Metro East Sun

Madison County CSBG Advisory Council met March 20.

Here is the minutes provided by the Council:

Members Present: Ben McCall, Larry Bloemker, Debby Edelman, Alan Winslow, Margarette Trushel, Chad Rollins, Bessie Palmer-Harris, Maura Wuellner, Amy Meyer, Jennifer Roth and Kym Brown.

Members Absent: Anne Tyree, Randall Viessman and Scott Rose.

Staff Present: Joe Bolt and Amy Lyerla.

Joe Bolt began the meeting by thanking members for attending. Madison County has set up a bridge phone line which will allow members to call in to the CSBG Advisory Council meeting if members are physically unable to attend – the number is 618-296-2677. This number will only be activated on days of the advisory council meeting and during the time allotted.

Chairman Amy Meyer called the meeting to order at 3:30 pm and made roll call. New board member Steve Williams informed members that he is Operations Manager and represents The Kilian Corp.

Chairman Meyer asked members to review the minutes from the previous meeting (pages 1-3) from October 17, 2016 and place them on file at MCCD. Mr. Bloemker made motioned to approve the minutes with a second from Mr. Winslow. The motion was approved.

No public comments were made.

Ms. Lyerla reported on the demographic characteristics of people served report (page 4) so far 3,980 unduplicated persons have been served year to date with another 884 served with whom no characteristics were obtained, meaning these clients are from sign-in sheets from food pantries as well as phone call requesting outreach and referrals.

Ms. Lyerla reported on the CSBG activities (page 5) as of March 17, 2017 the CSBG program year shows that 12 of the work programs have met or exceeded its goal. The Outreach and Referral work program will exceed its goal by the next meeting.

Mr. Bolt reported on the financial statement (page 6) indicates budget showing so far MCCD has spent $521,241.55 (82%) of the 2016 allocation of $634,679.00. The individual program categories spent for Program Support is at 76% expended, Direct Client assistance is at 93%, Administration at 67%, and Category D – Skills Training is at 70% expended. The 2016 CSBG funding year has been extended to June 30, 2017.

Mr. Bolt informed members that the 2016 CSBG budget for direct client assistance is almost spent up so if Madison County has an excess of expenses, the County will be able to use another funding source to pay the bills and when the 2017 CSBG budget becomes available, those funds will be paid back.

Mr. Bolt informed members that MCCD submitted a modification contract last month for an increase in funding in the amount of $36,049, which was put directly into program support. MCCD also submitted the CSBG IS/Annual Report which includes all Community Development activities for 2016.

Mr. Bolt passed out the new 2017 poverty income guidelines and explained that Madison County uses 3 months - 90 days of gross income to determine eligibility (Additional page to the package).

Discussion presented was on community partners. Madison County is working on several new partnerships for the 2017 program year. A list of partners from the Madison County Community Collaboration and Partnership to End Homelessness – Continuum of Care (CoC) will be presented at the next meeting.

Members asked that they be sent the invitation of the CoC - Partnership to End Homelessness Annual Meeting in April where details of Point in Time count and Project Homeless Connect will be presented.

Mr. Bolt reviewed the Organizational Standards, Categories 7 and 8 (pages 14-16). All board members should have reviewed Category 7 – Human Resource Management for Operations and Accountability and Category 8 – Financial Operations and Oversight, a link was sent through email providing the website and access to the CSBG Organization Standards for this training. Copies of the Organizational Standards for Public CSBG eligible entities has been provided (page 7-17).

Madison County meets all of the standards for Category 7 (page 14) however with Standard 7.6) It is local governmental policy that Madison County does not provide written evaluations of its employees; however Mr. Bolt feels that this standard can be accomplished. Mr. Bolt will contact Illinois Association for Community Action Agencies (IACAA) to obtain sample evaluation forms. Chairman Meyer added that her office has conducted similar evaluations and will forward forms to CSBG. Jennifer Roth will forward her offices’ evaluation forms also. The board recommends that staff put together employee evaluation forms and would be anxious to hear and see the results.

Madison County meets all of the standards for Category 8 (page 15-16). A copy of the latest county audit will be sent via email to Advisory Council.

Before we adjourned, Steve Williams brought up another a pilot program in which Highland Area Christian Service Ministry (HASCM) has initiated called Vital Records. This program helps assists clients with obtaining basic documentation – birth certificate, social security cards, driver’s license. He will ask HACSM to forward information to CSBG.

There being no further business Mr. Bloemker made a motion to adjourn, second by Ms. Wuellner.

The CSBG Advisory Council meeting was adjourned. The next Advisory Council board meeting will be Monday, May 15, 2017.

http://www.co.madison.il.us/document_center/CountyClerk/03-20-17m.pdf