Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: A Pension Balance Both Parties Can Agree Upon

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Letter to the Editor: A Pension Balance that Republicans and Democrats can agree upon. As noted in the suburban newspapers recently, Mayor Emanuel testified in front of the Pension Committee that he was requesting a 10 year moratorium on the 3 percent annual increase on teacher’s pensions paid for by the City of Chicago. It is obvious that since the Mayor is responsible for paying these pensions, he has sought financial advice and understands the consequences of yearly increases which over time become unsustainable. If coupled with reasonable age requirements for retirement, his suggestion would go a long way in saving the pension plans that are currently in place as well as for future pensioners. Instituting this moratorium and adjustment…

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Mayor, Council Sworn In During Special Meeting

George Pradel was sworn in for his fifth term as Naperville's mayor. While the Council swears in three of four members.

It’s official; Naperville has a new city council. George Pradel was sworn in for the fifth time as the city’s mayor. Grant Wehrli, Steve Chirico and Joe McElroy all took the oath for Naperville’s city council members. Wherli is serving his second term. Chirico and McElroy were sworn into their first term. The three councilmen took their oath on Wehrli’s great-grandfather’s bible from 1886. Councilmen Bob Fieseler, who was re-elected, was unable to attend the special meeting because he was visiting a sick family member. Fieseler will be sworn in for his second term before Tuesday’s council meeting. Bill Young, 67, of Naperville said he was happy to attend the inauguration ceremony. Young worked on Pradel’s re-election campaign. He also said…

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Three More Police Officers Get Their Jobs Back

The Naperville City Council gave the go-ahead Tuesday to rehire three more of the six officers who were laid off last year.

Three more officers will be making their way back to the Naperville Police Department, thanks to a 6-2 vote Tuesday evening by the city council. The trio brings the tally to four call-backs so far of the six officers who were laid off late last year. The first—and before Tuesday, the only—of the group who has returned to work was given the go-ahead Feb. 15. Councilman Richard Furstenau, who voted against calling back the first officer who was described as an “asset to the department,” also opposed Tuesday’s motion. Councilmen Grant Wehrli cast the second “no” vote. The layoffs were a cost-cutting move finalized at a Dec. 7, 2010, meeting. They included six of the department’s patrol division officers. A seventh vacant position was not …

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Incumbents and Newbies Split Four Seats on City Council

Voters elected Councilmen Grant Wehrli and Robert Fieseler Tuesday, as well as candidates Steve Chirico and Joe McElroy.

While one three-term councilman was ousted Tuesday, two incumbents and two newcomers split the race for Naperville City Council. Earning 4,596 votes in Will and DuPage counties, Councilman Dick Furstenau lost in the municipal election. Councilmen Grant Wehrli and Robert Fieseler secured two of the four, four-year seats and newbies Steve Chirico and Joe McElroy snagged the others. Wehrli led the group with 11,003 votes and Chirico, Fieseler and McElroy followed, in that order. The race between McElroy and Gustin was neck and neck throughout the evening, but he ultimately beat her with 5,607 votes to her 5,134. "It was a very tight race," Gustin said, graciously, during a 10:30 p.m. phone interview. "Joe had run two years ago when I ran, so …

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Signs of Honor for North Central College

Portion of Chicago Avenue will salute school during 150th anniversary celebration.

The North Central College community will soon have a long-lasting public display of pride. The Naperville City Council approved a $250 request earlier this week to designate a portion of Chicago Avenue—the drag between Washington and Julian streets—as North Central College Avenue. The commemorative parkway will be part of the school's 14-month long sesquicentennial celebration that begins in May. Activities to honor North Central's historical feats will end in June 2012 but include fine arts sessions, special performances, a documentary and more. The college relocated to Naperville in 1870, according to council documents. "Since then it has played an instrumental role in the growth and fabric of the community," documents said. "Its …

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