Submitted By
Mindy Agnew, Sustainability Coordinator
Agenda Item Title
Title
Review and Recommend Amendment to the Village Manager’s Office Organizational Chart
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Overview
Staff will review a request to participate in the Greenest Region Compact Corps (GRCorps) through the Metropolitan Mayor’s Caucus, which is a program to provide internship-type support for 10-months via talented young sustainability professionals who will work under the direction of our Sustainability Coordinator to assist with various projects. The cost of this program is $17,000.
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Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
Recommendation
Subject to consensus of the Committee, a recommendation will be made to the Village Board for review and approval.
Body
Report
The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus launched the Greenest Region Corps (GRCorps) in the fall of 2018 for GRC communities who wish to host a GRCorps member for 10 months of service to support local sustainability goals that are aligned with the Greenest Region Compact (GRC).
The GRCorps is a team of talented young sustainability professionals that was created with the support of a grant from AmeriCorps (though the Serve Illinois program). AmeriCorps supports voluntary service to communities to address a wide variety of community needs. The Mayors Caucus designed this program specifically to help communities address the common goals of the GRC.
The inaugural GRCorps is made up of 8 dynamic college graduates serving GRC communities. They work alongside municipal staff and civic leaders and one would be assigned to Oak Park. They began work in October of 2018, and are getting important work done. The Corps members are beginning their careers in sustainability and receive ongoing training and support through the USEPA, Moraine Valley Community College and the Mayors Caucus.
Most of the GRCorps members are serving their host communities by coordinating sustainability tasks, developing sustainability plans and tracking accomplishments. Some GRCorps members are conducting outreach to residents and businesses about recycling and energy efficiency, and one member is conducting a tree inventory. Any meaningful work related to the GRCorps that is important to your community can potentially be done by a GRCorps member.
In Oak Park, the GRCorps will assist the Village with our Climate Action Planning which includes data collection and reporting.
The AmeriCorps program requires full-time GRCorps members to complete 1700 hours of service, including modest requirements for training and additional community service, like on Veteran’s Day. This equals about 10 months of full-time work.
Municipalities are required to share the cost of the GRCorps members’ living allowance, health insurance, travel and other fringe costs. This cost is estimated to be about $17,000 for the 10 months of service. The cost includes health insurance provided to GRCorps members. The cost will be reduced if the member declines this option.
The Caucus will manage recruitment, training, administration, benefits and payroll. The AmeriCorps program will directly pay the GRCorps members an award of about $6,000 upon successful completion of their full-time term of service.
Our request is for the Village Board to consider a budget amendment to cover the $17,000 staffing expense for the 10 months of assistance from the Sustainability fund.
When the AmeriCorps grant is awarded to the Caucus they will enter into a formal agreement with the Village of Oak Park and collect the cost once a suitable GRCorps member is selected to serve in our community.
Alternatives
The Committee could delay action and seek more information.