Just Another Day at the Office

Liz Chaplin Leave a Comment
 
The Board Rules clearly state that the Chairman place on the agenda items including items which have been requested by one-third (1/3) of the County Board.
 
On September 16th, I sent Chairman Cronin a request to have a resolution placing a binding referendum question, eliminating the Recorder’s Office and giving all responsibilities to the Clerk’s Office on the October 8th, County Board Agenda. On September 24th, I received a response from Chairman Cronin stating the following “Per County Board rules, this item will be placed on the County Board agenda on October 8.”
 
At the same time my resolution was sent to the State’s Attorney’s Office for review, Chairman Cronin sent a request to the State’s Attorney’s Office to create an amended-resolution with different wording.
 
The amended version was placed on the October 8th County Board Agenda. After much confusion and deliberation, it was decided the best course of action to take was to table my resolution until the November 12th meeting of the DuPage County Board.
 
The November 12th County Board Agenda had two resolutions regarding placing a binding referendum question eliminating the Recorder’s Office and giving all responsibilities to the Clerk’s Office. One submitted by Member Jim Healy and the other by me. Member Healy’s resolution called for a study, having the date of the merger pushed back to December of 2022 and place the question on the November 2020 General Election ballot.
 
My resolution did not include a study, called for a merger date of November 2020 and to place the question on the General Primary Election in March of 2019.
 
The Chairman sets the agenda. Member Healy’s resolution was placed before mine on the agenda. Had common courtesy been applied my resolution would have been placed first on the agenda.
 
Member Healy’s resolution passed 11-7. My resolution was next. There was,  a motion and a second on my resolution, Member Greg Hart then makes a motion to amend my resolution to mirror Member Healy’s resolution. I called it what it was, it was a joke, and asked for the item to be removed.
 
You see, the Chairman never wanted to bring my resolution forward. It all makes sense. The “mix-up” on October 8th and amending my resolution yesterday to mirror Member Healy’s was one of the lowest things I have ever witnessed on the board floor. I believe what’s going on here is pretty simple, it’s about controlling and punishing women who challenge the male-dominated board. Reward women who reinforce the status quo and punishes those who don’t.
 
Even though my resolution did not come up for a vote I am proud that I pushed the board into taking this action and I thank the members who supported me.
The Daily Herald reports on the story. 

The More The DuPage County Republican’s Delay The More You Pay

Liz Chaplin Leave a Comment

With the retirement of our current recorder, now is the time.

90 of the 102 counties have either never had a Recorder of Deeds or they have been eliminated the office.

In 2017 Winnegabo County had commissioned a comprehensive study regarding eliminating the recorder’s office. We don’t need to waste tax dollars to reinvent the wheel, the work has already been done.

The DuPage County Republicans would have you believe they need to spend your hard-earned tax dollars to simply eliminate one office. It’s not that difficult. We are not the first county to eliminate the office of the recorder.

Even with this year’s budget calling for an increase in the levy DuPage County does not have enough money to fully fund the Sheriff’s or the Clerk’s budgets. Every penny counts when you have no money. The elimination of the office of the recorder would save at least $200,000 a year.

A one year delay costs the taxpayers $200,000 a two-year delay costs taxpayers $400,000 a three-year delay costs you $600,000.

The longer the Republicans delay the more of you pay.

#BuildABetterDuPage
#TheLongerTheyDelayTheMoreYouPay

The Naperville Sun wrote a story about yesterday’s meeting you can read it here.

Let The Voters Decide the Fate Of the Recorder Of Deeds Office

Liz Chaplin Leave a Comment

Why not let voters of DuPage County decide if they want to eliminate the Recorder of Deeds Office and transfer the duties to the Clerk’s Office? Some Republicans are opposed to letting the voters decide. They want a “study” first.

The people of DuPage County should be allowed to vote on whether they want to keep an elected office that is not constitutionally mandated. An office that has been eliminated by 87% of Illinois counties including the Cook County, the largest county in the state.

Let the DuPage County voters have a say in their government. It’s what our democracy was founded on.

The Daily Herald, Robert Sanchez, reports the following here.

DuPage officials plan to study whether the recorder’s office should be merged with the county clerk’s office.

But one county board member says she already wants the consolidation idea taken to voters, with or without a study.

Elizabeth Chaplin is calling for a binding question about the proposed merger to appear on the March primary election ballot. The full board is expected to discuss Chaplin’s plan during its Oct. 8 meeting.

“If the voters want to keep the recorder’s office, great,” the Downers Grove Democrat said. “If they don’t want the recorder’s office, it should be eliminated. But we should let the people decide.”

You can read more here.

Let Voters Decide On Future Of The Recorder of Deeds Office

Liz Chaplin Leave a Comment

90 of the 102 counties in Illinois have merged the recorder of Deeds office with the county clerk’s office. Illinois largest county, Cook County, voted to eliminate the office in 2016.

Both clerk and recorder offices perform record-keeping functions, and the recorder’s office is not mandated by the state constitution.

If nothing else the county would save a salary upwards of $150,000 annually and benefits.

Please contact your DuPage County Board Member and let them know you want the following question on the March 2020 General Primary Ballot.

