Homer Township Supervisor Steve Balich said Monday a decision to pay friend and Homer Glen Trustee Jennifer Consolino for grant-writing services is not a political favor because he will open the same opportunity to anyone who is interested.
The Homer Township Board approved paying Consolino a stipend of up to 1% of the total grant funds that are approved. The board struck the word “hiring” from its motion since she will volunteer her services and only receive payment if the township is awarded any grants.
Some residents took to social media to say that compensating a political ally who works for the village appears to be a conflict of interest.
Balich said he wanted to be transparent and put forth Consolino’s name before she began to write grants applications to avoid the appearance of impropriety.
“Everybody should know,” Balich said. “This is transparent. That is a friend of mine. And if someone is my enemy, they can (write grant applications) too. I don’t care.”
Balich said he would open the program to anyone who wanted to find the township money, even if they didn’t live in the township. The board plans to vote next month on the proposal to open up a grant-writing opportunity to anyone who is interested, Balich said.
“We’ll let you go look for grants, but if there’s any fees, you got to pay your own fees,” Balich said. “You got to pay for your own gas, your own mileage. The township is out nothing. All we can do is gain. We cannot lose on this.”
Grant applications would have to be approved by the township board before they are submitted to ensure that they are for projects or initiatives they want.
Balich said he has several projects that he would like to pay for with grant funds, including repairs to the Old Town Hall, new roofs or other improvements to the senior housing complex or the purchase of tents to be used for community events and rented for block parties or birthday parties.
Trustee Mike Bonomo said the stipend is small compared to the hours of work that it takes to write a grant.
“She’s taking time away from her family, her work or any personal things for 1%,” he said.
Mask mandates
The board also recognized an 8-year-old student for bravery and courage for entering her school without a mask after a Sangamon County circuit judge issued a temporary restraining order Feb. 4 against the governor’s statewide mask mandate.
The board also voted 4-1, with Trustee Angela Adolf dissenting, to write a letter to the Illinois Senate and House of Representatives objecting to any proposed legislation for forced vaccinations and quarantines.
The board also removed an agenda item that would have sent a letter to Lockport Township High School District 205 over its decision to mandate masks during the week after the judge’s Feb. 4 ruling. The district went mask-optional Monday.
Some township residents both at the board meeting and online expressed frustration the township was entering into controversial and divisive topics.
Residents said they would like to see the board place community above politics and not be divisive.
Sheri Boniecki-Cooling said she is concerned agendas are written without the entirety of the township’s residents in mind, but rather for like-minded people. She is also chair of the township Democratic organization.
Missy Chandarana said township government performs three functions, which are to provide a general assistance program, maintain township highways and bridges and appraise property values.
“Nowhere on there does it say you should send a letter on behalf of the township to other agencies,” said Chandarana. “What you are doing here is not less government. It is stepping into other people’s business and that’s not what you were elected to do.”
Adolf said she was concerned about the township board stepping out of its lane.
“I think that we wouldn’t appreciate the school board coming here and telling us anything. I wouldn’t want to go to someone else’s meeting and think that I had a voice that means something because of the title in which I was voted and elected for,” Adolf said.
“I feel like I want to stay in my lane. If government keeps overreaching and we speak for everyone, that is a danger to our democracy as far as I’m concerned. We shouldn’t be trying to govern other places. It distracts on what we are supposed to be doing here.”
Adolf also encouraged the board to not send a letter to District 205 regarding its mask policies and said the board should not make decisions based on rumor and public opinion. She said she felt the divisiveness is more than it needs to be.
“I think this is misguided and causes too much divide in a community that is already trying to heal,” she said.
Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
