The Village of Niles is making headway in filling seats on the Arts and Culture Advisory Council.
The ordinance the Village Board passed on Dec. 9 states the council is supposed to have 11 members. Five of them would be local artists. Six of them would be representatives of the Niles Public Library, Niles Park District, Niles Historical Society, Niles Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Niles Sister Cities, Culver Elementary School and Veterans of Foreign Wars’ Post 7712.
During the General Government/IT Committee’s Feb. 10 meeting, Village Clerk Marlene Victorine reported that some of organizations responded to the village inquiries offered to represent the library. Pioneer Park Manager Lindsay Brubaker offered to represent the Niles Park District, while Niles Public Library Interim Director Susan Lempke, Niles Historical Society board member Michael Crisci and Veterans of Foreign Wars’ Post 7712. Commander Jim Kozak offered to represent their respective organizations.
Victorine said that other organizations have yet to respond. But Committee Chair George Alpogianis, who currently serves as a president of Niles Sister Cities, said that the Sister Cities may soon get a new present – Niles resident Rosanna Wozniac. If she gets the position, she will represent the organization in the Art Council.
“She is a very strong woman,” said Alpogianas. “She’s got ties to Italy, and Italian businessmen. Legitimate ones. I’ve been serenading her for a while, and she’s given me very strong indication [that she’ll agree].”
Victorine also said that the village made some progress in recruiting artists to the board. Professional storyteller Debi Gajewski and painter Carol Luc said that they would be willing to join.
Alpogianis gave Gajewski a hearty endorsement.
“I know Debi very well,” he said. “I actually hired [her and her husband] at Kappy’s to do a storytelling event. They were wonderful.”
Under the language of the ordinance that created the Art Council, all of its members must be appointed by the mayor and approved by the Village Board. During the Dec. 9 meeting, Mayor Andrew Przybylo said that the organizations will be able to appoint their own members.
After the meeting, Victorine emphasized to the Niles Herald-Spectator that all of the appointments are provisional, and they won’t become official until the board signs off on them. She later clarified that it would, indeed, apply to members appointed by organizations.
“The community organizations will choose their representative, but they must still be officially appointed by the Mayor and Board,” said Victorine.
Igor Studenkov is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
