If they discussed the TIF in order to come up with the TIF brochure, they have violated the Open Meetings Act, a crime and a civil offense. All such discussion must take place in the presence of the public. What we should have been seeing and hearing is their first substantive discussion on the TIF, and they are not allowed to discuss it privately.
We will have a lot of reporting to do after the vote.
During the 4-14 meeting, I was told that a trustee said that Pine av should be kept in the TIF in order to provide infrastructure work there. Here is the document that teh Viallge Manager referred me to when I asked for more detail on it. It is the July 2006 Burke study.
I reexamined that document last night and find it a bit disturbing. The need for a new water main line is not disputed - at a cost of $96,000. The rest of the water main improvements are to make sure that the area is ready for redevelopment. If there isn't redevelopment then the extra work is not necessary, is it? So the real need is for the $96,000 improvements --- Not for the extra $300,000. Are the trustees crying wolf about the amount of work that really needs to be done?
And, not that $400,000 is a small amount, but it certainly doesn't seem the kind of money that you go to the voters for a referendum over - which is the tone of the village on this issue. ("The improvements need to be done, with a TIF we can pay for them, without a TIF the money has to come from somewhere else - why don't the people understand we are trying to save them?")
The People have spoken - loud and clear - DUMP THIS TIF IDEA AND STOP WASTING MONEY ON CONSULTANTS AND SUCKING UP TO DEVELOPERS!!!!
I have learned from the Village Manager that the only recording of that day's event (the 4-14 Village Board meeting in which the TIF was openly discussed for the first time...was done by the Village MAnager herself. I was told by an attendee of this meeting that she was also handling the maps when presenting to the Board.
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