Sunday, September 22, 2013

DuPage County Budget Hearings

DuPage County will hold two budget hearings over the next few weeks.  The first hearing will take place at the City of Warrenville on September 24, 2013 at 7:00 pm.  The second hearing will be held at the City of Elmhurst on October 1, 2013 at 7:00 pm.

You can find more information here .
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This Week's Meetings


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Thursday, September 19, 2013

Keeping Your Head Above Water- Lisle Flood Relief Fundraiser



Lisle Flood Relief Foundation is a 501C3 charity. 

The September 21st Music Fest is being held at Four Lakes on the ski hill, at 4:00 pm. There will be food and drinks available for purchase while fest goers listen to the diverse and amazing music of Azul and the rock beat by kids band Rebelmann, an up and coming rock band whose mentor is Bruck Kulick who played guitar for KISS for 12 years.

Spread the word! The goal is 600 tickets sold this year as a precursor to next year's music fest. If you can't attend you can make a tax deductible donation at: lislefloodrelieffoundation.org.

Tickets are $10 on line or $15 at the gate.

More info and tickets at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/462547


Four Lakes
Lisle, Illinois 60532
View Map · Get Directions
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Wednesday, September 18, 2013

TONIGHT - CITIZENSHIP 101





Do you know how our local taxes are spent, or how our local government officials make decisions?

How can you obtain information or express your concerns?

Learn more at the first in a series of programs sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Downers Grove/Woodridge/Lisle:


CITIZENSHIP 101: PARTICIPATION IN DEMOCRACY

WHEN: Wednesday, September 18, 2013 TIME: 7:00 PM

WHERE: Downers Grove Fire Administration Building 55th Street and Main Street
Downers Grove (Parking available off 55th street)

SPEAKERS: 
Jack Knight, Freedom of Information Act Director - Wooodridge
Maryam Judar, Executive Director of Citizen Advocacy Center
Liz Chaplin, DuPage County Board Member and League Member 
Karol Sole, Community Leader and League Member 
Peggy Healy, League Co-President & Observer Corps Coordinator

The League of Women Voters welcomes everyone to this public information meeting. For additional information, see the local League website, www.dgwl.il.lwvnet.org, or contact Hilary Denk at 630-724-9528.

Future Citizenship 101 Programs:

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization, dedicated to making democracy work through voter education, issue advocacy, and citizen participation.

SPEAKERS
Thursday, Oct 24, 2013 7:00 PM at the Downers Grove Fire Administration Building
How Libraries Work
Library Administrators from Downers Grove, Woodridge, and Lisle
November 2013 date TBD 7:00 PM at the Downers Grove Fire Administration Building
How School Districts Work
Superintendents from Districts 58, 68, and 99

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DuPage Convalescent - Fall Festival


46th Annual Fall Festival

Saturday, September 21, 201310:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
/uploadedImages/DupageCo/Departments/Convalescent_Center/New ScarecrowSimpleWhite 2011 Website Small Compressed.jpg 
  • Resident Craft Sale
  • Kids Games & Prizes
  • Huge Garage Sale
  • New and Used Books
  • Spectacular Raffle
  • Bake Sale
  • Craft and Flea Market Vendors
  • Car Show
  • Scarecrow Patch & Mum Sale
  • Food & Entertainment

 How you can help!!!!

Need additional information?  Send us an e-mail!   
Proceeds benefit the DuPage Convalescent Center Foundation and the DuPage Convalescent Center Recreation Fund, which provide quality of life programs and services for the residents of the Center!

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Monday, September 16, 2013

Metra News



The Daily Herald Editorial Board writes about the Metra appointment process.  Please be sure to read the entire piece.  The Editorial Board points out  "refreshing change comes from Cook County".

You can read the entire Editorial below:

Editorial: Glimmers of light for Metra


The Daily Herald reports on Metra interim director Don Oreseno.  Oreseno is a third- generation railroader.  He was interviewed about running an ethical agency plus: Train delays, service expansion, fair increases and customer service.

The interview also goes into how he will deal with politicians who ask him to hire a particular person.

His answers are refreshing, you can read the full story below:

Metra interim CEO seeks patience, trust
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Sunday, September 15, 2013

This Week's Meetings






For all meetings please click here.


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Saturday, September 14, 2013

CITIZENSHIP 101: PARTICIPATION IN DEMOCRACY




Do you know how our local taxes are spent, or how our local government officials make decisions?

How can you obtain information or express your concerns?

