New City Council Members Take Oaths

The Monday night mood at Wheaton City Hall was light as two new members of the Wheaton City Council were sworn in, alongside a veteran mayor.

Mayor Michael Gresk and councilwomen Jeanne Ives and Evelyn Pacino Sanguinetti took their oaths of office and immediately set about working on city business.

Little was on the board’s agenda, but the newest members quickly got their feet wet casting votes on a raffle license application and a $48,000 bid award.

Gresk said he was excited to work with the new council members.

“They each possess a skill set that will be valuable to this board and to the people of Wheaton,” Gresk said.

Pacino Sanguinetti said she was a little nervous to cast her first vote, but once that vote was cast, she said she felt comfortable in her new role as a city councilwoman. Pacino Sanguinetti said over the next four years she wants to make sure there is a strong sense of communication between the public and the board. Upon adjournment of the board though, she added she will continue to make it a priority to address flooding in Wheaton, including the area around Hubble Middle School.

“They kind of eased us into our first meeting, but I know there will be some tough meetings ahead,” Ives said after the board adjourned.

Ives thanked the voters who elected her and pledged to continue to promote public transparency at the municipal level. Additionally she said she wanted to make sure the city remained on sound financial footing.

But, if Gov. Pat Quinn is serious, there are uncertain fiscal times facing the board. With the state facing debts of $4.5 billion to schools, social service providers and other similar organizations, Quinn is floating a plan to suspend paying local governments their share of the Local Government Distributive Fund. Local governments would begin to receive payments once the state is able to pay off its bills.

Gresk called the plan “deplorable.”

Gresk said village staff sent letters to their legislative representatives imploring them to fight Quinn’s proposal. One of those lawmakers is Sen. Ron Sandack, who until May 3 is also mayor of Downers Grove. Sandack decried the governor’s plan, saying Quinn is seeking to blackmail the municipalities. Gresk said he agrees with Sandack’s assessment.

“What the governor is proposing is just anathema to me. They’re trying to pass the buck onto the local governments and the taxpayers,” Gresk said. “I really believe the state and federal governments should follow the lead of the local governments and pass balanced budgets.”

If the governor’s proposal does happen, Gresk said he believes city leaders will be able to live off rainy day funds for a while and then make budget cuts if necessary.