chicago Park District where she served as the Comptroller.

 

With respect to Ms. Kravitz’ private sector experience in government accounting and auditing, Ms. Kravitz worked as a Senior Auditor for both RSM McGladrey, Inc., an accounting firm with over 120 offices nationwide, and the global accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche, LLC.

 

 

 

Ms. Kravitz’ strong background in government accounting and auditing, both in the private and public sectors, will make her an asset to the Bureau of Finance as the Comptroller.

 

I submit this communication for your approval.

 

*Referred to the Committee on Legislation, Intergovernmental and Veterans Relations on 09-16-09.

 

Commissioner Daley asked Ms. Kravitz to provide a brief summary of the changes she would like to implement were she to become the Cook County Comptroller.

 

Ms. Kravitz replied that what might be useful is a tracking system for invoices, as well as vendor education concerning invoices.

 

Commissioner Daley suggested that the trial balance process be updated; currently the trial balances arrive a few months behind schedule.

 

Mrs. Kravitz concurred.

 

Chairman Suffredin inquired whether Ms. Kravitz perceives any possible conflicts with the current accounting firms with whom the County is working, based upon the subpoenas they have received.  He further inquired whether that would cause any delays in the processing of the records and reports the County will need.

 

Ms. Kravitz replied in the negative.  She stated that she has investigated these accusations very thoroughly and she does not foresee any issues pertaining to issuing financial statements on time.

 

Chairman Suffredin inquired whether the issuance of these subpoenas by a prosecutor’s office will cause any potential conflict with the accounting firms being able to work with individuals within the County’s Finance Department.

 

Ms. Kravitz replied in the negative.

 

Chairman Suffredin inquired how quickly Ms. Kravitz expects to be able to streamline and computerize the trial balances, to achieve transparent and ease of search.

 

Ms. Kravitz replied that she would need help, and a database would need to be created; she estimated overall this would take five or six months.

 

Commissioner Daley, seconded by Vice Chairman Silvestri, moved the Approval of Communication No. 302612.  The motion carried.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

302896

OAK MEADOW SANITARY DISTRICT (APPOINTMENT).  Transmitting a Communication, dated September 10, 2009, from Todd H. Stroger, President, Cook County Board of Commissioners:

 

I hereby appoint Mr. RAY RUEL BABILLA to the Oak Meadow Sanitary District for a term to expire May 6, 2012.

 

I submit this communication for your approval.

 

*Referred to the Committee on Legislation, Intergovernmental and Veterans Relations on 10-06-09.

 

Commissioner Gorman, seconded by Commissioner Murphy, moved the Approval of Communication No. 302896.  The motion carried.

 

302897

COOK COUNTY BOARD OF ETHICS (APPOINTMENT).  Transmitting a Communication, dated September 10, 2009, from Todd H. Stroger, President, Cook County Board of Commissioners:

 

I hereby appoint Mr. JUAN CALIXTO to the Cook County Board of Ethics, to fill the vacancy left by Ms. Angela E.L. Barnes, for a term to begin immediately and expire on November 1, 2011.

 

I submit this communication for your approval.

 

*Referred to the Committee on Legislation, Intergovernmental and Veterans Relations on 10-06-09.

 

Vice Chairman Silvestri, seconded by Commissioner Daley, moved the Approval of Communication No. 302897.  The motion carried.

 

302898

COOK COUNTY BOARD OF ETHICS (APPOINTMENT).  Transmitting a Communication, dated September 10, 2009, from Todd H. Stroger, President, Cook County Board of Commissioners:

 

I hereby appoint Ms. ANNE I. SHAW, Esq. to the Cook County Board of Ethics for a term to expire November 1, 2013.

 

I submit this communication for your approval.

 

*Referred to the Committee on Legislation, Intergovernmental and Veterans Relations on 10-06-09.

 

Vice Chairman Silvestri, seconded by Commissioner Daley, moved the Approval of Communication No. 302898.  The motion carried.

 

 

 

 

302899

COOK COUNTY COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS (APPOINTMENT).  Transmitting a Communication, dated September 10, 2009, from Todd H. Stroger, President, Cook County Board of Commissioners:

 

I hereby appoint Mr. ROB BREYMAIER to the Cook County Commission on Human Rights for a term to expire July 1, 2010.

 

I submit this communication for your approval.

 

*Referred to the Committee on Legislation, Intergovernmental and Veterans Relations on 10-06-09.

 

Vice Chairman Silvestri, seconded by Commissioner Murphy, moved the Approval of Communication No.  302899.  The motion carried.

 

302900

COOK COUNTY COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS (APPOINTMENT).  Transmitting a Communication, dated September 10, 2009, from Todd H. Stroger, President, Cook County Board of Commissioners:

 

I hereby appoint Mr. KENNETH A. GUNN, Esq. to the Cook County Commission on Human Rights for a term to expire July 1, 2011.

 

I submit this communication for your approval.

 

*Referred to the Committee on Legislation, Intergovernmental and Veterans Relations on 10-06-09.

 

Commissioner Daley, seconded by Commissioner Murphy, moved to Defer Communication No. 302900.  The motion carried.

 

302901

COOK COUNTY COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS (APPOINTMENT).  Transmitting a Communication, dated September 10, 2009, from Todd H. Stroger, President, Cook County Board of Commissioners:

 

I hereby appoint Ms. ANDREA SÁENZ to the Cook County Commission on Human Rights for a term to expire July 1, 2012.

 

I submit this communication for your approval.

 

*Referred to the Committee on Legislation, Intergovernmental and Veterans Relations on 10-06-09.

 

Vice Chairman Silvestri, seconded by Commissioner Reyes, moved to Defer Communication No. 302901.  The motion carried.

 

 

 

 

 

302902

COOK COUNTY COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS (APPOINTMENT).  Transmitting a Communication, dated September 29, 2009, from Todd H. Stroger, President, Cook County Board of Commissioners:

 

I hereby appoint Mr. ARSHAD JAVID to the Cook County Commission on Human Rights for a term to expire July 1, 2011.

 

I submit this communication for your approval.

 

*Referred to the Committee on Legislation, Intergovernmental and Veterans Relations on 10-06-09.

 

Commissioner Daley, seconded by Commissioner Murphy, moved to Defer Communication No 302902.  The motion carried.

 

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

 

  1. Resume of Constance M. Kravitz, CPA

 

  1. Letter dated 10-07-09 from Tariq Malhance, President, UIB Capital

 

  1. Letter dated 09-15-09 from Steven J. Lux, Comptroller, City of Chicago

 

  1. Letter dated 10-15-09 from Timothy J. Mitchell, General Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer, Chicago Park District

 

  1. Resume of Ray R. Babilla

 

  1. Resume of Rob Breymaier

 

  1. Resume of Anne I. Shaw, Esq.

 

  1. Resume of Juan Calixto

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

YOUR COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS

WITH REGARD TO THE MATTERS NAMED HEREIN:

 

Communication Number 302612         Approved

Communication Number 302896         Approved

Communication Number 302897         Approved

Communication Number 302898         Approved

Communication Number 302899         Approved

Communication Number 302900         Deferred

Communication Number 302901         Deferred

Communication Number 302902         Deferred

 

 

 

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.