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Geneva, IL 60134

Kane County

KC Human Services Committee

Meeting Minutes

SURGES, Linder, Allan, Garcia, Gripe, Lewis, Tarver, ex-officios Roth (County Vice Chair) &

Pierog (County Chair)

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

9:00 AM

County Board Room

Call To Order

Chairman Surges called the meeting to order at 9:01 AM.

Roll Call

Board Member Clifford Surges

Board Member Michael Linder

Board Member Deborah Allan

Board Member Sonia Garcia

Board Member Jon Gripe

PRESENT

Board Member Anita Lewis

Ex-Officio County Board Vice Chair Bill Roth

Ex-Officio County Board Chair Corinne M. Pierog

Board Member Bill Tarver

REMOTE

Also present: Co. Bd. Members Arroyo, Bates*, Berman*, Gumz, Juby, Kious, Molina*,

Penesis*, Young; HRM Exec. Dir. Lobrillo & staff Davis, Larsen; SAO Chief of Civil

Frank; ITD/BLD Exec. Dir. Fahnestock & staff Lasky, Harris, Peters; Auditor Wegman;

KDOT Dir. Zakosek; KCAC Admin. Youngsteadt; and members of the press and public.

Remote Attendance Requests

Chairman Surges announced the remote attendance requests for today's meeting. He

asked the Committee if there were any objections to Committee Member Tarver

attending today's meeting remotely. There were no objections.

Approval of Minutes: None

Public Comment

None.

Monthly Financial Reports

Monthly Finance Reports

Chairman Surges stated the monthly financial reports were on file. No additional

report was made.

Department of Human Resource Management

Monthly Blue Cross Blue Shield Invoice

Chairman Surges inquired if January's Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) invoice

increase that was presented at last month's Human Services Committee

meeting was the same as February. HRM Asst. Dir. Davis stated that February's

BCBS invoice was on the higher side. She explained that past files were

researched and it showed a historic trend of increased claims in January and

February. Davis addressed questions and comments from the Committee.

Discussion ensued.

HRM Exec. Dir. Lobrillo referenced page 22 in the agenda packet. She stated

while the claims are high, it is not much higher than what the County puts into

the County's Health Fund. She explained that it was intentional to get closer to

the exact amount. Due to the reserve amount being healthy, the County is trying

not to add any more into it, at this time. A closer balance to income versus

expense has been estimated. (Madam Chairman Pierog arrived in-person at

9:04 a.m.). Lobrillo stated that the BCBS Invoice at $1,863,405 is an acceptable

high. Further discussion ensued. (Committee Member Allan arrived remotely at

9:06 a.m.)

All the following reports were within tolerance. No additional reports was made.

Monthly BCBS and MERP Totals

Monthly Assured Partners Report

Monthly Applicants and Staff Changes

Monthly Workers Comp and Liability Reports

Compliance

Monthly Training Report

HRM Exec. Dir. Lobrillo stated that monthly training report was on file. She

explained that the majority of employees have become accustomed to

completing the annual Sexual Harassment Training. The due date for all

employees to complete this training is in August. Chairman Surges commended

the online modules and how it has made it easier for staff to complete.

Old Business

Chairman Surges spoke on the possible establishment of sub-committees and/or ad

hoc committees to research certain topics. He asked Committee Member Gripe to

provide an update on this effort. Gripe explained that one committee would discuss

ethics. The committee would be tasked with coming up with a program to help ensure

ethical behavior in Kane County Government. The second committee would be to

discuss performance goals. This committee would research how they can help

department heads participate in performance goals. Gripe stated that Human Resource

staff is working on this. Input has been received from Will County, DuPage County,

Kendall County, and others to help Kane County with the proper way to go about these

two topics: ethics and performance goals. Gripe is optimistic that these committees will

come to fruition. Surges stated that the County Board has built relationships with

department heads based on cooperation, and not based on fear. He hopes the

proposed performance goals sub-committee or ad hoc committee will be welcomed.

Discussion ensued.

Madam Chairman Pierog read aloud Kane County Code Section 2-48: Formation of a

Sub-Committee. The formation of a sub-committee requires majority vote of the

standing committee or County Board and shall consist of three or more members.

Pierog explained that moving forward with these sub-committees, the vote needs to be

presented to the Human Services Committee and the County Board for authorization.

