Bob's Plan

---

Common Sense - Proven - Thought Leader

Thank you to all of you who have asked me to run for Village President in the upcoming election. I am honored and humbled to seek this office. 

It is truly a grass roots effort.
 

Over the past several years, we have watched our local government stray from the community values, make closed session questionable deals, prioritize developers, and not being transparent with their constituents -- making risky decisions that impact us all.
 

We have seen increased costs for the delivery of Village services and our property taxes being increased, all while our economy was experiencing historically high inflation resulting in often difficult personal financial decisions.
 

We have witnessed frustration from several Village Trustees, with one Trustee recently resigning his position. The board is fraught with visible dysfunction (watch a meeting and you too will see) which is a deterrent not only for citizens who might be considering board service, but to developers and businesses wanting to come to Germantown.
 

Village board committees are not allowed to do their job which leads to Trustees being frustrated, and the Planning Commission is set up for failure based on lack of vision or leadership, concise planning policies and expectations, as well as conflicting interests.

We have even seen the relationship with our government partners deteriorate. Village planning and significant projects should involve all parties that may have a cascading impact such as schools, police, or fire.

I am committed to returning Germantown back to its residents.

My goals are clear: 

• Responsible Fiscal Management – As stewards of the taxpayer’s money, I will seek alternatives for optimal expense management with the aim of avoiding additional debt. Year over Year tax increases must stop and fees for Village services need to level out.  There are many capital projects totaling millions of dollars being planned for the Village that include a new police and fire station, water and sewer infrastructure improvements, and road improvements to name a few. Yes, we are a growing community, but there has been a lack of financial planning needed to ensure that we live within our means and not incur unnecessary debt. Examining needs over wants and nice to haves is critical.
• Public Safety – Continue to support our fire and police to ensure that they have the tools to mitigate risk and potential threats that face our community. I will work with the school district to see how we can expand coverage of the School Resource Officer role by assessing utilization of the Reserve Police Officer position that the Police Department currently has.
• Open for Business – Today we are not ‘Open for Business’ as our Village creates hurdles and obstacles for ‘would be’ developers that want to come to Germantown. We have empty big box store fronts that need to be filled. We need more: retail and entertainment establishments to be viewed as a destination, as well as more  single-family residences to lessen the tax burden for all of us.  I will support a pause on multifamily rental units in our community in favor of owner-occupied condos or single-family homes.  I will examine ways to spur growth that don’t always require the use of Tax Increment Districts (TID). We need smart and sensible growth. 
• Governmental Relationships – As a former school board director and board president, I will bridge the gap that we have today with the Germantown School District. In addition, I will be proactive in communications with the Town of Germantown and find ways to work with both to lower costs via shared services for our constituents. 
• Village Board Governance – I will ensure that your government is transparent, responsive, and accountable to the people of our community. Today we are not. There will be no more back room deals in closed session with monies being spent without taxpayers’ awareness.  When leading board meetings, I will ensure Robert’s Rules is followed per our existing ordinance as today the board does not. I will ensure board committees and commissions are allowed to do their jobs and not be bypassed by matters going directly to the Village board.  I will promote attendance by Village Trustees to as many committee and/or commission meetings feasible to bolster preparedness and efficiency for the subsequent Village board meetings. Today this is not encouraged as there are unfounded concerns over a walking quorum. I will ensure that the Village Attorney is a proponent for effective Village governance -- seeking solutions to enable the Village board and Village businesses rather than be an inhibitor.
• Village Operations Oversight – I will be a champion of government transparency throughout the entirety of local government operations, renewing the importance of responsiveness and accountability to the people of our community. I will evaluate and ensure we have the right people in the right place doing the right things. Lastly, I will work to foster communication and cooperation between the Village Board members so that our focus remains on the needs of the community. I will be hands on in partnering with the Village Administrator to ensure staff and board members have the tools, information, and understanding of vision required to shepherd Germantown into a bright, sustainable future.

We can do better, and we will.