Mark Anglewicz: City Council Has Been Indecisive in Attacking Flooding; 4th Ward Aldermen Not Responsive Enough to Residents

• 4th Ward candidate: Mark Anglewicz
• Web site: www.MarkAnglewicz.com
• E-mail:  markforelmhurst@gmail.com                 
• Family: married to Antonette “Rosie” Anglewicz, expecting our first child in August
• Education:  master's degree, public administration, University of Illinois at Chicago; bachelor of arts, urban studies, Cleveland State University
• Occupation:  Co-owner/major accounts manager at YES Equipment & Services, LLC
• Previous elected office: None
• Applicable experience:  I believe I offer the position a well-rounded mix of experience and education, which will benefit the residents of my ward.  I have expereinece in municipal government with the City of Cleveland.  In that position, I operated as a project director for the Department of Economic Development.  I believe I can apply that experience to help attract new business to Elmhurst.  Additionally, my education is local government based.  I have a master of public administration degree and a bachelor of arts degree, both of which pertained directly to the managing and operating of city government.  Finally, I have business management expereinece as a co-owner of YES Equipment & Services in Itasca.  In that role, I develop budgets, manage staff and directly work and negotiate with business stakeholders.

What is the primary reason you are running for this office?

I am running to be the next Ward 4 alderman because I want to serve the public and see public service not as a hobby, but a vocation.  The residents of Ward 4 want an alderman serious about being alderman; an alderman who will take a proactive approach to communicating with residents and respond to phone calls, e-mails and letters; an alderman who will consciously listen to residents' ideas or concerns; and an alderman who respectfully and ethically executes the responsibility of the position.  As alderman of Ward 4, I will serve the public in that manner.

What will be your priority if elected?

My No. 1 priority will be to deal with the city’s budgetary problems by working with the mayor, other members of City Council and city staff to get Elmhurst’s finances back in the black.  I will use my public finance and economic development background to bring new experience and ideas to City Council, and work to strengthen the city’s economic base. As a business owner, and former economic development project director, I understand what attributes businesses look for in a city, and I believe Elmhurst has those attributes. As alderman, I will push for greater promotion of those attributes.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

I believe what sets me apart from my opponents is my level of experience.  I hold a master of public administration degree, the preferred degree for city managers and high-level municipal managers.  I understand the many nuances of local governing, including public finance and budgeting.  As a former project director for the city of Cleveland’s Department of Economic Development, I offer real-world experienced in public policy making and working to retain and attract business.  Additionally, I believe I offer the appropriate temperament and ability to work with others, whether through taking the lead on an issue or providing assistance to other council member’s initiatives.

How long have you lived in Elmhurst?

Five years

What's your favorite thing about Elmhurst?

My favorite thing about Elmhurst is its quaint, community feel —from the flashing lights of York Theater to the eclectic selections of restaurants and boutiques, and the mix of beautiful vintage and new homes.  There is no other community I would choose to live in, and when I meet people new to the area and looking for a home, I tell them you have to put Elmhurst on the top of your list.

What is the biggest problem in Elmhurst?

The recurrence of flooding in Elmhurst is among the most severe problems the city is facing, putting a financial and emotional strain on many residents.  The City Council recently signed into contract and agreed to pay more than $840,000 for a storm sewer and waste water remediation study, with the actual remediation cost to be much higher.  Although an expensive and frustrating situation, I support investment in flood remediation.  I, as do many in Ward 4, believe City Council has taken too long and been too indecisive in attending to this problem.  When decisions are attained, they are done so through the recommendation of a resident task force.  I don’t agree with this approach.

Are there any challenges or problems in your ward? If so, what needs to be done?

Ward 4, like other wards in Elmhurst, is challenged with the recurrence flooding and electrical power outages.  Although discussion has been underway for nearly a year regarding flood remediation, little to no physical work has been accomplished.  Additionally, power outages lasting several hours have become an annual occurrence in Ward 4.  Residents have expressed to me frustration and disdain on the part of our current City Council’s handling of these issues.  Their phone calls and e-mails to my opponent go unanswered.  As alderman, Ward 4 residents can expect a timely response to their concerns and can be confident that I will do all that I can to resolve our ward's most pressing issues.

With the retirement of Tom Borchert, what do you think are the most important attributes for a new city manager?

I think important attributes for Elmhurst’s new city manager should include a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of local government.  The city manager must have proven experience in not only creating a well laid out, balanced budget in accordance to GFOA standards, but also exhibit the skill and innovation to keep Elmhurst on budget, even when times get tough.  I believe the next city manager must be able to manage, motivate and lead city employees effectively and efficiently.  I believe City Manager Tom Borchert has done a tremendous job for the city of Elmhurst, and I sincerely thank him for his many years of service.

