Brian Cecola: Candidate Profile

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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: Barrington HillsWebsite: TBDOffice sought: Barrington Hills Village Board Age: 49Family: Married 20 years to my wife Stephanie who gave us 3 beautiful children; Mikala- freshmen at William Woods University, Grant- sophomore at Barrington High School, and Tyler- 4th grader at Countryside Elementary SchoolOccupation: Small Business OwnerEducation: Attended Southern Illinois UniversityCivic involvement: Barrington Lions Club Current PresidentElected offices held: Director/officer Barrington Lions Club Director-Barrington Fire Department Inc. President-Barrington Fourth of July CommitteeQuestions Answers What makes you the best candidate for the job?I'm a lifelong resident of the Barrington area. I am a proud BHS Bronco. My wife, Stephanie, and I chose to move our family to Barrington Hills where our children attend Countryside and BHS. Our oldest, a BHS graduate, attends William Woods University. My wife and I are advocates of open spaces, equestrian lifestyle, and strive for peaceful harmonious residential living. We are members of the BHRC. We boarded horses in Barrington Hills before purchasing our property where we now have several rescue horses, and other rescue animals. I understand the benefits that boarding offers to regional residents, but I also respect the concerns neighbors have toward the potential unregulated boarding operations. I have a background in public safety with the Barrington Fire Department Inc., as well as professional knowledge of road maintenance and asphalt conditions, which I believe qualifies me to bring expertise to safety and road issues currently before the village board. Through my experience on various service organization boards, I understand that cooperation and reasonable interaction is required to have an effective board and a cooperative and collaborative board representing all residents is needed now. With that said, I pledge to listen to all residents' concerns and the concerns and opinions of village officials, prior to making any determinations. I believe in asking questions and receiving as much input as possible before taking action. All of my decisions, should I be elected, will be with the intention of representing the interests of the entire Barrington Hills community.What is your opinion of your community's present level of local sales and property taxes? Is the tax just right, too low or too high? Explain.I believe that government should operate in the same way that a family or a business does. Over the last few years most families and businesses have had to pay close attention to revenues and expenses and tighten their belts. Government entities should as well. I am a believer that the village government can operate in a more fiscally efficient manner and I have been impressed with the changes established by the new administration under President McLaughlin's leadership, particularly in the area of reduced legal fees and general administrative expenses. I am a strong advocate for continued spending controls and will support any agenda items that improve village operations while maintaining or improving the level of services to taxpayers. I believe current tax levels can be reduced, especially with families needing some tax relief, most importantly when it comes to their property tax bills. The cost of our village government only makes up about one fifth of the total of our local property tax bill. If our village can reduce spending and show the school district, library district, fire districts, and townships that smaller government IS possible, perhaps we can establish a new pattern of behavior for all taxing bodies to emulate.Rate the efficiency of your town's police and fire coverage. Are the departments well prepared for the next decade? What, if anything, should be changed? Do you have specific public safety concerns?As a former fire department member, I have served many of my neighbors in their time of need, and, as such, have a firsthand understanding of the safety needs in Barrington Hills. The police department, which covers approximately 29 square miles, has a difficult task in securing our village, but they are adequately staffed and, as one of the very few CALEA certified departments in our area, they are well suited to continue their excellent service. The BCFPD fire department, in its recent separation from the Barrington Fire Department, has suggested adding additional personnel and stations. I would like to sit down with the BCFPD leaders and board members to understand their interest in additional stations and personnel, especially in a time where regional consolidation and cooperation of departments might be an effective alternative. I support extension of water mains from surrounding communities into our village to provide refilling stations for tanker trucks. In addition, I am an advocate of trying new technology to provide a higher level of safety for fire services, such as utilizing dry-hydrants.Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed, and conversely, are there areas the budget does not give enough money to?Village spending in the last fiscal year has been reduced by nearly $500,000. It is my understanding that these savings have derived from reductions in legal expenses and efficiencies resulting from an employee early separation program initiated by the current administration. I believe we can continue to reduce our spending in these areas without negatively impacting services. I understand that our roads and bridges department has been allocated the $448,000 of derived savings into next year's budget to handle road resurfacing. As a construction and asphalt professional, and a road and salt commercial services owner, I strongly believe that the timing of increased expense, when input costs are reduced, will have a significant impact on restoring our roadways to the conditions promised by the prior administration in their 10 year road program which expired in 2014. I'm very interested in participating in discussions of how to produce a road resurfacing program calendar that is both affordable and reasonable. I understand that there are several initiatives before the board which can assist the village in improving safety through consolidation of 911 technology dispatch services and in the financing of pension obligations. I would be interested in hearing the facts of these proposals, and analyzing the cost and benefits from each. I believe it is important to have these conversations before the public so that all residents can be informed as to why certain decisions are made and to allow residents an opportunity to provide their views and concerns to the board.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?After attending a number of meetings, it is evident to me that our village needs to establish a strong code of ethics which addresses the moral and ethical obligation of trustees when they may have personal interests in decisions before the board. If elected, I would lead on developing and implementing this code of ethics.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?One of the most important concerns I have for our community is that our laws/ordinances are derived from solid legal decisions. An example would be the current "horse boarding" text amendment that is being debated. I believe that changes to the current laws are necessary and I will support the language that best protects all interested parties, but I do not agree that these changes should take place until the current litigation has been resolved. I agree with the Village attorneys and special counsel's opinion that changing a law to help one party over another during active litigation to which the Village is NOT a party is unwise and potentially harmful. It is not smart to interfere with an ongoing lawsuit and to suggest going back 8 years to change language in the ordinance does not show sound judgment. We need to follow the proper legal advice of our counsel and protect the taxpayers' integrity in Barrington HillsPlease name one current leader who most inspires you.Bill Hybels, Senior Pastor Willow Creek Community ChurchWhat's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Respecting those around you, whether you agree or not and always saving 10% of everything I earned.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would wish that both my parents were still married during my middle school and high school yearsWhat was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Math, it provided me with some of the necessary tools to be the business man I am todayIf you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Believe in yourself and never stop dreaming. You can achieve any goals you set your mind to.