Politics & Government

Darien May Disband 38-Year-Old Committee

A member objects to the move, while the city's website indicates the group last met more than two years ago.

The Darien City Council on Monday is set to decide whether to disband the Environmental Committee, which the city formed under a different name in 1987.
The Darien City Council on Monday is set to decide whether to disband the Environmental Committee, which the city formed under a different name in 1987. (David Giuliani/Patch)

DARIEN, IL – Darien aldermen on Monday plan to vote next week on disbanding a 38-year-old committee, despite the objections of at least one member.

Founded under a different name in 1987, the Environmental Committee is on the city's chopping block.

On Thursday, City Administrator Bryon Vana emailed members about the issue going before the City Council. He thanked members for their service.

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"The Committee has struggled with maintaining meaningful topics that result in recommendations to the city council," Vana said.

He said other local groups, such as the Darien Garden Club and Arbor Day volunteers, have been addressing environmental issues.

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Member Heather Conroy, who joined the committee a few years ago, opposed disbanding.

"(Officials) say they are all about the environment, yet they are disbanding the Environmental Committee," she said in an interview Thursday.

Among the committee's efforts, she said, is pushing the city to stop planting non-native trees.

According to Vana's memo to the council, the committee's initial focus was on recycling, which was a new issue for Illinois towns in the late 1980s.

Over the years, he said, the group spent time on issues such as litter, inoperable cars and selection of a city flower. Many of those topics are being handled by other city committees, he said.

Since 2000, Vana said, the committee has typically met once or twice per year, but held no meetings in 2024.

However, Conroy said the committee met in 2024, but not this year.

"We haven't been able to meet because of the city," she said.

The last committee agenda on the website was in September 2023.

Since 2017, the committee has usually met once or twice a year. It held four meetings in 2018.

In an interview, Vana said nothing is stopping the committee's members from taking part in other groups with similar missions. Many of the environmental issues coming before the city are technical in nature, he said.

"Environmental Committee members have historically had a hard time looking for things to talk about," Vana said. "Over time, there are a lot of residents who have picked up things that the Environmental Committee would do."

Conroy said she plans to speak about the issue at Monday's council meeting.

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