Board of Commissioners

Cook County Board of Commissioners

Politics

Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020
10:00 a.m. CDT

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This is a remote meeting. Video will be live-streamed via Cook County Government’s website.

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Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team

Note-taking by Marcus Paul

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Live reporting by Eva Chen

eva @kangarootcanal

Hello! I’ll be live-tweeting today’s Cook County Board of Commissioners meeting for #ChiDocumenters @ChiDocumenters
Meeting will be livestreamed here: cookcountyil.gov/service/watch-…

09:59 AM Oct 22, 2020 CDT

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Download the agenda for the meeting here: cook-county.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&…

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The meeting was called to order at 10:06am, with Commissioners Aguilar, Anaya, Arroyo, Britton, Daley, Deer, Degnen, Johnson, Lowry, Morrison, Silvestri, Sims, & Suffredin present.

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The Board votes to pass several items including authorization of the Justice Advisory Council's continuation of community violence prevention services.

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The Board unanimously approves transfer of funds to the offices of Commissioner Sean Morrison and Secretary to the Board Matthew DeLeon.

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Ammar Rizki, Chief Financial Officer of the Bureau of Finance, presents a report highlighting Cook County expenditures allocated to Coronavirus Relief Funds. Programs include direct costs, operational initiatives, economic development, and units of local government.

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The Board unanimously passes several Bureau of Administration items renewing contracts with vendors providing various office supplies, security services at the Office of the Medical Examiner, and construction on transportation services and infrastructure.

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The Board unanimously passes proposed lease agreement that would provide a space for the Restorative Justice Community Court.

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The Board is speaking on an item by the Office of the Assessor to use operating funds to provide protective plexi-glass face shields after the request of CARES act funding has been denied.

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Elizabeth Granato of the Bureau of Asset Management asserts that public health guidelines suggest 50% agency capacity, and that face shields are not an alternative for social distancing.

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The layout of the Assessor's Office is described to include cubicles that often face each other. Commissioner Kevin Morrison suggests reorientation of the office layout, and points to discomfort with voting to potentially enable county employees to work in closer proximity

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The Assessor's Office states that the face shields are intended to be a secondary precaution, in other words they are expected to be used in addition to physical 6-foot distancing.

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The item passes with a unanimous vote.

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Commissioner Britton speaks his appreciation of the inclusion of the Cook County Justice for Family Project, especially given that October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

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Sojourner Colbert of the Sheriff's Office describes details of continual instructional trainings, which includes mental health training.

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Commissioner Kevin Morrison emphasizes the need to approach mental health support from a public health perspective.

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Commissioner Moore calls for a moment of silence for the passing of Officer Richard Santiago Jr. Commissioners Deer and Silvestri express their condolences to the family of Officer Santiago, and Officer Daley extends his condolences to all who have been affected by COVID-19.

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Board members are speaking in honor of Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown, who is retiring after twenty years of service.

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Commissioner Anaya speaks to bringing greater awareness to Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which takes place in October. She points to the several Commissioners who are wearing pink in recognition.

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In light of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Commissioner Anaya highlights that since the onset of the COVID pandemic, rates of domestic awareness have increased. Commissioner Deer adds that violence has increased almost 100-fold. The Domestic Violence Hotline is 800-799-7233.

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The Board votes unanimously to approve Israel Rocha Jr. as the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of Cook County Health and Hospital System.

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The meeting is adjourned at 1:21pm. As the meeting adjourns, Commissioners remind us all to go vote!

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Agency Information

Cook County Board of Commissioners

www.cookcountyil.gov

(312) 443-5500

webmaster@cookcountyil.gov

@CookCountyBoard

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County Commissioners are elected officials who oversee county activities and work to ensure that citizen concerns are met, federal and state requirements are fulfilled, and county operations run smoothly. The Cook County Board of Commissioners is the governing board and legislative body of the county. It is comprised of 17 Commissioners, each serving a four-year term and is elected from single member districts. Each district represents approximately 300,000 residents. The Board also operates approximately 40 committees and subcommittees chaired by members of Board of Commissioners.

Remote meetings of the Cook County Board of Commissioners are live-streamed at https://www.cookcountyil.gov/service/watch-live-board-proceedings

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