Lombard board approves $1 million transfer for public safety building; authorizes $19,000 Brewfest grant

The Village of Lombard Board of Trustees on March 6 voted unanimously to transfer $1,000,000 from the village’s hotel‑motel tax fund to the building fund to support construction of a new public safety building, and approved a $19,000 maximum reimbursement grant to the Lombard Junior Women’s Club for the 2025 Lombard Brewfest.

The $1,000,000 transfer was recommended by the Finance and Administration Committee and approved by roll call. Trustee Levesque, Trustee Puccio, Trustee Dudek, Trustee Metoyer and Trustee Wagner voted in favor. No dissenting votes were recorded.

The Brewfest grant drew more discussion. Trustee Bernie Dudek, chair of the Community Promotion and Tourism Committee, said the committee originally recommended a smaller award after debate but that he ultimately supported approving the club’s full request. “This year they are requesting $19,000 in city services and funding reimbursements,” Trustee Bernie Dudek said. “The money funding these grants comes from our hotel‑motel tax dollars and does not cost our residents anything.”

Trustee Levesque voiced support for the event, saying it has returned following the pandemic and brings additional foot traffic to downtown businesses. The board approved the $19,000 maximum reimbursement by roll call; trustees voted unanimously in favor.

Both the transfer and the Brewfest grant were taken as separate action items after the consent agenda. Earlier in the meeting the board approved a consent agenda that included routine financial approvals (accounts payable and payroll), ordinances submitted on first and second readings, zoning matters and several tourism‑grant applications, and awarded construction and engineering contracts; that consent vote passed without further discussion.

Votes at a glance - Approval of minutes (02/20/2025): approved by roll call (ayes recorded for Trustees Levesque, Puccio, Dudek, Malitello, Wagner). - Consent agenda (multiple items including payroll/accounts payable, zoning map adoption, first‑reading ordinances, contract awards, and tourism grants): approved by roll call (unanimous). - Item A — $1,000,000 transfer from hotel‑motel tax fund to building fund for new public safety building: approved by roll call (Trustees Levesque, Puccio, Dudek, Metoyer, Wagner — ayes). - Item B — Lombard Brewfest local tourism grant: approved by roll call; motion to approve the original request for up to $19,000 was made by Trustee Bernie Dudek and carried unanimously.

The board closed the meeting without convening an executive session and adjourned following the votes.