Archive 2001

These letters were received during 2001. They are chronologically ordered from newest to oldest.

Another Response to the Commissioner's Letter  (Posted 12/05/01)

Commissioner Gilbert accuses Downers Grove Watch of constantly putting a 
negative spin on the news it reports. I think the truth is there is much news 
which doesn't seem to get printed in our local newspapers and which, 
unfortunately, often lends itself to a less than glowing interpretation of 
our village's workings. Citizens can decide for themselves whether our taxes 
have been well managed, and whether we enjoy a great value relative to other 
communities in DuPage County. Personally, when I look at my neighborhood's 
streets and the unrealistic and unfulfilled promises downtown, I don't see 
the great value that Mr. Gilbert does. I also think that although village 
taxes may well have been kept under control in recent years, a clear 
deterioration of that legacy is now facing Downers Grove taxpayers.

Yes, the police and fire pension funds are controlled by state statutes and 
actuarial assumptions. However, the village ultimately determines what 
investment return assumptions to use in its pension tax levy and the village 
is responsible for investment decisions. Undoubtedly there are individuals 
who actually lost significant amounts of money this year. However, it was 
their money--not taxpayers'. Also, unless Commissioner Gilbert can guarantee 
when police and fire personnel will choose to retire, he cannot be sure there 
are thirty years to makeup the newly created $2 million shortfall. Gilbert must 
think he knows both future retirement dates and likelihood of disability claims.
Furthermore, I find the targeted 8.5% annual return plus additional money to 
cover the shortfall to be another example of a lack of realism by our village 
government. Please explain to citizens how an investment portfolio which 
must invest at least 55% in government securities is going to meet this 
actuarial return assumption and who pays for the shortfall when the target 
return isn't met.

Finally, is commissioner Gilbert promising there will be a "zero percent 
increase in taxes for village debts," and that the rest of the tax abatement 
program he is so proud of will continue with a "four year plan to eliminate 
the rest of the levy completely?"

I agree that citizens need all the facts regarding how their taxes are 
changing and how those dollars are being spent. I am not comforted by what I 
know to this point!

Sincerely,

William Vollrath

A Response to the Commissioner's Letter  (Posted 12/05/01)

Through the years I’ve produced and read enough Annual Reports to understand commissioner Gilbert’s obsession with "the facts". In the corporate world, a fixation on "the facts" by the authors of an annual report is a sure indication of big picture problems. And, as with the obfuscation of the big picture in a weak annual report, I’m sure that the goal behind the commissioner’s smoke screen is to preserve the credibility and jobs of those responsible for the present state of things.

A Commissioner Responds (Posted 12/03/01)

 Dear Downers Grove Watch:

 
As I have said before, it's a shame that the citizens who read this web site

continue to be subjected to twisted facts and half-truths that are being

used to present only negative views of our village.  This has been the

pattern since your web page efforts began. While your concept may have merit, 

I surely don’t understand your motives.

 

In your recent "News in Brief" writings, you failed to point out a few more

interesting bits of information that would certainly change one's

perspective of our tax levy as currently proposed.  First, the tax levy was

put in place to fund our fire and police pension fund, both of which are

managed by boards created under the strict guidelines of state law.  The

funding required is determined by very complex actuarial studies.  The

Village Council does not arbitrarily decide on the funding requirements.

Further, while you state that the actuarial assumptions were 8.5% and our

actual returns were about 1% creating a "shortfall" of 2 million dollars,

you failed to note that this "shortfall" is to be made up over the next 30

years!  It is far from unusual that the estimated returns are not met

exactly and I would bet that there are a great many people who have a

"shortfall" in their personal expected return on investments this particular

year.  To some, ANY gain would have been welcomed.   

 

Interestingly, the complete reverse of all this is highly likely in some

future years where the pension funds exceed the assumptions of the

actuaries.  Over the next thirty or so years, I suspect we might just see a

few good years as well as a few bad ones!  The picture you paint of this

"shortfall" is really not as dramatic as you make it sound.   Moreover, over

the past five years our pension funds had double digit returns, even though

our assumption for earnings was 9.0%.  This means the tax levy was HELD DOWN 

substantially during this time and we know that you also would like to thank

the pension boards for their excellent work during this time! 

 

Your comment regarding the salary increases for the "Police Pension Fund"

only serve to confuse the issue and add more negative image to the levy.  In the

actuarial studies, the numbers that are used include all the employees in

the police department who are eligible or will be eligible for pension under

that fund.  Two things happen to effect this number...growth in the

department and wage increases as officers are employed longer, get paid more

via the union contracted terms, or get promoted to management positions.

When an officer gets promoted to sergeant the pay increase is at least 10%.

I guess the council could be criticized for having too many officers or for

signing a specific contract but we felt, and I believe still do, that the

additional officers were needed and that the contract was reasonable and

fair.  Again though, you paint a negative picture with this comment without

explaining why the specific numbers were used.  

 

You also failed to point out that the Village has habitually abated the

debt service tax levy of $1.4 Million and used other general fund revenues

to pay the debt service on general obligation bonds.  To this date, no levy

funds have been used for Village debt service.  Statutory laws and sound

fiscal policy require that it be levied but it can AND HAS BEEN abated each

year.  Based on the abatement, this means that your "203% increase in taxes

for village debts is actually 0%.  Not only did we abate this portion of the

levy but we did in fact also abate another $1.0 million of the property tax

levy, as you mentioned in the preceding paragraph, with a four-year plan to

eliminate the rest of the levy completely!  

