Riverside Township approves community partnerships, two special-event permits and electronic payment for credit card

Riverside Township officials on Feb. 11 approved a slate of community partnership grants and sponsorships, cleared two special-event requests including a fee waiver for a Masonic partner pending insurance, and authorized electronic payment for the township credit card.

The board voted to fund five nonprofit programs and two arts organizations, awarding $5,000 each to Access to Care, Aging Care Connections and Best Buddies, $1,500 to Riverside Arts Weekend and $10,000 to the Riverside Arts Center. All grants were approved by roll call with the exception of the Best Buddies award, where Supervisor Wills registered an abstention because of a stated relationship to the organization’s state director.

Why it matters: The grants support primary and behavioral health services for uninsured residents, long-term services and supports for older adults, youth and disability-focused programming, and local arts education and public events in the township. Board members said these community partnerships are part of ongoing township support for service providers and cultural organizations.

Most consequential actions - Access to Care: The board approved a $5,000 partnership grant after a presentation by Kimberly Mertz, chief operating officer. Mertz said the program provides primary care, low-cost lab and radiology services and discounted prescriptions for low-income, uninsured suburban Cook County residents, and that a Riverside Township grant of $5,000 would “provide care to 7 to 8 people in this area.”

- Aging Care Connections: Colleen Pelicanth, director of social services, described programs serving older adults, caregivers and families and requested $5,000; the board approved the grant by roll call.

- Best Buddies: The board approved a $5,000 partnership to Best Buddies; the organization’s representative was not present. Trustee Clark and Trustee Carroll voted yes; Supervisor Wills abstained and the motion carried.

- Riverside Arts Weekend: Charlotte Zia, president of the Riverside Arts Weekend, asked the board to be a $1,500 gold-level sponsor to support musical and performance activities for the June weekend festival. Zia said the full event costs close to $20,000 to stage. The board approved the $1,500 partnership.

- Riverside Arts Center: Anne Filmer, executive director, described year-round programs, a teen summer employment program and school partnerships. Filmer said the arts center’s 2025 expenditures will be about $216,400 and requested $10,000 toward operations and youth employment; the board approved the $10,000 partnership.

Other approvals - Special-event permits: The board approved a special-event request for a graduation party planned for June 21, 2025, with alcohol service subject to insurance and vendor requirements. Separately, the board approved a special-use request for St. Elmo Commandery No. 64 (a Masonic organization) for Aug. 23, 2025, and voted to waive rental fees for that use provided the venue secures the required alcohol insurance.

- Electronic payment: The board authorized paying the township’s Bank of America credit card by ACH (electronic payment) rather than by mailed check. Trustees discussed timing concerns around late meetings in November and agreed the ACH arrangement would prevent lost checks and penalties.

Votes at a glance (summary of motions recorded on the meeting roster) - Motion: Award $5,000 to Access to Care (mover: Trustee Clark; second: Trustee DeCosta). Vote: Trustee Clark — yes; Trustee Carroll — yes; Trustee DeCosta — yes; Supervisor Wills — yes. Outcome: approved. - Motion: Award $5,000 to Aging Care Connections (mover: Trustee Clark; second: Trustee Carroll). Vote: Clark — yes; Carroll — yes; DeCosta — yes; Wills — yes. Outcome: approved. - Motion: Award $5,000 to Best Buddies (mover: Trustee Clark; second: Trustee Carroll). Vote: Clark — yes; DeCosta — yes; Carroll — yes; Supervisor Wills — abstain. Outcome: approved (motion carried). - Motion: Community partnership, Riverside Arts Weekend, $1,500 (mover: Trustee DeCosta; second: Trustee Carroll). Vote: Clark — yes; DeCosta — yes; Carroll — yes; Wills — yes. Outcome: approved. - Motion: Community partnership, Riverside Arts Center, $10,000 (mover: Trustee Carroll; second: Trustee DeCosta). Vote: Carroll — yes; DeCosta — yes; Clark — yes; Wills — yes. Outcome: approved. - Motion: Approve special use for graduation party (06/21/2025) with required insurance (mover: Trustee DeCausala; second: Trustee Clark). Vote: Clark — yes; Carroll — yes; DeCosta — yes; Wills — yes. Outcome: approved. - Motion: Approve special use for St. Elmo Commandery No. 64 (08/23/2025) and waive rental fees pending proof of alcohol insurance (mover: Trustee DeCosta; second: Trustee Carroll). Vote: Clark — yes; Carroll — yes; DeCosta — yes; Wills — yes. Outcome: approved. - Motion: Authorize ACH electronic payment for the township Bank of America credit card (mover: Trustee Carroll; second: Trustee DeCosta). Vote: Carroll — yes; DeCosta — yes; Clark — yes; Wills — yes. Outcome: approved.

Context and next steps: Several presenters said the township funds would be matched or supplemented by other grants and donations; presenters asked the board to continue or expand partnerships in future budgets. Board members said they plan to prioritize town hall repairs in the coming budget cycle and will continue routine warrant approvals at future meetings.

The board also approved routine warrants and payroll for February 2025 as part of the meeting’s consent items.