Michael Manzo: 2023 candidate for Oak Brook Village Board

Bio

Town: Oak Brook

Age on Election Day: 56

Occupation: Self-employed/Family Business Cafe

Employer: Anna's Cafe Place

Previous offices held: Oak Brook Village Board since 2011

Q&A

Q: What is the most serious issue your community will face in the coming years and how should the village board respond to it?

A: Public Safety. In the last two years, Oak Brook has taken a much more proactive approach to law enforcement and invested heavily in technology.

Our new police chief and new village manager have increased number of police and worked hard to finally get the department fully staffed. We have also reinstated police programs such as police dog unit and our police task force but our biggest change is implementing modern technology into our PD.

We are probably the only village that expanded LPR cameras into our residential areas. We have added Fusus real-time camera center which allows real time feeds of our camera system. We have seen a reduction in year 2022 in home burglaries. Important note: These public safety investments could not have happen without getting our financial house in order first which we have done.

In fact, the new officers funded by the savings in our Sports Core operations. Now the village can continue to increase our investment into police department/public safety.

Q: How would you describe the state of your community's finances?

A: Oak Brook was not doing well financially, but we have turned it around with the election of new village board in 2021 and hiring of new village manager.

Our new village manager has done a great job improving our budgeting process and making sure that all village expenditures, agreements and projects are properly vetted. We have eliminated one-sided agreements that did not financially benefit our village.

We have also implemented zero-based budgeting and most importantly brought much needed accountability to our village spending and decision-making process.

We had a $380k turnaround in our Sports Core operations last year plus this year there will be another $200k savings with the elimination of B&T Banquets. We have implemented effective/efficient measures in other departments throughout the village.

Our cash reserves have increased dramatically since 2021 and it is forecast to increase even more in 2023 which is particularly important since the village of Oak Brook does not levy a property tax.

Q: What should be the three top priorities for spending in your community during the next four years?

A: Public Safety - to make sure we are doing everything we can to keep all our residents safe. That includes both our residential and commercial areas.

Finances - Our finance department is extremely important in Oak Brook because we cannot afford to overspend since we do not have a property tax levy as a safety net like other villages. We need to make sure our finance department is properly funded and has all the tools necessary to do the job. I do not support higher taxes or any new taxes but we should collect all the taxes that are due the village.

Technology - We need to invest in more technology to help our staff become more efficient, better communicate with our residents and help assist our police department.

Q: Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed? If so, what are they?

A: Yes. We need to continue to properly and thoroughly analyze village construction projects and agreements. The new village board and new village manager have done a very good job in this area. In my opinion, previously the village did not properly vet numerous projects and agreements. Even though we have improved in this area, there is still room for improvement.

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

A: The infrastructure in our business district is getting old and in need for repair or replacement. We now have a healthy infrastructure fund so we do not need to borrow/sell bonds to complete these projects. There are a number of these infrastructure upgrades that we should put on the back burner in areas that will be getting redeveloped soon.

For example, we had a water main replacement scheduled for the old McDonald's property on 22nd Street, but when Hines bought the land they paid for a new water main as part of their project at no cost to the village. So it would be wise to hold off on some projects in order to see what a future developer may propose.

Q: Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach agreement and manage local government? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your village board.

A: I have many years of experience working in group setting. I have served 12 years as an Oak Brook Village Trustee and I served 8 years previously as a school board member. I have also participated in numerous civic and youth organizations in Oak Brook and in the surrounding villages.

I am the type to make sure everyone's voice is heard and I promote honest and passionate debate. Whenever I am asked my opinion, I always include reasons for my opinion. I have truly enjoyed my time volunteering in my community and believe it is important to participate whenever you can. I believe group decisions make sense whenever possible.

Q: What makes you the best candidate for the job?

A: I believe my experience, tenacity and most importantly my track record/voting record regarding important village issues. For example, my experience told me that the Oakbrook Terrace red light camera on the corner of our mall (Route 83 and 22nd St.) was placed there through corruption.

The red light camera has adversely effected our mall and village. I am proud to have led the charge to help uncover the corruption. We did finally get the red light camera deactivated but it was recently activated again.

I believe we will be successful in getting that corrupt red light camera turned of for good this year.

I have also warned against developments being proposed without enough parking and placed to close to major road. In many of these cases, I was proven right. My greatest asset is my love for Oak Brook and my willingness to protect our village against any and all who may try to harm it.

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

A: There is not enough conversation about changing the way we spend our hotel tax. Those funds are restricted but we are permitted to spend on construction projects within the hotel district and marketing the hotels. We are also allowed to market our village as long as we also market our hotels and that should done in the future.