 

How proud I was to read that you got at least one fact correct!  The 16.6%

increase in actual tax dollars is relatively correct.  However, let's look at

where we've been before you spin this into a negative.  The taxes on a

$150,000 home in 1999 were $141.00. In the year 2000 they were $101.40 and 

now for 2001 the bill comes to $116.58 (projected). Yes sir, it is in fact  

roughly a 16% change but please get the perspective right.  It could have been 

a 0% change had we not chosen to return a $1.0 million to the taxpayers in 2000. 

Instead of $101.40 it would have been about the same as ’99 at $141.00! You may 

think that’s better, but the Council thought the taxpayers deserved the break.  

In any case, 2001 at $116.58 is still better than a 20% break in taxes over three

short years.  

 

Lastly, how about pointing out THE most impressive fact...the property tax levy 

in Downers Grove is the lowest in DuPage County by far with the only exception 

being Oak Brook who has none at all!  It's been that way for a very long time 

thanks to continued good fiscal money management and sound policies.   Moreover, 

the total tax rate for a resident in Downers Grove is also one of the lowest in 

the county, at  between 5.33 and 5.66% depending on the school district you live

within. This council is committed more than ever to continuing those policies 

and to maintaining little or no tax levy at all.  And while we've been doing
that,

the improvements to our village continue to move along in infrastructure,
esthetic 

appeal and general welfare.  Downers Grove is a terrific village, soundly managed
and 

enjoying a very bright future.

 

Mike Gilbert

Commissioner

Village of Downers Grove

 Forward, Post or Print as you wish.

 
Less than Wonderful (Posted 10/25/01)

Based on letters to the Downers Grove Web site, Dave Brown has hit a few sensitive spots with certain people. Although he does not speak for anyone but himself, I personally found the background he provided on Capt. Parker and his soon-to- be-destroyed home to be most interesting. I also find it disturbing that the village announces its historic districts with such great fanfare, but barely gives a thought to destroying one of the town's most historic homes. I hope Mr. Brown and other citizens will continue to provide our community perspectives that challenge the approved viewpoints of those who wish to mold our community in a certain way. So far, their plans for our central business district strike this citizen as less than wonderful or even workable.

William Vollrath

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen! (Posted 10/25/01)

This website -- and the writings of Dave Brown that appear on it -- is a celebration of the true spirit of American politics and freedom. That we are free to disagree with what the government does, and express that view openly and publicly. Viva America!

Believe it or not, I think we all want the same thing -- a healthy, vibrant, and livable Downers Grove. The key thing to remember is that reasonable minds may differ as to how best to achieve that goal.

The issues are partly practical, and partly a matter of values. On the practical side, the village is currently engaged in a number of development projects and TIF districts that break with its tradition of fiscal conservatism, and may not be in our long term best interest. The Station Crossing development will require a taxpayer subsidy of millions of dollars. That is what the village's own development consultant predicted, and now it has come to pass. Yet the Council seems unprepared to face this reality. The parking deck will cost ten or twenty million dollars, and the benefit to residents is not at all clear. The village's own study showed that even during peak holiday shopping times, there were lots of parking spaces available downtown. The numbers simply don't add up to the parking crisis they claim. And the Council has conducted an aggressive campaign to buy up property in the downtown area, at times paying prices that seem, at least to this observer, rather high. The goal of this campaign simply has not been explained to the public.

Apart from these practical concerns, along with Dave Brown and other residents I am concerned about the harder-to-measure effects on the character and livability of the village. The downtown development strategy seems to be (1) pack in as many condominiums as possible, and (2) build higher and bigger. The proposed parking deck would tower over the current buildings. The new Morningside building, and the proposed Station Crossing development are five and four stories, respectively. As a resident and homeowner in Downers Grove, I am not in favor of increasing our residential density and I don't see it as a benefit. I see these high-rise buildings as taking away from the character of the downtown, not adding to it. I see that other towns have had success by preserving their small-town atmosphere rather than trying to obliterate it. Development and redevelopment are necessary and beneficial to any small town such as Downers Grove, but it must be done in balance with the needs, desires and character of the community. Development for its own sake and at all costs -- and that seems to be the direction lately -- is not in our best interest.

Is everything the Council does asinine? Obviously not. They have done some simple, sensible things that have paid off. On the parking issue, the diagonal parking on Curtiss and Burlington has added dozens of spaces at a very low cost. Having the lots behind the old Premium building and across from the brewery available to the public also seems like a good use of public power and funds. Where we differ is when it comes to the sixty-foot parking structure. The fourth and fifth stories on the developments. It's a matter of scale and judgment. I like Downers Grove and I don't want to see it turn into Oak Brook or Arlington Heights.

Lastly, I have been greatly disappointed by the attitude of some, but not all, Council members -- as expressed personally in Council meetings, in correspondence, and on this website -- who seem to consider any disagreement a personal attack. When you make decisions involving tax dollars and affecting the lives of residents, you should EXPECT disagreement and debate. What I expect, is that you should have a thick enough skin to take the occasional challenge in stride. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!

Ken Lerner 

A Response to Mr. Sandacks’s Letter (Posted 10/24/01)

The purpose of the Downers Grove Watch web site has been to provide an alternative to existing local news sources. It encourages people to investigate issues for themselves and says that on the front page. The web site does not claim to provide balanced coverage. If you want stories about ribbon cutting and kissing babies you should read The Reporter, The Sun or the village web site.

