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Cook County Board Votes to Extend Emergency Declaration thru May 31

3/18/2020

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Cook County Board of Commissioners - Special Meeting
March 16, 2020

What the Board Discussed and Decided:

On March 10, Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle issued a proclamation of disaster for Cook County in light of the emergency situation posed by the COVID-19 (“Corona”) virus. Such declaration could only last for 7 days under Illinois law unless extended by the Cook County Board. At today’s emergency meeting, the Board voted to extend that declaration of emergency thru May 31 and it also applies to the Cook County Forest Preserve District.
As part of the Resolution authorizing the extension, the Board granted the authority to the President to issue Executive Orders as necessary to provide for continuity of government in the event the Board and/or the Board’s Finance Committee is unable to meet again in March or April. The President told the Board that all actions taken as a result of this authority would be reported to the Board.
The Cook County Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security are coordinating county and municipal resources and response activities as authorized under Chapter 26, Article II, Section 26-31 through 43 of the Cook County ordinances.
William Barnes, the Executive Director of Emergency Management and Regional Security stated that the Emergency Operation Plan has been activated and his department has been working closely with municipal governments throughout Cook County, as well as State and Federal authorities.
Dr. Terry Mason, who heads the County’s Public Health Department, said that his department has been working closely with the federal Center for Disease Control and other Cook County municipal and State public health departments. He stated that things are going to get worse but that his job was to minimize that as much as possible. He will be working with hospitals across the County to deploy tests for the Corona virus once they become available.
Commissioner Sims asked whether the Commissioners could hold meetings via video conferencing. The President’s legal counsel explained that under the current Illinois Open Meetings Act, all such meetings must be in person. However, she said that there is an amendment in the State legislature which would allow for such “virtual” meetings during times of emergency. She hopes that it might be passed and signed into law in April.
Commissioner Gainer asked what protections would be provided to election judges for the March 17 Primary. The Deputy Clerk for Elections (for suburban Cook County polling places) said that hand sanitizers and alcohol wipes would be provided. Commissioners Daley and Sims asked whether the County would be cleaning the polling places thoroughly after the election. The Deputy Clerk said that the County does not have the supplies or money to do so at this time. An emergency request for supplies was sent by the Clerk’s office on Friday to Emergency Management and Regional Security, but Mr. Barnes said such request far exceeded its ability to respond and the request has been forwarded to Illinois Emergency Management, which has not yet had a chance to respond.
It appears likely that the March 25 Finance Committee and the March 26 Board meetings will be cancelled. All other Committee meetings through March 25 have already been cancelled.

Observer - Priscilla Mims

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Cook County Board Seeks to Amend Health System Ordinance

3/3/2020

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Cook County Board - Health & Hospital Committee Meeting
February 26, 2020

Meeting Report
The CC Health & Hospital Committee had two items on its agenda:

Agenda Item 20-1118 went through two substitute iterations with the final dated February 24, 2020 and contains major amendment changes to the 2008 Health and Hospitalts System Enabling Ordinance that established the independence of the Hospital System from the County President and Board and set up the mechanism for appointing an independent board. The chair of the committee, Dennis Deer, was not in attendance nor were Commissioners Moore and Tobolski. Commissioner Arroyo, Vice-Chair, ran the meeting.

All commissioners in attendance strongly supported the need for a viable and vibrant county public health care system and it was reflected in each of their remarks.
Agenda Item 20-1118 was passed out of Committee with the only exception to a unanimous vote being Alma Anaya who voted "present". Her comments are below as are selected other commissioners:
Larry Suffredin: Led off the discussion by stating that he strongly supports the amendments and considers them to allow for "re-balancing" of the relationship between the Cook County and System Boards as well as ensuring collaboration on executive hiring, financial, strategic planning, and labor relations issues. He offered that the Cook County Board is the Health Board for the County; and he pointed to the large increase in uncompensated care; the two highly critical Inspector General reports; and the increased number of grievances and arbitration cases as reason for the need to re-balance.
Sean Morrison: Stated he often communicated belief that the problem lies with the executive team.
Bridget Gainer: Stated that outward collaboration as well as between the Hospital and the CC Board is needed.
John Daley: Strongly supportive and stated that nearby U of I Hospital and Rush Hospital are both expanding their ambulatory centers and that the HHS System needs more help from them.
Alma Anaya: Stated she does not believe the amendments solves the root cause issues. She advocates creating a process such as a task force to identify, dissect, and address the problems - particularly financial. Wants to review and then change rather than "jumping the gun" with the proposed amendments.