Do you think the city is spending taxpayer money in the most efficient and effective way? What, if anything, would you change with regard to budgeting and spending?

Without having first-hand knowledge of all the practices in City Hall, it is difficult to ascertain whether Elmhurst city government is working as efficiently as possible.  What I do know is fiscal year 2010 expenditures are nearly 25 percent higher than they were in FY2006, while revenues increased only 5 percent during that same period. And, the city’s combined fund balance has been depleted to its lowest point in years.  Certainly the economy is partially to blame for this discrepancy, but I also believe insufficient long-term planning is also a factor.  I believe in conservative spending practices, long-term financial planning and operating by the concept of, “if you run the government like its losing money, it never will.” 

We’ve heard residents of all ages, but especially seniors, say that it’s getting too expensive to live in Elmhurst. What can be done to make Elmhurst more affordable for all residents? Do you think the city will need to raise taxes again in the near future?

With the recent property tax increases in 2009 and 2010, I understand where people are coming from when they say living in Elmhurst is too expensive.  The fact is, whether a senior living on a fixed income or a two-income family with kids and a mortgage, the rising cost of living has become overwhelming.  I do not want to see property taxes go up again, and I believe with smart decisions and an improved effort to grow and diversify Elmhurst’s economic base and sales tax revenue stream, the city can avoid future property tax increases and reduce the financial burden on residents.  As alderman, I will use my background in economic development to help attract new business into the city.

Do you agree with other aldermen who are proposing several new TIF districts in town? Why or why not?

I agree with adding additional TIF districts, provided that the revenues generated as a result of the TIF are used for economic development projects capable of meeting a return on investment for the city.  I am not a proponent of transferring TIF funds to other areas of the city which are deficient in revenue.  Tax increment financing is a tool for economic development, and I believe that is all it should be used for.

What is working and not working in terms of economic development in Elmhurst? What, specifically, would you do to encourage businesses to come here?

The central business district is very attractive and has a fairly low vacancy rate, however it has a noticeable turnover of certain properties.  One complaint I have heard from a business in that area is that too much duplication of similar of businesses, such as coffee shops, has effected their growth.  I believe the city should be selective in granting business licenses and support its existing businesses.  Additionally, Elmhurst needs to be more aggressive in attracting larger, “big ticket” companies into the city.  I believe Elmhurst has a lot to offer.  As a business owner myself, the proximity to major highways, airports and the city of Chicago cannot be beat.  Additionally, with lower sales tax rates than Cook County, Elmhurst has potential for growth.

Spring rains are right around the corner, and a flooding mitigation plan could take years to implement. In the short term, do you think the city is doing everything it can to assists residents who experienced the bulk of the flooding problems last year? Will you be nervous when the rains start?

Certainly, developing a comprehensive flood mitigation plan cannot and should not be done over night; however it has been eight months since last summer’s heavy rains and little in the way of progress has been made.  Only very recently did the city sign into contract with the two flood remediation firms, and testing is only now beginning, with no clear timetable for physical work to start.  Ward 4 residents want decisive decision making from their representatives.  I believe city officials rely too heavily on “community task forces” to do what I believe is the alderman’s job of determining need and feasibility of a project. With spring rains coming, I had hoped they would be farther along in the process.

Nearly a dozen water mains broke within a one-week period this winter and, separately, failing infrastructure is listed as one of the reasons for flooding in Elmhurst. What needs to be done with infrastructure and how is the city going to pay for it?

With failing water mains and infrastructure beyond its recommended life cycle, the city needs to make the repairs.  However, determining which projects are essential and in need of complete replacement, and which can be patched and temporarily repaired should be assessed.  Additionally, creating a comprehensive capital improvement program, which details not just the projects in need of completion but designated life cycles, explanation of funding sources and a ranking of importance will reduce future failures.  To pay for large capital improvement projects, selling general obligation bonds will likely be the best choice, as they are the most common source of large, non-revenue generating, capital project financing.

Do you think city officials and aldermen have a good relationship with citizens of Elmhurst with regard to trust and transparency? Is there anything you would do to improve that?

I cannot speak for all wards, but in Ward 4 I know of examples of unanswered phone calls and e-mails, and an overall lack of communication from aldermen and city officials.  In an extreme example occurring last year, a city councilman from the 4th Ward dismissed a dissenting resident from a public committee meeting, which received national media coverage.  Such behavior is unprofessional and unacceptable.  As alderman of Ward 4, I will encourage residents to contact me with questions, concerns or ideas.  My role as alderman will be to represent the interests of Ward 4 residents without prejudice.  I will make myself available and keep residents informed.