Darien May Take Over Chamber Of Commerce

DARIEN, IL – Darien officials are considering having the city take over the often struggling Darien Chamber of Commerce – an idea that the group's board of directors appears to favor.

The subject was brought up during a special City Council meeting earlier this month.

In a statement to Patch on Monday, City Administrator Bryon Vana said the consolidation would address the chamber's financial challenges.

"That is not a negative reflection on the chamber, but we realize the difficulties in sustaining any not-for-profit organization the size of the Darien chamber," Vana said. "One rain-out of Darien Fest would have a significant impact on their financial stability."

The city, he said, may find the chamber prefers the present arrangement, which he said would be fine with the city.

Whatever the case, the city wants to move forward with hiring a part-time business liaison, who would work to retain existing businesses and recruit new ones. It would cost the city $37,000 a year.

At the meeting, Vana told the council he has seen the chamber struggle many years in his two decades as administrator. The group spends much of its time raising money and selling memberships, he said.

Under the city's proposal, the chamber would raise money through event sponsorships. All businesses would become chamber members upon renewal of their annual business licenses or certificates of compliance. Nonprofits and governmental entities would be included as members for free.

Through a membership fee, businesses outside of Darien could join.

Alderman Lester Vaughan said he was concerned taking control of the chamber would increase the city's costs. The city's proposal states that the full-time business and community engagement coordinator and part-time business liaison would cost the city $130,000 a year.

Vaughan was told the revenue would come from the chamber's different activities.

April Padalik, the chamber's current director, also spoke about the issue.

"I don't think you should look at the chamber as a moneymaker per se," she said. But she said the chamber's income from Darien Fest and Darien Dash in the last year would likely offset the chamber's costs.

Vana said the point of the transition was not for Padalik to lose her job.

"What you see now is what we would like to bring on," he said.

Officials said they believed the move would allow the chamber to spend more of its time supporting local businesses.

"I don't want to see the chamber running around having to run activities the way it is now," Mayor Joseph Marchese said. "I want to see the chamber doing things for the business community."

Aldermen seemed supportive of taking over the chamber. They stressed the importance of continuing to recruit volunteers for chamber events.

The council is expected to decide on the chamber issue in mid-December. Officials hope to take over the chamber as soon as Jan. 1, but acknowledged it may have to be done later.