Chambana Sun

Vermilion County Judicial & Rules Committee met July 23.

Here is the minutes provided by the committee:

Agenda Items 1 - Call to Order and Roll Call

Chuck Mockbee called the Judicial & Rules Committee of the Vermilion County Board to order at 5:00 PM., July 23, 2019 in the Vermilion County Administration Building.

Upon the call of roll, the following members were present: Chuck Mockbee, Phearn Butler, Tom Morse, and Nancy O’Kane.

Adam Hart, Natalie Duncan, and Robert Boyd were excused.

4 Present & 3 absent at roll call.

Also present were: Larry Baughn, County Board Chairman, Bill Donahue, Risk Consultant, Judge O’Shaughnessy-Court Administration, Tom Gregory- Probation, Stephanie Weber- State’s Attorney. Wes Bieritz- CB member, and Jennifer Jenkins, County Board.

Agenda Item 2 - Adoption/Amendment to the Agenda

Mockbee asked if there were any changes/additions to the agenda. Motion to approve the agenda by Morse, second by Butler. Motion was carried by unanimous acclamation.

Agenda Item 3 - Approval of Minutes from May 28, 2019

Motion by O’Kane and second by Morse to approve the minutes as presented. Motion was carried by unanimous acclamation.

Agenda Item 4 - Audience Comments

None

Agenda Item 5 – Ordinance: Amendment to the Combined Annual Budget and Appropriation Ordinance for the Court Administration-Judicial Judge O’Shaughnessy explained to the committee that the line for Contractual/Legal Fees is for two categories for attorney’s that have contracts with the County to handle cases where the Public Defender’s office has a conflict. We have 3 attorney’s whom are on contract. All around $30,000 annually. One accepts all referrals of conflicts in felony cases, one does traffic and misdemeanor, one does juvenile cases. They all take cases within other divisions as well. There are also attorney’s that are paid on an hourly rate. $100.00 per hour to handle cases where the Public Defenders office has a conflict and the contract attorney’s also have a conflict.

Motion by Morse, second by Butler to approve the Ordinance.

Upon the call of roll, the following members voted yes, to-wit: Chuck Mockbee, Phearn Butler, Tom Morse, and Nancy O’Kane. 4-Yes & 3-Absent. Ordinance passed committee.

Agenda Item 6 – Ordinance: Amendment to the Combined Annual Budget and Appropriation Ordinance for the State’s Attorney’s Office-Line Item Transfer

Stephanie Weber from the State’s Attorney’s office explained to the committee that the Ordinance presented is for moving money from the book and periodicals line item to case expense. Some of that is due to expert witnesses that the office had to pay for during a previous two week murder trial and also grand jury transcripts. Motion by Morse, second by O’Kane to approve the Ordinance. Upon the call of roll, the following members voted yes, to-wit: Chuck Mockbee, Phearn Butler, Tom Morse, and Nancy O’Kane. 4-Yes & 3- Absent. Ordinance passed committee.

Agenda Item 7 – Ordinance: Salary Schedule and Budget Amendment- Public Defender and State’s Attorney Weber explained that the Legislature passed a COLA for all State’s Attorney’s in the State of Illinois for 2.10% therefore the Office Holder Salary line is in need of amending for the remainder of the budget year. A portion of this money is reimbursable by the State.

Motion by Butler, second by Morse to approve the Ordinance. Upon the call of roll, the following members voted yes, to-wit: Chuck Mockbee, Phearn Butler, Tom Morse, and Nancy O’Kane. 4-Yes & 3-Absent. Ordinance passed committee.

Agenda Item 8 – Resolution- Salary Schedule-Public Defender

Mockbee explained that this goes in line with the increase for the State’s Attorney. The State’s Attorney’s salary was increased by Legislature and the law also indicates that the Public Defender also gets a percentage as well- 90%. Effective July 1, 2019. Motion by O’Kane, second by Morse to approve the Ordinance. Upon the call of roll, the following members voted yes, to-wit: Chuck Mockbee, Phearn Butler, Tom Morse, and Nancy O’Kane. 4-Yes & 3- Absent. Resolution passed committee.

Agenda Item 9 – Budget- Probation

Tom Gregory, Director of Probation, presented the Probation budget to the committee. Last year the State advised the Probation Dept that they would provide them with $619,054 in reimbursement on Probation Officer’s salaries. Which means that the County paid around $693,549 in salaries from the State of Illinois. This year the maximum reimbursement for Probation will be $921,287.

Probation fees are collected on individuals who are on Probation. These fees are used to pay for the working items within the Probation Dept., administrative costs.

The County’s only expense to Probation is the salaries, fringe’s, and building. Motion by Morse, second by O’Kane to approve the Ordinance. Upon the call of roll, the following members voted yes, to-wit: Chuck Mockbee, Phearn Butler, Tom Morse, and Nancy O’Kane. 4-Yes & 3-Absent. Budget passed committee.

Agenda Item 10- Executive Session

None required

Agenda Items 11- Items of Information and Committee Concerns

Chairman Baughn updated the committee on the progress of the insurance/open enrollment for County employees. New insurance coverage to be effective October 1, 2019.

Baughn is still continuing to review budgets with Department Heads to prepare for committee

The County Board office is still working with Ms. Cook regarding the audit. Still moving along as planned. We have even set up the dates for next year!

Agenda Item 12 – Adjournment

Committee Vice-Chairman Mockbee declared the meeting adjourned at 5:59 P.M.

https://countyboard.vercounty.org/meeting%20minutes/Judical%20Rules%20minutes%207.23.19.pdf