DGN Best and Brightest or, It’s That Awards Time Of Year

Downers Grove North High school recently released the names of students who have been recognized as Illinois State Scholars.  Illinois State Scholars are honored for scoring in the 95th percentile on the ACT, SAT, or Prairie State Achievement Exam.  They are:

Rafael Angelucci, John Baker, Alexander Barry, Joseph Barton, Nicholas Blashill, Katherine Bondi, Matthew Bucher, Emma Buckley, Chloe Burnham, Navika Chhabra, Andrew Cook, Adelyn Danchisin, Emily Dang, Emily Daugherty, Joseph Depeder, Kathryn Digiulio, Robyn Eggert, Faith Enenbach, Danielle Eppen, Robyn Feldmar, Bryan Foster, William Fox, Allison Gilbert, Nicholas Goergen, Julie Gonzales, Jordan Graham, Kendall Gretsch, Alex Haig, Thomas Heinz, Evan Karl, Julie Katrenak, Andrew Kelliher, Joanna Kluzowska, William Kolschowsky, Erika Kropp, Catherine Krygeris, Caitlin Landry, Julia Larson, Cassandra Lauer, Maranda Leigh, Emma Levalley, Ryan Lewandowski, Joshua Longmire, Samantha Marek, Nicholas Marsteller, Ellen McCammon, Elizabeth McKay, Philip McNulty and Joseph Moscinski, Sarah Muenzer, Rebecca Mulcrone, Krishna Nalla, Kelsey Navins, Emily Norco, Trevor North, Kevin O’Malley, Madeleine O’Rourke, Julia Pasquale, Anita Pattanayak, Mitchell Penninger, Jennifer Poad, Maxwell Prepejchal, Mohammed Raheem, Diana Riggs, Abel Rodriguez, Roberto Romay, Dana Rotz, Stacey Ruffolo, Ankit Sahni, Emma Sassano, Clare Scanlon, Stephen Seitz, Ami Shah, Kathryn Smith, Natalie Smith, Corbin Souffrant, Eric Spilky, Andrew Stawarz, Benjamin Stein, Rebecca Stevens, Jonathan Strukl, Angie Suh, Amanda Take, Rehan Tariq, Mike Van Norman, Matt Verzak, Kristina Via-Reque, John Walgamuth, Brynne Walker, Michael Walser, Matthew Walthius, John Weber, Joseph Wegner, Matthew Weiss, Emily Wilkinson, Joshua Williams, Alexandra Wirtas, Mitchell Witek, Hannah Wittman, Alexander Yeager, Andrew Zahn, Marisa Zahn and Ayden Zarkhah.

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Congratulations to our North scholars!  You’ll forgive a mother’s pride if I note my son’s name is on the list, too….

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Comprehensive Planning Committee Narrows Focus

The Comprehensive Planning Committee met for the second time on Tuesday, March 23 to continue its work in developing a plan for future land use in Downers Grove. Devin Lavigne from Houseal Lavigne Associates was present to lead the committee’s discussion about subgroups, which are areas the consulting group previously identified as vital to Downers Grove and in need of a more cohesive consideration of appropriate land usage.

The three subgroups identified as most important to the comprehensive planning process by Houseal Lavigne, Ogden, downtown Downers Grove and the Finley/Butterfield area, are the places where Lavigne said the committee should focus their attention. “We’re in a better position to plan Ogden now than in 1999,” he said, adding “The 355 extension has changed the transportation route in Chicago, so the Finley/Butterfield area has more regional significance and potential.”

Committee member Margery Sigerich disagreed with the limiting the areas of study to only three subgroups, noting the Belmont area “isn’t a part of any identified subgroup, and it should be, especially because of the underpass.” Member Mark Thoman agreed with Sigerich. “I keep coming back to Ellsworth (Industrial Park). Should it become more commercial? There are lots of blue-collar residents over there.”

