Rolling Meadows Ward 6 candidates debate hiring freeze

Rolling Meadows city officials said they implemented a hiring freeze in 2009 but they didn't, not really, said John D'Astice, who is running for a spot on the city council.

"In the true sense of the word, a hiring freeze means you don't hire anyone, even when someone quits," he said. "But there are positions being filled without the permission of the council."

Not yet, but there most certainly will be, said Mayor Ken Nelson.

The city manager can only fill "front-line people" positions without permission from the city council, he said.

City Manager Sarah Phillips hasn't filled any of those "front-line positions" yet but she probably will in the next month or so, Nelson said.

"We're not talking about all positions, just for example firefighters or police officers who are out on the street," Nelson said. "We're not talking about secretaries or community policing officers or dispatchers."

Incumbent Kathy Kwandras agrees with Nelson that police and fire line positions should be exempt from the hiring freeze.

"We need to refill those positions," she said. "It's a matter of safety."

D'Astice also criticized a decision the Rolling Meadows police made in June to block off all but one entrance to 12 Oaks apartment complex and run a checkpoint in front of the only open driveway. Rolling Meadows police said they were passing out pamphlets on crime prevention and social services, but not asking for identification.

The owner of the 12 Oaks said the barricades were unconstitutional and filed a lawsuit against the city.

"This was a very costly undertaking with police overtime and now legal fees," D'Astice said. "And where is the documentation that showed it reduced crime? I believe the whole thing was an error in judgment."

Kwandras said she couldn't talk about the barricades.

"Because of the litigation, I'm going to have to defer all questions to the chief of police and city manager," she said.

Kwandras, 59, has represented the sixth ward since 2005. A community volunteer, she and her husband, John, have two children. Besides her role on the city council, Kwandras has been the vice president of the Rolling Meadows Historical Society since 2002.

D'Astice, 54, is the director of sales for a hotel corporation. He represented the ward for 12 years before retiring because of term limits in 2004. D'Astice said he is running again because the city council has raised taxes, reduced city services and incurred about $1.5 million dollars of debt in the past two years. D'Astice and his wife Mary Lou have four children.

The four-year term is up for election on April 7.