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Candidates for the April 6, 2021 Election Village of North Riverside
Early Voting - March 16 - April 5 2021
LIST OF ISSUES & SOLUTIONS
Transparency & Communication
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Open the "books" and open the process. Residents, Business Owners and Village Employees deserve to know about and participate in Village policy making.
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The "Debt" is well over $117 million and growing. We need new leadership!
From the Village's own Comprehensive Fiscal Year Report
Ending April 30, 2020
Submitted to the Illinois State Comptrollers Office
Financial Integrity & Common Sense Village Management
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Tighten our belts in order to reduce the astronomical debt. This doesn't mean cutting programs and services.
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Pay fair wages for professional employee services that are equal to towns comparable to North Riverside.
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Stop the VIP/North Riverside United Party practice of deficit spending and increasing the debt.
Enhance Business & Community Development
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Bring in real professionals to help us attract and retain solid businesses.
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Enhance a system of volunteers for Community Action.
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Establish better ways to communicate with and assist our Seniors and Disabled Residents.
They Are Running From Their Financial Mess!
Work with US to STOP the damage caused by decades of VIP mismanagement; as they now masquerade under their new label; North Riverside United Party and/or fake Independents.
The record is clear: They are running from their financial mess
Financial & Fiscal Negligence
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With the total Village DEBT now skyrocketing past $117 million; North Riverside ranks among the worst Villages in the State of Illinois for per capita debt!
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Spending Millions on frivolous lawsuits against out Firefighters. Violating State Law by failing to properly fund pensions.
Cronyism & "Pay-to-Play" Politics
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The VIP/North Riverside United Party has been in power so long that they only know to take care of their FRIENDS & FAMILY!
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No-bid contracts, exorbitant salaries and benefits for family & friends.
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Tax payer dollars are awarded to campaign contributors is a practice that must cease. We must allow all qualified companies to enter into the process of bidding for goods & services.
Closed Goverment
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The VIP/North Riverside United Party Administration routinely violates the "Open Meetings Act"
and North Riverside's own Ordinances to push through costly measures that benefit only their own, at Taxpayers' expense.
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Interim Village Administrator/Finance Director receives a $52,000 raise that specifically goes against Village Ordinance & Municipal Code.
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Chapter 2.26 - DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
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2.26.010 - Creation.
There is created the position of director of finance for the village. The director of finance shall be employed by the village president and board of trustees on the basis of ability and without consideration of race, politics or religious beliefs. The director shall be the chief financial officer of the village and shall report to the village administrator. The director may also serve as the village treasurer and hold other offices; provided, however, the director shall not receive compensation for any other office other than director of finance.
(Ord. 07-O-13 § 1 (part), 2007).
https://library.municode.com/il/north_riverside/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT2ADPE_CH2.26DIFI
Solutions
We must take every single one of our Vendors and put them to the test!
Any and all Companies that provide a Service and/or Product to the Village "must" be renegotiated to benefit the Village and our tax dollars. Water Services and Garbage Services have been subsidized for decades. Village Attorneys, Village Engineers & Paramedic Services also follow suite. When the Garbage contract was bid out, the Residents witnessed over 8 years of no increases in rates. Recently, there bids for Paramedic Services and the current Administration along with the majority of the Village Board (aside from Trustee Demopoulos & Trustee Mandel) voted to go with the highest bidder.
It is imperative the Village begin to lay the foundation for fiscal & financial measures to alleviate out $117 million debt!
We will start with a “Zero Based Budgeting” process, where every program and expense will be scrutinized; and all programs and services will be prioritized. Instead of just rambling on year after year just watching the debt grow as they keep on spending; we will find ways to tighten our belts, economize, and put more resources/revenues toward retiring the debt of prior administrations.
The Village recently (after more than a decade) has decided to make a Village Government Facebook page. We would like to expend on that social media avenue and build on it. To be more transparent with those involved. Those who are not using social media can simply come to the Village or call to receive any information they desire.
North Riverside needs an active and involved Chamber of Commerce to work with the Village. I am open to all and any ideas that will help the village to diversify the tax base and the commercial landscape. The village can work in cooperation with each property owner for redevelopment. Although I am in favor of providing incentives to businesses we must not get carried away and give outrageous incentives like 50% of sales tax the next 20 years. Harlem and Cermak is one of the busiest intersections in the state and most businesses would have no problem thriving there. So, we are against the deal the VIP/United Party put together for Zieglar Ford.
Property taxes will stay low due to the fact that we are a non-home rule village (limiting tax increases). Residents should not have to pay more to fund pensions. The mismanagement of money by the VIP/ United Party has put us in this situation. We will have to economize and find ways to tackle the debt. We will not deficit spend like the VIP. One thing is for sure, People Before Politics will not hide from the VIP disaster. Once they are gone, we will work toward long range solutions with professional financial management.
Balancing the budget, business redevelopment, and improved communication and transparency with Residents to meet financial goals.
Developing opportunities for interested residents to volunteer in the community.
Investigating grants and government programs to provide funding for projects without a tax burden on residents.
An Emergency Management Team (with an incident command center) should be established, including protocols, contingency plans, a chain of command, and an action plan. Large commercial sites like the Mall must play an integral part on that team and in that planning. All businesses must know what part they play and must commit resources to the effort. Cooperation and communication are the keys to success in this area.
We envision a beautification process along Cermak, west of First Avenue. Improving curb appeal, storefronts, and green space along the way west out of town is something that can be done to improve the overall atmosphere. We can see a small promenade area being created near the mall, with green space in the center.
Last but not least, the Village Administration and the majority of the Village Board 100% agreed to BUST THE UNION! Mayor Hermanek, Trustee Mengoni, Trustee Czajka and former Trustee Bianco all voted to fire and terminate the North Riverside Firefighters Local #2714. Trustee Sarro and Trsutee Flores approved budget that would continue litigation in order to fire our Firefighters. They have all proved without a shadow of a doubt that they are Anti-Union! Freedom of Information Acts (FOIA) request were submitted in the hope of finding out how much the Village spent on legal fees throughout the 5 year ordeal to bust the union. Those request continue to be unanswered.
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