Friends, families, and Burbank residents packed the Burbank City Council meeting room the night of Wednesday, May 14, to witness the swearing in of newly elected city officials, including Mayor David Gilgenberg II, as well as to hear the parting words of retiring Mayor Dan Foy.
The April 1 election featured contested school board races but no opposition for city races, so turnout was low. Despite the seemingly uneventful election cycle, the excitement in the room was palpable as people struggled to find seats before Mayor Foy called his final meeting to order.
As the city officials and committee heads gave their routine reports, each took a moment to thank Foy for his eight years of leadership and congratulate him on his retirement.
Police Chief Jack Garcia and Fire Chief Martin Kreil each added to the praise and presented Foy with placards of appreciation for his work supporting their departments.
Foy, who was elected first in 2017 and again in 2021, returned the compliments as he discussed the street paving program, saying, “This council has gotten over 40 miles of streets done in the last eight years, and there’s 69 miles of streets in Burbank.”
The meeting proceeded with a full docket of resolutions and ordinances, including resolutions designating tax revenues and Rebuild Illinois funds to cover the costs of the Street Rehabilitation Project, an ordinance approving the operation of a Crunch Fitness gym at 7750 S. Cicero Avenue, and the awarding of bids for purchases of bulk rock salt, hot-mix asphalt, and work for the 2025 Street Rehabilitation Project.
“It’s my final night as mayor and we’ve spent $2 million,” joked Foy after the new business was finished.
Finally, officials called in retired judge Pat Rogers to administer the Oath of Office to all starting their new terms. Former Burbank fire chief and recent City Clerk Gilgenberg held up his hand and swore to uphold the laws of the City of Burbank as the new mayor.
“I want to thank Mayor Foy for his mentorship and his friendship,” said Gilgenberg.
Newly elected City Clerk Jason Pyle took office next, assuming the role after serving on the Personnel Board and previously serving as an alderman. City Treasurer David Viverito followed, being re-elected with multiple accomplishments under his belt in recent years that Foy touted during the meeting.
“Under [Treasurer] David, our Fire pensions are 99 percent funded, and our Police pensions are 94% funded,” said Foy. “Those pensions were originally about 64% funded. We are now the best suburban municipality for pension funding in all of Cook County.”
The seven alderwomen and aldermen –1st Ward Alderwoman Barb Gagle, 2nd Ward Alderman Robert Contreras, 3rd Ward Alderwoman Sheri Gustafson, 4th Ward Alderman Claude Haerr, 5th Ward Alderman John Pacella Jr., 6th Ward Alderman Mitchell Piznarski, and 7th Ward Alderman Thomas Phillips – were swore in during the final minutes of the meeting, closing out a chapter of Burbank’s history.
At a previous meeting, Foy had highlighted that it was time for new leadership with new priorities to guide the city into the future with projects like modernizing the city’s website. As he adjourned his final meeting, Foy reiterated that he felt he was leaving the city in good hands.
When is the next meeting?
Next week