Chambana Sun

City of Urbana Cunningham Township Board met March 14.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The Cunningham Township Board met in regular session at 6 p.m. Due to the Governor and Mayoral Emergency Declarations, this meeting was conducted by virtual attendance via Zoom.

ELECTED OFFICIALS PHYSICALLY PRESENT:

Chair: Diane Wolfe Marlin

Township Clerk: Phyllis D. Clark

ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE:

Trustees: Maryalice Wu, Chris Evans, Shirese Hursey, Jaya Kolisetty, Chaundra Bishop, Grace Wilken, James Quisenberry

Supervisor: Danielle Chynoweth

Assessor: None

ELECTED OFFICIALS ABSENT: Assessor Wayne Williams

OTHERS PRESENT: Frederic Grosser, Bourema Ouedraogo, Darcy Sandefur, Jessica Black, William Harris, Nicole Phillyaw, Karen Sims (CU Tri),

I. ROLL CALL

With a quorum virtually present, Chair Marlin called the meeting of the Cunningham Township Board to order at 6 p.m.

II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

February 14, 2022 regular meeting

Motion by Trustee Wu to approve and seconded by Trustee Bishop.

Vote by roll call:

AYE: Wu, Evans, Kolisetty, Bishop, Wilken, Quisenberry

NAY: None

III. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA

None.

IV. PUBLIC INPUT

None.

V. COMMITTEE TO VERIFY BILLS

a. Town Fund

b. General Assistance Fund

Presented by Supervisor Danielle Chynoweth. Supervisor detailed expenses of $36,997.80 from the Town Fund, $56,578.40 in the General Assistance Fund, and a combined total of $93,576.20 in expenditures. Introduce Nicole Phillyaw the accounting and office manager. Questions and discussion ensued.

Questions and discussion ensued.

Motion to approve by Trustee Bishop and seconded by Trustee Kolisetty.

Questions and discussion ensued.

Vote by roll call:

AYE: Wu, Evans, Kolisetty, Bishop, Wilken, Quisenberry

NAY: None

VI. REPORTS OF OFFICERS

Supervisor Chynoweth introduced Case Manager Jessica Black who works on the education and workforce track. Black provided an overview of the Employment and Education Opportunities program. Participants must already be existing general assistance clients. Program allows participants to pursue education in order to fulfill the workforce requirement of GA. Questions and discussion ensued.

Supervisor Chynoweth presented supervisor’s memo and detailed month to date service statistics. Expressed that general assistance clients has decreased and they are looking into increasing the monthly award amount. Noted the partial decrease in GA clients as a result of increased numbers of clients being awarded SSI/SSDI. Highlighted the increase in rental assistance applications and the utility assistance. Shared the success of the subsidized housing advocacy. Provided additional programmatic updates. Questions and discussion ensued.

No report from the Assessor’s Office.

VII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

None.

VIII. NEW BUSINESS

a. Resolution No. T-2022-03-005R: A Resolution Authorizing the Supervisor to Sign an Agreement with CU Trauma and Resiliency Initiative for Services to Address Community Violence, Trauma Informed Care Training, and Organizational Assessment

Presented by Supervisor Chynoweth and Karen Sims of CU Trauma and Resiliency Initiative. Agreement will allow for wrap around services to Township clients who are impacted by community violence and require support beyond what Township is equipped to provide. Agreement will allow for referrals for services to CU-TRI. Karen Sims shared information about what services will entail and explained the importance of formalizing this agreement for a piolet program. Questions and discussion ensued.

Motion to approve by Trustee Wu and seconded by Trustee Quisenberry.

Vote by roll call:

AYE: Wu, Quisenberry, Evans, Hursey, Bishop, Wilken, Kolisetty

NAY: None

b. Resolution No. T-2022-03-006R: A Resolution Authorizing the Supervisor to Sign a Lease Agreement with the Channing Murray Foundation for Cooler Space on Behalf of Solidarity Gardens

Presented by Supervisor Chynoweth. Agreement will allow for Township to have cooler space at the Channing Murray foundation on behalf of Solidarity Gardens. Agreement formalizing the arrangement regardless of changes in leadership within organizations over time. Motion to approve by Trustee Bishop and seconded by Trustee Hursey.

Vote by roll call:

AYE: Wu, Evans, Hursey, Kolisetty, Bishop, Wilken, Quisenberry

NAY: None

c. Approval of Annual Town Meeting Agenda

Presented by Supervisor Chynoweth. This is the agenda for the Annual meeting to be put on file. Does include an item for the disposal of personal property.

Motion to approve by Trustee Kolisetty and seconded by Trustee Wu.

Vote by roll call:

AYE: Wu, Evans, Hursey, Kolisetty, Quisenberry, Bishop, Wilken

NAY: None

IX. ADJOURNMENT

With no further business to come before the Township Board, Chair Marlin declared the meeting adjourned at 7:18 p.m.

https://www.urbanaillinois.us/sites/default/files/attachments/03-14-22_Minutes_TB_.pdf