LP YOUTH HAVING THEIR SAY

La Grange Park Trustee Scott Mesick likes the idea of junior high and high schoolers sharing their opinions about the issues of the day with the village's elected leaders.
And while the monthly civics lesson dubbed the Youth Advisory Commission regular meeting gets underway, observers say it's the closest exercise to the real thing.

On the second Monday of every month, young students from Park Junior High School in La Grange Park and both Lyons Township High School in La Grange and Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park assemble in the Village Hall meeting room at 7 p.m. -- and just like their real-life counterparts -- they debate and discuss every issue in that month's standard board packet.

When all is said and done, after the young pseudo-government representatives reach consensus on the issues they have reviewed and researched all weekend, they choose one of their own to appear at the following night's real Village Board meeting to report on their opinions.

"It's real interesting; it gives us a read on what young people are thinking," said Mesick, a father of six elected to the board in 2007. "One youth sits in at every meeting and we ask questions. It's interesting how they went about reaching their decisions ... but some are more vocal than others."

Mesick said society seems to think the kids in that age group are glued to the TV screen, computer monitor or busy texting, emailing or calling their friends every night. These are kids who "take the initiative" to make their voice and opinions count.

"The Youth Commission is a very workable thing," he added. "We really have seen some good ideas expressed. If we just listen to them we might learn something."

Assistant Village Manager Julia Cedillo is the staff liaison to the youth panel and admits in her seven years of municipal work in Cook, DuPage and DeKalb counties -- she worked for Woodridge's village manager for six years before coming here a year ago -- she has never heard of anything of the sort. She also worked for the City of DeKalb.

"Youth Advisory is a great commission and is really one of the (unique) programs as far as villages are concerned," she said.

The program, which selects students based on applications downloadable on the village website, has been around since 2002 and its revolving 10 members are appointed by Village President Jim Discipio for 2-year terms. Members must attend the 7th through the 12th grade.

Current members include Daniel Golden from Nazareth, Grace Flaherty from LT, Grant Lundahl from LT, Abby Gies from Fenwick, Mitchell Serafin from Nazareth, Aubrey Aikens from Park, Margaret Brewick from Nazareth, Matt McGuinn from Park, Jack Roache from Nazareth and Jordyn Faron from LT.

The students receive a packet, just like trustees, delivered to their home once a month, on the Thursday before each monthly meeting, at which the Roberts Rules of Order govern the parliamentary procedures at every session. They assign a new chairman for every meeting to keep things fresh and to give everyone the chance to assume the leadership position.

"I am just impressed with the level of engagement and discipline they bring to each issue," Cedillo said. "I am amazed they have such (well-researched) view of the issues."

She cannot recall a time when the young commissioners changed a board's viewpoint. And though the kids neither call or are counseled by the trustees, they just so happen to agree with them on most matters. They often come to meetings with opinions, ready to debate.

Cedillo said the kids are learning "an incredible skill" by discussing and researching the pros and cons of municipal issues.

And, she said, they are also learning that not everyone attends public meetings, as evidenced by many of the Village Boards in the region, including their own.

"I wish they would (attend)," said Cedillo, noting how fascinatng it is to see the kids at work. "They're seriously dedicated."