Village Managers Message
One of my primary tasks as Village Manager is to represent the Village and to build relationships with private and public stakeholders. I have tremendous support from the staff on this and the President and Board of Trustees are also active in building bridges for the Village. This week was a very active week on that front.
On Wednesday I attended two meetings with President Cuzzone arranged by DMMC. In the morning we met DuPage County District 2 Board members Elizabeth Chaplin, Paula Deacon Garcia, and Yeena Yoo, and in the evening we attended the DMMC Annual Legislative Reception and Dinner where we got to sit with State Senator, Suzy Glowiak Hilton (Democrat 24th District from Oakbrook Terrace). I thanked the County for the assistance with Lufkin Park and I thanked Senator Glowiak Hilton for the funds supplied for our Recreation Center. In between those meetings I met with the owners of the North Park Plaza Shopping Center with Economic Development Director, Patrick Burke and Community Development Director, Marc McLaughlin. And this Saturday I have signed up to attend US Congressman, Sean Casten’s Town Hall in LaGrange.
Public Works Director, Michael Guerra and I met with representatives of LRS to discuss the adjustments to the contract but before that we had Executive Assistant to the Village Manager’s Office, Cheryl Wagner and Communication Specialist, Donny Pisano join us to discuss customer service issues we have been having. Although most of the issues we are still having will be helped by a program where everyone gets trash and recycling carts, we identified some ways to improve the responses to customer service complaints. We hope to work together to develop some creative ways to get the word out to the residents.
To finish the week, I attended a meeting arranged by Trustee Corkery and CD Director McLaughlin with a resident who is interested in seeing the Village consider accessory dwelling structures (think mother-in-law apartments, or carriage houses). Currently they are only allowed as non-conforming or grandfathered uses, but they are fairly common in the Chicago suburbs. As usual, I met with department heads collectively and individually. I also met with Parks and Rec leadership and AVM McVey and Payroll Specialist, Zandra Shook about how to adjust part-time staff wages in light of the increases in the minimum wage laws in Illinois.
We are still without a topic for the Committee of the Whole meeting in February, but I have a couple ideas.
To access full report, visit here
Upcoming meetings and events
Never miss a meeting or special event. To access our full calendar, click here.