Latest Drama in 'Great Streets' Initiative: Pirrello Stepping Down

This article was written by Patch's Gregg Palermo.

Former mayor and current Ellisville City Councilman Matt Pirrello announced Wednesday night that, effective next week, he's resigning from a volunteer position as facilitator of the Great Streets Initiative. 

Mayors of Ballwin and Wildwood, the two cities working with Ellisville on the Manchester Road project, asked him to walk away last month, worried that negative perceptions given Pirrello's ties to the drama over Mayor Adam Paul's impeachment might color the work being done to reinvigorate the road shared by all three cities.

At the time Pirrello pushed back, saying "There is no place at the table for Ballwin and Wildwood's politics," and intimated that his work to bring the cities together was a key in getting a $5 million grant for road work. But Wednesday he said the project was bigger than himself.
"It's more important that Great Streets move forward than I be facilitator," he said. "It's amazing what can be accomplished when nobody is interested in taking credit."

"Matt's departure will not impact the progression of Great Streets. Ballwin, Ellisville, and Wildwood will continue working on it and look forward to the completion of the enhancements along Manchester Road," Ballwin Mayor Tim Pogue wrote in an email to Patch. "These three communities have worked hard towards the Great Streets Initiative to this point and there will be much more excitement as it progresses."

Ellisville's representation on planning issues for Great Streets took a hit Wednesday when City Manager Kevin Bookout was suspended while the city council moves forward with a motion to dismiss him. City Managers and planners from each of the communities have provided technical support to the elected leaders involved. Councilwoman Linda Reel was recently named Ellisville's elected representative on the Great Streets steering committee. 

Speaking to Bookout's status, Wildwood Mayor Tim Woerther said via email, "The same goal exists as has been stated before and that is the Great Streets Initiative for Manchester Road needs to survive administrations and elected officials.  Getting the effort to that point is an immediate goal so that Great Streets can grow and flourish."