Mr. Brown has obviously taken the time to analyze the numbers and has provided an articulate explanation. It would have been nice if Mr. Gilbert had done the same in his response but he chose to resort to name calling which did nothing to "enhance public discourse".

I’m sorry that Mr. Sandack is so disappointed with the lack of variety in the web site’s content but the project is a volunteer effort. There is no subscription fee and it receives no money from the Economic Development Commission. We have not advertised it’s existence and it has mainly become known through word of mouth. The commentary page of the web site offer letters written by people other than Mr. Brown. The web site also invites the public to submit articles.

I don’t "think everything the Village has done or proposes to do is asinine, and that the people elected to act for the citizens of Downers Grove are inane or motivated by personal glory". I do believe that our village government is engaging in some very risky behavior. I also believe that it is the citizens' right and duty to question it’s government.

"Liberty is generally established with difficulty in the midst of storms; it is perfected by civil discord;’ (Tocqueville)

Dave Reynolds

Disappointed (Posted 10/23/01)

Dear DG Watch and Interested Residents:

Some time ago I was involved in a dialogue with Dave Brown that was (and perhaps still is) listed on this site. Although our discussion centered around the Station Crossing project, integral to my comments was the concept that the tone of this web site seemed unduly harsh and way too personal. I had expressed my hope that if this site was going to be a sounding board for public debate, civility should be maintained because honest, good thinking citizens can and do have more than one perspective. Contained within that sentiment was a desire to see this site be an even handed, or at least bear the appearance of attempting to be an even handed, mechanism for true discussion of important issues. My hope obviously fell far short as it is clear the tone, attitude and feel of this site is anything but neighborly.

Although it appears DG Watch will print opinions that oppose positions advanced by Mr. Brown (I have yet to see a single article or opinion authored by anyone other than Mr. Brown and have noticed some defections from the original DG Watch roster as well), one need only review the news bites and musings of Mr. Brown to come to an overwhelming conclusion: Dave Brown and the people that let him speak on their behalf think everything the Village has done or proposes to do is asinine, and that the people elected to act for the citizens of Downers Grove are inane or motivated by personal glory. In short, the sky is falling!

For my part, I am done with this site. I do not care if my this e-mail is printed and will not visit this site to see if it is. I ask that those that continue to visit take the opinions expressed in this site with less than a grain of salt because it is crystal clear bias and subjectivity are on display.

It is too bad one person's infatuation with his own writing has destroyed an opportunity to enhance true public discourse.

Ron Sandack

Statement to the Park District Board of Commissioners (Posted 10/20/01)

This is a copy of my 10/18/01 Statement to the Park District Board of Commissioners prior to the 3 to 2 vote to approve the construction bids for the Rec Center. Construction cost (excluding land) to DGPD Taxpayer, roughly $9.5 Million, cost to Seaspar, roughly $928 Thousand for a total cost for the building of about $10.4 Million. Downers Grove Park District Commissioner Mike Salazar:

Tonight we will make a decision that is much more important than whether or not to approve bids for a building. We will decide whether or not to honor the wishes of the voters and the taxpayers. We will decide whether or not we will abide by the public will as it has been expressed in the referenda of 1990 and 2000, and by the election of 2001, or not.

This recreation center, as proposed, is perhaps the largest project that the Downers Grove Park Board will ever consider. The majority of voters has clearly expressed their opinion that we should not proceed with this project, at this location. In a best case scenario, this rec center will cost the taxpayers about $750,000 per year for the foreseeable future. This is about $1 out of every eight (13%) of everyone's park district tax bill. This is $750,000 per year that will not be spent on trees, field improvements, or upgrades to existing parks.

This rec center will become the new focus of the Park District, to the detriment of it's other magnificent assets.

The chief benefit will be that we will net two more basketball courts and a fitness center that will compete directly against the Indian Boundary YMCA, the Champion Fitness Center (in Meadowbrook on 63rd Street), the Powerhouse Gym in Darien, which is open 24 hours a day, the Oak Brook Racquet & Fitness Club, and the Family Recreation Center at the Oak Brook Park District. I have visited all of these facilities in the past week. None of them are at capacity, all of them want my business, and all of them will be effected adversely, in one way or another, by yet another unnecessary entrant into the crowded and competitive fitness market. We could lease two basketball courts for far less than $750,000 per year.

It is perfectly understandable that senior administration of the Park District wants this facility, as it will enhance their responsibilities. But the Board's responsibility is to the voters and to the taxpayers.

It is perfectly understandable that the architects, contractors, and vendors that are asking for our tax dollars want Downers Grove to have this showpiece. They have lobbied hard for this business. They have cultivated many friends and associates within our village to help them sell us on this concept. But this is no minor matter, and the board should not approve this bid on a split vote.

Last spring I ran for this Board and promised that I would work for consensus. One of my first actions was to propose that we come up with a compromise proposal for the rec center and put it up for a binding referendum to be approved or rejected by the voters. That motion was defeated in a 3 to 2 vote.

It's not too late. The world has changed in the last couple of months. This controversy is not as important to us now as it was before September 11th. The economy is having a hard time maintaining its momentum. Odds are strong that if we defer this decision as we work towards a less costly plan that the voters may approve, the costs will not go against us.

If we proceed with this plan, I am sure that the voters will express their displeasure with those who support this proposal during the next several elections. Burr Ridge voters have rejected a rec center. Naperville voters have rejected a rec center. Oswego voters rejected a rec center. Voters in this demographic area have had it with excessive government spending.

Public sentiment is telling us very clearly, don't tax every one of us more so that a minority of us can save a few bucks every year on our recreational activities.

