421 N. COUNTY FARM ROAD  
WHEATON, IL 60187  
DU PAGE COUNTY  
Human Services  
www.dupagecounty.gov  
Final Summary  
Tuesday, November 21, 2023  
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 Lucy Chang Evans, Member Patty Gustin (9:45 AM).  
Staff in attendance: Rene Zerante, Conor McCarthy (9:40 AM) (State's Attorney Office), Mary  
Catherine Wells, Gerald Smith, Keith Jorstad (Finance), Nickon Etminan (Procurement),  
Natasha Belli, Mary Keating (Community Services), and Janelle Chadwick (DuPage Care  
Center) (remote).  
DeSart, Galassi, Garcia, LaPlante, and Schwarze  
Childress  
PRESENT  
LATE  
3.  
4.  
PUBLIC COMMENT  
No public comments were offered.  
CHAIR REMARKS - CHAIR SCHWARZE  
Chair Schwarze read the new release that came out regarding the DuPage Care Center receiving  
another prestigious recognition. “The Center was named one of the 2024 U.S. News Best  
Nursing Homes by U.S. News and World Report. The Care Center is listed as High-Performing  
for both Short-Term Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care, making it one of just 3 percent of  
nursing homes nationwide to receive both designations."  
"The Short-Term ratings are based on an assessment of 10 quality measures, including staffing  
levels, medical outcomes, and resident complaints. Similarly, the Long-Term ratings are based  
on an assessment of nine quality measures, including staffing, medical outcomes, resident  
complaints, vaccinations, and appropriate use of medications."  
"The DuPage Care Center was also named the third-best nursing home in Illinois by Newsweek  
Magazine, based on performance data, peer recommendations, management of the COVID-19  
situation, and accreditations from The Joint Commission and Commission on Accreditation of  
Rehabilitation Facilities. The Care Center ranked third among 750 nursing homes chosen by the  
magazine, based on key criteria that made the Care Center’s quality of care stand out among  
more than 12,000 public and private facilities analyzed.”  
“Congratulations to the staff of the Care Center on these incredible achievements!”  
5.  
APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
5.A.  
23-3742  
Human Services Committee - Regular Meeting - Tuesday, November 7, 2023  
APPROVED  
Lynn LaPlante  
Kari Galassi  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
6.  
7.  
LENGTH OF SERVICE AWARDS  
Length of Service Award - Jeanie Moccio - 30 Years - Community Services  
COMMUNITY SERVICES - MARY KEATING  
7.A.  
FI-R-0272-23  
Acceptance and appropriation of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program  
HHS Grant PY24 Inter-Governmental Agreement No. 24-224028, Company 5000,  
Accounting Unit 1420, $2,948,471. (Community Services)  
APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE  
Paula Garcia  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Dawn DeSart  
SECONDER:  
7.B.  
HS-R-0069-23  
Approval of issuance of payments by DuPage County to energy assistance providers  
through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, HHS Grant PY24  
Inter-Governmental Agreement No. 24-224028, in the amount of $2,408,901.  
(Community Services)  
APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE  
Paula Garcia  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Kari Galassi  
SECONDER:  
Member Childress arrived at 9:45 AM.  
7.C.  
HS-P-0088-23  
Awarding resolution to Wellsky Corporation, for the renewal of the Homeless  
Management Information System Software and Cloud services contract, renewal of  
licenses, training, support, and custom programming, for Community Services, for a  
contract total amount of $43,720.48. (PARTIAL ARPA ITEM)  
APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE  
Paula Garcia  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYES:  
Kari Galassi  
Childress, DeSart, Galassi, Garcia, LaPlante, and Schwarze  
8.  
DUPAGE CARE CENTER - JANELLE CHADWICK  
8.A.  
HS-P-0089-23  
Recommendation for the approval of a contract purchase order to AirGas USA, LLC, to  
furnish and deliver liquid portable oxygen for the residents at the DuPage Care Center,  
for the period December 1, 2023 through November 30, 2024, for a contract total amount  
not to exceed $48,000; under bid renewal #22-105-DCC, first of three, one-year optional  
renewals.  
APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE  
Paula Garcia  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYES:  
Kari Galassi  
Childress, DeSart, Galassi, Garcia, LaPlante, and Schwarze  
8.B.  
HS-P-0090-23  
Recommendation for the approval of a contract purchase order to Accelerated Care Plus,  
for leasing Physical Therapy Equipment, for the period January 1, 2024 through  
December 31, 2027, for an amount not to exceed $35,859.36, per sole source.  
APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE  
Lynn LaPlante  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYES:  
Paula Garcia  
Childress, DeSart, Galassi, Garcia, LaPlante, and Schwarze  
8.C.  
23-3743  
HS-P-0051A-23 - Amendment to Resolution HS-P-0051-23, issued to Performance  
Foodservice, for secondary food, supplies and chemicals, for the DuPage Care Center, for  
the period March 1, 2023 through February 29, 2024, to increase encumbrance in the  
amount of $20,000, a 27.45% increase.  
APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE  
Paula Garcia  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYES:  
Lynn LaPlante  
Childress, DeSart, Galassi, Garcia, LaPlante, and Schwarze  
9.  
BUDGET TRANSFERS  
9.A.  
