Neale Byrnes, Hinsdale Trustee Candidate

HINSDALE, IL – Incumbent Neale Byrnes is one of the four candidates for three seats on the Hinsdale Village Board.

Here are his responses to the Patch questionnaire:

Name:

Neale Byrnes

Town of residence:

Hinsdale

Campaign contact email:

nhbyrnes@comcast.net

Family:

Married with one son.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education:

B.S. Chemical Engineering, Purdue University

Occupation:

Retired, 35-year career in chemical industry. Duties ranged from engineering, sales and marketing to operations management for a multinational chemical company.

Previous or current elected or appointed office:

• Plan Commissioner 2006 – 2010
• Plan Commission Chair 2010 – 2016
• Village Trustee 2016 – present
• Chair of the Environment and Public Services Committee 2017 – present

The single most pressing issue facing the village is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

From my perspective, the most pressing issues are to continue the work that’s been done to improve the Village’s infrastructure and remain ever vigilant about continuing to improve safety throughout the Village. A great deal of money was spent in the 2009 MIP to improve infrastructure. Many of these roads are coming up or will soon come up for re-paving and I will work with our Public Works Department to continue these road improvements as well as improve drainage and improve our water distribution system. As for safety, the Village is undertaking safety reviews by a consulting firm and I look forward to seeing and evaluating the firm’s recommendations.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

Michelle Fisher, Matt Posthuma and I are running as a slate. We are current Board members and each served on a Village Commission before joining the Board. We are all long-time residents of the Village. We are not beholden to special interests, are committed to do what is in the best interests of the Village. We are generally aligned in our positions, but focus on different areas in our work for the Board. Michelle focuses on parks and beautification. Matt concentrates on financial matters. My area of emphasis is infrastructure.

I do not know the positions of Carlos Aparacio, but note that he has only lived in Hinsdale since 2021 and consequently may not have a good sense of the character and priorities of the Village. Also, he has not served on any village commissions which I feel is critical before serving on the Village Board.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Some of the accomplishments I can point to are as follows:

• I worked with staff on the completion of the 2009 MIP which resulted in major improvements to the Village’s infrastructure as described below.
• I worked with the owners of the Hinsdale Animal Hospital on its design.
• I led the construction of the Village’s parking deck.
• I worked with the Tollway on the design of the new pedestrian bridge.
• Trustee Fisher and I led the outdoor dining initiative, which has been hugely popular with residents and visitors to Hinsdale.
• I worked with other trustees on revising signage at various intersections to improve safety.
• I worked with other trustees on developing regulations for the safe use of electric bikes and scooters.
• During the Sterigenics controversy I worked with an environmental testing firm on developing a plan for monitoring the ambient air in Hinsdale for ethylene oxide.

Are the village government's taxes too high, too low or just about right? Explain.

The Village is one of the few communities in the State of Illinois that has an AAA credit rating. It is a delicate balance to maintain a high quality of Village services and infrastructure, while limiting unnecessary expenses and minimizing increases in taxes and fees. The past few years of high inflation have been challenging, but we have kept Village taxes and spending under control. The Village continues to have cash reserves exceeding 25% of expenses, which is a key metric desired by the credit rating agencies. As a result, the Village finances are in excellent shape.

What is your view of the village's maintenance of its infrastructure?

When the Village adopted the MIP in 2009, 33% of the roads in the village were judged to be poor or very poor with only 35% considered excellent. In 2024 68% were judged to be excellent with only 6% poor and none very poor. While this is excellent improvement, we need to continue to take care of our roads. Roads re-surfaced in 2009 will very possibly require re-surfacing soon. We’ve also made significant progress with improving drainage. New stormwater vaults have been installed to eliminate water pooling in areas previously prone to flooding. Also, we are making a connection with Burr Ridge’s water distribution system which when complete will give us an alternate source of water should there be a problem with the DuPage County water pipeline (this system actually down for two days in January).

What is your assessment of the police department's performance?

We have an excellent police department. Chief King and his team work hard to keep us safe and are proactive in identifying places for improvement (e.g., parking, stop signs and e-bikes). The Village is very fortunate to have them.

Was the village right to provide incentives for owners of historical homes? Why or why not?

Hinsdale is very unique in its inventory of historic homes. The Board has tried to give incentives to homeowners to preserve their historic homes without restricting property rights. Most of these incentives are zoning and permit relief. Modest financial incentives can show alignment with homeowners, but should not limit the financial priorities of the Village.

Should the village allow video gambling or recreational marijuana sales in town? Why or why not?

No, these are inconsistent with the character of our Village.

State law requires towns such as Hinsdale to submit affordable housing plans, but the village is late by nearly a decade. Should the village turn in a plan? Why or why not?

The deadline to submit AHPAA plan is June 2025. The Village intends to comply with that deadline.

How do you feel about gated neighborhoods?

Gated neighborhoods are generally not appropriate in a mature community with dense housing stock like Hinsdale.

Should the village president and trustees take political contributions from village contractors or those with zoning or other matters before the board? Why or why not?

Our slate is self-funding our campaign and is not taking any political contributions.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

No.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Michelle Fisher, Matt Posthuma and I are running for re-election as Village Trustees. Local experience matters, and all three of us currently serve as your Trustees. We are long-term residents of Hinsdale and believe that raising our children in this vibrant Village is a privilege. We are dedicated to Hinsdale and will energetically work to provide a continued level of excellence and professionalism. Our commitments to YOU are clear:

• We will continue to support our Police and Fire departments and work to keep our community safe.
• We will ensure that the Village remains financially sound with a AAA credit rating.
• We will remain focused on beautification projects and making our parks work for families and athletes.
• We will continue to promote our thriving downtown business district and enthusiastically support outdoor dining programs.
• And, the Village’s infrastructure, namely the water, roads and sewers, will continue as our priority.

Finally, with a new incoming president, it will be important to have an experienced Board who can provide knowledge, continuity and stability as we work together to make our Village an even better place to live, work and raise our children.

Vote #1, #2, #3 for Michelle Fisher, Neale Byrnes, and Matt Posthuma for Hinsdale Village Board of Trustees