Public Comments Period Draws Large Number of Speakers at Cook County Board Meeting

COOK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING
January 13, 2022-10:00 a.m.

The one and a half hours of public comments at the meeting focused on two main areas: those advocating for continued/increased funding to social agencies and to those opposed to the Cook County Health Department mandate pressing for vaccination and for masking/social distancing.

• Social agencies’ remarks concentrated on the need for continued work against violence, particularly gender-based domestic violence. It has increased a great deal during the pandemic. Several speakers requested funds to be used for work with the abusers themselves, emphasizing the need to stop the violence at its source.
• All the people commenting on the health mandate spoke against the vaccine and against the enforcement of masks and social distancing in public areas.
• ​Commissioner Sean Morrison, after the speakers finished, emphasized that the Cook County Board of Commissioners did not create nor did they vote on this mandate. The policy came from the Cook County Department of Health.

President Preckwinkle then invited Dr. Rachel Rubin, senior medical officer of the Department of Health, to explain the rationale for the policy. She said the order was based on science and on how covid is transmitted. The current severe outbreak made this a necessity. Two things have been shown to mitigate the disease: 1) masks work. 2) vaccinations prevent the disease, or at least temper the severity of the illness. She invited citizens to visit the Cook County Health Department website for more detailed information on the subject.

The remainder of the agenda was passed without a great deal of discussion. 

• The monthly covid report was presented for CARES, FEMA, ERA, and ARPA. Staff reported that while administrative costs for such programs generally run about 10%, the costs here have been closer to 3%. (Agenda Item 22-1088)
• One of the more lengthy discussions involved the ongoing arbitration with the SEIU union related to pandemic pay. Staff is currently awaiting the arbitrator’s decision. This should be resolved in the first quarter of 2022. Staff reminded the Board that this agreement must be presented in its entirety. The Board cannot deal with it separately in sections.
• 2021 Annual Ethics Report was received and filed. (Agenda Item 22-0877)
• Amendment to the ordinance for Inspector General was referred to the Legislative and Intergovernmental Relations Committee. The proposed changes to the ordinance deal with the process of selecting an Independent Inspector General. (Agenda Item 22-1224)
• Commissioner Anaya presented an item that allows the public defender to represent noncitizens in court on immigration matters. Commissioner Suffredin spoke in support. (Agenda Item 22-1161)
• Appointment of Lynn Turner as the permanent secretary of the Board replacing Matt DeLeon was referred to the Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee. (Agenda Item 22-1238)

Meeting was adjourned at 3:59 p.m.

Observer - Georgia Gebhardt