Board of Health — Skokie, IL
Date: 2026-03-12

Skokie Board of Health
 Thursday, March 12, 2026
 7:00 pm
 Skokie Village Hall
 5127 Oakton Street
 Conference Room D/E

 AGENDA

I. Call to Order

II. Approval of Agenda

III. Approval of Minutes: February 9, 2026 Meeting

IV. Public Comment (3 minutes per person)

V. BOH Chair Updates, Dr. Edward Linn

VI. Health and Human Services (HHS) Updates, Mike Charley, HHS Director
 A. Open Meetings Act & How to Operate a Public Meeting Follow-up

VII. Old Business
 A. Award of Health Research Excellence, Jimmy Gonzalez-Vicker

VIII. New Business

IX. Adjournment

 Next Regular Meeting: April 9, 2026 @ 7:00 p.m.




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Skokie Board of Health
 Thursday, March 12, 2026
 7:00 pm

 Skokie Village Hall
 5127 Oakton Street
 Conference Room D/E



 MINUTES

 In attendance: Dr. Swapna Dave, Dr. Bruce Gaynes, Jimmy Gonzalez-Vicker, Dr. Michael Gottesman,
 Maureen Hanlon, Margaret Keeler, Dr. Edward Linn (Chair), Dr. Stephen Lupovitch, , Rev Dr. Valerie
 Riley, Dr. Romil Sood, Patricia Urbanus, Irtaza Usmanm Ruth Varma, Dr. William Werner, Sibyl Yau (Vice-
 Chair), Staff Liaison: Michael Charley; Trustee Lissa Levy

 Not in attendance: Dr. Sarah Franks, Juliet Haido, Dr. Girijia Kalyan Kumar, Rohit Pandya



 I. Call to Order at 7:04 PM: Chair Dr. Edward Linn called the meeting to order and welcomed
 those in attendance.

 II. Approval of Agenda: A motion was made by Ms. Urbanus to approve the agenda for the March
 12, 2026 meeting. The motion was seconded by Dr. Werner. There was no discussion. The motion
 carried unanimously.

III. Approval of Minutes-February 9, 2026 Meeting: A motion was made by Dr. Sood to approve the
 minutes of the February 9, 2026 meeting. The motion was seconded by Ms. Varma. During
 discussion, a correction was noted regarding punctuation and the meeting date, which was
 identified as a Monday (not Thursday). Staff indicated the correction would be made in the final
 version. The motion carried unanimously.

 IV. Public Comment (3 minutes per person): No members of the public were present for comment.

 V. BOH Chair Updates, Dr. Edward Linn
 A. Open Meetings Act & How to Operate a Public Meeting Follow-up:

 Dr. Linn reported that Board and Commission chairs, vice chairs, and staff liaisons recently
 participated in a Village training led by the new outside corporate counsel regarding the Open
 Meetings Act, Robert’s Rules of Order, and uniform procedures for public meetings.

 Mike Charley reviewed a two-page guidance document summarizing the training and noted that
 the material had been incorporated into the Board of Health onboarding document.

 Discussion included the following:

 • Board-related emails, texts, agendas, and minutes may be subject to disclosure under
 the Freedom of Information Act and should remain professional.



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 • A quorum of the Board constitutes a public meeting, and members should avoid
 discussion of Board business through group emails, reply-all messages, texts, or
 messaging apps in a way that could violate the Open Meetings Act.
 • With 20 total Board members, 11 members constitute a quorum.
 • Minutes are required for all meetings and should reflect motions, votes, official actions,
 and a general summary rather than verbatim discussion.
 • Public comment is limited to three minutes per speaker and is not intended to become a
 debate or extended discussion.
 • Remote participation is generally not permitted for Board of Health meetings except in
 limited circumstances with prior approval through the Village Manager’s Office.
 • Members must complete Open Meetings Act training within 90 days of appointment
 and submit their certificate to the Mayor’s Office.
 • Business requiring Board action should include a motion and a second, and discussion
 should remain focused on the pending motion.
 • Members were reminded to disclose conflicts of interest and avoid accepting gifts or
 benefits tied to their Board role.
 • Subcommittee meetings attended by a majority of a quorum of the full Board must
 comply with all OMA public notice and access requirements. Illinois law uses the
 "majority of a quorum" standard. For example, if your full board has 20 members, a
 quorum is 11. A majority of that quorum is 6. If 6 or more board members meet to
 discuss business—even if they are just "dropping in" on a subcommittee—it is legally a
 "meeting" under the Act.