Discussion ensued. SAO Chief of Civil Frank stated that a Special Human Services

meeting could be called when three or more committee members want to meet to have

the discussions on these possible sub-committees.

10.

New Business

Authorizing Updates to the County’s Health Plan

HRM Exec. Dir. Lobrillo stated that there was a recent statutory change that

requires that first dollar coverage for mental health care be provided to all first

responders. She explained that according to Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS),

99% of their Illinois municipalities are adding this coverage to all health

insurance plans for all employees. This is occurring because it would not be

administratively feasible to separate the coverage to select employees. This

would entail an entire new health plan to be developed. Lobrillo stated an

estimated cost was inquired about. However, BCBS cannot provide this estimate

due to them being inundated with hundreds of municipalities that are making this

change. Lobrillo stated that if this resolution moves forward to the Finance

Committee, the estimated cost should be available. She noted that there is a

healthy reserve in the Health Insurance Fund. The charge will be absorbed

within the Health Insurance Fund and will not have a financial impact to the

County, this year. Lobrillo addressed questions and comments from the

Committee. Much discussion ensued. (Committee Member Allan arrived

in-person at 9:26 a.m.)

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

TO:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Finance and Budget Committee

Michael Linder

MOVER:

Sonia Garcia

SECONDER:

Clifford Surges, Michael Linder, Deborah Allan, Sonia Garcia,

Jon Gripe, Anita Lewis, and Bill Tarver

AYE:

Classifications Discussion

HRM Exec. Dir. Lobrillo introduced the discussion on classifications.

Referencing the reorganization discussion that was had at the March 31, 2025

Special Human Services Committee meeting, she explained that several

department heads voiced their difficulties of reorganizing their departments

without a long process. Regarding reclassifications, she explained that only if

there is an aggregate increase in total grades would that require County Board

approval, due to this being an increase to the department salary total. Beyond

this, department heads can send the reclassification request to the Human

Resources Department for the new positions to be re-graded. This would require

the department heads to write a new set of job descriptions. Lobrillo stated that

as long as the aggregate does not increase, Board approval is not needed.

However, if the County Board would like to review each reorganization, that

would be within their purview. Lobrillo asked for the Committee's direction on

how to move forward. Chairman Surges reviewed the discussions had with

department heads at the last Special Human Services Committee meeting.

ITD/BLD Exec. Dir. Fahnestock stated that there was never a defined process

for how change within a department is managed subsequent to the policy being

passed. He has suggested in the past that a list be brought forth to the County

Board each month with the reorganizational changes within departments.

Currently, he would like to offer a person a position that will absorb additional

responsibilities, but the compensation is too low. If he raises the compensation

amount, the salary would be more than the 75th percentile that is listed. This will

cause the department to go through the re-grading process, which will take more

time. The applicant will not be able to wait on the County's approval before a job

offer can be presented. Fahnestock stated the process needs to be better

defined and easier to follow to be able to execute these changes in a timely

manner. Without the defined process, the departments are waiting months

before they can hire for a position. Fahnestock voiced his misunderstanding on

the steps within the reclassification process. Lobrillo stated that she first heard of

the difficulties at the Special Human Services Committee meeting. She

questioned if the Committee would like her to clarify the process and/or clarify

the process within the Compensation Policy. Much discussion ensued. The

Committee provided consensus to direct Lobrillo to draft an amendment to the

Kane County Code regarding the reclassification process.

Amending Kane County Financial Policies Related to Travel

Chairman Surges referenced the proposed County Policy 2-72: Travel Expense

Generally, Section C: Arbitration, Item 1: Any dispute between the traveler and the

auditor will be submitted to and resolved by the County Board Chairman. It is his

understanding that this Committee would like to strike the word Chairman and change

it to County Board.

HRM Exec. Dir. Lobrillo provided clarification. She stated that no amendment to this

part of the policy needs to be changed. The changes that the Committee is to look into

involve the approval process. She explained that it was requested that an approval

process for Board Members be implemented in policy. She noted that this is a policy

and cannot change the ordinance. She summarized that this resolution is a policy to

implement a travel expense approval process for County Board Members. The

mentioned amendment would need to be done to the actual ordinance, and not today's

resolution. Lobrillo explained that making the amendment would need an ordinance.