In closing, I would like to address the most important issue, our neighbors. Our staff and their associates have not treated the neighbors of the Belmont site properly. They have no agreement that addresses all of their legitimate concerns about the construction of this facility in their back yard. Tom Julian complimented me privately about the way that I have stood up for these people, many of whom have resided on Belmont for several decades. I assured Tom that I would stand up for him were this project in his back yard as well, just as I will stand up for any neighborhood that this park district treats in a similar fashion with whatever grandiose project comes next.

I expect that this will be a 3 to 2 vote this evening. I hope that 3 of us find the courage, sensitivity, and wisdom to honor the will of the majority.

Mike Salazar

A (Village) Commissioner Responds (Posted 10/18/01)

DG Watch:

As has been the case since the beginning, Mr. Brown again shows his arrogance and ingnorance with distortions and twisting of the facts. These distortions are not in the best interest of the Village of Downers Grove and serve to appease Mr. Browns individual purposes, whatever that might be.

I am sorry that the citizens who read this are subjected to such complete nonsense. It would be adult and appropriate for Mr. Brown and his band of distortion oriented cohorts to at least try to get the facts straight! I am certain that this is far too much to ask of them however, given their shameless, ever negative rhetoric.

Mike Gilbert

A Dead Issue? (Posted 10/12/01)

Letter to the Editor (Posted 10/12/01)

Downers Grove Reporter

Re: REINSTATE THE CHIEFS

Former Fire Chief Lanson Russell and Deputy Chiefs Paul Segalla and David Burns were unceremoniously fired about a week ago and should be reinstated to their former positions. Let’s be realistic, counter to expected claims of the Village Council that these people resigned, most of us know the meaning of the words (a)in, (b)resign and (c)fired and these people were shamely fired without just cause.

The Village of Downers Grove is rapidly earning a reputation of not wanting competent people in its managerial and administrative offices. This reputation began a few years ago with the unjustified firing of Village Manager Kurt Bressner who served many years and was well liked by residents. His dismissal was followed about a year later with the firing of Director of Public Works Jeffery Livergood, a competent registered professional engineer who oversaw the design and construction of Downers Grove’s Public Works Complex which was within budget and without problems. Now, three top members of the fire department are unjustly fired even though they have honed the proficiency of the department to such high level it was recently able to extricate a young woman from under a Metro commuter train without inflicting further injury to her nor damage to the train, all within the short span of about one half hour.

These senseless firings are costing taxpayers needless amounts of money, voids in service and the chance of not getting equally competent people to fill top level positions. None of the firings have ever been explained. The Village Council has a duty to explain the firings but has chosen to remain silent in all cases. Why? The only problem with the people fired is that they were possibly in the way of a hidden agenda for which this writer has no knowledge. In any event, the people of Downers Grove are the losers. What a way to treat people who have been working so hard to make the village a better place to live.

Every resident is called upon to write and phone members of the Village Council demanding that the chiefs be reinstated and an investigation begun to find out what is behind all the firings.

Sincerely,
Andrew J. Clark

"THE PRICE OF YOUR FREEDOM IS VIGILANCE AND PARTICIPATION".
(Posted 9/28/01)

Downers Grove Watch:

Your Web Site is a valuable source of information which unfortunately the Downers Grove Reporter newspaper should, but doesn’t, provide. I’m wondering is the Sun(Naperville) is going to make the grade of replacing the DG Reporter and become what the DG Reporter use to be under its former ownership. I hope the Chicago Tribune’s TRIBWEST section is politically independent enough to eventually open a "letter to the editor" area where political hot potatoes can be addressed.

I discourage putting any unsigned correspondence on your web site. I’ve read some diatribes on your site which obviously have been very well prepared by people, or probably their paid underlings, who you have embarrassed with the truth. If we are going to remain a free and open society the truth must be our foundation and we should not be timid in standing up and speaking out. Anyone who refuses to sign their name to their ideas and opinions are just wasting my time. If something is unsigned and you print it please state at the beginning of the piece that it is unsigned so I can just skip over it. Remember "THE PRICE OF YOUR FREEDOM IS VIGILANCE AND PARTICIPATION".

Please add my name to your mailing list and I would appreciate your printing my name, address and telephone number along with anything I send you.

Sincerely,

Andrew J. Clark

1226 Sixty-Second Street
Downers Grove, IL 60516

A Response to Preceding Letter (Posted 9/19/01)

The very lengthy letter sent to DG Watch on Sept. 15th by an unnamed individual, 
raises a number of interesting points which deserve comment. I suspect most 
readers of the letter will make their own conclusions regarding the general 
civility of the writer and the opinions he/she holds. However, there are a 
few statements deserving of response.

1. Placing the architectural renderings of the proposed parking garage and 
links to other relevant websites on your website was a good idea and has 
further enhanced the public information function you wish to serve.

2.I am not aware of any community our size that has or had their former 
police chief appointed as village manager in recent years when that position 
has taken on a much greater degree of complexity and need for professional 
training and experience.

3.Council, not the fire chief is primarily responsible for approving the fire 
dept. budget, and I was not aware emergency response time was a problem in 
Downers Grove.

4.The performance of our fire dept. at the recent train/pinned pedestrian 
accident near Belmont generated more positive publicity for our community 
than any other event I can recall in many years. 

5.If the attire of the fire chief was justification for his forced 
resignation, what was the reason for similar dismissals of the respected 
deputy chiefs?

6.Public comment and criticism of public officials is part of the democratic 
process. Anyone suggesting that the personal lives of private citizens should 
be part of that same process is sorely lacking in perspective and common 
sense.

