Heilmann wants a happy hour

Online Poll Results: Should the Oak Lawn Village Board meet informally for roundtable discussions? Yes: 71.4% No: 28.6% This Web poll cannot be used as a scientific sample of public opinion.

By Bob Jaderberg

The mayor of Oak Lawn last week expressed to the Village Board members his desire for a kinder, gentler and more productive government this year.

Dave Heilmann floated his idea for monthly roundtable discussions at the board’s meeting Jan. 12, stating his hope that the informality of the proposed meetings, perhaps even over a sandwich, might foster positive, productive ideas.

“I know that people are really tired of hearing us go back and forth, and believe me, all of us on the board are too,” Heilmann told trustees.

“Any board members who wish to, anyone in the public who wishes to, can sit down and start talking about what our goals are for 2010; what we want to accomplish; what we want to do positively for the village of Oak Lawn.”

“I know we do want to govern, that’s everyone’s intent,” he continued. “I want to get to that. I think that we owe you that. I think that we owe you better than perhaps what we’re doing.”

Checking the politics at the door and focusing on specific goals for the community will be more positive and productive than what he called, “barking back and forth about whether there’s this much money, or that much money,” Heilmann said. Outside the boardroom is where some of the best ideas come up, he said, adding that his goal is to collect some of those ideas, then get them on the board’s agenda so trustees can discuss them formally.

Heilmann expects the meetings to last about an hour to an hour and a half, he said.

“It’s really an idea to promote a more positive approach to what I think people want from their government — they want to hear positive constructive ideas,” he said.

Trustee Tom Phelan, (District 6) has concerns about the concept of a Monday roundtable forum.

“Five or 5:30 p.m. might be a little early for those of us with full-time jobs,” he stated. “We have other committees that meet during the week.”

Phelan is unwilling at this point to commit to attending on an ongoing basis, and stated “the idea is really too vague at this point.”

Trustee Carol Quinlan (District 5) thinks the informal meetings are a great idea, she said.

“Any time you can sit residents down to talk and share ideas, it’s definitely a good thing,” she stated. “People are more comfortable talking in an informal setting, without cameras.”

The first meeting is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 3.

This is part of the January 21, 2010 online edition of The Reporter.

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