23-3744  
Budget Transfer to transfer monies from 1200-2050/52220 (Wearing Apparel) to  
1200-2050/54110 (Equipment & Machinery) in Nursing Services to allow for the  
purchase of a replacement of a Broda Shower Chair for the residents of the DuPage Care  
Center - $1,935.00  
APPROVED  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYES:  
Paula Garcia  
Kari Galassi  
Childress, DeSart, Galassi, Garcia, LaPlante, and Schwarze  
9.B.  
23-3745  
Budget Transfer to transfer monies from 1200-2025/54110 (Dining Services) to  
1200-20535/54110 (Housekeeping) to allow for the purchase of two (2) Duo  
R-Microplus Pro Mops to add to the current fleet for newly purchased Housekeeping  
trolley cart at the DuPage Care Center $1,400.00.  
APPROVED  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYES:  
Paula Garcia  
Kari Galassi  
Childress, DeSart, Galassi, Garcia, LaPlante, and Schwarze  
10.  
11.  
RESIDENCY WAIVERS - JANELLE CHADWICK  
No residency waivers were offered.  
DUPAGE CARE CENTER UPDATE - JANELLE CHADWICK  
Janelle Chadwick, Administrator of the DuPage Care Center announced the Care Center is on a  
Covid outbreak, with one unit finishing up on quarantine. Ms. Chadwick noted the community  
hospital covid admissions are on the rise, although DuPage County is still low. Staff are  
informing their resident families to be cognizant and if possible, wear masks over the holiday  
weekend as they always see an uptick in covid cases after huge family gatherings and holiday  
events.  
Ms. Chadwick will have a slideshow presentation at the December 5, 2023, Human Services  
committee meeting showing the progress of the renovations at the Care Center. She is expecting  
the resident room cabinetry to be installed. She will show the completed bathroom renovations,  
walls, and hallway flooring. Ms. Chadwick added she is so excited; it looks like a whole new  
building.  
The Care Center has completed their annual surveys for both health and life safety codes. They  
both went well. They have submitted everything requested for clearance from the Illinois  
Department of Public Health.  
Member Garcia asked if most of the residents have received current covid vaccines. Ms.  
Chadwick responded the pharmacist is at the Care Center today giving vaccines.  
Member Childress asked if the Care Center will receive a plaque for the award they just received.  
Ms. Chadwick replied they are not allowed to use the World News emblems in their marketing  
materials without licensing fees, which she is working on obtaining. A plaque will come with it.  
12.  
COMMUNITY SERVICES UPDATE - MARY KEATING  
Mary Keating, Director of Community Services, reminded the committee that the equipment  
grant application is still open for food pantries through mid-December. She stated they will send  
a reminder to the food pantries. Ms. Keating stated the Finance staff reported that they have not  
received many applications. Ms. Keating told them in her experience, most people wait until  
shortly before the deadline to submit. She will keep the committee posted on the applications as  
they come in.  
Ms. Keating mentioned the Length of Service Award, specifically the job share program that  
DuPage County once had, which was eliminated about six years ago. This was not two part-time  
positions, rather it was two people doing the same job. This required that two people worked  
well together and both offered the same expertise in the position. This policy was beneficial in  
retaining employees, allowing them greater flexibility while still retaining full benefits.  
The committee discussed the benefits of the job share program in the current employment  
market. The driving force in the current job market is flexibility, the ability to work remotely has  
changed our current work force. The committee discussed how reinstating this policy could work  
towards better retention of employees. They discussed about how this policy could be revisited.  
13.  
OLD BUSINESS  
Chair Schwarze thanked all for the support of the small business grants, remarking the  
presentation went well at County Board. He expressed his appreciation to the Finance staff for  
their hard work.  
Chair Schwarze added that it is in the proposed budget for 2024 to continue the program for  
three additional years, which County Board will vote on at the November 28, 2023 meeting. He  
will meet in January with Vice Chair Garcia, Finance Chair Chaplin, Finance Vice Chair  
Krajewski, Finance staff, Community Services staff, and the Assistant States Attorney to  
improve on the issues we had this year. Member LaPlante asked if committee could have input.  
Chair Schwarze requested committee members send concerns and/or feedback to him or Vice  
Chair Garcia.  
Mr. Schwarze expressed his appreciation to all for supporting the extra $1.14M ARPA interest  
funds going towards food in 2024, that will be on the County Board agenda next week. He  
thanked County Board Chair Conroy to include an additional $1.5 M, considering in 2023 we  
spent over $4M in food assistance and people are still going hungry. That will increase the $1.5  
to $2.64 M, which is needed.  
DeSart asked if there have been any additional complaints regarding the produce from Northern  
Illinois Food Bank (NIFB). Greg Schwarze and Mary Keating replied that only two out of 22  
pantries complained, and they chose to opt out of the NIFB program.  
14.  
15.  
NEW BUSINESS  
No new business was discussed.  
ADJOURNMENT  
With no further business, Chair Schwarze requested a motion to adjourn. The meeting was  
adjourned at 9:53 AM on a voice vote, all ayes.  
APPROVED  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYES:  
Lynn LaPlante  
Dawn DeSart  
Childress, DeSart, Galassi, Garcia, LaPlante, and Schwarze