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Administrative Accomplishments
From the Office of Bellwood Mayor Frank A. Pasquale
 With the help of our department heads, the guidance of the Village Clerk, Board of Trustees, administrative staff, as well as the input of our residents, I have successfully established and implemented the following programs:
· Restructured police and fire departments to form a more cohesive unit of public safety services
· Developed and applied new tools to fight drug and gang activity
· Improvements on equipment purchases, including a new fire engine
· Commenced a clean-up and maintenance program for Addison Creek
· Equipped our code enforcement officers with the support needed to enforce village codes
· Initiated and executed a Business Visitation program in an effort to retain existing businesses
· Implemented an Associates Degree program at the Village Hall in collaboration with Benedictine University
· Expanded the 50/50 sidewalk replacement program, which encourages residents to repair damaged sidewalks and provides financial support from the Village
· Established new purchasing policy and procedures that have improved accountability of the spending of taxpayer's dollars
· The Zoning Board of Appeals and the Planning Commission have been separated, which will give each function the time needed to improve and accelerate development in Bellwood
· Installed bus shelters and benches for mass transit riders
· Instituted a computer training center
· Enhanced public information available to the community by installing a monitor in the lobby of the Village Hall, the use of channel 15, monthly publication of the Bellwood Community News, Bellwood Update, use of our website and Community Calendar
· Created job posting at the Village Hall for residents
· Developed a local adjudication program-hearings held at the Village Hall
· Updated the village ordinance book and its re-codification
· Formed an Annual Bellwood Family Day Picnic free to Bellwood residents
I now turn my focus to the revitalization, growth and development of the Village of Bellwood:
I am consulting with auditors, developers, planners, engineers, architects, and staff to prepare for more sustainable revitalization of our community. Even more importantly, I have heard the voices of our residents. The information that I have gathered led me to execute a long-term Capital Development Plan. It is my intention that the Capital Development Plan will be implemented in several phases. Financial constraints will make it necessary to spread the projects over a number of years. The plan includes the following projects:
· Replacement, maintenance and lighting program for the alleys throughout the Village at no extra cost to our residents.
· Resurfaced 25th Avenue through the Village of Bellwood
· Instituted an upgraded alley lighting program
· Rebuilding the infrastructure of the Village of Bellwood
· Maintain and replace, as needed, water and sewer systems
· Spearheaded a legislative initiative to reduce the Addison Creek flood plain and reduce the number of residents that pay flood plain insurance.
· Working to create a Community Rating System (CRS) for the community in an effort to reduce the cost of flood plain insurance for our residents
As part the long-term plan for the community, I have consulted with experts to create a comprehensive plan, which will serve as a strategic tool to guide the community development/redevelopment initiatives going forward. Although the plan provides a broad blueprint for the entire community, the following neighborhoods are specifically addressed:As part the long-term plan for the community, I have consulted with experts to create a comprehensive plan, which will serve as
o Redevelopment of 25th Avenue North and South (Transit Oriented Development/Retail)
o Mannheim
o Bellwood Avenue – South (Residential Development)
o St. Charles (Mixed-Use Development)
o Butterfield Road
o Streetscape Design Plan – to address various neighborhoods of the community
For more information, Bellwood residents and business owners can call the Mayor’s Office at (708) 547-3500.
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