Bartlett trustees question mission of Heritage Days’ group

A request this week for the village of Bartlett to increase its sponsorship for the third annual Bartlett Heritage Days festival from $1,000 to $3,000 left trustees questioning the mission of the group that coordinates the event.

The extra money would be used to help pay for a trolley or bus that would shuttle people between events from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the last two days of Heritage Days, which runs from Friday, Sept. 7 to Sunday, Sept. 9.

The four anchor locations of the event are Bartlett Park, Town Center, train station parking lots and the Bartlett Plaza/Leiseber Park. A bus would cost about $800 a day and a trolley about $1,600.

In explaining the request, Heritage Days chairman Bruce Suffern said the group’s executive committee decided last year that the minimum bank account balance they wanted at the end at the end of the event was $1,500, a goal they exceeded by $1,800. Those profits, he said, were put toward a Halloween parade downtown, which raised questions among board members.

“Halloween is part of Heritage Days?” trustee T.L. Arends said.

“No it’s not,” Suffren said. “What our decision was, was to try to once again fund an event that the citizens want, that the citizens turn out for, in downtown Bartlett. And the insurance was $1,800 on that event.”

“My concern is that you’re asking us to give you money and now you’re telling us that you’re funding other events that aren’t Heritage Days. I’m thinking that’s a bit like commingling,” Arends said. Trustees Frank Napolitano and Dennis Nolan shared her concerns.

Village President Michael Airdo asked Suffern if he knew what the group’s articles of incorporation said, as it might clear up the issue.

“Do you know if they said they were limited to solely operating a festival in Bartlett in September? Or was it for the purposes of advancing the heritage of the village of Bartlett through many different activities?” he said.

Suffern said he didn’t know. The board decided to table the issue until more information could be gathered.