Member Marge Earl also raised concerns with limiting the focus to only three areas.  “If it is important, shouldn’t we have a larger study?  We’ve already looked at downtown and Ogden, but not these other areas.  Why aren’t we looking at 63rd?”   Lavigne suggested “The village might be served better, rather than looking at Meadowbrook or 75th, [at] instead developing a policy for redeveloping aging shopping areas.”   Community Director Tom Dabareiner commented that one of the reasons for the decline of the Meadowbrook shopping center at 63rd Street is “Prentiss Creek is poor. They don’t have the disposable income to support Meadowbrook.”

After discussing the importance of all the identified subgroups to the planning process, the committee identified five subgroups as areas they wished to consider closely: Ogden, Downtown, Finley/Butterfield, Belmont/Ellsworth, and 63rd Street/Meadowbrook.

In addition to reviewing the subgroups in the study, the committee also heard from Dan Gardiner of Houseal Lavigne who reviewed a market analysis of Downers Grove.    “We are looking at a community that is bookended by an aging population on one hand, and younger professionals on the other. These two age groups have the largest demand for multi-family housing,” he said.  Their recommendation to the committee was for Downers Grove to focus on the existing commercial areas, making them more efficient and serving the needs of the community instead of developing new areas. Lavigne agreed, “More thoughtful planning and repositioning of businesses means you have to consider how you serve the residents best.”

The Comprehensive Planning Committee will meet again in April to continue their discussion on land use in Downers Grove. More information about the material prepared by Houseal Lavigne Associates, including the market analysis and current land use maps, can be found at the Village of Downers Grove website, www.downers.us.

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DuPage Water Commission Faces Dissolution By State

The DuPage Water Commission was first formed in the battle to get Lake Michigan water to DuPage municipalities, and its responsibilities would continue to grow until 1992, when it assumed all responsibility for purchasing and redistributing water to municipalities and providing for the construction and maintenance of the water supply system.

Governed by a Chairman and 6 Commissioners appointed by the County Board Chairman, and 6 Commissioners selected by the municipal mayors, the Water Commission is a separate entity from the County Board.  “It’s a unique form of government with no accountability.” Commissioner Liz Chaplin told the Chronicle.

It is that very lack of accountability that, by all accounts, has led to repeated financial blunders at the Water Commission.   First appearing to have 19 million dollars missing from its accounts, a recent forensic audit of the books by Jenner & Block determined that accounting errors were to blame for the inaccuracy of the financial reports, but the audit also scathingly blames a culture of mismanagement and a lack of oversight by the commissioners.

It wasn’t the first time the DuPage Water Commission has been in turmoil over the size of its bank accounts.   In 2003 the DuPage County Board got permission to raid the Water Commission for $75 million.  In 2007, with the reserves growing again, the Commission rebated $40 million to its municipalities and reduced the water rates.  That, coupled with the accounting errors, an increase in the water rate by Chicago, and the plummeting revenues from the quarter of a penny sales tax the Commission gets, forced the Commission to borrow $30 million at the end of 2009  to pay for previously approved capital improvements.  In April the Commission will vote to increase water rates to the municipalities by over 20%.

The forensic audit did spare some praise for two of the appointed commissioners, singling out Commissioners Liz Chaplin and Allan Poole for their role in uncovering the financial reports irregularities.  Emails between Chaplin and former financial administrator Max Richter show an increasingly frustrated Chaplin repeatedly requesting answers to her concerns about the Commission’s reliance on the sales tax to subsidize its operations.   Eventually, says Chaplin, “I had to go to the Attorney General to get information from the administration, because the management wasn’t forthcoming.”

Along with Max Richter, General Manager Bob Martin and Treasurer Richard Thorn are no longer employed by the Commission, with Martin’s duties currently being handled by Terry McGee.  Concerns about the Commission have led State Sen. Dan Cronin- who is running for DuPage County Board Chairman- to introduce legislation in the state senate that would fold operations into the DuPage County Board, a move that has some mayors crying foul.

