421 N. COUNTY FARM ROAD

WHEATON, IL 60187

DU PAGE COUNTY

Human Services

www.dupagecounty.gov

Final Summary

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

1. CALL TO ORDER

9:30 AM

Room 3500A

9:30 AM meeting was called to order by Chair Greg Schwarze at 9:42 AM.

Chair Schwarze called the meeting to order at 9:42, delayed due to members attending a previous

committee meeting.

The Chair stated “A physical quorum of the members is physically present. I will entertain a

motion to permit those members not physically present due to: personal illness or disability;

employment purposes or for the business of the board; or family or other emergency; or

unexpected childcare obligations, to participate by video or teleconference”.

Member Cronin so moved, Member Garcia seconded, all ayes on a voice vote, the motion

passed. Member LaPlante attended remotely.

ROLL CALL

Other Board members present: Member Saba Haider and Member Yeena Yoo

Staff in attendance: Nick Kottmeyer (Chief Administrative Officer), Jeremy Custer and Evan

Shields (County Board), Renee Zerante (State's Attorney Office), Donna Weidman

(Procurement), Natasha Bellli, Julie Hamlin, and Gina Strafford-Ahmed (Community Services

Administrators), Mary Keating (Director of Community Services), and Janelle Chadwick

(Administrator of the DuPage Care Center).

Guest attendee: Jesse Gutierrez from West Chicago

Cronin Cahill, DeSart, Galassi, Garcia, and Schwarze

LaPlante

PRESENT

REMOTE

PUBLIC COMMENT

No public comments were offered.

CHAIR REMARKS - CHAIR SCHWARZE

Chair Schwarze reminded the committee that they will present the check awards to the Small

Human Services Grant recipients at the County Board meeting on June 24, at 10:00 a.m. There

will be a small reception for the recipients between the Finance meeting and the County Board

meeting in one of the meeting rooms.

4.A. NACCED letters of commendation for Mary Keating and Julie Hamlin

Chair Schwarze stated that Chair Conroy received letters of commendation from the Board of

Directors from the National Association for County Community and Economic Development

(NACCED) for Mary Keating and Julie Hamlin for the contributions they made to the

association last year. Ms. Keating and Ms. Hamlin were recognized for their impactful

contribution and assistance in community development, economic development, and affordable

housing initiatives, providing feedback to federal agencies, and facilitating educational

opportunities to enhance the effectiveness of community development professionals and local

government staff. Member Cahill read the letter of commendation regarding Mary Keating and

Member Galassi read the letter for Julie Hamlin.

Mary Keating praised Julie Hamlin for embracing her participation in NACCED, serving on the

Board of Directors and being active on several committees. Ms. Keating also thanked the County

Board for their support and for allowing her to participate in NACCED/NACo conferences to

enhance her professional development.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

5.A.

25-1412

Human Services Committee - Regular Meeting - Tuesday, May 20, 2025

APPROVED

RESULT:

Cynthia Cronin Cahill

Paula Garcia

MOVER:

SECONDER:

COMMUNITY SERVICES - MARY KEATING

6.A.

FI-R-0094-25

Acceptance and appropriation of the Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program

HHS Grant PY26 Inter-Governmental Agreement No. 25-221028, Company 5000 -

Accounting Unit 1430, in the amount of $974,465. (Community Services)

APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE

Paula Garcia

RESULT:

MOVER:

Cynthia Cronin Cahill

SECONDER:

6.B.

6.C.

6.D.

FI-R-0095-25

Acceptance and appropriation of the Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program

State Grant PY26 Inter-Governmental Agreement No. 26-251028, Company 5000 -

Accounting Unit 1490, in the amount of $568,959. (Community Services)

APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE

Paula Garcia

RESULT:

MOVER:

Cynthia Cronin Cahill

SECONDER:

FI-R-0096-25

Acceptance and appropriation of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program

(LIHEAP) State Grant PY26 Inter-Governmental Agreement No. 26-254028, Company

5000 - Accounting Unit 1495, in the amount of $3,422,595. (Community Services)

APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE

Paula Garcia

RESULT:

MOVER:

Kari Galassi

SECONDER:

FI-R-0093-25

Acceptance of an extension of time for the Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance

Program DOE Grant PY25 Inter-Governmental Agreement No. 22-403028, Company

5000 - Accounting Unit 1400, from June 30, 2025 to September 30, 2025. (Community

Services)

APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE

Paula Garcia

RESULT:

MOVER:

Kari Galassi

SECONDER:

6.E.

25-1413

Recommendation for the approval of a contract to Environmental Consulting Group, Inc.,

for asbestos testing to single family homes and Single Family Rehab grants, for the

Weatherization Department, for the period of February 13, 2025 through March 10, 2026,

for a contract total not to exceed $22,925; per bid 25-021-WEX. Grant funded.