7.The number of major policy decisions being made in executive session and 
scheduled for fast track approval in our village government is at 
unprecedented levels.

8.If the views of certain citizens "compromise" council meetings, perhaps 
council should prepare a list of citizens who will not be allowed to address 
council with their unwanted views. The desire of citizens to participate in 
the local government process is actually the opposite of anarchy!

9. I'm unclear as to what the "real agenda" and "false premises" are the 
writer refers to. 

In the growing tradition of utilizing your website as our new "Sound Off," I 
will submit this unsigned. Thank you for keeping alive open debate on 
Downers Grove issues.

Name withheld

Another Viewpoint (Posted 9/15/01

Dear DG Watch,

Hopefully you will share this with our fellow DG citizens for a balanced perspective on this "citizen's" site. Unfortunately, there's no brief way to say this. I just visited your website "updated August 23^rd." With all the availability of accurate information and actual artist's renderings [not there any more] of the beautiful new downtown parking deck being proposed, why would you deliberately elect to show only the photo of a garage at 31st and Highland to accompany your editorial on the downtown facility? Like so many other things you present, it appears manipulative, inaccurate and deliberately misleading along with the information you chose to provide - especially in light of the fact you say the site is regularly updated! Quite notably, you offered your opinions, but only: "The Potential Downsides.") No upsides.

"Still Another New Village Manager…" You need to be aware DG Watch, that Oakbrook and many other neighboring villages have asked their Police chiefs to become Village Managers at one time or another. Some have said 'yes' (luckily ours did) and others (including Oakbrook) have said 'no thanks' on occasion. The strong integrity and sense of duty of Police Chiefs also are very desirable qualities. It's not an uncommon practice and in case your business experience is limited or merely inadequate, management skills are management skills and they apply to all industries and businesses and government as sought-after skills. Wrestlers have become governors and actors have been President.

"More Resignations … Downers Grove continues to crash and burn around us…" With regular and proportionately high FD budget increases of 10-15% every year and no significant staffing increases to justify that, how is it that our ex-Chief was never able to decrease response times for our emergency calls? And where were you when the ex-Chief mishandled the DGN bomb-related incidents last year? Are you completely disregarding the hundreds of parents calling for his dismissal a year ago and since? It's hard to imagine that you really think that may have been an isolated example of poor judgment or that there were not other reasons for the three departures. Personally, I was among many embarrassed DG residents to see our FD chief on television a few weeks ago so arrogantly parading in front of the cameras at the Belmont station dressed as he was. Doesn't our entire DGFD force – chief included - respond to emergencies in proper rescue gear rather than an open bunker coat and shorts?

Just one more comment on this since your listed spokespeople are so vocal about this issue everywhere around town. How about exposing all of your own personnel issues in public? Please, put some of your dirty laundry out for us all to learn about and dissect and yes, express our "interest" in. Why wouldn't you know that dismissals in the private sector (and otherwise) are commonly handled as resignations as a matter of discretion and so as not to ruin people's careers and any future employment opportunities?

Remember also DG Watch, that it is the Village Manager, not the Council, who makes staffing determinations. In case you missed or more likely ignored it, the Mayor stated clearly at the September 4^th Council meeting that there are only two jobs that the Mayor hires and yes, fires. But you knew that already.

Now, about those "secret sessions" that you enjoy inciting some of my less informed neighbors about: They are Executive Sessions and they have been part of our process long before the current administration that you are so bent on discrediting, confronting and embarrassing on a regular basis. Your former Mayor had them too. Are we to expect our elected officials to negotiate in a public forum and expose personnel details just to satisfy your voyeuristic curiosity? This "right to know" that you incessantly demand, is being carried to an extreme on this site and at the meetings you elect to attend, address and attack. It seems you quite clearly don’t like to address any consensus that is unanimous as well.

The Council meetings and workshops are already compromised by being overly indulgent to what seems to be a select group. This group habitually looks only to embarrass and confront our elected officials and Village staff with their own agenda. It is counterproductive. It simultaneously wastes the time of people who care about listening and learning while present at the meetings or watching them on television. Most of these speakers have not done their homework, read prior minutes or even the council packets and manager's memos on file and online and so very available to everyone!

The rest of the prevailing innuendo, paranoia, personal attacks and ever-negative views on this site simply are not palatable to people looking for information – accurate, unprejudiced information. Such self-indulgent anarchy is frankly insulting to me and to many DG residents - not just the people you very selectively and repeatedly malign. Yes, your "favorites" in town and on the Council could not be more apparent. You seem not to realize however, that you will eliminate votes for them in the next election not secure them, however.

It appears unfortunately, that there are not enough people who are informed (yourselves included). You want not to share the many and readily available resources our Village provides for accurate information. Village staff and Commissioners do respond to calls and e-mail and letters. The websites are valuable and thorough and updated constantly with detailed minutes and agendas and future agendas. The Village Webmaster is very responsive to suggestions too. Here's a suggestion for your site ... add links to the Village website, the EDC, and DG's local newspapers to your other very limited "links" - please.

It's really amazing and disappointing to know that even ex-Village managers wrote you and don't know enough to go right to the proper sources relying on your biased commentary as fact! Let's get them some local papers and phone numbers to ask the people directly … those who have the facts. I shudder to think of how they both performed their duties and exercised judgment on our behalf when they were Village Managers! Perhaps they never had an independent thought when they held that job. Shame on them and shame on you. Your politics – past and present - and real agenda are showing, ladies and gentlemen. Know that.

