Downers Grove Council Debates Membership in DMMC

The Downers Grove Village Council's on-again-off-again membership in the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference is up in the air again as the Council is split over whether or not to authorize a nearly $37,000 membership fee at Tuesday's meeting, the Bugle reports.

According to the paper, the Village left the cooperative trade association in 2010, with the support of Mayor Martin Tully, only to rejoin in 2012; Tully, currently the vice president of the DMMC, says he has had a change of heart, but some members of the Council disagree.

“When we [the DMMC] go down to Springfield and we speak with the voice of a million people, it’s a little easier to compete with Chicago and some other places than if it was just Downers Grove,” the paper quoted Tully saying at last week's meeting. “That’s a pretty big megaphone to have. How do you put a price tag on that?”

However, according to the Bugle, other Board members disagree. “The cost of membership is significant, and I think that’s why we’re all grappling with this choice,” the paper quoted Board member Becky Rheintgen saying. “I’m really leaning towards not voting for this next week.”

The matter is on the voting agenda for Tuesday night's Council meeting.

Read the full story at the Bugle website.