(Community Services)

APPROVED

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

Paula Garcia

Kari Galassi

Cronin Cahill, DeSart, Galassi, Garcia, LaPlante, and Schwarze

DUPAGE CARE CENTER - JANELLE CHADWICK

7.A.

25-1414

Recommendation for the approval of a contract purchase order to Comcast Cable, for

cable services, for 1 East, Sub-Acute in the DuPage Care Center, for the period June 1,

2025 through May 31, 2026, for a contract total amount of $15,600; under bid renewal

4621.

APPROVED

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

Cynthia Cronin Cahill

Paula Garcia

Cronin Cahill, DeSart, Galassi, Garcia, LaPlante, and Schwarze

RESIDENCY WAIVERS - JANELLE CHADWICK

Two out of county residency waivers for the Care Center were presented to the committee for

approval. Ms. Chadwick stated their are currently twelve open male beds and seven open female

beds.

8.A. Residency Waiver One

APPROVED

Paula Garcia

Kari Galassi

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

8.B. Residency Waiver Two

APPROVED

RESULT:

Cynthia Cronin Cahill

Paula Garcia

MOVER:

SECONDER:

DUPAGE CARE CENTER UPDATE - JANELLE CHADWICK

Janelle Chadwick, Administrator of the DuPage Care Center, stated the Care Center had recent

covid cases that affected key staff members and residents causing more ill symptoms and

spreading easier than previous variants. The covid cases have passed but the Care Center is still

wearing masks for protection.

Ms. Chadwick stated there was some concern with the bed tax the Care Center pays being

affected by the Illinois 2026 budget. After discussing with the Leading Age Illinois Board of

Director resource to the County, she determined there are no negative impacts to the Illinois 2026

budget at this time. Ms. Chadwick will share any federal budget changes coming through.

Asked by Vice Chair Garcia about regulations regarding covid vaccinations, Ms. Chadwick

replied that different versions of vaccines have had different requirements. Residents over age 65

will continue to be vaccinated. She clarified that under the guidance of the Center for Disease

Control (CDC) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), residents under 65 would

have to obtain the vaccine on their own.

Most employees are current with the latest vaccine provided to the under 65 population. Waivers

completed by employees determine if and when they are vaccinated.

IDPH is focusing more on influenza and tuberculosis.

Ms. Chadwick answered questions from the committee, clarifying to Member DeSart that the

Care Center residency waivers for long term placement always go to the Human Services

committee.

Member Galassi asked if the 12 open beds for men was a high number or status quo? Ms.

Chadwick answered 12 is the number of open beds for placement. There are more open beds in

private rooms reserved for infection control purposes or behavior issues. Although with

construction, there are currently two closed units, down from three, the Care Center census has

been climbing. They are close to 200 residents right now, up from 180 recently. There are four

individuals that will be admitted next week. They are staffing to census. As the units are

completed, they will need to hire additional staff. The care Center is still using an agency for

CNA’s. It is far less than previously, and they do not need an agency for nursing staff. The

hiring has been very strong the last few months.

10.

COMMUNITY SERVICES UPDATE - MARY KEATING

Mary Keating, Director of Community Services, stated the detailed federal budget released by

President Trump is not good news for the department. Under the president’s proposal, CSBG,

CDBG, LIHEAP, and probably the Weatherization programs would all be eliminated. The

HOME program would be cut by 80%.

However, it is up to the House of Representatives and the Senate and what their markups will

say. Congress markups are expected to be released in July. On a positive note, the Chair of the

Transportation and Housing & Urban Development Subcommittee of Financial Services, and the

ranking minority members are doing outreach to stakeholder groups to talk about reauthorization

of CDBG and the HOME program and invited NACCED to attend. The invitation of NACCED

is a positive sign that Congress does not want the programs to end.

Ms. Keating has been perusing a 2000-page document regarding the funding and has not been

able to ascertain anything about the Older Americans Act funding. She added that this isn’t the

first time our programs have been zeroed out with presidential budgets before being resurrected

by Congress.

Natasha Belli, Administrator of the Senior Services unit, announced that in honor of World Elder

Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15, Senior Services will host a Senior Resource Fair

on Friday, June 13, from 10:00 a.m. through 1:00 p.m. in the auditorium. The fair will have

about 36 outside providers attending, along with our Community Services’ staff promoting our

programs. Staff will highlight the long-term care Ombudsman program and the Elder Abuse

program.

11.

12.

OLD BUSINESS

No old business was discussed.

NEW BUSINESS

No new business was discussed.