Downers Grove dumps mayors group

Downers Grove officials put an end to months of strife between the village and the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference by bailing from the organization.

The village council voted 6-1 Tuesday to "discontinue its association" with the group. Mayor Ron Sandack called it an economic decision; the village will save about $37,000 in annual dues.

"The majority of the village council did not believe sufficient value would be returned to the village in exchange for its $37,000 investment in the (group)," Sandack said. "Most council members believed this money would be better used elsewhere in Downers Grove's budget."

Village leaders have been feuding with the organization's hierarchy ever since the conference helped municipal members of the DuPage Water Commission fight a state bill proposed by Republican county board chairman nominee and state Sen. Dan Cronin that would turn over control of the financially troubled commission to the county. A compromise bill that keeps the commission intact is awaiting Gov. Pat Quinn's signature.

Downers Grove was one of the conference's largest municipalities and paid the maximum in dues along with cities like Elmhurst and Naperville, said Mark Baloga, the conference's executive director. In recent years smaller communities such as Darien and border towns like Schaumburg and Lemont also have dropped out of the conference citing financial reasons, Baloga said.

Despite its departure, Baloga said Downers Grove likely will see some benefit from the organization's advocacy work for the county's municipalities.

"The work we do helps all of the county's municipalities generally," he said. "We foster intergovernmental activity for municipalities between themselves and among other levels of government."

Downers Grove Councilman William Waldack was the lone vote in favor of sticking with the group.

"We do need to partner with our neighbors better and this is a good way to do it," he said.

However, other council members said they had a hard time finding a benefit for remaining with the group. Councilman Robert Barnett complained that the organization had bought the Oak Brook building where its offices are headquartered.

"That's not the type of activity an advocacy group should be engaged in," Barnett said. "During my short term as an elected official I've seen very little that I consider helpful and much that I find borderline offensive and inappropriate."

Baloga defended the real estate purchase, saying ownership of the property its had since 2001 actually saves the organization money.

Downers Grove leaders said they will re-examine the issue in six months.