Remote Closed Session Attendance Rules Discussed at MWRD Board Meeting

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
October 7, 2021 
Board Members Absent - Cameron Davis and Josina Morita

Board Action:

• Commissioners pulled 9 agenda items for discussion.  Once discussed, items 18 and 45 were deferred, while remaining items on the consent agenda were approved, including item #38 [21-0801], a lease agreement with Argo Construction that would allow them to expand their operations on 4 acres of MWRD land on the Main Channel in unincorporated Cook County, including barge operations. Mr. Rick Raymos, an Argo executive, spoke in favor of the lease during public comments, citing jobs and economic growth as benefits. This item had been deferred by Commissioner Davis at the September 23 meeting.
• Most of the meeting was consumed by a debate among Commissioners about proposed changes to Board rules that might allow, under certain conditions, an absent member to attend executive sessions remotely, after the pandemic emergency has passed.  Commissioner Marcelino Garcia pulled the item for discussion, arguing in favor, saying it might be prudent to “allow those not here in person to attend executive sessions in a room not accessible to others,” noting an in-person quorum was still needed.  Commissioner Corral Sepulveda agreed, while Commissioner Shore was concerned that the Board could not ensure confidentiality if a board member was attending remotely, and the change could potentially expose the Board to litigation. Commissioner Spyropoulos is in favor of the rule change. However, Commissioner McGowan disagreed saying that she is not in support, and that the pandemic should not be used as an excuse to make their job easier. “I don’t support this at all,” she said, “I can’t see why we all can’t come to work.” With that comment she deferred the item [#45 21-0923] for further study. 
• Commissioner Eira Corral Sepulveda deferred item #18 [21-0879], permission to advertise a $2 million contract for janitorial services for the MWRD’s headquarters building on Erie Street in downtown Chicago.  The Commissioner asked the Executive Director to report back on if the building paid a prevailing wage to janitors.
• Executive Director Brian Perkovich deleted item #19 [21-0880], which would have authorized the Agency to advertise for a contract for employee training on workplace behavior.  No reason was given.  

New Business: 

• Commissioner Shore “made a proposal to add a new protocol to require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test in the last 48 hours for anyone entering the Board Room to attend the Board meeting”.

​Item Of Interest

• The Board approved entering into an agreement with the University of Illinois at Chicago, for preliminary review of the potential for Water Reuse in Cook County in an amount not to exceed $100,000.  Item #28, 21-0906.

Observer:  Laurie Morse                             Length of Meeting including 85 min. Exec. Session:  3 hours