Learn more at the first in a series of programs sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Downers Grove/Woodridge/Lisle:


CITIZENSHIP 101: PARTICIPATION IN DEMOCRACY

WHEN: Wednesday, September 18, 2013 TIME: 7:00 PM

WHERE: Downers Grove Fire Administration Building 55th Street and Main Street
Downers Grove (Parking available off 55th street)

SPEAKERS: 
Jack Knight, Freedom of Information Act Director - Wooodridge
Maryam Judar, Executive Director of Citizen Advocacy Center
Liz Chaplin, DuPage County Board Member and League Member 
Karol Sole, Community Leader and League Member 
Peggy Healy, League Co-President & Observer Corps Coordinator

The League of Women Voters welcomes everyone to this public information meeting. For additional information, see the local League website, www.dgwl.il.lwvnet.org, or contact Hilary Denk at 630-724-9528.

Future Citizenship 101 Programs:

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization, dedicated to making democracy work through voter education, issue advocacy, and citizen participation.

SPEAKERS
Thursday, Oct 24, 2013 7:00 PM at the Downers Grove Fire Administration Building
How Libraries Work
Library Administrators from Downers Grove, Woodridge, and Lisle
November 2013 date TBD 7:00 PM at the Downers Grove Fire Administration Building
How School Districts Work
Superintendents from Districts 58, 68, and 99


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Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Talk About Frustrated



In response to DuPage County Board Chairman, Dan Cronin claims that I have been neglectful in my duties as Public Transit Chairman. The facts are  in the month of July all meetings held after July 9, 2013 were cancelled, we took a three week haitus. The board did not meet again until August.  

 I did hold a June meeting and I did schedule the September meeting just this Monday, the day before our board meeting.

 I did cancel the August meeting.  Communications between myself and the Public Transit staff determined that at the time there was no need to meet.  In fact, any meeting that has been cancelled was based on communications between myself and the Public Transit staff. 

 The Chairman of the Public Transit Committee has no appointment powers.  The Chairman of DuPage County does.

On August 16, 2013 I was told that "the Chairman had attended the Metra Board meeting to speak in public comment.  His intent was to represent DuPage County because we were currently unrepresented on that board." I was not invited to attend this meeting with the Chairman. I was also told "the Chairman was vetting candidates for Metra and they would have a nominee before me soon."  That never happened.  The Chairman never included me in the process.  I was never invited or asked my opinion on any matters related to Metra.  

Even though most board members took the month of July off, I was in attendance at the Tuesday July 27, 2013  DuPage Mayor and Managers Transportation Policy Committee and Transit Plan Implementation Team meeting.  Although not a member of this committee I do attend when my schedule permits.  Being a new board member I believe that it is important to attend these meetings to get a better understanding of public transit.

On June 18, 2013 I attended the  RTA Strategic Plan open house.  I believe that myself and Dan Thomas were the only representation from DuPage County.
  
Before today I was unaware of  DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin concerns with Metra or my leadership on the Public Transit Committee.

 People can criticize me for many things, but I believe questioning my work ethic and working on behalf of the citizens of DuPage County is going to be a hard sell.  

 You can find read more about the board meeting here and here.

To find out what I have been working on in the Public Transit committee you can read from June 20, 2013 blog post:


Public Transit and Liquor Commission News

As Chairman of the Public Transit Committee,  easing traffic congestion in DuPage is a priority.  One way to ease traffic would be to increase PACE Bus usage.  Below is a link to the story in the DailyHerald.









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Sunday, September 8, 2013

DuPage Metra Appointee - No Application Necessary




"We at DuPage County believe that sunshine is fundamental to government operations, and for that reason we have created the  ACT Transparency Portal . "
"As we intensify our efforts to transform local government under the DuPage ACT Initiative, I invite you to submit an application to be part of the Citizens Service Team. To open the application for appointment simply click "Nominate yourself for a board/commission" on the top right side of this page under Citizens Service Team."


The Chicago Tribune Reports:


In DuPage County, Chairman Dan Cronin on Friday nominated former County Board member John Zediker of Naperville, a prominent land developer with a background in urban planning.
Although Cronin's spokeswoman said 30 people applied to replace Metra board member Paul Darley, Zediker said Cronin's office approached him about the position. "They asked me, would I be interested? I said sure," he said.
At least three DuPage residents who applied for the post expressed displeasure with the selection process. None were interviewed, they said, adding they either didn't hear back from Cronin's office or got a response after the chairman already had made his decision.
Cronin did not respond to Tribune calls, but his spokeswoman defended the process, saying all the applicants would get responses after Zediker's expected confirmation by the County Board on Tuesday.
While the nomination was praised by some Republican board members, including Transportation Committee Chairman Donald Puchalski, two Democrats said they thought the selection process was not open.


 You can read the full story  here.

 You can find more information here, here and here.
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