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player ready...The winners of the Niles Board of Trustees election were sworn in during a special board meeting May 12.
During the previous meeting, trustees Rosemary Palicki and Chris Hanusiak, who lost the election, officially said their goodbyes as Mayor Andrew Przybylo presented them with plaques honoring them for their service. Their absence from the May 12 meeting left the spotlight on the election winners – incumbent trustee Joe LoVerde, former police chief Dean Strzelecki and Niles Ethics Board member Denise McCreery. The winners all are members of the Niles Forward Party.
After they were sworn in, the trustees said they would stay true to their campaign platform, encouraging business growth, advancing stormwater relief projects and improving communications between village agencies and residents.
Judge James Geocaris presided over the swearing-in ceremony. As Przybylo explained in the introductory remarks, Geocaris served as a village attorney when Niles earned the All-America City award in 1964. All trustee-elects brought their own Bibles for swearing in, and all of them were sworn in at the same time, with their spouses holding the Bibles.
After the ceremony was complete, the new trustees took their seats.
All trustees took the time to thank their spouses, families and Niles Forward Party campaign volunteers.
LoVerde said his major priorities would be continuing the village’s stormwater relief programs, including a cost-sharing program that allows home owners to finance smaller flood relief projects.
McCreery said she will be mindful of history as she makes decisions. She said she was looking forward to working with the other trustees for the betterment of Niles.
The former police chief said he would work to maintain strong lines of communication between the public and the Niles police and fire departments. He also emphasized that he was always ready to listen to the residents.
After the trustees gave their speeches, the board, village staff and the trustees’ families went to a small reception outside Village Hall.
Trustee George Alpogianis, who campaigned for the Niles Forward Party during the election season, said he was looking forward to the next four years. Alpogianis compared the Niles Forward Party candidates to a baseball team, saying that while the players must work as a team, it’s the talent of individual players that makes a difference. He also said he expects to see many great things from the board.
Igor Studenkov is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.