The task force to guide the development of a Galesburg community center is set.
Monday night Galesburg City Council approved a slate of 15 members to assess the community’s needs, identify resources and make a recommendation to Aldermen on a community center.
Ward 4 Council member Dwight White says he has “concerns” with some people that were appointed, specifically those that had “spoke against a community center”, not naming names.
Each Council member submitted two names and Mayor Peter Schwartzman advanced one.
The task force is comprised of 15 members:
- Mayoral Appointment – Darla Krejci
- Ward 1 – Anthony Law III and David Hix
- Ward 2 – Cassie Cirimotich and Connie Dennis
- Ward 3 – Steve Albert and John Polillo
- Ward 4 – Pastor Antonio Franklin Sr. and Del Tolliver
- Ward 5 – Maria Salsman and Ted Hoffman
- Ward 6 – Jaclyn Smith-Esters and Carl Dortch
- Ward 7 – Adam Sampson and Grael Mula
Prompted by a public comment White started to explain why he made his two selections, and Ward 7’s Steve Cheesman, Ward 5’s Heather Acerra and Ward 3’s Wayne Dennis followed suit.
Ward 7 Council member Cheesman says he’s confident a community center “will happen” and the task force will have recommendations “sooner than some people may think.”
The meetings of the community center task force will be open to the public.
Parks and Recreation Director Elizabeth Varner will soon be reaching out to the 15 members to arrange a meeting time.
Council member misses four meetings straight
Sixth Ward Council member Sarah Davis missed her fourth straight meeting Monday.
Davis was absent at the June 12 special meeting, the June 25 work session, the June 26 work session, the July 3 regular meeting, the July 12 work session and Monday’s regular meeting. She was in attendance at the June 19 regular meeting.
When contacted by WGIL about her absences, Davis said, “I’ve had personal medical and family reasons for not attending meetings.
“If the majority of council continues to schedule ad hoc meetings and work sessions at times which conflict with my schedule, I don’t expect to attend all of these extra meetings.”
Davis said she had to miss Monday’s meeting “due to a schedule conflict, but I don’t anticipate missing other regularly scheduled meetings.”
Because this is an elected position, there are no attendance requirements and no requirement to notify city officials of an absence.
