Politics & Government
Village's Beautification Committee Likely to be Disbanded
Village Board expected to kill committee on Tuesday because of upcoming, extensive Main Street construction project.
The village's Beautification Committee - which has been responsible for planting and maintaining flowers along Main Street and hosting an annual picnic - is expected to be abolished at Tuesday's Village Board meeting.
The committee, which was established in 2005, is expected to be eliminated because of an extensive infrastructure and
After all, there's no sense planting flowers on a street that willbe torn up for an extensive period of time.
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“Beautification’s job is to beautify Main Street, but nothing can be done for the next couple of years so the (committee) is basically a defunct organization,” said Trustee Steve Berger. “In the next few years we’re not going to be spending any money on it because Main Street will be all torn apart and redone. We figured that now is a good time to eliminate the committee.”
At least one member of the panel said he's fine with abolishing the group.
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“I don’t have a problem with (the committee) being eliminated,” said Jim Hilins. “The committee decides which flower baskets go up every year, puts on a picnic and is also involved with park bench placements and things like that. The bulk of that should fall under (the) Parks and Recreation (Department).”
Hilins added that Village President Tony Lapcinski had been looking for the Beautification Committee to take on further responsibilities but the panel hasn't moved in that direction.
“It’s the look and feel of Sussex,” Hillins explained. “For example, is Sussex maintaining its Lannon stone feel throughout the village? What is it that makes us Sussex? Unfortunately, he wasn’t getting a lot of feedback from the committee.”
In a few years, a new, more proactive committee will likely be formed.
It will be dedicated to quality of life issues in the village, including beautification, the annual picnic and other aesthetic concerns such as walking paths and bike paths.
“All these things are designed to bring the community together and assist the citizens in the village,” said Berger. “The committee will be a sounding board for people that have issues.”
The Village Board will vote on an ordinance abolishing the committee at its meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at , N64W23760 Main St.
