Carol Stream welcomes new board members

Three people were sworn onto the Carol Stream Village Board Monday, including newcomer Anthony Manzzullo.

The board also said goodbye to Trustee Michael Drager, who filled in for two years after Frank Saverino won his race for village president in 2007. Drager decided against running for his spot again this year.

"Thank you for the opportunity," Drager said. "You guys are all in fantastic hands with our new board." Incumbents Pam Fenner, who has been on the board for 16 years, and Matt McCarthy, a trustee for a second term, were also sworn in.

"I am very, very honored, and I will not take your trust lightly," Fenner said to residents on Monday.

Manzullo previously served as treasurer for the village from 2005 and 2007. He was most recently on the plan commission and zoning board, until he decided to run for trustee.

He's lived with his family in town since 1994 but became more active once he bought a house in 2002 and his two sons started attending school.

"I was just interested in what was going on here in the community," he said. "When this opportunity came up, I thought, 'Why not?' I have the experience of volunteering, of being involved with the village."

Manzzullo has an accounting background, and he hopes to bring that into use during the budgeting process.

Although Carol Stream hasn't had to make large reductions to balance its budget this year, it's still feeling the crunch from the economy, much like its neighbors. The annual Mother's Day breakfast this Saturday, for example, will include a continental breakfast instead of pancakes, as has been done in past years.

Manzzullo said he's happy that the village is in relatively good shape and is optimistic that the town will be able to survive without implementing a property tax.

"I'm very familiar with budgets and budgeting, and I really hope to help contribute to that process," he said.