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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING COMMISSIONER PETER N. SILVESTRI
WHEREAS, Commissioner Peter N. Silvestri will vacate his seat on the Forest Preserve District of Cook County Board of Commissioners in the near future after twenty-four years of service to the residents of Cook County and visitors to the Forest Preserves of Cook County; and
WHEREAS, it is the mission of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County “to acquire, restore and manage lands for the purpose of protecting and preserving public open space with its natural wonders, significant prairies, forests, wetlands, rivers, streams, and other landscapes with all of its associated wildlife, in a natural state for the education, pleasure and recreation of the public now and in the future”; and
WHEREAS, the Forest Preserves District of Cook County has an over one-hundred-year history, currently spanning almost seventy thousand acres, experiencing over one hundred million visits annually, and contributing immeasurably to the quality of life of residents of Cook County, scientific research and conservation -- including public-private partnerships with the Brookfield Zoo and Chicago Botanic Garden; and
WHEREAS, Commissioner Silvestri’s leadership and contributions to the Forest Preserves have positively impacted present and future generation of Cook County residents. As Chairperson of the Board of Commissioner’s Subcommittee on Litigation, he provided sound oversight of the Forest Preserves policies and finances in that area including instructing judicious assessment and monitoring of risks to the Forest Preserves and visitors. As Vice-Chairperson of the Law Enforcement Committee, his oversight improved the safety and quality of life of the members of the Forest Preserves Police Department and all visitors to the Forest Preserves; and
WHEREAS, Commissioner Silvestri was also a member of the Committees on Capital Development, Environment and Sustainability, Finance, Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations, Real Estate, Rules and Administration, and Zoological where his keen insights, collegiality, and diplomacy brought opposing sides together leading to better outcomes for the residents of Cook County and Forest Preserves visitors - he also masterfully and respectfully could use humor in the Boardroom; and
WHEREAS, future generations of Cook County residents are in his debt as a sponsor and advocate for Resolution 21-0532 placing the November 2022 Forest Preserve Referendum on the ballot for all Cook County voters; and
WHEREAS, Commissioner Silvestri is the former President of the Village of Elmwood Park, serving from May 1, 1989 thru May 6, 2013, and is a graduate of De Paul University and its Law School.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Toni Preckwinkle, President, and Members of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County Board of Commissioners do hereby extend their sincere and grateful appreciation to Commissioner Peter N. Silvestri for his exemplary career in public service and on the Forest Preserve District of Cook County Board of Commissioners, and their best wishes to him for continued success, happiness, and good health in the years to come; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this text be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body, and a suitable copy of same be tendered to Commissioner Peter N. Silvestri.
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