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The
Glenview Watch January 21, 2001 |
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Former Village President Jim Smirles, who was appointed by Nancy Firfer to serve as chairman of Glenview's centennial celebration in 1999, won permission to make a short presentation to the Village Board Tuesday.
What followed was a 14-minute account of how the Centennial Commission raised and spent nearly half a million dollars. In 1997, Smirles reminded the board, Glenview trustees pledged $100,000 on an "as needed, if needed" basis for the celebration. The board appropriated $30,000 in "seed money" so the commission could launch a "publicity campaign to solicit the business community, undertake the design and production of street banners and a centennial logo and secure telephone and support services." Later, the trustees gave the commission a $40,000 interest-free loan.
Smirles listed a range of centennial events from a prayer service and community play to a public forum with past village presidents and a poetry contest. There was an especially grand display of fireworks and a longer-than-usual parade on the Fourth of July, a picnic, street sale and ice cream social. There was also a gala ball at the North Shore Country Club. Special centennial merchandise was ordered, and the commission produced a 300-page commemorative book to be given free to any Glenview family who wanted one. That book cost more than $155,000 to produce.
Trustee John Crawford had suggested Smirles do a head count before ordering copies, but Smirles insisted on printing more than 10,000. The commission gave away about 6,150 copies to residents and 850 books to Glenview schools and libraries. Smirles personally approached developers at The Glen and peddled another 1,600 books, but more than 1,700 remain. Smirles proposed giving 500 to the village for "gifts to visiting dignitaries," 200 copies to Glenview Youth Services and the rest to the Glenview Historical Society.
Forgetting about the $30,000 seed money which was not repaid, Smirles proclaimed that revenues had exceeded expenses by $2,218, and that remaining revenue would be presented to the Historical Society, which had allowed the Centennial Commission to use its not-for-profit designation in doing business.
Editor's note: The commission spent about $485,000 on its centennial celebration – a whopping sum raised almost entirely from the private sector. Smirles is proud of that fact, but we find cause for concern since most of the major contributors are regulated by or do business with the village. Glenview State Bank, which won approval for an enormous new building at The Glen last year, donated $52,500. Edward James, Kimball Hill and Concord Homes, developers at The Glen, contributed $15,000, $6,000 and $2,860, respectively, in cash and payments for books. Kemper Sports Management, which owns The Glen's 18-hole golf course, donated $5,000, as did Cowhey, Gudmandsen, Leder, an engineering firm that works with The James Company, and Great Midwest Contracting.
Groot Recycling, which won Glenview's exclusive waste removal contract last year, gave $10,000, and Gallagher Risk Management, which was awarded Glenview's insurance contract, gave $5,000. So did Mesirow Stein, the company which collected millions of dollars as Glenview's consultant on The Glen.
We don't doubt that these firms are good corporate citizens, but we're uneasy with the questions raised when such large amounts of money change hands. Do these gifts buy goodwill with local leaders? Does this pattern suggest that donations to civic events are central to success in business here? Northern Trust, Bank One, Northview Bank and Trust and Devon Bank may think so. They gave a total of $27,500.
Then there's Hackney's-on-Lake, a restaurant, which gave $2,500. All seven luncheons to solicit contributions from local businesses were held at Hackney's, and the tab came to $2,893.
AAA Lock and Key contributed $1,000. Last year, AAA was paid more than $5,000 for providing new keys and locks to the village and police department.
Smirles' report also raises questions about the prices paid for various goods and services. While Northbrook bid out the printing of its centennial book and made money on it, Glenview did not. Did the commission overpay for any portion of the publication? We think taxpayers are entitled to an answer since the village gave $30,000 in seed money and a $40,000 interest-free loan for the books. We also wonder if the Historical Society was paid enough.
Smirles says the celebration would not have been possible without their "charitable status." It enabled the Centennial Commission to accept thousands of dollars in "in-kind services" which donors may be able to deduct on their taxes. DiPaolo construction company, for example, was credited with $75,000 in "in-kind contributions" for its work on Centennial Plaza. Jewel, Dominick's and Mullarkey Distributors donated food and drink valued at $22,000. (Ironically, the public had to pay for that July Fourth picnic fare.)
What's more, the Historical Society gave dozens of photographs for the centennial book, donated hours of research and did much of the writing. The commission is giving them only $2,218, the promise of $4,880 from the sale of books to Cambridge Homes and a thousand leftover books.
We question the judgment of village officials who sanctioned such an expensive celebration and allowed the private sector to foot so much of the bill. We wonder why, with so much money from the public and private sector involved, there was no professional oversight of finances. An accountant was asked to help with a raffle, but other matters were overseen by laymen.
