Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Senior Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council delays new agreement with South Shore Senior Partners pending legal review on insurance and background checks
Summary
Shorewood staff presented an updated draft agreement with the South Shore Senior Partners, which has operated on a month-to-month basis since 2014; Council asked for City Attorney presence to resolve sticking points around insurance, indemnity and background checks before finalizing terms.
Parks and Recreation Manager Czech told the Council on March 10 that the South Shore Senior Partners (SSSP), a nonprofit serving residents 55 and older, has been operating under a month-to-month arrangement with the city since an original 2009–2014 agreement expired.
Czech said staff drafted an updated agreement but the City Attorney flagged issues related to insurance requirements and background checks. He and City Administrator Nevinski reported they had met with the SSSP board and presented the draft; the board raised concerns about several proposed terms.
Councilmember DiGruttolo said she would feel more comfortable discussing indemnity and liability with the City Attorney present and suggested that if an incident required payment of a deductible the SSSP should be expected to cover it rather than the city. She also argued that background checks are appropriate when volunteers interact in a building that may host children or younger visitors and suggested checks be annual.
Mayor Labadie said she wanted the City Attorney at the next discussion and recommended Council submit questions in advance to make efficient use of attorney time; she suggested the city examine school-district background-check practices as a model. Councilmember Sanschagrin said a two-year agreement term seems reasonable.
Staff said they will bring several options back to a future regular Council meeting—likely including revised insurance and background-check language and potential term lengths—after conferring with the City Attorney and the SSSP board.
Next step: staff will return with attorney guidance and proposed contract options for Council consideration.