It's unfortunate that the likes of what is posted here doesn't provide accurate or reliable information or with any objectivity or constructive input. How about using all your available brainpower and energies for something beneficial and positive to really help this Village move forward? It's such a cop-out to say, "Why bother…"" … to serve on a committee or Commission, or offer a suggestion, or run for Council, or head a task force? It is so very easy and yes, small-minded and petty to merely criticize ad-nauseum. It's also very self–serving to be so pompous, condescending and yes, RUDE to people who work very hard for us as public officials. Our Mayor and Council deserve to be addressed and treated respectfully and not just in a public forum.

Your "watchfulness" is NOT "our salvation." It is far too destructive and self-serving. Please, stop damaging this Village and efforts to improve it with your constant denigrating and endless condemnations. You proudly say "Who We Are And Why" as self-appointed guardians of our trust … but you are simply overly aggressive and extremely negative people with no credibility or any sense of fair play and integrity to provide any real benefit to anyone but yourselves.

Seemingly, you have little else to occupy your time and efforts in any positive or productive manner. Get off your pedestals, stop looking down on the rest of the world and stop living in the past. It's the new millennium – not the 70's. Your activism is misdirected. It's my sincere hope you can one day lead happier and certainly more productive and positive lives to make some kind of a real difference in our community. But 'til then, please, stay away from me and stop these vicious and counterproductive pursuits on such false premises.

Name withheld

Encouragement!

Hope you do not give up on your website. I believe in the long haul this 
will be a valuable tool to keep citizens informed of what "really" is going 
on. Are you satisfied with the "bidding" process for the land bank property? 
Was the selection pre-determined? Is the criteria set ahead of time 
adherred to in the selection? Don't be discouraged! With the potential for 
a complete new look/change in the CBD, vigilant citizens are mandatory!

Our Reputation Jeopardized?

It is becoming exceedingly and disturbingly evident that the current Council 
is more interested in employees who respond to political "orders" than true, 
qualified professionals. While I suspect the new "manager" was an excellent 
police officer and had some very limited leadership experience (he served one 
year, a lieutenant two-three years before that while actively pursuing other 
positions within the village), it is evident he has NO public administration 
education or experience as is accepted in the managerial field. Does he meet 
the criteria for which a consulting firm was hired to search for a new 
manager? I doubt it! Does he meet the apparent "qualifications" of the 
current council to do as he is told, regardless of its professional merits? 
Obviously, YES. It is hoped that his selection for deputy(s) manager will be 
truly professionally-trained public administrators to keep the village "out of 
trouble." The past excellent reputation of Downers Grove for highly 
professional and innovative and creative leadership is gone over night. No 
longer will excellent candidates apply or are applying for positions in 
Downers Grove. Our premiere position as a highly-regarded community has been 
seriously jeopardized. Why? 

(do not sign)

Police State

Having a chief a police running the town is scary - a camera on every corners come to mind. Speak out and a camera will be mounted and facing your residence - to better serve you. 

Combine this with increased code department and I think we can all count on a visit from our friendly city,
especially if your are vocal and question money being spent. Not to mention a water police stakeout, or water
meter stakeout (the new water meters that will monitor water usage throughout the day to better serve you).
These are methods to effectively pressure people selectively by utilizing existing laws that have a tendency to be
ignored by a significant percentage of people. That is the reason the most corrupt political establishments have
the highest number of laws that are frequently broken is day to day life; as opposed to few laws that should never
be broken (murder, rape theft, etc.). Ah, this is nothing new with DG, look at the whole country.

People often wonder what the impact of not voting (in an educated manner ) is.

Name withheld for obvious reasons

A Dialogue Between Citizens

Fellow D.G. Citizens: 
I suspect that Mr. Brown's "essay" was intended as a humorous characterization in order to support his contentions. While the article made me laugh a couple of times and did score a few points, it was decidedly too lengthy (overkill times three), over exaggerated certain concepts, and, more importantly, was entirely too hostile. Conspicuously absent, however, from Mr. Brown's prolific prose was any proffered alternative to the plans/concepts from the Village. The failure to put forth any alternative ideas bothered me more than the negative tenor of the article. It is easy to be critical if that's all you are doing. 

Having read and re-read his "essay," I was primed to hear more from Mr. Brown at the April 24 meeting concerning the newly named Station Crossing project. I thought this would be the opportunity to hear from
the strong opposition contained in this site to the Village's actions and intentions. That, however, proved to be a little disappointing. Perhaps Mr. Brown was rendered feckless due to the fact that he was then face-to-face with those he so easily ridiculed in writing, because his questions/comments showed none of the temerity and overt mocking contained in his "essay." 

I think your web site can be a legitimate vehicle for constructive debate but in order to facilitate the same you may want to tone down the rhetoric (indeed, avoid sarcastic laden diatribes because they are generally
unhelpful) and instead of being "anti this" and "anti that" actually start promoting alternative plans/concepts to those found objectionable from the Village. 

Thanks. I'll keep reading the materials posted on your site for as long as respectful dialogue is promoted.
Regards. 

Ron Sandack 

A Response

Ron,
Sorry you took such exception with both my essay and my performance at the 
council workshop... Though I am flattered that, even though the essay was 
"decidedly too long", you still took the time to reread it. I think perhaps 
you didn't stick it out all the way though and checkout the Naperville Plan 
web-site. It does offer a very important and positive alternative to our 
village's current thinking as regards downtown development. I'm trying to 
remember what positive alternatives to eating Irish babies were offered by 
Jonathan Swift in his essay - "A Modest Proposal" - and you know, I can't 
think of any. All right, I know I'm no Jonathan Swift, but it was fun to 
give it a try.

