City Council outnumbered by St. James parishioners

By Libby Parker, reporter

Following is taken from Belvidere Daily Republican-on-line version:  http://www.belvideredailyrepublican.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6949:city-council-outnumbered-by-st-james-parishioners&catid=106:belvidere&Itemid=508

 

The Belvidere City Council Chambers on Whitney Boulevard were packed with St. James Catholic Church members, surrounding neighbors, and interested parties for the Sept. 6 meeting at 7:00 p.m.

Lining the walls and flowing out into the hall, attendees were polite and quiet, listening to the opening business of the council, waiting for their main reason for being present. On the evening’s agenda, under “Unfinished Business”, two city ordinances that had been tabled at the Aug. 1 meeting were brought out for a vote. Ord 119H would allow the church to become compliant with its location. In other words, if the request was granted, the neighborhood containing the facility would be designated Institutional rather than its current status as Family Residential.

Ord 120H would grant a Planned Development and Special Use permit for Indoor Institutional within the new Institutional District. This would allow for the building of the new church to proceed.

The crowd was respectful and quiet while the first business of the evening was conducted. Then, when the ordinances were brought up, Alderman Dan Snow stood up and left the room saying he was recusing himself from the proceedings. Council members seemed a bit confused, so Alderman Sanders mentioned that Snow had participated in the St. James meeting held on Aug. 23. A discussion ensued regarding conflict of interest and recusal. Mayor Brereton said, in a good-natured aside, that he had encouraged the aldermen not to attend that meeting in that it was strictly church business and did not involve the city. “As is always the case,” he continued, “I can suggest (what to do) but not everyone does what I say to do.”

The verb “to recuse”, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is to remove (oneself) from participation to avoid a conflict of interest. Dan Snow felt he had to remove himself from the proceedings because he had participated on the panel at the St. James meeting. Michael Drella, the City Attorney, addressed the council on the issue of recusing and conflict of interest. Basically, he said, legislative members have the option to vote or not vote, and removing oneself from the proceedings is not necessary. The Mayor added, “To sum it up: I would encourage the council, we have a duty to show up and fulfill our contract.”

Alderman Mike Chamberlain had composed a letter that he read into the record. The basic point he made was that, although the many people in attendance had personal interests regarding the building of a new church, the council members’ sole duty regarding St. James was to vote on the ordinances. The Mayor followed Chamberlain’s letter by a request that the 20 or so people who had signed up to speak during the Public Comments time allotment please be concise and restrict their comments to the zoning issues.

His pleas were summarily ignored as attendees for and against the building of a new church on the current location used their time at the microphone as a bully pulpit. Theodore Roosevelt coined that term by which he meant a terrific platform from which to advocate an agenda. And advocate they did.

Matters as diverse as a Knights of Columbus breakfast and subsequent parking issues to the finances involved in committing to a new building were brought forth. Those who sought to sway the council spoke on the virtues of St. James remaining in the core of the city. Anthony DalPra, in an emotionally charged address, talked about “the spiritual aspirations of hope.” “The building isn’t what is important - it’s the people. It’s in the best interest of the community that we stay in town. This church belongs in the heart of the community.”

Bob Casey thinks that the new church, as planned, is too large for its surrounding neighborhood, and that parking will always be a problem. “Has anyone ever heard of ‘parking rage’?” he asked.

Neighborhood representative Jean Christensen talked of “canyon effects” which is a term that describes an urban environment similar to that of a natural canyon, causing the surrounding tall buildings and dense urban development to interfere with radio signals, heat indexes, and wind speed. She challenged the church to design a building that would keep children safe from ice and snow sheeting off the high-pitched roof.

Bill Pysson submitted packets to the council reiterating his findings on the shadow effects of a new building on three homes adjacent to the church.

Joe Tracy admonished the aldermen and women “to do what’s best for the city of Belvidere.” He described the interior updated sprinkler systems and other facets of the new construction that he said would make the new church safer for the downtown.

Father Geary, pastor at St. James, spent just a minute at the podium. “We followed the concerns of the parishioners and we have addressed them.” he said, thanking all of the people who came and urging the council to vote yes on the zoning changes.

Traditionally, the many Hispanic members of the church are loath to speak out on religious issues, but Carmen Ocon was a firm proponent of a new building. The last speaker of the evening, she began her remarks by saying in a matter-of-fact fashion that she was born in Mexico. She became an American citizen in the 1980s. She votes, she has done jury duty. She ended her brief but succinct comments by saying, “I have had to stand in the rain, outside when I couldn’t get in for the mass. We need a new church.”

An unfortunate incident involved one woman who felt compelled to verbally attack the members of the council and spew racist remarks before she was booed away from the microphone.

Mayor Brereton and the city council members listened patiently, commenting occasionally about sticking to the ordinances and the time limits for each speaker but recognizing the need for the emotionally charged crowd to have their say.

An hour and 45 minutes later, after much was said and done, the council then voted on the two ordinances. Ord 119H passed with only 1 no vote, and Ord 120H passed with 3 no votes.

The Mayor called for a break as the crowded room emptied out into the street – some celebrating and others gathering in groups to decide their next moves.