Report on Homelessness Finally Finds Its Way to Council

A 2008 report on homelessness finally found its way to the Village Council days after it was requested by Downers Grove Patch under the Freedom of Information Act.

Village Communications Director Doug Kozlowski told Patch it would be necessary to submit a FOIA for the report, which was submitted to the Village Manager's office by Human Services Commission liaison Andrew Matejcak on Nov. 6, 2008. The report was never presented to the Village Council.

At the March 1 Village Council meeting, Commissioner Bob Barnett asked that the report, which was distributed to council members on Feb. 25 as a result of the FOIA request, be forwarded to the Human Services Commission.

"It seemed as though maybe there was some confusion as to whether that work had been done or whether the report existed," he said. "I'm hoping we can give (HSC members) copies of that for their for next meeting."

Commissioner Marilyn Schnell asked if the report would eventually be formally presented to the Village Council.

"If there are policy issues raised, the council would certainly be made aware of and asked to weigh in on them," said Village Manager Dave Fieldman. "A review of report indicates no council level policy issues that came out of it."

Commissioner William Waldack requested that the report "does come to us rather than sitting there. We would love to see that, thanks."

The 2008 report describes the scope of "inappropriate behaviors," intervention efforts by the village and information  on police calls to Hummer Park and the central business district, including the library, the Main Street depot and PADS locations.

A PDF of the report is posted with this story.