'Hilarious' Request From Elmhurst Aldermen: Ex-Official

Elmhurst IL

16 August, 2021

8:31 AM

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ELMHURST, IL — A former Elmhurst alderman called a request from three of his former colleagues for a committee to focus on the city's entryways "hilarious." In a Facebook post Saturday, former Ward 3 Alderman Michael Bram was referring to a proposal for a task force to focus on the beautification of Elmhurst's gateways. "This is a hilarious request," said Bram, whose term expired in May. "The reason is that I recommended and it was approved to be completed over 10 years ago for North York and Grand Avenue. (I was given mocked-up drawings for it.) It was then shelved, and when I questioned it, the argument was to have it completed when it became a TIF (tax increment financing district)." Bram said he and then-Ward 1 Alderwoman Paula Pezza recommended for the area to become a TIF, which was approved nearly a decade ago. The last few budget cycles, he said he questioned spending North York TIF money for street resurfacing when it could be used for safety and beautification improvements for North York Street and Grand Avenue. "Two of the three aldermen making this referral showed absolutely NO SUPPORT, but now they essentially take what I have fought for and they have fought against as a referral. Hilarious," said Bram, who finished second of three candidates in the April 6 mayoral election. The three aldermen making the request are Ward 2's Bob Dunn, Ward 3's Dannee Polomsky and Ward 4's Brian Cahill. Bram's Facebook post, which was in response to a Patch story, was likely targeted at Dunn and Polomsky, who have been on the City Council for years. Cahill was appointed a year ago. Patch left messages with Dunn and Polomsky on Saturday. In an email, Dunn said the request relates to sprucing up all of Elmhurst's entryways, but particularly at North Avenue and Interstate 290, where he said the city receives the most complaints. This includes the North York TIF. As of Monday morning, Polomsky did not respond to Patch's message. Under the aldermen's proposal, the committee would be called the Elmhurst Gateway Beautification Task Force. They said the properties in question are generally outside city limits and are operated by other towns and the state. "We would like to bring the condition of identified locations up to the level of the Elmhurst Brand, which would be a clean, well-kept, inclusive and attractive community," the aldermen said in a memo. They said the task force would identify sites and propose improvements. It would also secure money and prioritize projects, they said. On Monday, the City Council is expected to vote on sending the task force idea to a council committee. In November 2020, Bram most recently brought up his concern to the council about spending from the North York TIF account.