INSIDE
SPORTS Wolves are regional champions Page 11
NEWS Niles Police Commander retires early
Page 3
Our Village, Our News
www.nilesbugle.com
NOVEMBER 1, 2012
Vol. 57 No. 4
Reaching their limits Term limit issue could see April ballot By Alex V. Hernandez Staff Reporter
I
n a meeting that left some offended and others incensed,Niles Village Board members argued the merits of term limitations last week, and the discussion proved to be both personal and passionate. In a village that saw its former mayor, Nick Blasé, rack up more than 40 years at the helm, to be followed only by indictment and a year-long prison sentence for taking $420,000 in kickbacks during his tenure, some trustees were agreeable to a petitioned suggestion limiting local offices to 16 years as trustee and 12 for mayor. Others were anything but complacent. Both Mayor Robert Callero and Trustee Andrew Przybylo both said they had reservations about term limits. They said they were concerned term limits might
hinder an incumbent’s ability to accomplish things while in office, as the shorter terms may be over before a larger project gets off the ground. Przybylo said he thought that limits might cause “gifted incumbents” to be replaced with “mediocre people” with less experience and an inability to improve the community. Trustee Louella Preston agreed, saying experience and “institutional knowledge” were tantamount to serving on the Niles Board. But despite the agreement, she started another firestorm of debate upon adding that “unlike other board members” she does not benefit financially from her place on the board, since she doesn’t operate a business in town. The sole reason she has served has been to benefit the community, she said. Trustees Chris Hanusiak and
Przyblo, as well Callero said they were offended by her remarks and insinuation that they were only on the Board for the added publicity it brought their businesses. Hanusiak is a vice president at Royal Kitchen and Bathroom Cabinets, Przyblo is coowner of White Eagle Banquets and Callero is recently retired from a law partnership. Preston is a retired school teacher. “I always thought that my family and my father was in a partnership with Niles,” said Przybylo of the notion that he had financially benefitted unfairly by his position as a trustee. “I take offense to what you just said.” Interestingly, it was just such arguments that led Joe Makula, Niles resident and chair of the Citizens Subcommittee of the Niles Board of Ethics, to put together a petition asking fellow residents if they were in favor of term limits for elected officials.
More than 1,000 people signed the petition, but when Makula submitted it to the Niles Village clerk the petition was denied on the grounds that it didn’t meet the Election Code. Makula then tried to get the item placed on the Nov. election ballot, but the Niles Village clerk said it didn’t meet election code, and denied the request. Had it made the ballot and been approved, Przyblo, Preston and Callero would be ineligible to run in April. Undeterred, Makula returned to the streets to gather another 1,000 signatures for new petition asking for a question on term limits to be added to the April 2013 ballot. But as Niles officials addressed the popular election conundrum, most of the trustees agreed that a limit of three terms (four years per term) would make sense for village trustees and some
even supported two terms for the mayor. Trustee James Hynes wanted more clarification on the nuts and bolts of the term limits and how they are implemented, as he believed that the question should be put on the ballot, but that they should also have a clear plan of implementation ready if they pass. Trustee Hanusiak agreed with him. “I think people should have the opportunity to voice their opinion,” said Trustee Rosemary Palicki. All agreed these limits should not be retroactively enforced. All the trustees were in attendance except Joe LoVerde, who while being unable to attend had stated earlier in the week that that he was in favor of a 16-year limit for trustees and a 12-year limit attended the meeting for mayor. See TERM LIMIT, page 3