City Council: September 2008 Archives

Remember a little more than a year ago, after the charge that Naperville Councilman Richard Furstenau slapped a police officer was tossed out of court, and he asked for an apology and $130,000 to cover the costs of his failed state Senate campaign? Remember that? And how everyone sorta laughed, and said, who does he think he is? And how City Manager Peter Burchard got absolutely incensed about the request, and so did some other city leaders. Remember that?

Remember when Furstenau went ahead and filed his lawsuit, then? And how that was a big deal at the time, and whether he should remain on the council or resign or at least recuse himself. Gee, time flies. Now, here we are, and the legal costs associated with Furstenau's suit have topped $700,000. It's likely to end up costing Naperville taxpayers well over $1 million -- maybe closer to $2 million -- when this is all over.

Today's question is: Should the city have apologized to Furstenau and ponied up the $130,000 a year ago? it would have been a lot cheaper to taxpayers. Isn't that why most claims end up getting settled instead of going to court, anyway? Or would that have violated the city's principals? If Furstenau loses the case, is he responsible for the city's legal fees? Should he be? Or is he in a no-lose situation, where, even if he loses his case, he still gets to say, "See, I told you the city should have paid me $130,000 and apologized, would have saved everyone a lot of money."

Naperville is grappling with a $5.1 million budget shortfall this year, thanks to less-than-expected revenues from sales and real estate transfer taxes. The city has adopted a hiring freeze, will not replace 21 vehicles in the current budget and will look at other steps to close this year's budget gap.

Next year, unless something is done, the deficit will be in the $10 million to $11 million range, city Finance Director Doug Kreiger told the City Council Tuesday. Moves under consideration include eliminating positions, reductions in overtime spending, wage freezes and other steps dealing with reducing personnel costs.

This is just the beginning of the budget process, a time when the City Council ought to be most receptive to hearing what constituents think ought to be done to balance the budget. This forum is your opportunity to share ideas and debate issues. So pretend you're talking to the mayor and city council, and say what you'd like to see done to get Naperville back in the black.

Many people in Naperville received mailings in the past week saying Naperville City Council member Darlene Senger--the Republican running for state representative 96th District--is an "extremist" who would "turn back the clock on a woman's right to make her own health care decisions." The text is set against a background picturing a coat hanger cocked on a sign that says "Back Alley Medical Services Here."

Senger's opponent, Democrat Dianne McGuire, is responsible for the attack ads.

Many were offended by the ads and contacted The Sun to complain. Senger called a press conference in the wake of our inquiries.

Did you receive one of the ads? What do you think? Do you go too far? Do you think they are fair? How well do you think the negative campaign strategy will work? Could it backfire, and end up doing more damage to McGuire than good? Which candidate do you support in the 96th District race, and why?

The City Council this week voted to implement a hiring freeze. There's only three positions open now, including that of fire chief. Otherwise, the freeze won't apply to essential police officer and firefighter positions, so it's more like a hiring chill than an all-out freeze.

The city is trying to close a $5 million gap in its current operating budget. Personnel costs account for 76 percent of the city's budget.

Do you agree with the hiring chill decision? How else should Naperville look to cut costs from its current budget. As it begins the process of discussing the 2009-10 budget, where should the city look to cut costs in the future?

It's over. The question about whether the historic Hammerschmidt mansion at 432 E. Chicago Ave. should receive landmark status is settled, and in the end it came down to a debate about property owner rights.

The council voted 5-3 not to grant landmark status. Doug Krause, Kenn Miller, Darlene Senger, James Boyajian and Richard Furstenau voted in the majority, while council members John Rosanova and Robert Fieseler and Mayor A. George Pradel were in the minority.

What's next? Will the house be razed by the owners? What's the status of that effort to sell shares and raise money to buy and restore the home? What do you think of the council's decision--did it get it right?

Tuesday was the first day that candidates could pick up packets and begin circulating nominating petitions for the spring city council elections, which might involve a primary. School and park board candidates get to wait a couple more weeks.

In Naperville, the four-year seats of incumbents Doug Krause, Kenn Miller, James Boyajian and John Rosanova are up for election. Krause and Miller are running again, while Boyajian and Rosanova have yet to indicate whether they will seek re-election.

We also learned Tuesday of the first challenger intending to run for city council: plan commission member and Naperville entrepreneur Joe McElroy.

Now, we're not going to let this thread sink into a series of personal attacks about the candidates. If you can't say something nice about them, don't say anything at all. We want to know, who around town do you think would make a good public servant? Who do you know that would be a good person to serve the city on the council? Have you considered running for office yourself? If you know someone who would make a good council member, have you approached that person and suggested the idea of seeking public office?

UPDATE: Boyajian has announced he does not intend to seek re-election.

The City Council Tuesday night approved a plan to build the city's 10th fire station near 95th Street and Route 59. This entails, among other things, hiring 12 more firefighters and spending at least $1.5 million on a ladder truck. Public service comes with a price tag.

How do you rate public services in Naperville? Police, fire, water, electricity? Do you feel you're getting your money's worth? Would you be willing to sacrifice quality for cost?

Here's a thought: As municipal and state governments look increasingly toward privatization, (of lotteries, prisons, toll roads, etc.), do you think local governments will ever considering outsourcing police, fire, public works or educational services? Could private companies realistically handle educating of our children, responding to emergencies and maintaining infrastructure, at a lower cost? Should such important services be trusted to private enterprise instead of monopolistic municipalities? Tell us what you think.