Story posted Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Another Downtown Business Closes Doors
Off The Record by TODD WESSELL | Thoughts and squawks about people, places and things in and around Des Plaines...
Another downtown Des Plaines restaurant has bitten the dust bringing the number to at least three that have closed in recent months. Taco Fiesta, the small Mexican-style eatery next to the Des Plaines Theater recently closed. Its large front windows are covered up and inside, all the equipment and tables have been removed.
A few months ago, Kaffecino, on Ellinwood Street near the Des Plaines Public Library, suddenly locked its doors. About a week ago, The Depot Restaurant next to Sims Bowl was scheduled to close...
Des Plaines Public Works crews Tuesday were busy installing the first of four new multi-modular newspaper vending machines in front of the Des Plaines Theater. Two more units will be installed downtown and one at the Cumberland train station. Most will replace a large number of individual, multi-colored news boxes near the downtown Metra train depot...
Aldermen Monday night engaged in an interesting discussion about the scope and intensity local citizens should be subjected to when volunteering to serve on city commissions. Most aldermen agreed that people willing to give of their time and expertise should not be subjected to what could be embarrassing questions in a public forum such as a city council meeting. However, there is agreement that if council members have questions about a potential appointment they should be free to ask. The question was when and where inquiries can and should be made.
The matter was triggered a few weeks ago by Ald. Rosemary Argus (8th), who felt the need to publicly raise questions about two individuals who had been nominated by Mayor Marty Moylan to serve on the city's Economic Development Commission (EDC). Argus, who heads the city's Community Development Committee that works directly with the EDC, raised questions about the planned appointment of one local businessman who has a close relationship with new 5th ward Ald. Jim Brookman. Argus asked her questions at Monday night's meeting. Her inquiries centered on Mr. Brookman's employment with the company owned by the nominee. Brookman told us after the meeting that he has worked for the firm for about a year providing marketing services.
After Argus asked her questions and answers were provided, she and the other aldermen approved the man's appointment. Brookman abstained from voting apparently because of a possible appearance of a conflict of interest.
So, the matter boils down to this: Should nominees to volunteer city commissions be subjected to scrutiny? The answer, everyone believes is "yes". Currently, that scrutiny is mainly the mayor's job. He's the one who recommends such appointments. However, aldermen can ask any question they want. Those inquiries usually are made in telephone calls to the mayor or nominee, not publicly. However, aldermen who must vote on all appointments cannot simply relinquish their duty and right to scrutinize when appropriate---even if it means it's done in a public setting. Sometimes doing so should be done openly for everyone to hear and ponder. While Mrs. Argus' insistence to ask questions might have caused a few to wrinkle their noses, the end result was that Ald. Brookman felt compelled to abstain from voting in order to wipe away any appearance of a conflict and maintain transparency in local government.
The system---while at times uncomfortable---worked.
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