Even now, we think the Village Board should request a professional examination of the committee's finances. Smirles takes personal offense at the idea, pointing out that he and the other commission leaders are past village presidents. We assure Smirles that this is not about him or the other commissioners but about the way government in Glenview should do business.
LIBRARY LOSES IN VILLAGE-POST OFFICE TALKS
A dispirited Glenview Library Board met Wednesday to discuss its next move in efforts to expand or build a new facility. Members were counting on Glenview's post office to leave an adjacent site, but after years of negotiation with the village, postal officials said they could not afford a move to The Glen.
The library board expressed public disappointment and asked the village to retain the five-acre Glen site north of the new Dominick's on Lake as one possible location for a future library. Executive Librarian John Blegen says that parcel is the perfect size.
A public poll has shown that two-thirds of library patrons prefer to have the facility downtown, and village officials say they're looking for ways to make that possible, but the Renneckar's site is considered too small for the library, and even if Epco Paint were acquired by eminent domain, Blegen says they would not have enough space.
The post office could move its public services to the former Renneckar's Pharmacy and its sorting and distribution functions to a cheaper industrial site far from downtown, but Library Board President Donna Berndt warned that her group will not wait forever.
"We know how long it takes the federal government to get around to things," she said. "We, as a board, need to know by July 4 what they plan to do." Then, referring to The Glen, she added, "It is difficult, but we need to keep our minds open. It's something that we have to consider."
Editor's note: The village has placed all blame for the situation on the U.S. Postal Service, but talks have dragged on for years, raising questions about Glenview's willingness to negotiate a deal. Local government is, for example, expecting the post office to pay $2.8 million for a five-acre site. That's the market price for prime residential land, but it's not what the village charged the buyer of land for an industrial park. Catellus paid less than $160,000 an acre.
Village Manager Paul McCarthy has said the post office could not afford to move to The Glen even if the village gave it the land, but postal service spokesman Tim Ratliff told the Watch that isn't so. "If the village manager is offering land in The Glen at no charge, we'd be glad to discuss that option," he said.
The village has had a difficult time marketing its mixed use retail center (MURC) at The Glen. Would village planners actually prefer to put the library there? And what about The James Company, Glenview's largest developer? It has built pricey homes adjacent to the five-acre parcel north of Dominick's. Did James warn buyers that post office trucks would be coming and going in the middle of the night? Wouldn't James prefer a library or residential development next door?
And finally, we have to wonder if village officials aren't relieved that the library will not be putting its referendum on the spring ballot where it might compete with a request for more money for District 34 schools?
THE NEXT STEP
The village has pledged its help to the library, and Blegen says he will "bug" Manager McCarthy on a regular basis. Members of the public have begun to question the size of the new library – arguing that 103,000 square feet may be too big, and a smaller, taller library could fit at the current location. Norma Morrison, Richard Feit and Grant Ireland were on hand at the last board meeting to ask about projected needs. President Berndt replied, "It is a large library. We have very high usage compared with other communities, and we're planning for the future." She cited focus groups in which citizens said they wanted more meeting rooms. "Park Center [the Park District's new community center at The Glen] has meeting rooms all over the place," Feit replied.
Berndt promised to update a three-year-old space needs assessment before proceeding. Ireland, a management consultant and candidate for village trustee, said he was satisfied with that pledge and urged the library to communicate its plans directly to the public. This weekend, Blegen announced a new electronic news service. If you'd like to get updates on library plans, go to www.glenview.lib.il.us, click on "What's New" and fill out the subscription form.
PAPPO WANTS NEW RULES FOR DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT – CARLSON CALLS FOR DELAY
When the sale of Renneckar's Pharmacy was announced earlier this month, Trustee Donna Pappo became worried. An outspoken opponent of high-density development downtown, she feared another project like Optima (at the corner of Waukegan and Glenview Roads) would soon be rising from the site. Dominick's has purchased the property, perhaps to keep Walgreen's or another competitor from building. The supermarket chain says it would be willing to resell the site for residential development.
At Tuesday's meeting of the Glenview Village Board, Pappo proposed the Plan Commission begin an immediate review of "D-1," the zoning ordinance that promotes high-density residential construction in the Glenview-Waukegan Road area.
The suggestion caught Trustee John Patton by surprise. He and Pappo live in The Circles, a neighborhood of single-family homes next to Optima. Many residents of that area have been vocal in opposing the project, and when Pappo's idea came up, Patton's knee appeared to jerk. He voted "yes" along with Pappo and her political allies, Trustees John Crawford and Rachel Cook.
A stunned silence followed as members of the Unite Glenview party (UG) pondered the situation. Somehow, their political opponents had seized the initiative. Trustee Kent Fuller was the first to express misgivings, arguing that many aspects of downtown redevelopment should be considered rather than looking at zoning alone. "I don't know why we would rush into this. . .It would be a serious mistake for this village to go into an important decision like this in the relatively short time before an election and have it clouded with emotion."
