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Resident urges Westmont board to endorse Downers Grove Township 708 mental‑health referendum
Summary
At public comment, a Westmont resident asked trustees to put a Downers Grove Township 708 mental‑health referendum on the village agenda and to publicly endorse it, noting the village lacks a township mental‑health board and social‑worker support for local needs.
Susan Steinmiller addressed the Village Board during open forum and urged trustees to endorse the Downers Grove Township 708 mental‑health referendum, saying Westmont is the only township in the area without a mental‑health board and that a board could identify needs such as suicide prevention and dementia services.
"Please endorse it as a board," she told trustees, and asked them to "put it on your agenda and vote for it." Steinmiller described people with mental‑health conditions living in the community and said many residents who need services do not display visible signs.
Resident Bonnie Weman also spoke in open forum and suggested the village consider a "blue envelope" program to help people on the autism spectrum communicate their needs to first responders. Weman also thanked the planning and zoning commission for staying late to hear public feedback on downtown projects.
Why it matters: A 708 mental‑health board can allocate funds and programs (for example suicide prevention, dementia supports, and social‑work services) at the township level. Steinmiller told the board Westmont currently lacks a village social worker and urged official endorsement to raise public awareness ahead of the referendum.
What happens next: Steinmiller asked trustees to put the 708 referendum endorsement on an upcoming agenda. The board did not take formal action on the endorsement during the June 25 meeting; next steps will depend on whether trustees add the item to a future agenda.