“Shall the Office of the DuPage County Recorder of Deeds be eliminated and all the duties and responsibilities of the Office of the DuPage County Recorder of Deeds be transferred to, and assumed by the Office of the DuPage County Clerk by December 2020.”

#BuildABetterDuPage

 

The Daily Herald reports the following:

A county board member wants to let voters decide this spring whether to eliminate the DuPage recorder’s office and merge its duties with the county clerk’s office.

Downers Grove Democrat Elizabeth Chaplin says she would like to see the question on the March primary election ballot so the consolidation could take effect in November 2020.

The time is right, she said, because longtime Recorder Fred Bucholz is planning to retire after four terms.

“It would be a perfect transition into the clerk’s office,” Chaplin said.

County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek oversaw one consolidation earlier this year when her office merged with the DuPage Election Commission.

You can read the full story here.

DuPage County Development Committee Will Hold Informal Discussions On The Sale of Recreational Marijuana

Liz Chaplin Leave a Comment

The DuPage County Development Committee will begin informal discussions on the sale of recreational marijuana at the August 6, 2019, Development Committee meeting. The meeting begins at 10:30 a.m. and will be held in the DuPage County Board Room to accommodate the public and Board Members.

As Vice-Chair of the Development Committee, I welcome and look forward to this discussion.

If you would like to make a public comment please plan to arrive a few minutes early to complete the necessary form.

You can find a copy of the Agenda here.

What Goes In the Recycle Bin

Liz Chaplin Leave a Comment

Recycling is something we should do every day but there’s a possibility that what you put in your recycling bin may not be recyclable.

The DuPage County Environmental Division has a helpful interactive page that breaks down what you can and can’t recycle.

You can find the page here.

 

MIND YOUR HEALTH FAIR

Liz Chaplin Leave a Comment

The event will be held on July 12th from 10 am to 2 pm at the DuPage County Fairgrounds.  There will be for providers of both mental health programs as well as physical health.  Attractions include a gym and exercise events for both kids and adults, face painting, Awakenings Art Studio and of course recycling.  Items accepted for reuse, recycling and safe disposal:

  • Books
  • Vinyl Records
  • Bread Tags
  • Brita and PUR brand water filters and pitchers
  • Latex Paint recycling: Fees charged $2/quart, $4/gal, $10/bucket
  • Household Syringes: collect your household-generated medical sharps (needles, syringes, lancets etc) in a thick plastic container with lid, such as a detergent bottle. Secure the lid with duct tape, label as “sharps” and bring to the event for safe disposal. Service provided by the DuPage County Sheriff.

 

 

Important Information for Veterans

Liz Chaplin Leave a Comment

On July 10th from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm the first-ever Veterans Resource Fair will take place in the auditorium at 421 N. County Farm Rd, Wheaton.

Please join the DuPage Democrats and 50 other organizations at the Veterans Resource Fair. All Veterans, Active Duty, National Guard, Reservists, family members and members of the public are welcome. No proof of Veteran status is required. Bagels and coffee will be provided.

For more information, contact the Veterans Assistance Commission of DuPage at, 630-407-5655.

Official Election Mailing from the DuPage County Clerk’s Office

Liz Chaplin Leave a Comment

You should have recently received an Official Election Mailing from the DuPage County Clerk’s Office. I have received several questions from my constituents as to why they received the card. Here’s the answer. The National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and the Illinois Election Code mandate that voter verification cards be mailed to all active voters every two years. Currently, we have nearly 650,000 active voters in the database. Our population is roughly 915,000. There has not been a complete voter verification as mandated in a number of years, as evidenced in the high number of registered voters. According to postage expenditures, a full mandatory voter verification may not have been done since 2008. We must keep the database current and clean as possible. Having an elected official that is passionate, knowledgeable and cares deeply about the job makes all the difference in the world. Kudos Jean Kaczmarek.

 

Job Well Done Madam Clerk

Liz Chaplin Leave a Comment

So proud of our newly elected DuPage County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek Jean Kaczmarek for DuPage County Clerk.

This is what leadership looks like.

DuPage County Republicans have had control of the Clerk’s Office for decades and what did they do? Unlike most other County Clerk’s they did not run elections. That freed up a lot of time. What was done with all that free time? Maybe spend some time preserving our historical documents? No, they did not take the time to preserve our historical documents leaving them vulnerable to the elements and natural decay.

Having one party in control for so long the DuPage Republicans have become complacent. They didn’t have to do anything, they were accountable to no one and they ran unopposed. Times have changed and we have a new Clerk in town and she is getting the job done. Having an elected official that is passionate and cares deeply about the job makes all the difference in the world. When this oversight was brought to the attention of our newly elected Clerk Jean Kaczmarek she took action to see that our historical records will be properly stored for generations to come.

The Daily Herald reports the following

DuPage Clerk Begins Preservation Effort to Save County’s Historical Documents

“Early in my term, it was brought to my attention by a local genealogical researcher that we needed to improve our vital record system and public access in DuPage County,” Clerk Jean Kaczmarek said. “It was then that I realized that in addition to issues with access, our historical vital records were not stored safely; a fire or tornado could wipe out original vital records dating back to 1839.” Jean Kaczmarek, DuPage County Clerk

You can read the full story here.