President and Board of Trustees
Regular MeetingOak Park, IL · September 14, 2020
Minutes
123 Madison Street
Village of Oak Park Oak Park, Illinois 60302
www.oak-park.us
Meeting Minutes
President and Board of Trustees
Monday, September 14, 2020 6:30 PM Village Hall
I. Call to Order
VIllage President Abu-Taleb called the meeting to order at 6:32 P.M. He clarified
the meeting is being held remotely due to COVID-19 restrictions. It is not
prudent to have people present at the Village Board regular meeting location due
to public health concerns related to that outbreak.
II. Roll Call
Present: 6- Village President Abu-Taleb, Village Trustee Andrews, Village Trustee Boutet,
Village Trustee Moroney, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee
Walker-Peddakotla
Absent: 1- Village Trustee Buchanan
III. Consideration of Motion to Adjourn to Executive Session to Discuss Collective
Bargaining and Pending Litigation
It was moved by Village Trustee Andrews, seconded by Village Trustee Moroney,
to enter into executive session pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21) - approval of
executive session minutes; 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2) - collective bargaining; and 5 ILCS
120/2(c)(11) - litigation. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was
as follows:
AYES: 6- Village President Abu-Taleb, Village Trustee Andrews, Village Trustee Boutet,
Village Trustee Moroney, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee
Walker-Peddakotla
NAYS: 0
ABSENT: 1- Village Trustee Buchanan
V. Reconvene to Special Remote Meeting (anticipated at 7:30 p.m.) in Council
Chambers and Call to Order
The Special Meeting was reconvened at 7:39 P.M.
Roll Call
Present: 7- Village President Abu-Taleb, Village Trustee Andrews, Village Trustee Boutet,
Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Moroney, Village Trustee Taglia, and
Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla
Absent: 0
VI. Agenda Approval
Village of Oak Park Page 1 Printed on 9/23/2020
President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes September 14, 2020
It was moved by Village Trustee Boutet, seconded by Village Trustee Andrews, to
approve the agenda. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as
follows:
AYES: 7- Village President Abu-Taleb, Village Trustee Andrews, Village Trustee Boutet,
Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Moroney, Village Trustee Taglia, and
Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla
AYES: 7- Village President Abu-Taleb, Village Trustee Andrews, Village Trustee Boutet,
Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Moroney, Village Trustee Taglia, and
Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla
NAYS: 0
NAYS: 0
ABSENT: 0
ABSENT: 0
VIII. Regular Agenda
A. MOT 20-057 Discussion regarding Village Board Goal related to the Role of Village Clerk
Sue Humphreys: Sue Humphreys urged the Village Board to not
underestimate the importance of keeping Clerk duties separate and apart from
other Village departments, responsibilities, and oversight.
Cate Readling: Cate Readling provided a statement urging the Village Board
to maintain the responsibilities and current salary and benefits of the Village
Clerk.
Yoko Terretta: Yoko Terretta requested in her statement that the Village Board
not further diminish the role, salary or benefits of the Village Clerk.
Lisa Pintado-Vertner: Lisa Pintado-Vertner stated the Clerk is imperative to
transparency and accountability in her public comment.
Zachary Jean Paradis: Zachary wrote to express his support for the role of the
Clerk as critical for transparency.
Zach Johannesson: Zach stated the Village Clerk is absolutely necessary and
to keep the position intact.
David Wick: David Wick urged the Village Board to not reduce the position of
the Village Clerk, that it can protect the Village from possible litigation.
Brynne Hovde: Brynne Hovde suggested the discussion to reduce the role of
the Village Clerk demonstrates that village leadership is overly focused on
consolidating power and discouraging civic participation.
Joan Slanina: Joan shared the opinion that the role of the Village Clerk
provides for transparency.
Village of Oak Park Page 2 Printed on 9/23/2020
President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes September 14, 2020
Michael Adams: Michael wrote to state the opinion that the role of the Village
Clerk should not be diminished.
Kitty Conklin: Kitty Conklin provided public comment with reasons for
supporting the role of the Village Clerk as the resident's number one advocate
into village government.
Eric Davis: Eric Davis' statement stated that the Clerk provides critical
services, and is an elected and directly accountable public servant.
Christina Loranz: Christina stated the Village Clerk is vital to our local
democratic process in her public comment to the Village Board.
