After 21 Years in River Forest Township leadership, Veronica Belmonte Resigns

After 21 years of service to River Forest Township, Veronica Belmonte resigned from the River Forest Township Board of Trustees at its July 13th meeting.

In tendering her resignation, Belmonte thanked colleagues for their support over the years and cited a need to spend more time with her elderly parents, who reside in another suburb.

To fill the vacated volunteer position, the Board was unanimous in its selection of Helene Connolly, longtime chairperson of the Township’s Mental Health Committee.

“The Board considered residents who have experience with the Township and its volunteer committees and who have expressed an interest in serving on the Board,” said Township Supervisor Carla Sloan. ““Helene has demonstrated great commitment to the Township and brings a strong skillset to the Trustee position.”

Belmonte served for 19 years as Township Supervisor. In 2013, she ran for Trustee to help provide continuity for the Township’s new leadership. During her lengthy tenure, she was an instrumental figure in expanding services to residents, including the addition of the youth services and senior services committees.

“With an ailing mom and an elderly father, I need to spend more time with them,” said Belmonte. “Our heart will always be here, no matter what the future holds.”

When she began, the Township had only one committee, for mental health services.

A native of Norwood Park, near Park Ridge, Belmonte moved with her husband, Marcel Krawczyk, to River Forest in 1984. At the time, their son, the eldest of their three children, was only eight months old. Over the next decade, during which time Belmonte gave birth to two daughters, she immersed herself in the community, volunteering at her children’s schools as well as other civic organizations, including the River Forest Community Center Board of Directors.

Her involvement on the RFCC Board prompted then-Township Supervisor Marybeth Buoniconti to recommend she consider succeeding her when a move out of the community forced Buoniconti to resign the post in mid-term. The Township offered 18 programs at the time, a number that climbed above 50 during Belmonte’s nearly five terms in office.

Through her leadership and the Board of Trustees’ support, River Forest Township established a variety of intergovernmental programs and services with Oak Park Township that sought to pool the neighboring communities’ resources efficiently and effectively.

Oak Park Township Supervisor David Boulanger, who began in his post 13 years ago, described Belmonte as “very fiscally conscious.”

“She certainly was an excellent collaborator and was very responsible when it came to public money and how it was spent,” Boulanger said. “Veronica also was very faithful about attending the youth services and senior services committee meetings and in representing the interests of River Forest.”

Among the developments during Belmonte’s time at the Township’s helm: the acquisition of a bus that provides transportation for seniors, those with disabilities and others in need; the implementation of a dine-out voucher program that provides discounted meals for seniors; and the addition of a Youth Interventionist, to address at-risk teens and other youths in crisis.

“That program has brought a tremendous amount of good to the community,” said Belmonte. “I was very proud to be one of the first signers on the youth interventionist program and to be part of that when it all started.”

Sloan, who served as clerk before succeeding Belmonte a little more than two years ago, said Belmonte’s passion and unique historical perspective will be missed.

“We have valued Veronica’s contribution as someone who led the Township’s growth and development over many years,” Sloan added “She put into place much of the structure and accountability that we have today.”

Belmonte has long been inspired by the spirit of volunteerism that permeates River Forest, she said. Her peers’ enthusiasm, on the Township Board and throughout the Township’s committees, will be what she misses the most.

“We are so fortunate we live in a community where so many people step up to volunteer,” she said. “They have always gone over and beyond what I think any paid employee would probably even do. That is something I find very remarkable.”

As for her successor, Belmonte said Connolly “has been a wonderful asset to the community, both as a Mental Health Committee member and as its chairperson. The leadership is very excited for her to step into a trustee role.”

An emergency medicine physician for the past 30 years, Connolly has resided in River Forest since 1987 with her husband and three now-grown children. She has served for 20 years on the mental health services committee, including 15 years as chairperson.

“A lot of what we do in the emergency department relates to mental health,” she said. “I appreciate the Township’s role in making mental health help available to River Forest residents.”

In her new trustee role, Connolly will serve as a liaison to the Mental Health Committee.

Connolly also was active with Parent Teacher Organizations when her children attended River Forest schools.

“I like being involved in the community where I live,” she said. “I don’t want to be just an observer. I want to participate, and feel that with my background and training, I have something to offer.”

For more information about River Forest Township, please call 708-366-2029 or visit www.RiverForestTownship.org. On Facebook: www.facebook.com/RiverForestTownship; on Twitter: www.twitter.com/RFTownship.

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

Veronica Belmonte (left) and Helene Connolly stand outside the River Forest Community Center July 13th, after Belmonte had submitted her resignation to the River Forest Township Board of Trustees and Connolly was named to fill the seat.

During Veronica Belmonte’s 19 years as Supervisor, River Forest Township established a variety of intergovernmental programs and services with Oak Park Township that sought to pool the neighboring communities’ resources efficiently and effectively.

Helene Connolly is an emergency medicine physician who previously served for 20 years on the mental health services committee, including 15 years as chairperson.