Agenda Item 20-1229 was deferred without discussion. It would require top executive compensation and severance package approval by the President and County Board and because the matter is also covered in 20-1118, it may be withdrawn

Public testimony

Dr. Lindsay Ray Murray, Health & Medicine Policy Research Group. Stated that the System cannot cut its way out of its financial deficits. Called for a blue ribbon commission from a cross-section of health care professionals and experts to thoroughly explore the issues and make recommendations before approving changes to the 2008 enabling ordinance. H&M Policy Research Group is a member of the nominating committee that provides HHS board nominations to President Preckwinkle for her and the CC Board approval.
Laurence Msall, Civic Federation. His main objection is that 20-1118 gives the county board say over the selection and compensation of the CEO. He said that he has heard of no explanation on how the proposed changes will correct the System’s financial problems. The Civic Federation is also a member on the nominating committee for HHS board nominations.
Susan Avila, Collaborative Health Equity. She is also on the H & M Policy Board and worked at Stroger for a number of years. She stated that there was not enough information before the changes were proposed and is for a comprehensive analysis of the problems and at what works best (Best Practices approach).
Mr. George Blakemore also spoke and is in favor of more County Board involvement.

Significant Amendment changes included in Agenda Item 20-1118

The System Board will no longer have sole authority to hire the CEO, or interim CEO, or fix the compensation. Henceforth, it will recommend, subject to the advice and consent of the Cook County Board and the President’s departments on development of its three-year strategic plan as well as its operational and policy strategy.
Requires the Hospital System Board to direct its CEO to collaborate with President Preckwinkle and her departments on development of the strategic plan as well as its operational and policy strategy.
Increased HHS board membership from 11 to 12 – The twelfth member will be hired by and reports directly to President Preckwinkle and will serve the same 4-year term as the other directors. This appointee and the CC Board appointee, currently Dennis Deer, cannot serve as chair of the HHS Board.
Allows the System Board to recommend instead of fix compensation of employees and provides that the compensation must be in line with the county board’s budget appropriation.
Gives more responsibility to the Cook County Human Relations Bureau in handling grievance issues.
Provides that the HHS board shall meet 12 times a year.
Specifically states that the Cook County Board does not delegate Home Rule Authority to the System board.
Sets a threshold for county approval for capital expenditures at above $150,000 with monthly reporting of such expenditures of $5,000 to $150,000.

Diane Edmundson - Observer

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Much Still to Be Done before Shakman Requirements Will be Met by Three Cook County Offices

3/3/2020

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Cook County Board Finance Subcommittee on Litigation
February 25, 2020

The Court-Appointed Compliance Administrators and representatives from the 3 offices under court supervision pursuant to the Shakman settlements updated the Litigation Subcommittee on Feb. 25. The 3 offices are the Recorder of Deeds, the Assessor, and the Clerk of the Court.

Shakman provides that, with just a few exceptions, decisions regarding hiring, firing, promotion, and salaries are to be made free of political considerations. The Recorder’s office has been under court supervision since 2010, the Assessor’s office since 2012, and the Clerk of the Court’s office since August 2018. The Litigation Subcommittee began asking for quarterly updates with the goal of encouraging faster compliance, as recommended by the League.
The Recorder’s office has some serious challenges to coming into substantial compliance by December 2020 due to loss of most of the staff in the Human Resources area, as well as other issues. Commissioner Degnen urged the Recorder to talk to the Clerk about that office providing help with Human Resources since the two offices are to merge in December. The Court-Appointed Administrator does not know what impact the case may have on the Clerk’s office (not currently under court-supervision) once the merger occurs.
While progress has been made in the Assessor’s office, and no new complaints have been filed since the current Assessor took over at the end of 2016, it is likely that substantial compliance will not be reached this year because performance evaluations will not be able to be conducted before the end of this year/early next year. The Assessor’s representative explained that the Assessor needs to complete the property assessments by the end of November, and so it would be difficult to start the evaluations before then.
The Clerk of the Court is making good progress, but is still in the early stages and has much to do before that office can be found in substantial compliance.

Priscilla Mims - Observer

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Cook County Board Votes to Extend Emergency Declaration thru May 31

Cook County Board Seeks to Amend Health System Ordinance

Much Still to Be Done before Shakman Requirements Will be Met by Three Cook County Offices

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