Anne M. Gould: 2021 candidate for Glen Ellyn Village Board

Four candidates are squaring off for three 4-year seats on Glen Ellyn Village Board in the April 6 election.

Newcomer Anne M. Gould is a member of the Civic Betterment Party.

The other candidates are independent candidate Jeremy Boynton and Civic Betterment Party members incumbent Gary Fasules and newcomer Kelley M. Kalinich.

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

Below are Gould'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: Glen Ellyn

Age: 59

Occupation: Formerly in financial services as an operations and systems business analyst.

Civic involvement: I have been involved with a range of civic activities in the community, including Glen Ellyn/Wheaton CROP Walk team leader and event co-chair; St. Petronille School Board member; and school auction co-chair. Over the past couple of years, I have focused more closely on the village as an actively engaged resident, regularly attending village board and plan commission meetings; doing additional research that provides context for topics before the board; and reviewing village code, planning documents, and studies.

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: The board's role in confronting the pandemic is to be responsive to the immediate changing needs of residents, police and fire departments, businesses, employees, and volunteers in a way consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and state guidelines; to look for creative ways to operate within that framework; and to make decisions on policy, funding, spending/projects, fees, and taxes that may address some of those needs.

Additionally, the board needs to anticipate the medium- to long-term impact and approve our long term plans accordingly — not just proceed with prior assumptions.

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: This has been a difficult time for residents and businesses. Hardships, some on more than one front, have been felt by everyone.

The village made many adjustments to serve its residents and businesses — some examples are: providing signs and parking spaces reserved for curbside pickup; closing Main Street for the outdoor dining tent, shifting to zoom meetings for the village board and commissions, waiving outdoor dining fees for the restaurants, reducing liquor license fee for restaurants, extending the vehicle sticker deadline; keeping residents and businesses up to date with weekly e-newsletters; and promoting shop and dine local.

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: The county health department and the state do the heavy lifting here. At a board level, how to we better prepare for a public health crisis? Once the crisis has subsided, the village should hold several listening sessions/brain storming sessions with businesses, residents, our first responders, etc. to see what we can do better.

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

A: The board essentially left their portion of the tax bill the same in the last budget cycle (by the use of abatements), and it has already looked at reducing some costs on major infrastructure projects. That may be a good area to continue to explore in terms of reductions or rescheduling. Glen Ellyn was in strong financial standing prior to the pandemic with its sizable reserves.

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: In terms of infrastructure, we should focus on the completion of the Civic Center Garage to a functional state. While this is targeted for spring, we should ensure it is user friendly — with proper signage including an available spot counter easily visible from passing cars.

The streetscape project or the train station project are worth looking at regarding rescheduling of the projects due to costs, disruptions, or allowing the town to focus on supporting residents, businesses, and the “Frida” exhibit with more resources; this involves having the flexibility to respond — having options open to the town to respond. It is difficult, if not impossible, to be flexible with several Central Business District construction projects occurring at once.

Q: Do you agree or disagree with the stance your board 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 board's decision to ask the opinion of the residents on this issue through an advisory referendum. It was one piece of data to be considered. Due to the high voter turnout, the board gained a more solid understanding beyond the village's online survey. It did not make their job any easier as it was a fairly even split with 413 more yes votes than no votes from the 17,195 ballots counted (it appears that some 694 voters missed, skipped, or double voted the question).

I would not say never, but I see no compelling reason to have a recreational cannabis store in Glen Ellyn now or in the immediate future.

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

A: I am not here to push an agenda or new idea. I am here to help advance residents' shared values and visions; increase transparency; improve trust; and provide different context to decisions before the board.

I will raise ideas, but I feel the wealth of ideas come from residents and businesses; we must tap into this. One thing I wondered about was whether we can incent Central Business District landlords to use their unoccupied space — to not let it sit vacant for years. That way it can be useful to the community. They win with a revenue stream, and the village wins with fewer vacant storefronts — thus activating the street. It could be used for a pop-up store, pop-up event, etc.