She recommended that this Committee pass the policy changes in the presented

resolution and add an ordinance change as a separate function. The County does not

want to codify the level of details that is in the policy. This is a Kane County policy that

effects all employees under the jurisdiction of the County Board, including the County

Board Members. Surges stated that the Travel Policy Resolution is unchanged. The

problem lies within the County's travel ordinance that is not related to today's

resolution. Lobrillo stated that she could draft an ordinance change and present that at

a later meeting, if directed. However, today's resolution should continue forward, as

such. Discussion ensued. The Committee provided consensus to have Lobrillo draft an

amendment to the County's Travel Ordinance to be presented at next month's

Committee meeting.

KC Finance and Budget Committee

RESULT:

MOVED FORWARD BY ROLL CALL VOTE

KC Finance and Budget Committee

Anita Lewis

TO:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

Jon Gripe

Clifford Surges, Michael Linder, Deborah Allan, Sonia Garcia,

Jon Gripe, Anita Lewis, and Bill Tarver

AYE:

Establishing an Attrition Program for Kane County Personnel

HRM Exec. Dir. Lobrillo read aloud this resolution's executive summary

regarding the purpose and details of this resolution. She explained that the part

of the hiring freeze that includes an evaluation panel remains unchanged. It has

stated that the intent was not for this group to make the final decision on

whether to rehire. However, the County department heads voiced that they want

the County Board to make these decisions, but the committee process is too

long. This evaluation panel would be for immediate circumstances, such as

9-1-1 telecommunicators. Lobrillo addressed questions and comments from the

Committee.

Chairman Surges explained that when this resolution was introduced last month,

there was immediate push back that he thought was misplaced. He stated that

this is no hypocrisy. He explained that it was suggested that an evaluation panel

be established that could help clear a log jam and expedite the hiring process.

He suggested that the panel include the Human Resource Management (HRM)

Executive Director and the Finance Department Executive Director due to their

expertise in the hiring process. This panel would have the authority to expedite

the hiring of an employee, when needed. Surges spoke on the implications of

granting HRM and Finance Executive Directors to the panel. He asked the

Committee to give this evaluation panel a chance to help with expediting hiring.

Lobrillo addressed questions and comments from the Committee. Discussion

ensued. (Committee Member Tarver left at 10:15 a.m.)

Madam Chairman Pierog addressed the conversation of developing a

sub-committee. She asked that if this were to occur that it be established as a

formal sub-committee of the Human Services Committee. Additionally, Pierog

addressed the County Board's Vice Chairman's responsibilities. She stated that

the Vice Chair's responsibilities are designated by the County Board or County

Board Chairman. However, these responsibilities have not been established.

Pierog passed out a copy of the Kane County Code regarding committees. She

stated that it is the responsibility of the department head, the committee chair,

and committee members, in which that department reports to, to determine how

departments move forward. She believes that this panel may be unnecessary,

as long as the standing committees are performing the functions and jobs they

are supposed to do. Further discussion ensued. (Committee Member Linder left

at 10:28 a.m.)

Committee Member Gripe motioned to hold this resolution over until next

month's meeting, Lewis seconded. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.

Lobrillo spoke on her discomfort of adjusting this resolution. She has been

asked to make changes and present the proposed program, when she feels it is

not her place to do so. She requested that the Committee meet and discuss who

should be assigned to an evaluation panel and whether or not the County should

establish one. She would like Committee feedback on what this resolution

should have within it. She explained that it is not a staff position to come up with

this Attrition Program and what it entails. Lobrillo stated that if the Committee

does have suggestions, staff will be able to write them up for presentation.

Surges explained that since the referendum did not pass, it was determined to

get some process in line to help the County Board govern themselves. He

thanked Lobrillo for her participation with this resolution. Discussion ensued.

KC Human Services Committee

RESULT:

HELD OVER

KC Human Services Committee

Anita Lewis

TO:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

Sonia Garcia

Clifford Surges, Deborah Allan, Sonia Garcia, Jon Gripe, and

Anita Lewis

AYE:

Michael Linder, and Bill Tarver

ABSENT:

11.

12.

Reports Placed On File

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Deborah Allan

Executive Session (if needed)

None.