Moylan makes appointments over objections of several aldermen
Des Plaines Mayor Marty Moylan’s appointment of four residents to the city’s Economic Development Commission Monday night provoked a heated discussion between several aldermen and Moylan about the EDC’s procedures and adherence to its bylaws over the last decade.
Eighth Ward Alderman Rosemary Argus removed the four appointments from the Council’s “consent” agenda is order to discuss complaints she had received from citizens and commission members about its lack of nominations and election of officers over the past 10-15 years and about the fact that “they are not living according to their own bylaws.
“New members aren’t even given a copy of their bylaws. Something is amiss,” she stated.
James Brookman, alderman of the Fifth Ward, agreed. “This has nothing to do with the qualifications of any one individual but there are problems and issues with this commission that I would like to discuss with the community development committee in a City Council committee setting.”
Specifically, he said that input from the public and even from aldermen appeared to be discouraged by the EDC.
Moylan appeared to bristle, and he asked Brookman why he had not heard these concerns before.
“Has anyone not let you talk at those meetings?” he demanded.
Brookman and Argus both said their input at EDC meetings has been limited by the structure of the meeting.
This was not the time to bring up these questions, Moylan countered. This was simply the time to approve or reject four appointments whose terms will extend through 2014. A meeting will be held later to discuss any problems with the commission, he said.
Third Ward Alderman Matt Bogusz agreed.
“There are lots of hardworking volunteers on this commission that give their time to the City. We shouldn’t treat volunteers like a punching bag. We need to respect them and let them go about their unbiased work.”
“The commissions were set up as independent groups to give us their feedback,” Moylan agreed.
“But it is the business of the City Council how these Commissions operate,” Brookman retorted. “These aren’t your appointments to make carte blanche, Mr. Mayor.”
Moylan continued to argue that the appointments were separate from questions about commission procedures.
Sixth Ward Alderman Mark Walsten jumped in, saying he did not doubt the EDC members’ dedication or their qualifications but if the rules were not being followed, aldermen had the right to find out why. He offered a motion that the matter be referred to the Community Development Committee and the appointments be deferred.
“Is there anything wrong with getting these questions answered? No,” Walsten said.
Aldermen Jean Higgason (4th Ward) and Dan Wilson (7th Ward) agreed with the need for a separate meeting to get questions answered about EDC procedures.
In the end, all four appointments were approved> Brookman and Walsten voted “no” on all of them, saying it was a matter of principle because their questions had not yet been answered.
The EDC members appointed are Richard Grosse, Jin Lee, Jim Ulett and Mary Howard.