Residents lash out at Pleasant Dale Park Board

The Doings Western Springs

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February 11, 2010 

By KAREN SORENSON

Angry residents dominated the first portion of the Pleasant Dale Park Board meeting Feb. 10 to question everything from how the Chalet athletic center was being marketed to why a meeting date was changed to exclude one board member.

Even the board's decision to make a bid to purchase used gym equipment for the Chalet was questioned by resident Steve Kuehn of Burr Ridge, who interrupted the board's discussion with, “You don't have the money (to do this).”

More than a dozen people attended the meeting, and many of the comments made centered on four issues — how much the Chalet remodeling work cost, why the board called for a special meeting two days prior to the regular meeting to discuss the same agenda items, why the board's monthly meeting date was changed when members knew 12-year board veteran Carol McMurray could not attend and why items the board intended to vote on were scheduled for after the board's closed-door session.

McMurray's decision to resign because she could no longer attend the monthly meeting date after it was changed from the second Tuesday of the month to the second Wednesday was particularly divisive. The board was aware of McMurray's schedule conflict when they made the change, Kristin Violante, of Willow Springs, said.

“It's a slap in the face to all of the people who voted for her,” Violante said.

Gina Nelson of Willow Springs questioned why the board called a special meeting for 1 p.m. Monday to discuss the fitness equipment purchase, outsourcing jobs and personnel issues when all three topics were also on the Wednesday meeting agenda. (The meeting ultimately did not take place when The Doings charged the board failed to provide 48 hours' advance notice to the media, per the Illinois Open Meetings Act.)

Nelson, who filmed the Wednesday night meeting, also asked why the board would choose to meet at 1 p.m., when most people are at work and could not attend.

“Can you tell me why (the special meeting agenda items) couldn't be discussed here?” Nelson said. “You were elected by the public to serve the public, not yourselves and when it's convenient for you.”

While the board listened to most of the comments without response, member Colleen Petrone did take umbrage at Nelson's allegation.

“I'm here for every resident, every taxpayer,” she said. “Not a few, but the whole.” Residents were given a total of 15 minutes to speak with the board, and Petrone stopped Nelson mid-sentence. “Please, enough. Thank you. You've had your time.”

Despite the negative comments, several audience members told the board they liked the changes that had been made at the Chalet and how things were being run. One person defended the board's right to meet during the afternoon, and said it was a common practice of previous boards.

The board did respond to one criticism by reshuffling the agenda so that all items would be discussed prior to the board going into closed session. Much of the regular board meeting was devoted to a discussion on whether a bid ought to be made to purchase used equipment from the Velocity Sports Performance in Willowbrook, which is closing.

Among the items being sold are weights, batting cages, a crash board and two retractable basketball hoops. The equipment was priced by the owner at $41,116, and is slated to go to auction if no bids for its purchase is made, board member Ernie Moon said. Anticipating that the owner and the bank receiving the money would likely prefer not to go to auction, where anywhere from 5 percent to 10 percent of the proceeds will go to the auction company, the board decided it would make an offer of $19,000 and see if it would be accepted.

Only board President Brad Martin voted against the motion, saying he feared the district bid would be rejected because it was too low and they would miss their opportunity to buy the equipment.
“I think we're going to lose it,” he said.

If they are successful in buying the equipment, the board would take a short-term, low-interest loan that could be paid off in a couple of years, per the advice of their attorney, Vince Cainkar.