News Items

Comment on Emergency Medical Services		Comment on Affordable Housing
Primary Election Results		Press Release Announcing Candidacy
Village’s Code of Ethics Letter

Comment on Emergency Medical Services
Presented to the Village Council on March 6, 2007:

A couple of weeks ago, I came before you to seek the status of how Downers Grove plans to provide emergency services in the Station 2 coverage area at night, on weekends and holidays. Since then I have had additional conversations with your staff and have some comments.

As we all know, the primary function of any municipality is to preserve the safety and security of its citizens.

I have always felt that Downers Grove has done a very good job in this area. However, a recent decision by the Village has gotten me concerned.

It is my understanding that the Village of Downers Grove has decided to leave the center city section of the Village with reduced emergency services while the new station at 55th and Main Street is being rebuilt. On weekends, holidays and after 5 p.m. on weeknights, there will be no “local” ambulance service from 59th Street to Prairie Ave.  This area will be dependent upon service from the other three stations or other communities. Although there appears to be available indoor space at the old downtown works garage, no plans were established to house emergency equipment there or establish temporary firefighter “dorm” facilities.

Temporary trailers equipped as dormitories with full utilities can be leased for approximately $75,000. The use of these kinds of temporary facilities is not an extravagance. It is a very common practice throughout the Chicago area to lease these temporary units when new stations are being built. 

I was a principal with a start-up E-911 data base management business for a couple of years where I gained a deep respect for the fact that seconds count in trauma situations. According to the National Stroke Association, nerve damage starts to occur minutes after symptoms become apparent. The key element for minimizing the effects of a stroke and heart attacks is timely emergency medical service.

Let’s remember the center city area includes Whittier School, Saint Joseph School, all of the downtown businesses, the library, multiple condominiums, the new Acadia Place and two senior citizen’s residences.

It’s my belief that the Village Council should take a leadership role and rethink this decision and its potential impact upon our community.

I further believe the Village should host community forums for this area to discuss how coverage will be maintained.

It is in the best interests of the community for the Village to sustain the current level of safety for the center of town while the new fire station is being constructed.

Thank you for your interest and the courtesy of your time.


Primary Election Results
The following are the Primary Election results from Tuesday, February 27, 2007:

Candidate	Votes	Percent of Ballots Cast
Bruce Beckman	3713	17.10%
Geoff Neustadt	3361	15.48%
Stan Urban	3338	15.37%
Sean Patrick Durkin	3319	15.29%
Mark Thoman	2846	13.11%
Christopher Lavoie	2751	12.67%
Eliminated
Richard J. Rettberg	2263	10.42%

Bruce Beckman received the highest vote count and therefore will be listed first on the ballot on April 17.

Please remember that the top three candidates emerging from the April Election will be elected to a four year Village Council Term.


Village’s Code of Ethics
Letter to the Editor, Downers Grove Sun, January 25, 2007

Dear Editor:

A couple of weeks ago, Commissioner William Waldack of the Downers Grove Village Council introduced an amendment to an Ordinance whereby all of Officers of the Village would be precluded from gaining employment with the newly formed Economic Development Commission for a period of five years.

While I have no objection to a former employee (or officer) of the village being employed by the EDC, I do have a concern when insider information known only to a limited few can be used to preclude better qualified village employees or others from seeking that same position with the EDC.

Given the reaction from some members of the Village Council to Waldack’s proposal, it may be appropriate at this time for the Council to establish an ad-hoc citizen’s committee to craft a Code of Conduct (or Ethics) for the Council. Such a code is neither new nor unique to governing bodies.

Typically these codes address issues such as nepotism, contribution limitations and contribution source exclusions. There are those who will say that such a code is not necessary or valuable; that it would be redundant to existing laws and that it is not enforceable.

However, it has been my experience that the existence of this kind of code or policy forces a full and open discussion of events that might be in violation of any code in force.

