Overview:
The Forest Preserve is paid for with your tax dollars and it belongs to you, the Citizens of DuPage County. It is the Board's job to manage all aspects of the Forest Preserve according to its Mission, with protection of its greatest asset - the Land - as its first priority.
It is time to give the Forest Preserve back to you, the Citizens of DuPage County.
Your tax dollars should not be wasted by your Forest Preserve Board members. Your concerns should be heard and concretely addressed by the Board. The most effective way to insure fiscal responsibility is for the Board to conduct all business in an open and honest manner. The community must be involved in the planning process from the beginning of all projects and expenditures. This is your Forest Preserve, paid for with your tax dollars. As Commissioner of District 6, I understand that the Board holds Forest Preserve Land in trust for you, the Citizens of DuPage County. I will work to preserve that trust!
Issue 1: Mission Based Management
The Forest Preserve must be managed according to its mission.
An organization's mission is the reason for its existence. Separate an organization from its mission and it will eventually fail. The current Forest Preserve Board has lost site of its mission to protect the environment for the good of the land and for the enjoyment of the public. The planned construction of a 28,000+ sq. ft. Fleet Building within 200 feet of McKee Marsh, transfer of land to the Village of Lisle without full awareness of the problems this transfer could cause, lack of community notice of the proposed Woodland Hawk Trail, and lack of communication about planned future CNG natural gas stations are just a few examples.
The future of the Forest Preserve District depends on a fresh mentality; one of balancing land acquisition, program development, and community involvement with stewardship of the land. This can only be done when the Board makes a full commitment to managing the organization according to its mission. As District 6 Commissioner, I will view all acquisition, programs and services of the Forest Preserve District through its mission. I will support only programs that are congruent with the District's mission and I will never forget that the District's first purpose is the protection of the environment.
Issue 2: Responsiveness
The Forest Preserve Board must make responding to Community concerns a first priority.
All community services, including the Forest Preserve District, should be responsive to the public. Great effort should be made to inform the public of all proposed projects. It is not enough to inform the community of plans once they are in motion. The Forest Preserve District has an obligation to the community to respond to emails and letters, to set aside time for discussion of presentations made to the Board (not just in public comment, but with two-way conversation in which the concerns of the community are given uninterrupted attention) and to post Board Meeting minutes in a timely manner.
The current Board has failed to involve the community in a meaningful way by not responding to emails when concerns are presented by citizens, by waiting as long as three months to post meeting minutes, and by failing to accurately report events in the record. As District 6 Commissioner, I will never forget that Forest Preserve Lands belong to the public. I will work to insure that the concerns of District 6 citizens are not only presented to the Board, but heard and addressed by the Board. I will actively support community involvement in all aspects of Forest Preserve Management.
Issue 3: Ethical interaction
All Forest Preserve Board plans, actions and contracts must meet standards for ethical, honest and accountable interaction.
The Forest Preserve District's mission indicates that the District exists for the combined purpose of preserving the environment and for the benefit of the public. The District is largely supported by property taxes and grant monies. These facts alone require that accountability to the public should be the Board's first priority. All activities of the Forest Preserve District must be conducted in full view of public, with due diligence in every aspect, and with serious attention to the concerns of the Community. The Open Meetings Act should be used as a standard for open and honest interaction with the public and not as a shield to avoid community involvement.
Many citizens have been left with the feeling that they are not being heard by the current Board. This is tragic because citizen concerns often focus on what is best for the environment and the citizens of DuPage County. I have taught ethics for over 20 years and I understand the difference between right and wrong. Consequently, I know that the only right position for a public organization is one of accountability to the citizens it serves. A commitment to transparent and accountable communication in every aspect of District management is the only way to create a mission-based organization.
As District 6 Commissioner, I will respond to constituent concerns with details and I will work to insure that their concerns are not only heard but resolved.
