Letter: Northbrook needs Muriel Collison on village board
Muriel Collison, who is a lifelong Northbrook resident, has made a career of "giving back" to Northbrook, not only serving on the Northbrook Plan Commission for 4 years and then as a Trustee for the last 4 years, but also as a member of the Northbrook Rotary Club Board, a District 28 volunteer and donating time to other charitable endeavors.
For the past 25 years, I have had the privilege of serving as a Northbrook volunteer, first on the Zoning Board of Appeals, then on the Plan Commission (the last 8 as chair) and also currently on the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners. During that time, I have had the opportunity to work under several Northbrook Village Presidents and Boards of Trustees. In fact, a number of the current Village Trustees, including Muriel Collison, are former Plan Commissioners with whom I have served. Based on this experience, and my knowledge of Muriel and her dedication and hard work, I endorse, without reservation, the reelection Muriel Collison to the Northbrook board of trustees.
In working with Muriel over the last 8 years, I have been impressed not only with the thoroughness of her preparation, but also with the thoughtfulness of her analysis, her willingness to listen to others and her willingness to express her opinion, even where it may not represent a popular position. She considers the merits of each matter brought before her and evaluates the interests expressed by each stakeholder while keeping an eye on the potential impact on not only schools, traffic and neighbors, but also Village finances. Often, she has suggested avenues of analysis and ways to improve a project I hadn't considered that allow it to move forward while also better serving the needs of Village residents.
Muriel's voting record as a Village Trustee demonstrates her commitment to fiscal responsibility while addressing the needs of all stakeholders. She has supported the development of a meaningful but reasonable affordable housing plan allowing people who work here to live here and creating more housing opportunities for seniors and disabled adults and has carefully examined opportunities to cut costs in Village government without eliminating Village services. Her priorities include making sure the police and fire departments remain fully funded and supported, ensuring much needed facility updates continue to occur to our infrastructure and, most importantly, maintaining transparent and open communication with all Northbrook residents and stakeholders. Given the difficult financial situation which our country, state and Northbrook face in the next several years, the importance of Muriel's demonstrated experience and record in Northbrook cannot be overstated.
Northbrook is a wonderful place to live and raise a family. My husband and I raised 3 children here who are now successful adults, in no small part due to the services and support available to our residents. One of my children once told me that he hoped to move his own family into our house someday. If Muriel Collison and the other members of the slate endorsed by the Northbrook Caucus, Kathryn Ciesla as Village President, and Dan Pepoon and Joy Ebhomielen as Village Trustees, are elected, I know that the Northbrook my son and his family will live in will continue to be the vibrant and wonderful place it is today.
Marcia Franklin
Northbrook