As for my performance at the council meeting, I'll have to agree with you, I 
was a wimp. But if it makes you feel any better, I've been beat-up many 
times in council meetings because I have stood up and spoken aggressively... 
and I've discovered that nothing has ever been gained from the experience but
irritation. I've also spent many hours of my time and money researching, 
developing and presenting an alternative plan for the Block 117 task force to
review. And in fact when analyzed by the village's own hired consultant, 
this plan proved to be the most financially sound and profitable. As for why
I asked the meek little question about the value of the developments 
proposed; having a fair bit of data on cost and return for investment, I was 
trying to determine just how much of a subsidy these folks are going to 
require for their plans. At this point I suspect it will be in the vicinity 
of $1 - 2 million, which means they may not pay down even their own TIF bond 
by the expiration of the TIF. But I may be wrong because all of my data 
assumes that the project will provide adequate parking for its tenants and 
visitors and neither of these proposals do. Parking is a cost with little 
return for investment and is particularly expensive when it's below grade.

But I'm glad you took the time to attend the meeting. Perhaps you were 
pleased with what you saw. Perhaps not. But you were there, and you were 
paying attention, and I'm glad of that. I was pleased with what I saw. 
Pleased because what I saw was two of the most embarrassingly amateur 
presentations I could have imagined - this from groups that expect to net $2 
million if the project is awarded to them - and two plans that represent only
maximization of the development potential ("highest and best use" in the 
vernacular of developers) without any concern for the village's character and
needs. As such they fit perfectly into the template of my diatribe. 

In my opinion, and I know it's just that, our downtown development and the 
thinking which has generated it, may have the devastating effect of "throwing
the baby out with the bath water". The most important, unique and valuable 
feature of our community is its mature and casual residential neighborhoods, 
neighborhoods far less threatened by a modest approach to downtown 
redevelopment than by experimenting with the creation of a new "boomtown". 
So I feel very strongly that the restrained and "character" driven approach 
represented by the Naperville Plan should be the one we pursue. It's all a 
matter of proportion and perspective... in my humble, and not the least bit 
sarcastic, opinion.

Thanks, this too was "decidedly too long"!
Dave Brown

A Response

Dave,
Thanks for your reply. I know you are well informed and have strong opinions concerning downtown redevelopment, and that is a good thing. I just thought,  and continue to think, that if your web site was intended to be a true vehicle for legitimate and friendly debate, everyone involved should try and remember that reasonable people can have different perspectives, so civility should try and be maintained.

That being said, I will continue to visit your site because I am concerned 
about where our Village is going. I'll also read the papers (I'm hoping the Sun  becomes a true source of information), talk to my neighbors and friends, and will  attend the Village meetings. As you can tell, I am far behind you on this matter and have yet to take any kind of position, much less a strong one, because I am  still attempting to get my arms around all the facts and circumstances. I do  sincerely hope that open, honest and good spirited dialogue is how things will transpire
going forward.

As an aside, I did peruse but not study Naperville's plan. I will look at it 
more closely but cannot help but feel that it may be a fine starting point or
guideline but cannot be simply incorporated by DG. Naperville is Naperville  and of all people I would assume you have no desire to see our town emulate, wholesale, from that source (and I am not critical of Naperville, .I just  don't want to live there). Remember, downtown Naperville has not one, but two GAPs!

Regards.

Ron Sandack

Greetings!

Dear Downers Grove Watch:

Greetings from another former Downers Grove Village Manager. Although I left the Village in 1988 and, after working six years in the private sector, have served as Oak Brook's Village Manager since 1994, we still live in Downers Grove and visit your site for information on happenings in the home town that we love.

Steve Veitch

Greetings from our former Village Manager

Dear Downers Grove Watch, 

With the demise of the Downers Grove Reporter as a real newspaper your web page provides a helpful service to citizens of Downers Grove and expatriates such as me. I'm currently City Manager of Boynton Beach, FL a community of 60,500 located on the Atlantic coast between West Palm Beach and Ft. Lauderdale. The move was a good one for me professionally as civic engagement is alive and growing here.
 
Because I am an official of another community, I won't be commenting on the events in Downers Grove but welcome the news and information resource the web page offers. You are filling a gap that currently is not being met by the Suburban Life or the Tribune. 

We miss Downers Grove and our friends. DG is a wonderful community. I especially miss the many talented members of the Village staff who have contributed so much to the Village. As an escape from our summer heat (though it is rather pleasant as an ocean front town) we will make sure to visit our old town. 

In the meantime, my best to everybody. 

Kurt Bressner 

Village Budget Questions

Is anyone from your group looking at the budget? The $1m reduction in 
property tax may be offset by a RESIDENT ambulance fee and .5% increase in  utility tax? (No free lunch). Also additional staff may be excessive?? 6  new public works employees at the same time they are contracting out mowing,  inlet repair, sewer jutting, leaf pickup ($360,103!! which I'm told was a  very unsatisfactory service in the past), and snow removal additions,  $274.794, including contracting out cul-de-sac plowing.
Also, a 1/2 atty. for prosecutions (formerly contracted), 1/2 additional 
community events, intern, data base consultant, asst. dir. infor. services, 
account clerk, PW secretary, permit technician, asst. community serv. etc.,  etc. Fire Lts. promoted to Captains but stay in the union (where is 
management outside unions?). 8 new firemen. $19,717.151 in capital 
improvements (all TIF? - if so, how does the payback play out annually from  TIF incremental taxes?)