"I've voiced a concern before about springing things for the first time at a board meeting without any notice," said Patton. Turning to the board's attorney, he asked, "Does this require any kind of a hearing before we do something? It strikes me as unseemly that there's not better notice."
"No, it does not," said Jeffrey Randall.
"My goal was to initiate the public hearings that will need to occur," Pappo said. "With recent developments in our downtown, it's very appropriate that we begin now. In fact, I don't think we can afford to wait."
Trustee Larry Carlson, who is running against Pappo for village board president, joined the fray, arguing that the Comprehensive Plan Committee he chairs was about to begin work. That group is charged with long-term planning for the entire village, and Carlson predicts it will have a report in 18 months. The committee will have help from a consultant, but "the Plan Commission would hold hearings without the benefit of that expertise," Carlson argued. "Wouldn't we be better off waiting until we can incorporate that?"
Trustee Rachel Cook didn't see why both the Plan Commission and the Comprehensive Plan Committee could not begin work on downtown simultaneously, and Crawford contended the comprehensive planning process would just delay things.
Pappo said she wanted "D-1" considered immediately because it is "dangerous. It will bring a large number of people and lots more traffic, and it will decrease the quality of life for people who live there now. I think it's a critical issue, and it cannot wait. This same motion was made a year and a half ago, and we were told to wait for the Comprehensive Plan. Here we are a year and a half later, and nothing has happened."
"I don't want to jump willy nilly into this," said Carlson. "I don't see a whole lot more Optimas swarming to buy property downtown."
Patton then summoned Planning Director Mary Bak to the microphone. "Has there been any indication from developers that they want to build another Optima with what's left down there?"
"No," said Bak.
"Ms. Bak's predictions aren't a guarantee to people who live in surrounding neighborhoods," said Pappo. "She can't predict what developer is going to be knocking on the door in three months."
At Patton's request, the trustees reconsidered the motion. Pappo, Crawford and Cook voted to send the downtown zoning question to the Plan Commission for public hearings. Carlson, Patton and Fuller voted "no," with Firfer casting the deciding vote against it.
MUSICAL
CHAIRS
Board President Firfer chose Ron Greco to replace Brian Boyd on The Glen
Redevelopment Commission. Greco is a longtime supporter of Firfer's
political party. She also appointed Plan Commissioner Joseph
DiMattina to sit on the Comprehensive Plan Commission. He replaces
Howard Silver, who recently accepted the chair for Glenview's Plan
Commission and Redevelopment Commission, replacing Tim Doron, who is
campaign chairman for Larry Carlson's UG party.
PARENTS WONDER – WHERE'S NANCY?
Determined to keep Willow Road from going to six lanes, residents of
School District 30, who send their children across Willow to Maple Middle
School in Northbrook, met at their neighborhood elementary school to hear
from Trustees Rachel Cook, Donna Pappo and Larry Carlson. Cook
reviewed the facts: IDOT has no money for widening during the next five
years and the village currently opposes widening from Waukegan to I-294
until the road is widened through Northfield, until access to and from 294
is improved and until traffic signals are synchronized and turn lanes
built to improve the flow of traffic.
Pappo proposed forming a commission with public and community
representatives to focus on the issue and said the village might pay for a
study on how to improve traffic problems. Carlson expressed his support
for the group's ultimate goal – to prevent the widening of Willow west
of Waukegan. Asked where his political ally
Nancy Firfer was, Carlson explained she had gone to Washington to hobnob
with influential Republicans before the inauguration. The
news sent a murmur of disapproval through the crowd.
PARK CENTER THROWS THE PUBLIC OUT
Glenview's new recreation center continues to win praise from the public,
and hundreds of residents took advantage of a weekend open house to try
the new facilities at no charge. Alas, the
spirit of excitement and delight was spoiled for some when at 3 p.m.
management announced on the public address system that the party was over.
Everyone in the Fitness Center was ordered to leave –
even paying members who were told they could come back if they produced
their membership cards. Adrenaline highs on
the treadmills turned to dismay and disgust as those members waited in
line for re-admission.
Editor's note: There would have been no harm in allowing
visitors to linger in the fitness center. There were plenty of empty
machines, but the mind set of your least favorite gym teacher lives.
We hope it will not be allowed to prevail at Park Center. As
important to its success as swimming pools and weight machines is the
ambience of the place. Staff should be friendly and welcoming,
not bossy and exclusive. If a few people sneak in from time to time,
that's a small price to pay for the sense of comfort and pride we should
feel in our new community center.
In other news, more than 1,700 people have joined the new Park Center.
(About 2 percent of those memberships have been sold to people who live
outside the district.) Executive Director Tom Richardson says sales are
right on track.
