Michael J. Sidor: Candidate Profile

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:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: Arlington HeightsWebsite: http://mikefortrustee.comOffice sought: Arlington Heights Village boardAge: 53Family: Married to Faan Yeen Sidor for 25 years with two children, Garrett and MonicaOccupation: Owner and founder of Michael J. Sidor Company, Inc., a language services company providing high-quality technical, legal and general translations, as well as simultaneous interpreting services to a diversified clientele.Education: B.S. in Business Marketing; Northern Illinois UniversityCivic involvement: •Actively participated in the 2010 discussions regarding the new Village refuse contract •Assisted residents in the successful appeal against the rezoning of parcels to construct a funeral home in a residential area •Championed the reversal of the Village practice regarding the removal of certain handicapped sidewalk ramps •Helped fundraise to provide the Arlington Heights Fire Department with oxygen masks for pets•Active member of Arlington Heights Cool Cities CoalitionElected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: No.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Scale-back spending to hold the line on taxesWhile listening to residents, a common theme is that Village spending needs to reflect what most of them have had to do in this unstable economy#133;#147;tighten the belt#148;. With that, I will scrutinize and prioritize each and every expenditure.The budgeting process needs to be revisited. Whether you call it #147;Results Based Budgeting#148;#133;#147;Spending Reform#148;...or, #147;Pay-As-You Go#148;, the Village should explore alternative methods to achieve a balanced budget.Key Issue 2 Create an environment to attract, expand and retain businesses and jobs in our VillageAs a small business owner I am acutely aware of the challenges that face the entrepreneur. I believe competitive rent, a predictable hurdle-free process to get the doors open and community support play a vital role in the success of a business.Key Issue 3 Reasonably balance the needs of residents with those of commercial interestsMany issues that come before the Board involve business interests that may not be fully embraced by residents. I will dedicate myself to studying and understanding the needs and rights of the residents and the business entity in order to find common ground where possible.Questions Answers Explain your point of view, or your vote, on the Boeger Place apartments proposal. Was the village board correct in rejecting the proposal as presented? What should happen now?Unfortunately, the Boeger Place Apartment proposal proved complicated, emotional and ultimately a divisive issue.The Village Staff, as well as the necessary commissions, approved the proposal.I recently toured a similar facility by the developer of the proposed Boeger Place Apartments. This type of housing is desperately needed in the Northwest Suburban area. An opportunity was missed for Arlington Heights to demonstrate leadership, show compassion and provide a housing option for those with treated and controlled mild mental illness allowing them to become contributing citizens.As to what should happen now, the courts shall decide.Should Arlington Hts. keep twice-a-week garbage pick-up forever? How do you feel about once-a-week versus twice-a-week, and the usefulness of rolling carts?I attended almost all meetings from the review of the resident questionnaire at an Environmental Control Commission meeting, to the presentation of the results from the survey company, to the final vote by the Village Board.Arlington Heights would have benefited by negotiating standard once-a-week pick-up with a twice-a-week option for those who prefer it and are willing to pay for it. The same way residents may choose the back-door service option currently offered by our waste hauler. This way, residents pay only for the service they require. Moving forward this contract would have laid the foundation for a smooth transition to an eventual once-a-week only service.Statistically, rolling carts or ""toters"" have proven to increase recycling by users and offer other benefits as well.Given the economic difficulties, what village services must be kept and what could still be cut? Are there things you would be willing to forego temporarily until the economy rebounds?The upcoming budget meetings will prove paramount to better understanding the Village#146;s current fiscal standing and the tough decisions that will need to be made. There are a multitude of line item expenditures outside of services which can be cut or scaled back before we consider cutting services.Residents have expressed that they are more than willing to forego various programs or #147;niceties#148; until the economy rebounds. In much the same way most of us have had to watch our household budgets.Is downtown Arlington Heights a success? Explain your answer.Downtown Arlington Heights serves as a great foundation for a vibrant and exciting nucleus of our Village. Current economic conditions have plagued all municipalities, and Arlington Heights is no exception. The time is right for a #147;re-branding#148; of the downtown as a destination, and we must work toward that end.As previously stated, competitive rent, a predictable hurdle-free process to get the doors open and community support will help attract and retain new businesses to downtown. It will take some time, but with the correct mix of entertainment, restaurants and unique shops, downtown Arlington Heights can reach its potential.Other than downtown, what is the one area of town that needs the most attention from the village board in terms of economic development?In this challenging economy Arlington Heights in its entirety needs attention from the Board. If a business entity or developer approaches the Village with a sound and viable plan and wants to make Uptown, Southtown or Downtown Arlington Heights its home, we must seriously consider their proposal.