Downers Grove Mayor Ron Sandack sees it differently.  “It’s hard for me to believe we could do anything worse if it goes to the county, and at least there we have elected officials who are accountable to the public. Experience shows us this experiment failed.”

Commissioner Liz Chaplin concurs.  “I think the Water Commission should be a department of DuPage County, but if it doesn’t get taken over by the county, it should become an elected, not appointed, board.  I think it’s a huge conflict of interest for mayors to sit on the board, because they’re voting on their own rebates and reductions. If nothing happens it would be very unfortunate.  As the saying goes, ‘Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.'”

Chaplin would also like to see an abatement of the sales tax currently collected by the Water Commission. “If the commission goes to the county, they should use the sales tax to retire the (current Water Commission) bonds and then abate it.  When there are millions of dollars lying around, it often leads to a misuse of funds. That’s the customer’s money, and they should get it back.”

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Golfing Around At The Library

The Downers Grove Library Foundation is sponsoring a mini golf event at the Downers Grove Public Library on Sunday, March 21 from 11am to 5pm.  Readers of all ages will be able to putt their way through an 18 hole miniature golf course inside the library.   Tournament play for teens and children will begin at 4:15pm.

Tickets are $5 and $3 for ages 12 and younger.

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99BOE Votes To Release DGN Teacher Andrew Klamm

District 99’s Board of Education faced a  large crowd of parents and students when it met on March 15 to vote on the granting of tenure to popular North high school science teacher Andrew Klamm.   The student-led movement to “Keep Klamm” had producted a Facebook page,  students and parents had spoken to the 99 Board of Education both informally and at February’s regular 99BOE business meeting, and school board members and administrators received numerous emails in support of this teacher.

At Monday’s meeting, several spoke to the board about their desire for Klamm to remain at DGN.  Parent Roger DeGuilio asked the board to form their own opinion and not just follow the administration.  DGN student Kelsey White (the daughter of board member Bill White) told the board it was giving the impression that “excellent teachers are kicked off if they don’t get along with the administration.”  An obviously ill Tom Redig, another science teacher at DGN, brought the room to a standing ovation.   He told the board they were “taking away the future of the chemistry department” if they didn’t retain Klamm.

Before casting their vote, each board member discussed their perspective on the issue.  All thanked the community for their participation and noted the number of emails and communications to the board on behalf of Klamm.  Board member Deborah Boyle spoke on behalf of the “intangibles not included in [the] evaluation.”  Member Bob Lemke chided the Downers Grove Education Association for being “irresponsible”, referring to DGEA Vice-President Lois Graham’s remarks at the previous board meeting.  “As for the feedback” Lemke said, “I am most impressed by the voice of our customer, the students of District 99.”

Board member Terry Pavesich noted the difficulty of the decision being made, and the board’s role in it, “I have read all of the evaluations and departmental communications, and I must take these into consideration when making my decision.”

The resolution to deny Klamm tenure passed by a 4-3 margin.   When the vote was announced, the assembled students and parents were visibly and audibly upset, with many students sobbing as they left the room.

On the student run Facebook page “Keep Klamm”, emotions were running high after the board vote, as  evidenced by the many parents and students who spoke out against the decision.  One student wrote, “If we can make life a living hell legally and without sever [sic]  repercussions to the student body (Expulsions/suspensions) then post it up here and let everyone know. They screwed us over, we need to return the favor.”  Claire Marich, a parent who spoke at the board meeting, wrote, “Whose [sic] going to be 18 next April and would like to run for the School Board?”

When asked about the divided board vote, board member Megan Schroeder told the Chronicle, “No board member advocated to retain Klamm before Monday’s meeting.  Not one.  All of us sat through hours of meetings with administrators and staff and reviewed Klamm’s evaluations.  I was privy to information that the students and parents were not.  Ultimately, each of us had to vote our conscience.  I did.”

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