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Nick Mostardo: Candidate Profile

Bartlett Park Board

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Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioQA Bio City: BartlettWebsite: http://nickforbartlettparks.orgOffice sought: Bartlett Park Board Age: 27Family: Parents (Mark and Nancy) and sister (Alexandra) continue to live in Bartlett while brother (Ryan)lives and works in Los Angeles, California.Occupation: Municipal finance professional, previously a full-time Bartlett Park District staff memberEducation: Master of Arts (Political Science)-University of South Carolina Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) magna cum laude-Benedictine UniversityCivic involvement: In addition to being a good neighbor, I try and give back to the community as much as possible. Some of these civic activities include past volunteering at the Bartlett 4th of July Festival and teaching community lifeguard courses. When asked to take on a role within the community, more often than not, I will happily oblige.Elected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Questions Answers What programs aren't paying for themselves? Would you keep, eliminate or change them? How and why?In order for the Bartlett Park District to responsibly evolve, it is necessary to conduct continuous policy evaluation with respect to programming. In general, Park District programs should be viewed through two separate lenses: Core programming and expanded programming. Core programming includes items such as day camps, day care, swim lessons, certain fitness programs, and park maintenance while expanded programming includes events and special facilities. It is my firm belief that the majority of property taxes collected should go to subsidize the core programs within the District so residents are not faced with the burden of paying a large amount of user fees out-of-pocket for traditional services that are necessary for a vibrant and healthy community. On the other hand, expanded programs should be run as enterprises where their revenues should not only cover their expenses, but also produce income to contribute to the District's financial reserves to cover costs in the event of a poor fiscal year. What concerns me greatly about the Bartlett Park District, however, is the investment in Villa Olivia. For the amount the property and renovations have cost the taxpayers of the District, there has not been a justifiable return which, in turn, has resulted in the need to offset its losses by subsidizing the facility with corporate fund transfers that should instead be used to offset the rising cost of traditional programs. If elected, it will be my goal to evaluate all policy alternatives in order to get things back on track.Is there any additional open space the park district needs to acquire? Please describe.The Bartlett Park District has nearly fully grown into its boundaries and the existing Board has done an excellent job in securing park and open space in the various neighborhoods within the District. Beyond neighborhood open space, the District owns Villa Olivia, a large parcel of such space that can legally be used for no other purpose into perpetuity. At this point, it is most necessary to maximize the usage of the open space that the District already owns. The truest course of action is the District continuing to follow its capital improvement plan for neighborhood parks, as I believe modern and updated apparatus possess the safest and most beneficial recreational experiences for residents. As a matter of policy, if elected, I would encourage my fellow Board members to stand with me in evaluating the current use of the Villa Olivia open space. Skiing and golf have the potential to be very profitable ventures, but their success is extraordinarily contingent upon the weather and other factors. When those activities are unable to operate, that open space is still costing the District a significant amount of money in upkeep with no return. It would be a worth endeavor to explore the possibility of an intergovernmental agreement with a neighboring agency that would be interested in such a cost-sharing measure.Are there any unmet recreational needs? If yes, what are they and how would you propose paying for them? Or, should they wait until the economy improves?There are a few recreational needs that, if elected, I would pursue with the support of my fellow Board members and District staff. First, the area of the District west of Route 59 does not have adequate access to facilities and parks east of Route 59. In order to access those areas by foot or bicycle, it is necessary to cross Route 59 at one of many hazardous intersections. I propose working with local advocacy groups to explore the feasibility of expanding the Bartlett Trail (a joint venture between the District and the Village of Bartlett) to include a pedestrian bridge over Route 59, similar to bridges that can be found over Randall Road. This is an endeavor that would require intergovernmental support and I would explore all avenues of funding, including grants, to make it possible. This type of project would help to further tie the community together. A second item deals specifically with the needs of senior citizens. While Hanover and Wayne townships offer senior services, the Park District has not kept up with this obligation, and 90% of the time, its dedicated senior citizen facilities sit empty or are used for other purposes. The District needs to provide engaging activities at a very low cost to senior citizens in order to help these important residents take advantage of the amenities that the Park District has to offer.Would you support sharing/pooling resources (i.e. printing, vehicles) with other local governments (school districts, village, etc.)? If so, what areas would you consider combining or merging to save money or improve efficiency?Absolutely! I have always been a proponent of intergovernmental operations to lower costs and provide access to a higher level of services. I studied this element of government in graduate school and applied it in my role as the full-time Aquatics manager with the District, taking advantage of agreements with the Carol Stream Park District and the South Elgin Parks and Recreation Department to improve access to recreational services and raise additional revenue. Specifically, the Bartlett Park District would be well-served by an intergovernmental agreement that would include other agencies in the operation of Villa Olivia, which has the potential to be extremely profitable under appropriate conditions. Nevertheless, that profitability comes with a high level of risk (i.e. bad weather, etc.). Risk is mitigated by pooling resourcesâ#128;#148;we see that all the time in the private and public sectors in not only the realm of operations, but also in the employee and property insurance sectors. By soliciting an intergovernmental agreement for the operation of Villa Olivia, we would not only be reducing the financial risk on the Bartlett Park District, but we would also be reducing staff costs and pension liabilities. I see it as a win-win: when Villa Olivia does well, the District profits, when it doesn't do well, the District is not hit with catastrophic costs that affect its ability to deliver affordable traditional programs and services to residents.If you are a newcomer, what prompted you to run for the park board? If you're an incumbent, list your accomplishments or key initiatives in which you played a leadership role.My family moved into Bartlett in 1990 when I was three years old. Reflecting on my childhood, I feel so lucky that I was able to grow up in a community with a strong park district that enabled our household to thrive in a safe, healthy, and recreationally robust environment. I participated in more District programs than I can remember as a child, including swim lessons and swim team. After turning 15 years old, I became a part-time employee of the District, first as a swim lesson instructor, then as a lifeguard. While progressing through high school, college, and graduate school, I took on a number of other part-time roles within the District including Swim Lesson Coordinator, Pool Supervisor, licensed lifeguard instructor, and Accounting Assistant. In 2006, I served as the part-time Assistant Aquatics Manager for about six months after a resignation by the incumbent full-time employee. During college and graduate school, I served as an auditor for a nationwide consulting firm specializing in Park District safety operations. In that position, I visited and personally inspected over 200 park districts and municipalities nationwide, and have observed the good and the bad in agencies similar in structure to the Bartlett Park District, while also having the opportunity to influence policy decision-making in that role. (Note that this is a longer answer, so I continue explaining what prompted me to run in the question below.)What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?After leaving the District, it has always been my intention to give back to an organization that was always so good to me in both my personal and professional lives. After identifying this opportunity late last year, I determined that my skills and experience would allow me to contribute the most to the District as a member of the Board of Commissioners. Bartlett has been my home for nearly all of my life. I love this community so much that I put down roots and purchased my own home within the Village in 2012. I intend to raise my future family here and want my children to have access to the same exceptional recreational opportunities that I had as a child. I believe that my peers and I are the future of the Park District resident base, and for that reason, I would ask that the community give me the privilege to contribute to the District as a member of the Board of Commissioners.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.I met Paul Rusesabagina (Hotel Rwanda) in college and am inspired by his willingness to have faced nearly insurmountable odds to preserve human life.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?A positive mental attitude helps one get through even the most impossible situations.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Given a do-over, I would have spent more time with my siblings.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Government--it has shaped my career and my compassion for others.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Family is life's most valuable gift.