Community Relations Commission

COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMISSION Summary from the Meeting held on Thursday, January 9, 2020 Commissioner Keith Sokolowski called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, January 9, 2020 in the 3rd Floor Family Services Group Room at the Human Services Building, 999 Civic Center Drive. Persons in Attendance: Joe Kuffel – Commissioner John Jekot – Village Trustees Keith Sokolowski - Commissioner Katie Schneider – Village of Niles, CRC Secretary Lavita Collins – Niles Family Services, Assistant Director Joseph Penze - Niles Police Department, Bureau Chief Persons Absent: Vicky Duka - Commissioner Carolyn Drblik – Commissioner Approval of Meeting Minutes - There was no quorum. Minutes will be presented at the April meeting. Reported Citizen Comments/Complaints a. Police and other Village Departments Joseph Penze reported that the Niles Police Department continues to run their SCRAM Program at the Niles Senior Center to educate seniors on popular scams and how to protect themselves. Special Olympics is kicking off for a year of fundraising. Through February and March there will be Crime Free Housing Training and SRO Presentations in the schools. For the Crime Free Housing, by ordinance, all landlords have to go through a training and certification in order to rent in Niles. A Car Seat install event will be on February 16th and a Coffee with a Cop event on March 7th. Lavita Collins reported that Family Services is now offering a Grief Support Group starting on Thursdays from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. for seniors 55 and up. b. Telephone / Email Hotlines No complaints or inquiries were submitted or reported. c. Commissioners There were no complaints or inquires submitted or reported. Old Business - From the October 2019 meeting, the Commission agreed that we should offer more resources on our website to better direct people to State housing resources. Katie Schneider will do some research and update the webpage. New Business - There was no new business. Open Discussion and Public Comment - There was no discussion or public comment. Next Meeting - The next meeting is on Thursday, April 9, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. at the Human Services Building, 999 Civic Center Plaza, 3rd Floor Family Services Conference Room. Adjournment - Meeting concluded at 6:38 p.m. Summary submitted by: Katie Schneider, Secretary