421 N. COUNTY FARM ROAD  
WHEATON, IL 60187  
DU PAGE COUNTY  
Human Services  
www.dupagecounty.gov  
Final Summary  
Tuesday, November 4, 2025  
9:30 AM  
Room 3500A  
1.  
CALL TO ORDER  
9:30 AM meeting was called to order by Chair Greg Schwarze at 9:30 AM.  
2.  
ROLL CALL  
Other Board members present: Member Saba Haider, Member Brian Krajewski, and Member  
Yeena Yoo  
Staff in attendance: Nick Kottmeyer (Chief Administrative Officer), Joan Olson (Chief  
Communications Officer), Renee Zerante (State's Attorney's Office), Keith Jorstad (Finance),  
Brian Rovik (Procurement), Natasha Belli and Gina Strafford-Ahmed (Community Services),  
Mary Keating, Director of Community Services, and Janelle Chadwick (remote), Administrator  
of the DuPage Care Center.  
Cronin Cahill, Galassi, Garcia, and Schwarze  
DeSart, and LaPlante  
PRESENT  
REMOTE  
MOTION TO ALLOW REMOTE PARTICIPATION  
Member Cahill moved, seconded by Member Galassi to allow Member DeSart and Member  
LaPlante to participate remotely.  
The motion was approved on a voice vote, all "ayes".  
APPROVED  
RESULT:  
Cynthia Cronin Cahill  
Kari Galassi  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
3.  
PUBLIC COMMENT  
No public comments were offered.  
4.  
CHAIR REMARKS - CHAIR SCHWARZE  
Chair Schwarze stated that he met with Vice Chair Garcia, DuPage County Board Chair Conroy,  
Nick Kottmeyer, Joan Olson, Mary Keating, and Mike Havala, President and CEO of Loaves &  
Fishes, to discuss the Federal government shutdown and the food insecurity effect on the  
residents. There are about 39,000 households in DuPage County receiving SNAP benefits at a  
cost of approximately $14M per month. DuPage County does have some funds available in  
various sources but cannot fully meet that demand.  
Mary Keating stated the primary effort currently is to make sure that people are aware of the  
resources available through food pantries. There are 47 different food pantries in DuPage  
County, all anticipating an increase in demand. Announced yesterday, the federal government  
will release funds for half the SNAP funds which will filter through the states. How and when it  
will be distributed is yet to be decided. The county has asked a couple of the larger pantries to  
communicate to determine the best way the county can assist.  
Community Services agency associates have increased the number of emergency food banks for  
walk-ins. Community Services has increased the purchase of Aldi gift cards, purchased out of  
the DuPage Social Service Association (DSSA), a charitable fund attached to Community  
Services. Ms. Keating intends to send an email to all employees asking those interested in  
helping to make donations to DSSA. DuPage County has the second highest number of SNAP  
recipients in the state, second to Cook County.  
The committee discussed the federal government shutdown, the loss of the SNAP benefits, and  
the effect on the residents of DuPage County, including how to reach the masses and how the  
County Board members and residents assisting will be most effective.  
Joan Olson, the DuPage County Communications Officer, displayed a link on the homepage of  
the DuPage County website that will lead residents to food pantries and other resources for food  
insecurity within the county. The following link will also access the website:  
dupagecounty/.gov/food. County staff is utilizing Giving DuPage to find volunteers to assist.  
Directions to Giving DuPage are also on the website. Ms. Olson encouraged the County Board  
members to share the 211 food graphic. It leads people to call 211 where they can speak to a live  
person and be screened for the possibility of additional services.  
It was mentioned that Giving Tuesday is December 2 and should be added to our social media  
pages.  
Member Garcia will send a list of the most needed items from the People’s Resource Center  
website to the county board members to share.  
Chair Schwarze stated that Chair Conroy dedicated $2M for food insecurity in the 2026 budget.  
There is $2.1M left in the Small Human Services Grant account.  
Mr. Schwarze asked for a consensus from the committee to move the $21.M from the Small  
Human Services Grant account to a line item to use immediately for food insecurity. The  
committee approved via a show of hands with a five to one vote in favor of the move. Nick  
Kottmeyer stated Chair Schwarze will have to present this at the Finance Committee meeting  
under old or new business. Chair Schwarze suggested the members talk to other County Board  
members and get their support before the Finance meeting.  
5.  
APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
5.A.  
25-2692  
Human Services Committee - Regular Meeting - October 21, 2025  
APPROVED  
RESULT:  
Cynthia Cronin Cahill  
Kari Galassi  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
6.  
COMMUNITY SERVICES - MARY KEATING  
6.A.  
FI-R-0190-25  
Acceptance and appropriation of the Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program  
DOE Grant PY26 Inter-Governmental Agreement No. 25-401028, for the Weatherization  
Unit, Company 5000 - Accounting Unit 1400, for the period of July 1, 2025 through June  
26, 2026, in the amount of $638,116. (Community Services)  
APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE  
Cynthia Cronin Cahill  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Kari Galassi  
SECONDER:  
6.B.  
HS-P-0054-25  
Recommendation for the approval of a contract to DuPage Federation on Human Services  
Reform (LARC), to provide face-to-face and telephonic interpreter services, and  
translation services, to assist clients in Community Services, primarily for the Senior  
Services unit, and to provide American Sign Language services, both for the Finance  
Department and Community Services, for the period of December 1, 2025 through  
November 30, 2026, for a contract total amount of $34,000; per RFP #23-072-CS, second  
of three optional one-year renewals.  
APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE  
Cynthia Cronin Cahill  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Kari Galassi  
SECONDER:  
7.  
BUDGET TRANSFERS  
7.A.  
