Author: joeward7

Retired 12 year alderman on Springfield City Council 2011-2023

News

MacArthur Park Apartments improved, but work remains – Oct 27, 2013

Post author By joeward7
Post date October 29, 2013

Tim Landis
The State Journal-Register

Even longtime critics say MacArthur Park Apartments has turned a corner after years of neglect that left many of the units unliveable and the complex with a reputation as a hot spot for crime.

“It’s been quite a transition,” said Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin. The apartments in the 2100 block of South MacArthur Boulevard are in McMenamin’s ward.

News

Pension wars Oct. 17, 2013

Post author By joeward7
Post date October 19, 2013

Police Spike Under Fire

Bruce Rushton
Springfield Mayor Mike Houston last week appointed the city’s budget director to fill a lapsed seat on the city’s Police Pension Board that has defied a state order to calculate pensions at a lower rate than has been the board’s practice.The appointment of budget director Bill McCarty came one day after Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin called on Houston to fill the seat held by former alderman Tom Selinger, whose term had expired. McMenamin also said that the pension board should be following state directions.

News

McMenamin: Outside pension board appointments needed Oct 10, 2013

Post author By joeward7
Post date October 11, 2013

Deana Stroisch
The State Journal-Register

Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin on Thursday called on Mayor Mike Houston to appoint two new members to Springfield’s police pension board who come from outside the police ranks. McMenamin said appointing members from outside the department would allow for “balanced representation.”

News

McMenamin: Pay spike ordinance denied

Post author By joeward7
Post date September 26, 2013

Deana Stroisch
The State Journal-Register
Sep 25, 2013
Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin’s request to eliminate the pension-boosting 5 percent pay spike for Springfield police command staff, including retiring Police Chief Robert Williams, is being blocked by the city’s legal department. McMenamin, who met with the editorial board of The State Journal-Register Wednesday, said that interim corporation counsel John Mehlick won’t draft the ordinance.

News

$2 million proposed for city alley, drainage projects

Post author By joeward7
Post date September 26, 2013

Deana Stroisch
The State Journal-Register
Sep 24, 2013

Mayor Mike Houston’s administration is recommending the city spend $2 million to fix Springfield’s worst alleys and drainage problems this fall and winter.

Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin wants to cut that spending in half. At Tuesday’s Springfield City Council committee meeting, McMenamin asked the city’s top attorney to reduce the request by $1 million and also draft an ordinance that would allocate an extra $1 million toward payment of police and fire pensions.

News

Mayor Houston criticized again for keeping ‘secrets’

Post author By joeward7
Post date September 23, 2013

Deana Stroisch
The State Journal-Register
Sep 17, 2013

Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin on Tuesday called it “inexcusable” that the mayor didn’t inform aldermen about an audit and subsequent state order to change the way police pensions are calculated.

Because the Springfield City Council was left in the dark, McMenamin said aldermen approved a new contract with the city’s police union last December “under false pretenses.” “We’ve had enough secrets around here,” McMenamin said. “We didn’t need that secret.”

News

Most aldermen say they won’t settle on shredding lawsuit

Post author By joeward7
Post date September 23, 2013

Deana Stroisch
The State Journal-Register
Sep 15, 2013

Several Springfield aldermen say they aren’t willing to settle a lawsuit involving the shredding of police internal affairs files until the truth comes out. Attorneys for both sides have had “broad discussions” about settling out of court but have reached no conclusions, according to Don Craven, one of Calvin Christian III’s attorneys.

News

Alderman Joe McMenamin gives a presentation on Police Contract and Pension Liabilities.

Post author By joeward7
Post date September 11, 2013

News

Alderman: Eliminate pay-spike perk now

Post author By joeward7
Post date September 11, 2013

Deana Stroisch
The State Journal-Register
Sep 09, 2013

Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin wants the city to immediately eliminate the 5 percent pay spike for Springfield Police Department command staff, including retiring Police Chief Robert Williams. The longtime perk for police department employees is set to end Feb. 28. But McMenamin says the city shouldn’t wait that long.

News

Developer wants to buy Pine Wood Apartments

Post author By joeward7
Post date September 11, 2013

Deana Stroisch
The State Journal-Register
Sep 08, 2013
A St. Louis-based developer is looking to buy and rehabilitate the Pine Wood Apartments, a 168-unit complex on Springfield’s west side. Bywater Development Group has applied for financing for an $11 million, affordable-housing project through the Illinois Housing Development Authority. The group plans to acquire the property at 1665 Seven Pines Road, contingent on receiving state assistance.