I believe it is in the best interests of the community for a Commissioner Code of Ethics to be implemented now. As a candidate for Commissioner of the Village Council, I will work for a transparent government as well as a Code of Ethics.

Sincerely,
Bruce Beckman
4629 Middaugh Avenue
Downers Grove, Illinois 60515
630–852–8189


Affordable Housing Comment
Village Council Meeting, January 16, 2007

My name is Bruce Beckman and I live at 4629 Middaugh Ave.

I want to take this opportunity to say that I believe the village council has made the correct decision in establishing a segment of a regular council meeting for the presentation on Affordable (or Middle Class) Housing in Downers Grove and the Western Suburbs.

I also attended the December 1 meeting at Saint Joe’s. I believe this session can provide the basis for a frank discussion of this issue. One item that struck me is that on average, Downers Grove families live here for 21 years versus Naperville where the average was quoted as 8 years. To me that says that when folks move here, they stay here for the schools, parks and sense of community. We can not afford to break this cycle. This is part of our heritage, our character.

This is an issue that strikes close to home. My daughter lives in Lombard. Her husband is principle in a Small Business that cracked a Million dollars in sales last year yet the  target sized home in our town for them is also the kind of home that has been targeted by Developers and so she has been frozen out from her very own home town.

I would like to think that Downers Grove may eventually be able to take a leadership and creative role in assuring that the cycle of long term residence remains a part of our fabric. 

Thank you for your time.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 20, 2006

Bruce Beckman Puts Hat into Ring for Village Council
Bruce Beckman, a resident of Downers Grove for 32 years, announced his candidacy and filed his election papers for Village Commissioner.

Beckman, who served for 24 years on the Community High School District 99 Board of Education, said he would like to continue to forge relationships and balance interests of business and individuals to build a better Downers Grove.

“There are two distinct visions for the future and they are often competing interests,” said Beckman. “There is an emphasis on business development, on I-88, in downtown Downers Grove and in our neighborhoods,” he said. “There also are individual homeowner’s interests, and I would like to provide a better balance to the two,” he said.

Beckman has a long tenure of community service and leadership, including 24 years on the District 99 Board, four years as president, and his current service on the village’s Storm Water and Flood Plain Oversight Committee. As President of the District 99 Board, he was instrumental in leading the successful $49.5 million referendum to repair, renovate and add onto Downers Grove North and South High Schools. He was also awarded the State Board of Education’s “Those Who Excel” Award for his efforts.

Retirees, a nationwide advocacy group which supports benefit reform and health coverage maintenance. A former broadcast journalist and telecom executive, he currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Community Advisory Board for WTTW. He also is an Independent Telecom Consultant.

“This may be the most important election that Downers Grove has held in memory,” he said. “We cannot let this opportunity slip by to help build the Village to the next level of achievement.”

If elected, Beckman promises to balance the often competing interests of individual residents and businesses. He will also address the hiring of highly qualified people, fight for the Board to rightfully maintain the role of policymaker and help develop a consensus to take the village to its next level of achievement.

“It is my belief that the Village government is strongest when it is served by an effective, highly motivated staff that shares and understands the vision of the Village Council,” he said.

Beckman said his experiences and skills would provide the Council and community with a member who comes to the position with no vested interest or a self-serving political agenda, but a strong commitment to continue to build Downers Grove for a better tomorrow.

Beckman also said, “I believe my strongest attribute is understanding the dynamics of building relationships in the public arena,” he said.

He also noted that all seven village commissioners and mayor should have an equal vote and that one no one person on the Board should have a “super vote.”

“I have found that a genuine respect for the views and ideas of the citizenry and other Board members is a fundamental key to our society and that every person has a right to be heard; even when I do not agree,” he said.

Beckman has a grown daughter, two grandchildren and is married to Mickie. His wife is known to thousands in the community as Miss Mickie, a long-time member of the Downers Grove Public Library Junior Room.

Editor’s Note: Beckman can be reached at 630-852-8189. A photo will soon be available.