25-2693  
Transfer of funds from account 1000-1640-53020 (information technology service) and  
1000-1640-53510 (travel expense) to account 1000-1640-50000 (regular salaries) in the  
amount of $5,000 to cover deficits for regular salaries for FY25 that were not foreseen  
during budget preparation. (Family Center)  
APPROVED  
RESULT:  
Paula Garcia  
MOVER:  
Cynthia Cronin Cahill  
SECONDER:  
7.B.  
25-2694  
Transfer of funds from account no. 1200-2035-52000 (furn/mach/equip small value) to  
account no. 1200-2035-54110 (equipment and machinery) in the amount of $2960 to  
cover the purchase of a walk behind sweeper that housekeeping will use at Animal  
Control for cleaning epoxy flooring. (DuPage Care Center).  
APPROVED  
RESULT:  
Cynthia Cronin Cahill  
Paula Garcia  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
8.  
CONSENT ITEMS  
Motion to Combine Items  
Member Garcia moved and Member Galassi seconded a motion to combine items 8.A. through  
8.G. The motion was approved on voice vote, all "ayes".  
8.A.  
8.B.  
8.C.  
8.D.  
8.E.  
25-2695  
AirGas USA, Contract 4593-0001 SERV - This Purchase Order is decreasing in the  
amount of $31,292.09 and closing due to purchase order has expired.  
25-2696  
Alpha Baking Company, Contract 7160-0001 SERV - This Purchase Order is decreasing  
in the amount of $10,098.88 and closing due to Purchase Order has expired.  
25-2697  
Hill Mechanical Corp, Contract 5755-0001 SERV - This Purchase Order is decreasing in  
the amount of $43,293.06 and closing due to Purchase Order has expired.  
25-2698  
Integral Construction, Contract 5675-0001 SERV - This Purchase Order is decreasing in  
the amount of $64,512.25 and closing due to Purchase Order has expired.  
25-2699  
Medline Industries, Inc., Contract 7162-0001 SERV - This Purchase Order is decreasing  
in the amount of $14,443.06 and closing due to Purchase Order has expired.  
8.F.  
25-2700  
Northwestern Medicine - Central DuPage Hospital, Contract 6390-0001 SERV - This  
Purchase Order is decreasing in the amount of $10,342.88 and closing due to purchase  
order has expired.  
8.G.  
25-2701  
The Standard Companies, Contract 7144-0001 SERV - This Purchase Order is decreasing  
in the amount of $51,341.00 and closing due to Purchase Order closing.  
APPROVED THE CONSENT AGENDA  
Paula Garcia  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYES:  
Cynthia Cronin Cahill  
Cronin Cahill, Galassi, Garcia, and Schwarze  
DeSart, and LaPlante  
REMOTE:  
9.  
RESIDENCY WAIVERS - JANELLE CHADWICK  
No residency waivers were offered.  
10.  
DUPAGE CARE CENTER UPDATE - JANELLE CHADWICK  
Janelle Chadwick, Administrator of the DuPage Care Center, stated they are currently not in  
outbreak status at the Care Center.  
The construction on 2 South, 2 North, and 2 Center, is approaching the latter stages, hopefully  
reaching completion by late November. If the federal government is still shutdown, they will not  
send an architect surveyor or a nurse surveyor to come for an occupancy inspection.  
The Care Center submitted a revised Certificate of Need to the Health Facilities Planning &  
Review Board to include the east building. The Certificate was submitted early, timely, and  
thoroughly.  
11.  
COMMUNITY SERVICES UPDATE - MARY KEATING  
Mary Keating, Director of Community Services, stated Community Development has one item  
affected by the federal government shutdown. The Glen Ellyn Full Circle Communities Project is  
slated to receive community project funding (congressionally directed funding) with  
Representative Ramirez’ office on the project, as well as some of the Community Development  
HUD H.O.M.E. funds. After the environmental review, there was a 30-day public comment  
period before the expected release of funds, which ended on September 30, 2025. The funds  
normally would have been released on October 1st but were not due to the shutdown. Without  
the funds Glen Ellyn cannot demolish the property or then schedule a closing. The closing must  
be scheduled to get the funds released. There is a process under the HUD lapse plan that you can  
get an exception to get funds released. We are currently working with HUD staff in Chicago  
trying to get the exception through and Ms. Keating will be in Washington D.C. next week and  
has a meeting with Ramirez’s office.  
Ms. Keating brought up the need for additional spillover space for DuPage Pads during the  
winter months. The Interim Housing Center (IHC) is full all the time with a waiting list. When  
the IHC is full, Pads will put families with children up in a hotel. April Redzic, the President and  
CEO of DuPage Pads, will attend the Finance meeting next week to make a request for  
additional funds to assist with housing for the winter months. There is $344,000 left in ARPA  
Interest funds.  
12.  
13.  
OLD BUSINESS  
No old business was discussed.  
NEW BUSINESS  
County Board member Brian Krajewski stated many animals have been surrendered at Animal  
Services because owners are struggling financially. Several food pantries are stating there is a  
large demand for animal food, specifically wet cat food. Animal Services will be sponsoring a  
drive on December 6 for animal food and people food. Emphasis will be on animal food. The  
drive is growing; many services organizations and mayors are involved. Staff are still finalizing  
details and locations for the drive. Chair Schwarze requested an email be sent to the County  
Board members.  
Animal Services has been working with the Health Department to accept animals temporarily  
during hospital stays but has not expanded the temporary services beyond the Health  
Department. Springfield is looking at putting caps on the deposits and extra rent charges at  
apartments regarding pets.  
14.  
ADJOURNMENT  
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:07 AM.