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Residents urge enforcement on ICE, praise first responders and promote library events at Berwyn council meeting
Summary
Public commenters at the Berwyn council meeting thanked first responders, promoted the library’s summer reading kickoff, urged clearer enforcement of city resolutions related to ICE and criticized perceived patronage; a judge later spoke in defense of the newly appointed police chief.
Several members of the public addressed the council during the public-comment period.
Bud Gaspares (address given) opened by thanking Berwyn’s fire and police departments for recent responses to a gas explosion and to an incident involving an escaped patient, saying officers and firefighters performed ‘‘excellent work.’’
Jeanette Hess, a librarian at the Berwyn Public Library and co-chair of the summer reading program, invited residents to an outdoor kickoff on Saturday, June 6, and named participating partners including the fire department and the North Berwyn Park District.
Michael Towner of Oak Park Avenue praised promotions from within the police department and said Berwyn had handled past protests with restraint compared with neighboring communities.
A later public commenter (no name given) delivered a lengthy critique of past political practices in the city and pressed the council for enforcement of resolutions the council has passed to limit ICE activity. The commenter explicitly raised concerns about the appointment of the incoming police chief, citing a past civil-rights lawsuit and the appointee’s role as a political action-committee treasurer and called on the chief to make enforcement commitments about ICE agents on city property and in sensitive locations.
Judge Elizabeth Chachalaza (who said she is not a Berwyn resident) responded during public comment with a personal endorsement of Michael Fellows, calling him "a leader whose career has been defined by courage, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to others."
Separately, a representative of the Berwyn Public Health District announced a Berwyn Therapy Voucher Program offering free mental-health services for ages 12 and older and provided a location for more information.
Several aldermen offered brief operational updates, including a launch of a city organics program on April 1.
No formal action was taken on the public comments at the meeting; several speakers urged follow-up by the council and police leadership.
