Celebrating the naming of Rev. Jeffrey Clemons to the Lyons Township Mental Health Commission are (from left) executive director Ron Melka, Trustee Mike Porfirio, Rev. Clemons and state Sen. Steve Landek. (Staff photo)
Summit’s Rev. Clemons named to township’s Mental Health Commission
By Steve Metsch
The Township of Lyons has a new member on its Mental Health Commission.
The Rev. Jeffrey Clemons, of Antioch Baptist Church, 7513 W. 64th St., Summit, is joining the commission.
His appointment won unanimous approval from the township board at its meeting on Oct. 12. He is the first African-American on the commission in more than three decades.
Ron Melka, executive director of the mental health commission, called Clemons a fine addition.
“He represents diversity on our commission,” Melka said. “He is very active and well-known and has a long history in the community.”
Clemons has a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling, and works with Thresholds, which is one of the larger substance abuse treatment programs in the state.
“So, he comes in with some expertise in areas we fund and work in,” Melka said.
Of the nine people on the commission, Clemons is the first from Summit, “and it’s an important community in our township,” Melka said.
The commission is part of a community mental health movement started by President Kennedy, Melka said
In other business, the township board approved several contracts.
The board approved an annual maintenance agreement with Heat Engineering, of Countryside. The company will be paid $3,976 to maintain the HVAC system in the township building.
The ongoing renovation of the township building was also addressed.
A letter from API Architects, of Hoffman Estates, recommended that the board approve a contract for work on the canopy over the front entrance.
The board voted unanimously to pay Lite Construction Inc., based in Montgomery, $57,777 for the work. The company had submitted the lowest bid.
The board also authorized Township Supervisor Christopher Getty to negotiate a lease with Freeway Ford, 8445 45th St., Lyons.
Parking buses there would free up space in the township parking lot.
The board’s next regularly scheduled meeting is at 6 p.m. Nov. 9.
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