Sarah Phillips: Sarah Phillips provided a statement that the role of the Village
Clerk is important and should not be diminished or reduced further in any
capacity.
Marty Bernstein: Marty Bernstein's public comment stated that the Village
Clerk role is vital to this village.
Teresa Powell: Teresa Powell wrote to the Village Board on the importance of
the role of the Village Clerk and reasons for why it should be supported and
appreciated.
Camille Grant: Camille provided an essay on the Importance of the Village
Clerk describing the role in the Village Manager form of Government and
highlighting the value.
Bruce Cox: Bruce Cox believes the Village Clerk plays a vital role in keeping
the Village informed and supports maintaining funding.
Kisa Marx: Kisa provided a statement requesting that the position of the Village
Clerk and what it entails remain the same.
Charity Anne Caldwell: Charity wrote of the important role of the Village Clerk
and her support for that position to remain independent.
Wendy Daniels: Wendy Daniels does not support reducing the role of the
Village Clerk.
Teresa Jurgus: Teresa urged the Village Board to not diminish the role and
responsibilities of the position of the Village Clerk.
Natalie LaRocque: Natalie provided a statement expressing her opinion that
the role of the Village Clerk is an important role.
Matt Cotten: Matt Cotten provided a statement that the role of the Village Clerk
is vital to transparency and accountability.
Village of Oak Park Page 3 Printed on 9/23/2020
President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes September 14, 2020
Anne-Marie Guerrier: Anne-Marie provided a statement to voice the onion that
the Village Clerk is essential to the Village of Oak Park.
Candice Martin: Candice provided a statement to support the position of the
Village Clerk.
Jenny Jocks Stelzer: Jenny Jocks Stelzer stated her support for maintaining
the current roles, responsibilities, and compensation for the person serving in
the Village Clerk role.
Village President Abu-Taleb stated that he does not support diminishing the role
of the Village Clerk or the Village Clerk's contact with residents. Village Trustee
Walker-Peddakotla requested clarification on the statutorial role of the Village
Clerk and would like to see the office have the authority needed to operate within
the statue. Village Trustee Taglia complimented the current function of the
Village Clerks office and appreciates the job of the current Clerk. Village
Trustee Andrews appreciates the independence of the Village Clerk and its
full-time status. He acknowledged that he shares the desire for technology
advancements brought forward by the Village Clerk in previous budget season
discussions and would otherwise like to see those advance in the future.
Village Trustee Moroney stated he is comfortable with the current duties of the
Village Clerk. Village Clerk Scaman responded to questions from Village
Trustee Boutet to highlight tasks that are related to transparency and oversight
from an independently elected office of village documents and service to
residents. Clerk Scaman stated her opinion that there is opportunity to utilize
the role of the Village Clerk for improvements in transparency and for increasing
trust in government. Village Trustee Buchanan expressed her frustration that
the true motivation of this agenda it not known. That if it is to discuss reaching
Board goals related to services the Village Clerk provides where is the
information to guide that conversation. If the intention is to cut the role or
compensation she could recommend other positions at Village Hall for finding
savings and not in the Village Clerks office. Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla
shared her support for an open portal for FOIA responses. She agrees with
Village Clerk Scaman and Village Trustee Buchanan that there was a lost
opportunity to utilize this conversation to work towards improved transparency.
Village Trustee Boutet would like to schedule a conversation to more directly
address Trustee goals for the Village Clerks office. Village Trustee
Walker-Peddakotla and Buchanan agreed. Village Trustee Boutet and
Buchanan agreed to work with the Village Clerk to provide suggestions to
address Board goals. Members of the Village Board unanimously agreed to
leave the current duties of the Village Clerk the same.
