The Niles Village Board of Trustees bade farewell to two of its own – trustees Rosemary Palicki and Chris Hanusiak – during the board’s April 28 meeting.
During this year’s municipal election, the two trustees lost their seats to the Niles Forward Party’s Trustee Joe LoVerde, former police chief Dean Strzelecki and Niles Ethics Board member Denise McCreery. The winners will be sworn in during the May 12 meeting.
The board used the early portion of the meeting to thank the departing trustees for their service and recognize their accomplishments. Mayor Andrew Przybylo presented them both with plaques, and every board member gave personal tributes. The board took a recess to hold a brief farewell party, taking coffee and slices cake.
Since Przybylo was elected mayor in April 2014, Palicki and Hanusiak voted against his initiatives more often than other trustees. As previously reported by the Niles Herald-Spectator, they clashed on issues such as the Niles Inspector General appointment process, the fate of the Leaning Tower of Niles, tax incentives for certain businesses and the way the village handled the referendum that stripped Niles mayors of the power to fill trustee vacancies. The two didn’t always vote the same way – most notably, they were on the opposing sides over the original version of the Niles Tree Ordinance and the Sportman’s Club gun shop controversy. Palicki has repeatedly expressed concerns that the village was backsliding on improving transparency and accountability, while Hanusiak has consistently argued that the village wasn’t as fiscally responsible as it could be.
But all disagreements were put aside during the early portion of the April 28 meeting, as Przybylo read aloud the resolutions that listed both trustees’ accomplishments. After each resolution was read, trustees and the mayor took turns praising their departing colleagues.
“Those of you who are here or watch this at home and see what’s being done here – there’s 10 times as much the trustees are doing [outside the board meetings], and there’s probably 20 times as much Rosemary Palicki is doing,” Przybylo said. “She worked tirelessly.”
The mayor also celebrated her independence.
“She provided an independent point of view on the board – though we agreed more often than we disagreed,” he said.
During the election, Przybylo said that he never saw Palicki as a political enemy, and that he would be willing to work with her. He echoed that sentiment in his speech, saying that he expects to continue working with her – but he didn’t elaborate beyond that.
Trustee George Alpogianis trumpeted Palicki for the hard work and effort she put into researching issues. He said that he was also grateful for her help when he joined the board two years ago.
“Rosemary helped me a lot,’ he said. “It’s always nice to have someone you can lean on.”
Trustee Danette Matyas expressed admiration for Palicki’s graciousness and positivity, while trustee John Jekot said that her work to get the village a Tree City USA designation should be remembered for years to come. LoVerde referred to her as “a shining star on the board.”
Hanusiak also lauded Palicki for her hard work.
“[In] everything you do, I see that you’re dedicated,” he said. “I’ve been very privileged and very honored to be a member of the board with you. God bless you and your husband.”
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Przybylo praised Hanusiak for asking hard questions and always being prepared.
“Trustee Hanusiak, you served long and hard, and I, for one, am grateful,” he said. “I look forward to seeing you whenever our paths cross again.”
“I appreciate your time and dedication,” said Palicki. “You always had the best in interests at heart. I certainly hope it won’t be the last time we meet, either professionally or personally. You have so much to give.”
Alpogianis recalled that Hanusiak would often call him and try to get him to vote against certain proposals. He said that while he wasn’t always swayed, he respected Hanusiak for trying.
LoVerde said while he didn’t always agree with Hanusiak, he appreciated his colleague’s principles.
“I really respect your independence,” he said. “[I respect] that you voted for what you believe in. It’s what made you a true professional.”
Jekot wished him the best of luck.
“I want to thank you for putting up with me sitting next to you for the past two years,” he said. “I wish you and your family nothing but the best.”
In their farewell speeches, the departing trustees thanked their families, their fellow trustees and the village staff. Palicki thanked the members of the Niles Human Services Committee, which she chairs, all of whom were present at the meeting. She urged Niles residents to attend meetings, voice their opinions and question public officials.
“I strongly encourage you to keep the pressure on this board to be accountable, fiscally responsible and to openly discuss issues,” said Palicki. “If you hear that everyone on the board always agrees and never has a question or never raises opposition, start worrying and demand better of them.”
Hanusiak said that he looked forward to spending more time with his family, and that he didn’t see himself leaving politics altogether. He thanked Palicki and former trustee Louella Preston. Coming from a family that moved to United States from then-Communist Poland, he explained, he had always been interested in politics.
“If there’s never going to be anything [public officials] don’t disagree on, we wouldn’t need so many of them,” he said.
Igor Studenkov is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.