The Park District has authorized a $1.2 million makeover for Glenview's
public tennis club. It will get new locker rooms and extra space for
offices. The work will begin in May and should finish by
mid-September.
The Park Board is still trying to decide what it will do with Rugen Center
and its downtown administration building. Both are in need of
renovations. Member Judy Beck thought a staff of 18 administrators
could move to Rugen while the Prairie Street offices are being rehabbed,
but she wasn't so sure they should move back. Now that registration
for classes and activities is taking place at Park Center,
Beck questioned the need for centrally-located offices. She proposed
moving the Park District to cheap digs and renting the current office
space to generate extra revenue. Park Board President Tom Pontarelli
questioned whether that kind of wheeling and dealing was part of the
Park District's mission. "I'm leery of getting into the
landlord business," he said.
The District is also taking bids for Phase II of Glenview's new park along
Milwaukee Avenue. Officials have been calling it "West Park,"
but they say another name will eventually be chosen. They plan to
build the parking lots, playground, skate park, basketball courts,
restrooms and concessions in 2001. Playing fields will be seeded this
spring, making them suitable for use in 2002.
Also on the drawing boards, a new restroom, concession and storage
building at Westbrook Park. Glenview Youth Baseball has offered to
line up skilled volunteer labor to help with construction. Youth
Baseball's General Manager Steve Mack says a thousand kids have already
signed up to play next season, and all but five team sponsorships are
spoken for. Call his office, 657-6600 extension 206, if you'd like
to be a sponsor or volunteer.
GARBAGE IN, GARBAGE OUT
The Village Board spent nearly half an hour listening to a dispute last
week between Michael Zwick, who lives at 535
Shermer Road and Jean Craft, his neighbor. Zwick
puts his trash and recyclables on the parkway in front of Craft's home.
She cuts the grass on the parkway and feels, therefore,
that Zwick should not be allowed to put his garbage there. Local
ordinance specifies that residents place bins and cans 2-5 feet from the
curb but does not restrict the location further.
Zwick told the board that parkways are public and should not be subject to
private restrictions. Indeed, he felt a
proposed amendment to extend a homeowner's property line through the
parkway and restrict placement of garbage accordingly was
unconstitutional.
He claimed the new rule was being considered "for two lousy recycling
bins" and questioned how the village would enforce the ordinance.
"What will constitute a violation?" he asked.
"Is it one inch? Is it six
inches? Is it a foot? If
sanitation engineers put the recycling bin back in the wrong spot, they
have created a violation. If the wind blows,
the bins move. Who's responsible for that?
If kids kick the bins, who's responsible for that?"
Zwick raised the prospect of unfriendly neighbors moving each others'
bins, then calling the authorities to report violations, forcing the
village to undertake expensive property surveys to confirm allegations of
misplacement.
Asked why he doesn't put his trash in front of his own house, Zwick said
his children – who carry the recyclables out – would have to walk an
extra 30 feet..
"Do you mean to tell me you want us to pass an ordinance to save your
children from walking 30 feet?" asked Trustee John Crawford.
"No," said Zwick. "This is a
matter of principle. If the parkways are free
and public lands, we should all have usage of them. . .You are ceding
control of the public parkway to individual residents of Glenview."
"Why not just follow a good neighbor policy and put them on the other
side of your driveway?" asked Trustee Larry Carlson.
"I believe we have a right to use the public parkway, and no one
individual should dictate how we live our lives," said Zwick.
"Since you feel it is your constitutional right to place your waste
anywhere you want on a public parkway, that would also work in
reverse," said Trustee Cook. "There
are 13,000 households in Glenview, and if everyone of them chose your
parkway for their recyclables and yard waste, you would not have a right
to complain."
"Absolutely," said Zwick. "It
is none of my business. It's not my land.
Pile it up out there!"
Ignoring Zwick's generous offer, the board voted unanimously to change the
law so individuals would be required to place trash in front of their own
homes.
READERS WRITE:
Pat Lawrence proposes another downtown location for the library: "What
about the St. Francis site and some of the other empty stores? It seems
that there are plenty of unused sites in downtown for the library.
Even the site of Village Hall , if it moves, would be
better than The Glen. I really think there has
to be a commitment to keeping the library downtown – finding a way to
make it work. "
The Watch replies: Executive Librarian John Blegen says the
site of Village Hall would not be large enough for a new library, and the
police department may need the space.
Many communities require residents to shovel snow from sidewalks.
Alan Butman thinks Glenview should too: "Why can't
Glenview require or at least urge the residents to clear their sidewalks?
I guess it is going to take pedestrians getting hit by cars
to get some action. Did you know that a city
could force a homeowner to mow their lawn if it feels the lawn is
‘unkempt' or ‘unsightly?' And a lawn that
is unmowed is not a danger to anyone. How
utterly stupid!"