IX. Adjourn
It was moved by Village Trustee Taglia, seconded by Village Trustee Andrews to
adjourn the meeting. The motion was approved. The meeting was adjourned at
9:33 P.M. The roll call vote was as follows:
Village of Oak Park Page 4 Printed on 9/23/2020
President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes September 14, 2020
AYES: 7- Village President Abu-Taleb, Village Trustee Andrews, Village Trustee Boutet,
Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Moroney, Village Trustee Taglia, and
Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla
NAYS: 0
ABSENT: 0
Respectfully submitted,
Village Clerk Vicki Scaman
Village of Oak Park Page 5 Printed on 9/23/2020
Agenda
123 Madison Street
Village of Oak Park Oak Park, Illinois 60302
www.oak-park.us
Meeting Agenda
President and Board of Trustees
Monday, September 14, 2020 6:30 PM Village Hall
A Special Meeting at 6:30 p.m. is being conducted remotely with live audio available
and optional video. The Village Board is expected to adjourn immediately into
Executive Session. The meeting will be streamed live and archived online for
on-demand viewing at www.oak-park.us/boardtv as well as cablecast on VOP-TV,
which is available to Comcast subscribers on channel 6 and ATT Uverse subscribers
on channel 99. Remote Meetings of the Oak Park Village Board of Trustees is
authorized pursuant to Section 7 (e) of the Open Meetings Act. The Village President
has determined that an in-person meeting is not practical or prudent due to the
COVID-19 outbreak during the Governor’s disaster proclamation. It is also not
feasible to have a person present at the Board’s regular meeting location due to
public safety concerns related to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The President and Board of Trustees welcome your statement into the public record of a
meeting. Public statements of up to three minutes will be read into the record during
Non-Agenda public comment or Agenda public comment, as an individual designates.
Statements will be provided to the Village Board in their entirety as a single document.
Please follow the instructions for submitting a statement provided below. You may also
communicate with the Village Board at 708.358.5784 or email board@oak-park.us.
Questions regarding public comment can be direct to 708-358.5672 or email
clerk@oak-park.us.
Instructions for Remote Non-Agenda Public Comment
Non-Agenda public comment is a time set aside at the beginning of each Village Board
meeting for public statements about an issue or concern that is not on that meeting’s
agenda. Individuals are asked to email statements to publiccomment@oak-park.us, to
be received no later than 30 minutes prior to the start of the meeting. If email is not an
option, you can drop comments off in the Oak Park Payment Drop Box across from the
entrance to Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, to be received no later than 5 PM the day of
the Village Board meeting. Non-agenda public comment will be limited to 30 minutes with
a limit of three minutes per statement. If comment requests exceed 30 minutes, public
comment will resume after the items listed under the agenda are complete.
Instructions for Remote Agenda Public Comment
Public statements for an agenda item of up to three minutes will be read into the record.
Individuals are asked to email statements to publiccomment@oak-park.us, to be
received no later than 30 minutes prior to the start of the meeting. If email is not an
option, you can drop comments off in the Oak Park Payment Drop Box across from the
entrance to Village Hall,123 Madison Street, to be received no later than 5 PM the day of
the Village Board meeting. The Village Board permits a maximum of three statements
for each side of any one topic that is scheduled for or has been the subject of a public
hearing by a designated hearing body. These items are noted with (*) on the agenda.
Village of Oak Park Page 1 Printed on 04:35 PM September 11, 2020
President and Board of Trustees Meeting Agenda September 14, 2020
I. Call to Order
II. Roll Call
III. Consideration of Motion to Adjourn to Executive Session to Discuss Collective
Bargaining and Pending Litigation
IV. Adjourn Executive Session
V. Reconvene to Special Remote Meeting (anticipated at 7:30 p.m.) in Council
Chambers and Call to Order
VI. Agenda Approval
VII. Public Comment
VIII. Regular Agenda
A. MOT 20-057 Discussion regarding Village Board Goal related to the Role of Village Clerk
Overview: As part of the Village Board Goals adopted January 13, 2020, the Village Board
established as an action:
“Review with Village Clerk's office methods of providing
additional transparency around the FOIA process. Review
current software capacity and solutions. Review opportunities
for the Village Clerk to enhance citizen engagement and
communication with constituent groups. Review Clerk's role in
Open Meetings Act Compliance, records management and
disposal, boards and commissions and coordination of room
assignments with meetings.”
B. ORD 20-077 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 2 (“Administration”), Article 1 (“Officers and
Employees Generally”), Section 2-1-6 (“Compensation of Elected Officers”) of
the Village of Oak Park Village Code
Overview: Pursuant to a request from Mayor Abu-Taleb and an ordinance has been
prepared to discuss and establish the compensation for Village Clerk following
the April 2021 elections. The last time the Village Clerk’s compensation was
changed was in 2008 based upon an ordinance passed in 2004. Should the
Village Board approve any change to the compensation for the Village Clerk, it
will only become effective for the individual elected to office in April 2021.
IX. Adjourn
Village of Oak Park Page 2 Printed on 04:35 PM September 11, 2020