Andrew Stein: 2021 candidate for Buffalo Grove village trustee
Bio
City: Buffalo Grove
Age: 61
Occupation: Field Compliance Principal, Allstate Financial Services, LLC
Civic involvement: Buffalo Grove Days Committee; Commission for Residents with Disabilities; Farmers Market; Planning and Zoning Commission; Board of Health; Scouts BSA - Merit Badge Counselor, Former Unit Commissioner, Award Winning Cubmaster; Member of the Link Together Drug Coalition; Graduate of the Citizens Police Academy; Participant in Fire Opps 101; Volunteer for the Vernon Township Food Pantry
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 village trustee, I am responsible for the health, safety and welfare of our residents. That means listening to the science and taking an active role in formulating ways to protect residents while preventing the spread of COVID-19. I view my role as twofold, giving a voice to my constituents and providing leadership, even if unpopular. That is why I proposed requiring face coverings before it was mandated by the governor. Initially, the fire chief felt that wearing face coverings would give people a false sense of security. Following science, I explained that a mask would prevent droplets from traveling as far as they would travel if the mouth and nose were uncovered. I explained that an uncovered cough or sneeze could send droplets, containing the virus, ten to fifteen feet. A face covering would keep the distance to under three feet. Dr. Fauci agrees and face coverings have become an integral weapon in the fight against COVID-19.
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: We provided continued, exceptional service to residents. Safety dictated that we close village hall, so a weather protected, walk-up window was built to provide service. We enhanced and promoted the use of online service capabilities. Inside village hall, barriers were constructed to maintain social distancing. Markers were placed at six-foot intervals. We encouraged staff to work from home to maintain wellness so that we would be able to provide services. We assisted restaurants by expanding the use of outdoor dining and permitted tents with outdoor heaters. We provided relief by reducing the cost of liquor licenses for restaurants. We procured PPE wherever we could, including cloth face masks that were provided to Buffalo Grove residents in connection with Vernon Township. We sourced vaccine for first responders so that they would be healthy to provide service to our residents. This is just some of the ways we adjusted to provide continued service to our residents. Additionally, BG Delivers will launch on March 17. BG Delivers is an internet campaign of community spirit and support to restaurants, businesses and services in Buffalo Grove throughout the pandemic.
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 Village of Buffalo Grove has continuation and contingency plans, but nobody could have predicted the COVID-19 pandemic. The village reacted well. Emergency staff meet in the Emergency Operations Center on a regular basis. They work to evaluate response to crisis and prepare for future, anticipated crisis all year. We learned from our experience. We need to document what went well and what didn't. Buffalo Grove needs to develop and maintain department specific written procedure documents, to be passed on by each department head. These will be the playbooks for each department's pandemic response. Additionally, the village needs to procure and maintain much more PPE than what we normally have on hand. The pandemic has taught us to plan for supply interruptions and have at least a six-month supply available. It is better to plan for the worst and not need the plan, than to get caught without.
Q: What cuts can local government make to reduce the burden of the pandemic on taxpayers?
A: The Buffalo Grove village manager, staff and board did a fantastic job reducing expenses to ease the burden on taxpayers. Cosmetic improvements, such as carpeting and painting can be delayed. Projects, such as sewer repair, water mains and roads cannot be delayed. Each delay places the system at risk for catastrophic failure, which would increase cost in the future and place our residents in jeopardy. I support outsourcing, when it makes sense and serves the right purpose. The village was able to cut expenses 2020 by creating a voluntary separation initiative. This allowed the village to avoid layoffs. In some instances, the village was able to combine positions or not fill a position in order to create greater savings. The goal of any budget is to come in balanced, with as little of an increase as possible. The 2021 budget reflects a zero percent property tax rate increase. We changed how the departments run. We changed positions, titles and responsibilities to better line up with new roles. We will continue to look for efficiencies and other sources of funds in order to impact our residents as little as possible.
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: The most important infrastructure project for the village to address is the one that we are in the middle of right now, the Infrastructure Modernization Program. Over the next five years, Buffalo Grove will be involved with, or manage, $175 million in capital projects, of which only a fraction will be at the village's expense. $24 million was raised by the sale of bonds to modernize and repair the village's water, sewer and streets. With aging infrastructure approaching its maximum life expectancy, the village started planning in 2019 to address the matter. The bond sale was completed in 2020 and the projects, prioritized by need, are already underway. The village board and staff have developed a sustainable plan to improve and maintain our core infrastructure. Buffalo Grove continues to seek out and obtain state and federal money to augment its projects. There continues to be a need to address several village buildings. village hall, the police station and public works need repair and have outlived their useful purpose. For now, these need to be put on the back burner in order to address water, sewer and streets.
Q: Do you plan to address businesses that don't adhere to the governor's order to close or restrict business?
A: Broad powers exist when it comes to health, safety and welfare. Buffalo Grove has supported the plans from our state health officials and the governor. Buffalo Grove enacted a face covering requirement before the state. The governor's orders were made in order to slow and halt the spread of COVID-19. There have been over 28 million confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States with over 500,000 deaths with nearly 1.2 million confirmed cases and 22,000 deaths in Illinois. During the peak months of November, December and January, strict adherence was necessary to slow the infections and deaths. This meant paying attention to the science to get things under control. For the most part, businesses in Buffalo Grove adhered to the guidelines and the governor's orders. I supported and continue to support adhering to the plans and orders. They appear to be working. With widespread distribution of vaccines, this should be under control soon.
Q: Do you agree or disagree with the stance your board/council has taken on permitting recreational marijuana sales in the community? What would you change about that stance, if you could?
A: I am a member of the Link Together coalition, working to keep illegal drugs and alcohol out of the hands of children. Initially, I asked that the governor take his time and get more facts from states that had permitted recreational marijuana. Once the legislation was approved, recreational marijuana was legal throughout the state. Buffalo Grove could choose to opt out of the sale, but not the use of recreational marijuana. From a practical standpoint, Buffalo Grove residents would be able to obtain and use recreational marijuana from neighboring communities, whether or not it was sold in Buffalo Grove. I voted to approve a recreational dispensary as a convenient and safe way for our residents to purchase marijuana and for the added tax revenue to the village. I also reached out to State Rep. Didech to request that an exclusionary list, similar to the one used for gambling, be developed for recreational marijuana. This could be used as a tool for addiction counselors to keep their patients from purchasing recreational marijuana. As a result of my request, House Bill 3083 was introduced on February 19, 2021 by Rep. Didech.
Q: What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?
A: The time has come to discuss term limits for local elected officials. There's been discussion on the state and federal levels of creating term limits for elected officials. As noted by the National League of Cities, there are two views on term limits. One view is that limits reduce potential abuses of incumbents who stay too long in office and that limits encourage political participation by newcomers. The other view is that the election process serves as the answer for officials who are no longer responsive to citizens. It's also argued that term limits infringe on the democratic process because voters can't elect the candidate that they feel is the most qualified. The Buffalo Grove Village Board held a discussion on term limits a few years ago. The consensus opinion was that the voters set their own limits by voting out people who have overstayed their welcome. However, the question is still occasionally raised by residents. The board of trustees cannot settle this question. This question can only by settled by a binding referendum. I support holding hearings to determine the support of placing the question to a vote and to determine what, if any, the limits should be.