2007-10-24 - Commission for Residents with Disabilities - Minutes Board or Commission: ❑ Commission on Residents With Disabilities
Document Type: ❑A e
g nda 0 Minutes
Meeting ate: 10/24/2007
Type of Meeting: ❑ Regular Meeting
MINUTES OF THE BUFFALO GROVE COMMISSION
FOR RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES MEETING
October 24, 2007
Call to Order -Meeting called to order by Chairman Kahen at 1900 hours.
Roll Call - Rick Kahen, Beverly Sussman, Debbie Holm, Judy Samuels, Sue
Gottlieb, Debbie Verson, Mara Sabath, Donna Garfield, Trustee Brian
Rubin,Larry K. Swieca.
Absent: Dave Morton, Geri Miller-Brown, Mark Weiner, and Dean Klassman.
Guest: State Representative Kathy Ryg
Approval of Minutes -Minutes of August 22, 2007. Motion by Commissioner Sabbath;
second by Commissioner Sussman to approve the minutes- Subject to changes after
further review.
Minutes of September 27, 2007. Motion by Commissioner Sussman; second by
Commissioner Sabath to approve the minutes- Subject to changes after further
review.
Chairman Kahen's report:
BG Days wrap up:
For next year's carnival will look into the use of wrist bands.
Cut down the entrance to the food tent; restrict it to one person at a time.
During peak periods there were not enough shuttle carts. JV from the BG Days
Committee gave approval to commandeer extra carts as needed.
Put a bench by the police barricade on Church Street for those waiting for the
shuttle.
V. Commissioner's Reports: None
VI. Sub-Committee Reports: None
VIII. Staff Liaison Report: None
IX. Other Business: Representative Kathy Ryg provided a legislative update. State
Rep. Terry Link is working on a bill that would offer an additional $2K
Homestead exemption for disabled property owners. The Illinois Department of
Revenue will be providing the rules on who is eligible and how to apply for it.
The general Homestead exemptions are also changed $5500 in 2008, will increase
to $6000 in 2009. The exemption for seniors will increase from $3500 to $4000
and then the disabled exemption will add an additional $2000. This is House bill
664. Tammy Duckworth is working for an exemption for returning veterans that
would provide a one—time $5000 exemption and disabled veterans would also
receive an exemption.
Other services and needs: The State is working to define Traumatic Brain
Injury, is it a mental illness or a medical condition. Illinois is taking a lead on
some issues. Lt. Governor Pat Quinn is a strong advocate for disabled rights
and benefits.
Municipalities are now allowed to abate their portion of property taxes for a
Public Safety Officer who is killed in the line-of-duty.
Impact on revenue/taxes will be dependant on how narrow or wide the definition
or scope is.
Transit: State Rep Sidney Mathias is a very strong advocate of keeping Metra
and Pace going and even upgrading services. For the past 4 years he has worked
on Senate Bill 572 which would levy $.0025 sales tax in the entire 6 county area
to help fund mass transit. Chicago will be responsible for funding the CTA. Ride
DuPage is being held up as a model of efficient, effective transportation. State
will be allowing Metra to issue bonds, (for the first time). Another $.0025 would
be levied for road improvement and construction in the collar counties. So for
example Lake County would have an additional $.005 added in sales tax. Support
SB 572 f you wish to fund improved transportation.
TRIP: This was a 5 township pilot program that would provide transportation
across township borders. The project works well but funding for it is running out.
West Deerfield Township has recently had changes to its leadership and will be
working with Lake County. They have started a paratransit program.
Lake County has developed a Transportation Alliance. The lst year they will be
studying County roads. The 2nd year they will be working on needs for paratransit.
(This is not a highly organized group, very grass-roots style). They would look at
SEDOL, PACE and paratransit.
Communication regarding these issues should be made to Jan Zobus. She is an
aide to Bill Petersen of Vernon Township, but she is also an officeholder in West
Deerfield Township.
Cigarette tax: Still under discussion. One idea would be for healthcare, to pay
down the outstanding debts that are owed to healthcare providers throughout the
state.
Accessing resources in Lake County: Go to either
http://www.uwlakeco.ora/site/PageServer or to
http://www.findhelplakecouniYra to find what services are available. The site
has only gone on-line the past week, (October 17th, 2007), but seems easy to use.
Lake County is the 3�d largest county in the State but has no point of contact for
Human services except for Catholic Charities. Human Services must be accessed
via these 2 websites which also list Catholic Charities. A 47 page booklet is
available for download.
Regional Disability Advisory Committee: David Kureniec when he was
interning for Rep. Ryg performed outreach to other communities. The office had
heard back but meetings were cancelled because of the multiple budget meetings.
January 2008 might be a good time to start calling Village Halls again and try to
get 1 person from each community to join. Approximately 10 people out of about
30 communities have expressed an interest to join. (Vernon Hills, Wheeling, Lake
Forest, Libertyville, and Gurnee among others).
Governor Blagojevich has appointed a new Director of Developmental
Disabilities. The Governor has a good agenda for education, special ed, and
healthcare but is having difficulty getting bi-partisan support from both chambers.
"Money Follows the Person" This legislation allows funds to follow an
individual as they move to more independent or integrated living instead of an
institution. An education campaign is needed so that eligible individuals will
know about and receive the benefits.
Jory Cordruff Bill: Children who require a specific formula because they can
not process the usual diet, (Eosinophilic Digestive Disorder). Insurance
companies will pay for an invasive feeding tube but not for the amino-based
formula that the patient could drink by themselves without the need for an
operation to place the feeding tube. The bill does not regulate every insurance
company however.
X. Adjournment- Motion to Adjourn by Commissioner Sussman; seconded by
Chairman Kahen. Adjourned at 2058hrs
Next meeting November 28, at 1900hrs.