Board of Health — Skokie, IL
Date: 2025-11-13

Skokie Board of Health
 Thursday, November 13, 2025
 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: October 9, 2025 Meeting

IV. Joule Power – Community Solar, Glenn Weinberg, VP of Sales & Market
 Development

V. BOH Chair Updates, Dr. Edward Linn

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

VII. Old Business

VIII. New Business
 A. Award of Health Research Excellence Introduction, Jimmy Gonzalez
 Vicker

IX. Public Comment (3 minutes per person)

X. Adjournment

 Next Regular Meeting: December 11, 2025 @ 7:00 p.m.




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Skokie Board of Health
 Thursday, November 13, 2025
 7:00 pm

 Skokie Village Hall
 5127 Oakton Street
 Conference Room D/E



 MINUTES

In attendance: Dr. Sarah Franks, Dr. Bruce Gaynes, Jimmy Gonzalez-Vicker, Dr. Michael
Gottesman, Juliet Haido, Maureen Hanlon, Dr. Edward Linn (Chair), Rohit Pandya, Dr. Romil
Sood, Patricia Urbanus, Ruth Varma, Sibyl Yau (Vice-Chair), Dr. Stephen Lupovitch, Irtaza
Usman, Dr. William Werner, Staff Liaison: Michael Charley; Trustee: Lissa Levy

Not in attendance: Dr. Swapna Dave, Margaret Keeler, Dr. Girijia Kalyan Kumar, Dr. Kyungren
Shim

I. Call to Order at 7:00 pm

II. Approval of Agenda: Approved, first by Yau, second by Pandya

III. Approval of Minutes: October 9, 2025 Meeting, first by Yau, second by Pandya

IV. Joule Power – Community Solar, Glenn Weinberg, VP of Sales & Market Development:
 Glenn Weinberg’s presentation explained the 2025 Skokie Community Solar program,
 highlighting that all Skokie households and small businesses can subscribe to a local
 solar farm through Nexamp to receive monthly bill credits worth up to 15% off their
 electricity costs, with no equipment, no cost to join or cancel, and no credit check. He
 emphasized that participants continue receiving regular ComEd bills, that credits may
 take a few months to begin depending on project construction timelines, and that the
 program supports clean, renewable energy without requiring solar panels on
 participants’ homes.

V. BOH Chair Updates, Dr. Edward Linn: Dr. Linn briefed the Board on several emerging
 public health concerns:

 • A potentially poorly matched H3N2 flu strain circulating internationally, with
 limited U.S. surveillance data due to the CDC shutdown.
 • A multistate infant botulism outbreak linked to ByHeart infant formula, and
 broader concerns about rising misinformation-driven trends such as
 consumption of raw milk products.
 • Updates on menopausal hormone therapy, noting recent FDA movement to
 correct long-standing, overly broad warnings on estrogen products based on
 misinterpreted early 2000s research.
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VI. Health and Human Services (HHS) Updates, Mike Charley, HHS Director: Director
 Charley provided updates on October and early November HHS activities. He highlighted
 recent Skokie Scoop communications on flu clinics, HIV/STI testing, food assistance, and
 the Assist-A-Family program. October flu clinics administered 1,245 vaccinations, a 7.6%
 increase from 2024.

 He reported strong growth in the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), now nearing 120
 members, supported by recruitment efforts at the Volunteer Palooza event. Additional
 department updates included Medicare Open Enrollment assistance, ongoing
 emergency financial aid services, and outreach events such as the Faith Leaders’ Council
 meeting, which covered immigration enforcement rights and upcoming Live Well Age
 Well 2025 programming for older adults.

 Charley briefed the Board on the Village Board’s recent amendment to Chapter 58
 (Human Relations), which now explicitly prohibits the use of Village facilities for any ICE
 civil immigration enforcement activities without a criminal warrant.

 He also summarized Village actions related to the ByHeart infant formula botulism
 recall, including public notifications, SIREN alerts to medical and childcare providers, and
 in-person retail checks confirming product removal.

 He provided updates on IPLAN workgroups, including prenatal outreach materials, a
 Medicare rate advocacy effort, behavioral-health crisis poster development, the rental
 housing survey, and submission of a major Endeavor Capacity Builder grant application.

 Finally, he shared that the Public Health Partners of Excellence Awards will be presented
 on Monday November 17 at the Village Board meeting. Dr. Linn and Mike Charley will be
 presenting the awards to four deserving organizations.

VII. Old Business: None

VIII. New Business
 • Award of Health Research Excellence Introduction, Jimmy Gonzalez Vicker:
 Jimmy Gonzalez Vicker provided an overview of his proposal for the Board of
 Health to sponsor a student award connected to the regional high school science
 fair. He explained how the fair operates across multiple school districts and
 outlined how the Board could recognize public health–related student research
 using a simple rubric focused on local impact, methodology, and relevance to
 health sciences. Jimmy noted past examples of strong projects, described the
 judging process, and emphasized that Skokie students could be identified and
 recognized without ambiguity. He shared that selected students would present
 briefly before the Board and receive an award, similar to existing Village
 recognition programs. More detailed written information will be circulated to
 Board members, and the item will return next month for discussion and action.



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IX. Public Comment (3 minutes per person)
 • Mayor Ann Tennes: Mayor Ann Tennes thanked the Board of Health, former
 chairs, and HHS staff for their longstanding service and significant
 contributions—especially during the pandemic and in launching the Medical
 Reserve Corps. She emphasized Skokie’s decades-long commitment to investing
 in public health and human services. The Mayor also described recent
 community challenges related to increased immigration enforcement activity
 and highlighted the Village’s partnership efforts, including a rapidly organized
 “Know Your Rights” training and trauma-and-resilience presentation held with
 state legislators and JCFS early tonight. She underscored that Skokie’s strength
 lies in its multicultural community and collaborative relationships, and she closed
 by expressing appreciation for the Board’s work and offering personal
 commendations to staff.

X. Adjournment at 8:35 pm, first by Varma, second by Dr. Werner

 Next Regular Meeting: December 11, 2025 @ 7:00 p.m.




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