VI. Health and Human Services (HHS) Updates, Mike Charley, HHS Director

 Mr. Charley provided departmental updates, including:

 • Continued promotion of Village vaccine programs, including flu and COVID-19
 vaccination efforts.
 • A free walk-in STI clinic held on February 23, 2026.
 • Planning for the Young Hearts for Life EKG screening event, with volunteer opportunities
 shared with Board members.
 • Expanded Wednesday evening after-hours flu and COVID-19 vaccine clinics in January,
 February, and March to improve access.
 • Receipt of a new Illinois grant to increase COVID-19 vaccination access for infants and
 toddlers.
 • Continued public education efforts through Village communications on topics including
 rats and vaccination.
 • Mr. Charley reported that rat activity has declined significantly over the past two years,
 crediting additional staffing, licensed pest control support, data mapping, burrow
 treatment, door-to-door education, and targeted enforcement in high-density
 residential areas with persistent garbage issues.

 He also shared state and federal public health updates, including:

 • Illinois identified its first measles case of 2026 on February 17, 2026, in the Metro East
 region.
 • The Illinois Department of Public Health continues to emphasize evidence-based
 immunization guidance.


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 • Illinois and other states continue litigation related to threatened federal withholding of
 public health grant funding.
 • While Skokie’s grants had not yet been affected, concern remains because a substantial
 portion of the Health Department budget depends on grant support.

 Mr. Charley announced plans for a community health fair on June 6, 2026, in the Village Hall
 parking lot from approximately 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Planned services include dental exams,
 wellness physicals for children, school-required vaccines, vision screenings, possible hearing
 screenings, mobile health unit participation, and children’s books through the library.

 He also reported that the Village will continue partnering monthly with outside organizations to
 offer free STI screening and testing after hours, with referrals provided for individuals who test
 positive. Mpox vaccinations also continue to be offered.

 Mr. Charley further reported that the Village received a $5,000 Illinois Vaccine Access Program
 grant to support improved access to COVID-19 and other respiratory virus vaccines for children
 under age 3, including outreach through daycare centers and the Advocate mobile unit.

 He noted that behavioral health outreach posters are being finalized through the Community
 Health Improvement Plan’s Access to Health Care Team and will include information for the 988
 crisis line and Turning Point Behavioral Health Center. The posters will be distributed to key
 community agencies and stake holders.

 Mr. Charley then presented a high-level overview of communicable disease surveillance for the
 prior year, including:

 • 586 total communicable disease reports received.
 • 328 cases involving Skokie residents and 258 involving non-Skokie residents.
 • A majority of reports involved sexually transmitted infections, including chlamydia,
 syphilis, and gonorrhea.
 • Other reported conditions included campylobacteriosis, hepatitis, influenza, pertussis,
 varicella, and hepatitis C.
 • Foodborne illnesses showed a seasonal increase during summer months.
 • Respiratory illnesses such as influenza, COVID-19, RSV, pertussis, and tuberculosis
 tended to peak in January and February.

 Board discussion included questions regarding testing, reporting requirements, how
 communicable disease data are used, and whether certain information could help guide future
 public education messaging.

 Mr. Charley concluded by reminding members about the Young Hearts for Life screening event
 scheduled for April 23, 2026, with volunteer training on April 22, 2026.



VII. Old Business
 A. Award of Health Research Excellence, Jimmy Gonzalez-Vicker

 Jimmy Gonzalez-Vicker reported on the recent student science fair, held at Wheeling High
 School, and the Board’s Award of Health Research Excellence.

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 Mr. Gonzalez-Vicker explained that eight Skokie student projects in the health sciences category
 were initially identified. After review of titles and abstracts, four students were selected for
 closer consideration. The Board’s award was ultimately presented to a sophomore from Niles
 West High School for a project concerning hydrocortisone and the risks associated with overuse
 of over-the-counter medication.

 Discussion highlighted the student’s strong literature review, thoughtful explanation of local
 health impact, and the importance of community education regarding over-the-counter
 medication use.

 Mr. Charley thanked Mr. Gonzalez-Vicker for his leadership in developing and advancing the
 award. The Board also discussed formally recognizing the student at a future Village Board
 meeting once contact is established through the school or science fair organizers.

VIII. New Business

 The Board welcomed Alyssa Kritzman, DVM, as a new Board member. Dr. Kritzman introduced
 herself, shared her professional background in veterinary medicine and academic instruction,
 and was welcomed by the Board.

IX. Adjournment at 7:11 PM: A motion was made by Ms. Hanlon to adjourn the meeting. The
 motion was seconded by Dr. Sood and carried unanimously.

 Next Regular Meeting: April 9, 2026 @ 7:00 p.m.




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