2001-02
Rev. = $73,109,987 13% increase ($60,861,588 est. this year)
Exp. = $71,510,597 10.5% increase ($64,227,025 this year)

Is this the tip of the iceberg?

What is the breakdown for local tax revenues ($25,321,222) What is TIF share?
Is the item sales $10,365,334 - sales tax??
Interest and bond proceeds $14,094,404 - what is total indebtedness at this 
time?
Breakdown for intergovernmental revenues $7,886,477?

Suspect a more detailed study of the entire budget (not the exec. summary) 
might be worthwhile by someone qualified to analyze.

Thank you.

(name withheld )

A Letter to Our Neighbors (from the Downers Grove Watch)

An Interested Citizen

Citizens of Downers Grove,

As an eleven year resident of Downers Grove, a major taxpayer, and a responsible citizen and businessman I wish to express my deep concern with recent developments in our village. It appears our community leadership is forcing upon all of us a very questionable and fiscally dangerous vision of what our downtown should be. In the process, they have increased, rather than decreased village-owned property/taxpayer liability, have overpaid for the Johnson properties, given away $400,000 in a questionable relocation grant, added to downtown congestion with out-of-scale and overly expensive condominium construction, contributed to the failure of numerous small businesses, ignored basic citizen property rights with their "Quick Take" land condemnation proposal and now plan to build a 800 car mega parking facility in the middle of what is left of the downtown. However, worse than all these bad decisions is the village leadership's insistence on making most of these decisions behind closed doors with virtually no public debate. I find this to be a frightening time for our community and I will be careful to vote only for council candidates in the upcoming election who clearly respect citizen input. This must be determined by looking at the candidates' records not their campaign rhetoric.

William Vollrath

Another good comment!   

I received the "Dear Neighbor" letter regarding "our downtown." However, I am skeptical of, if not biased against anything that isn't signed. I always thought that was a major drawback of the old "Sound Off" page in the Reporter. 

I will always sign what I write - even an e-mail. 

Sincerely, 

Name omitted

(We have recently identified ourselves. Please read "Who we are").

DGWatch,
Just a note to say I was heartened to get your mailing
the other day as I have been concerned with the
direction the community has been going under the
steerage of the lawyers, developers,and realtors that
claim to be working for the people of Downers Grove
and I did not know who to really vote for. This past
summer while talking to Mayor Brian I asked him some
questions regarding quality of life issues in the
community and his response was "you can't stop
urbanization.",and it is this mindset and a multitude
of conflict of interests that worry me the most. Sure
everything is growing but as citizens we should have a
voice and I hope your organization can be a strong,
honest voice in the village. I also would be willing
to work in some capacity for DGWatch so let me know if
there is something I can do in the future.

J.Michael Taylor


Answers to your questions

Do you support large development? NO. We believe our downtown should be nice and remain small. We have no interest in a huge urban environment and do not want to be forced into moving out as a result. We reside adjacent to the CBD. 

Do you think development is worth a taxpayer subsidy? NO. In addition,
the property owners should be held to meet updated codes. 

Do you think our streets can handle the additional traffic? No. Already residential streets are handling traffic that should be routed through the main streets designed properly. 

Do you have any ideas or interests you would like to present on this web site? 

The city should get out of the Land Bank business. When did local government become responsible financially (or other resources) for development? When did these part time so called representatives become city architects? What kind of a job are they even qualified to do? What other responsibilities are being neglected due to this pet project? 

Thank you for your mailing re the election candidates. I was happy to see your
selection was the same. It gives me hope that someone is interested in our town. I didn't think anyone cared. 

Would you be interested in joining a mailing list (snail mail) or email list? Yes


Thank you.

Regards,

mark and Linda Kudelka

To Whom It May Concern:

I don't know if I agree or disagree with the issues you raise, since so far
all I have heard is your side of the issue, buuuuuut .... It doesn't
sound good to me. Unfortunately, I just found out about this. It's really
nice to have such a great local newspaper that keeps us so well informed.
Of course I didn't read it that closely, but my wife did/does and kept me
informed.

Some things may need doing in our downtown, but maybe not the things they
are planning, please let me know more. I am NOT interested in talking to
some wild eyed NIMBY types, but I DO believe that local government anywhere can potentially be hijacked by self interested people who are not in it to work for the public good. Though I don't believe that just because their
policies don't agree with my opinions there is something wrong going on.

The apparent secrecy (meaning lack of public notice and or public interest)
that these activities are being pursued by, troubles me. Though maybe it
is my own ignorance that is to blame.

Please contact me.

Paul Kolbeck

Development is Good

My husband and I read your recent mailing regarding "our downtown". I grew up in this town,and my family and I not only live here, we also work here. It has progressed very nicely over the years except for one thing, the size of our downtown area. The population has grown from under 9000 to over 50,000 today, but "our downtown" has not changed accordingly in proportion to accommodate the needs of the residents. 

We found it interesting that you chose to omit your names on the mailing. Are you that scared of growth and progress? Where did you come from? How long have you lived here? Why are you insulting the intelligence of the people who have worked hard over the years for the betterment of all of Downers Grove?
Our town may not be perfect, but we'll be here for a long time because we have confidence in our hard-working local leaders. 

Maybe you should relocate to another "comfortable, mature community" and leave "our downtown" alone!

Sincerely,
Ed and Kyle Manowsky