Chris Gilmartin: 2021 candidate for Downers Grove Village Council

Six candidates are running for three, 4-year seats on the Downers Grove Village Council in the April 6, 2021, election. They are newcomers Chris Gilmartin, Danny Glover, Tammi Karam and Andrew Pelloso, and incumbents Margaret "Marge" Earl and Greg Hosé.

The Daily Herald asked the candidates several questions about issues facing the village.

Below are Gilmartin's responses.

In-person early voting with paper ballots began Feb. 25 at DuPage County Fairgrounds Building 5, 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton. In-person early voting with touch-screen voting begins March 22 at locations throughout the county. Learn more at www.dupageco.org/earlyvoting/.

Bio

Town: Downers Grove

Age: 48

Occupation: Founder/CEO, Lever Interactive and Coming of Age

Civic involvement: Member of Downers Grove Human Services Ad Hoc Committee; active parent/coach, eight-year PTA sponsor, business mentor

Q&A

Q: How do you view your role in confronting the pandemic: provide leadership even if unpopular, give a voice to constituents - even ones with whom you disagree, or defer to state and federal authorities?

A: As a successful business owner, I am well-versed in providing leadership of varying approaches. Given the multifaceted challenges this pandemic has created, my role will likely consist of all three leadership scenarios outlined in the question. As pandemic fatigue sets into some of our residents, I will remain steadfast in efforts to keep the health and safety of all of our residents as a top priority.

We must provide proper funding and support to our first responders. This includes making sure that we are fully staffed with police and fire/ambulance staff, proper PPE is provided and modifications to facilities to ensure the safety of our critical front-line workers. The funding for these continued efforts will need to be secured, and perhaps in ways that may seem unpopular.

Additionally, I will use my role as Commissioner and community leader to be a conduit to science-based recommendations, while collaborating with business owners to look for ways that we can safely help businesses to continue to provide goods and service by working with them to get creative, within the guidance of the state/federal government on how to help them survive and thrive.

Q: Did your town continue to adequately serve its constituents during the disruptions caused by the pandemic? If so, please cite an example of how it successfully adjusted to providing services. If not, please cite a specific example of what could have been done better.

A: Without question, the most pressing issue facing our village is the COVID 19 pandemic. This disease has impacted nearly every facet of life, in ways that were unimaginable only just a year ago. I am not comfortable with the staff reduction as it pertains to our fire department. Overall staff reduction has been a trend in our village for the last 12 years - nearly 20% of staff in the last 10 years.

My concern is that we should not be running so lean that we sacrifice the safety of our residents. The fact that we put a fire/ambulance position on hold to balance the budget seems shortsighted to me. And while this may have been a short-term approach, given the pattern of the village cutting staff, I am concerned that getting that position funded will get more difficult the longer we delay it.

I feel there could have been a more coordinated effort to educate the public, and fill a void left by the lack of federal response and communication. Various community leaders could have been more proactive in sharing fact-based information to provide more consistent leadership at the local level. Very little effort has been made to share fact-based, scientific information.

Q: In light of our experiences with COVID-19, what safeguards/guidelines should you put in place to address any future public health crises?

A: There are a few things we can do to try to improve safety during any health crisis. First, ensure that our first responders have the protection and safety equipment needed to maintain public health and safety. The village should also follow the guidelines of the CDC and county health officials as it pertains to opening and capacity maximum public facilities, mask requirements, and other safety measures.

Finally, the village must learn from the impact of this pandemic on budget and ensure we have healthy reserves in advance of the next health crisis.

Q: What cuts can local government make to reduce the burden of the pandemic on taxpayers?

A: The challenge with Downers Grove is that it has been operating extremely lean for the past 10-15 years. We have already reduced our staff by nearly 20% since 2008. We simply cannot cut our way out of the mess the pandemic has caused. Having said that, I believe the relief funds that will come in from the current $1.9 trillion relief plan will provide much needed support, along with the incremental revenue of our share of the Level the Playing Field Act. Since online shopping increased significantly during the pandemic, I am optimistic that this new stream of revenue will help stem some of the budget shortfalls due to the pandemic.

Q: What do you see as the most important infrastructure project you must address? Why and how should it be paid for? Conversely, during these uncertain economic times, what infrastructure project can be put on the back burner?

A: Aside from the roads and sewers, the village hall and police station is a critical infrastructure project that must be addressed. Given the deterioration of the decades-old facilities and upkeep costs of the village hall and the police station, I do support the construction of new facilities.

From a timing standpoint I believe we have to wait until we have a clearer understanding of the full economic impact of the pandemic on village revenues. But that goes both ways. We have to model out realized and expected losses, but we also have to look at what the new and potential incremental gains we will receive from the e-commerce tax revenue that will be realized this year, as well as any federal funding from the new stimulus plan that will help stem our budget shortfalls.

Before any movement can happen on the new facilities, we need a better understanding of our financial position. Having said that, now is the time to put the plan together, and build consensus, on what we need and want from the new facilities so that when we are in a position to move forward we have a well-thought out plan that simply requires us to act upon.

Q: Do you plan to address businesses that don't adhere to the governor's order to close or restrict business?

A: With no enforcement power, the village really has no recourse for businesses who refuse to adhere to state or county restrictions. The only action I would take is to look for was as a village we can support local business during this restricted period, champion flexibility on restrictions that are safe and within the scope of the village, and trumpet the recommendations of the CDC and DuPage County Health officials.

Q: Do you agree or disagree with the stance your council has taken on permitting recreational marijuana sales in the community? What would you change about that stance, if you could?

A: I agree with the decision to allow recreational marijuana sales in Downers Grove. There are no provisions that I see necessary to revise or rescind. I think the more important thing to consider is the financial impact in delaying this decision.

My concern is that we are passed the point that the village can capitalize on the potential revenue other municipalities have benefitted from. And, of course, assuming dispensaries do come to Downers Grove, I would like a clearer understanding of what do we anticipate that incremental revenue gain to be, and what will be the best use of those funds moving forward.

I support a well-thought out, risk/reward analysis that comes with any decision that has potential social issue implications. However, I also believe those analyses must leverage data and facts, and the decisions we make must be timely so that we can realize the most benefit from any opportunity.

Q: What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?

A: As the pandemic has pushed people out of urban areas, startups and emerging companies will be more open to starting businesses in the suburbs. With our proximity to two major airports and easy access to and from the city, Downers Grove could develop a strong startup friendly community.

I will tap into my network of entrepreneurs, local business owners and banks and look for ways to provide incentives, guidance and mentoring to DG startups.

As a longtime mentor, I will welcome the opportunity to use my role on the council as a leader supporting a diverse group of local entrepreneurs. For example, the village has agreements in place that help larger companies with sales tax rebates.

I envision an opportunity to create similar, short-term agreements with startups to help them get off the ground, and incentivize doing business in Downers Grove. Another example of how I would aim to help build an entrepreneurial hub is by championing a series of seminars/forums for businesses to attend that would provide guidance and training on how to better attract and transact with customers online.