Dawn M Caldwell

The committee focused on planning the upcoming Bluebell Festival scheduled for May 2, 2026, at O'Hara Woods. Discussions included announcing the bluebell as the official village flower and deciding on commemorative items like keychains or garden flags. Activity planning involved coordinating a conservation ecologist-led hike through O'Hara Woods, a potential birding walk, and creating guides for identifying spring ephemerals, with a proposal to use QR codes instead of pamphlets to reduce waste. Logistics covered arranging food trucks and potentially a small tram service for seniors. Other event ideas included a 'History of O'Hara Woods' talk, a photo opportunity station, and various informational tables hosted by Village staff, the Nature Foundation, and local universities' conservation programs. The Romeoville High School Ecology club will host a presentation on compost, and the Art Club may host an interactive art table. Activities for children, such as a paint-your-own tote station and a coloring station, were proposed, alongside vendor outreach. The committee also confirmed plans for hosting Rain Barrel Pick-Up pre-orders at the Public Works Open House on May 16, 2026, and briefly discussed a future kayak/canoe event on the Des Plaines River.

The Conservation & Sustainability Committee discussed several initiatives, including the plan to head the Bluebell Festival in May 2026, which will feature a farmers' market, compost education, nature walks focusing on Bluebells, and a proposed scavenger hunt. The committee also addressed website updates, agreeing to add a gallery section and incorporate information regarding the Village's Water Conservation efforts, such as the switch to Lake Michigan water. Furthermore, the committee's new responsibilities as the Tree Board were reviewed, focusing on educating residents about tree maintenance and species. Public Works has cataloged all parkway trees to proactively manage diseases and replace invasive or high-risk trees through a six-year tree replacement program starting in designated neighborhoods.

The agenda for this regular meeting includes standard procedural items such as a call to order, roll call, and a public forum. Key discussion points involve correspondence items related to firefighter candidate Dominic Luciano's invoice, updates on the Sergeant promotional testing process and schedules, status updates on candidates Jacob Grabarek and Joey Rattin, receipt of lateral transfer registration forms, and correspondence regarding psychological testing fee increases and requests for officer documents. New business primarily consists of reviewing several registration forms and personnel matters in executive session, reviewing rules and regulations for potential amendment, and appointing a chairman and secretary.

The meeting included discussion regarding psychological evaluation invoices for police and firefighter candidates, written examination results for firefighter candidates, and a change of email address for a firefighter candidate. The commission discussed a memorandum authorizing the promotion of one Patrol Officer to fill a Sergeant position. The Firefighter salary was raised from $84,000 to $114,000 by the Village Board. The commission also discussed a new bill for backgrounds and scheduled dates and times for firefighter oral interviews. Patrolman Eric LeStronge was promoted to sergeant.

The meeting covered updates on correspondence related to sergeant promotional testing, entry-level firefighter written examinations, and congratulating a firefighter/paramedic on completing probation. Discussions also included fire battalion chief testing, psychological evaluations for firefighter and police candidates, and the posting of entry-level firefighter and lateral transfer police positions. The commission reviewed personnel in executive session, discussed candidates' medical reports, and confirmed the fire entry written test date. A firefighter candidate passed the psychological evaluation and will proceed to medical testing, while a police candidate also passed and will schedule medical testing. The new Battalion Chief list was posted.