President and Board of Trustees

123 Madison Street Village of Oak Park Oak Park, Illinois 60302 www.oak-park.us Meeting Minutes President and Board of Trustees Monday, May 1, 2023 7:00 PM Village Hall I. Call to Order Village President Vicki Scaman called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:02 P.M. II. Roll Call Present: 8- Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, Village Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, Village Trustee Straw, Village Trustee Wesley, and Village Trustee Taglia Absent: 0 III. Agenda Approval It was moved by Trustee Wesley, seconded by Trustee Enyia, to approve the Agenda. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved. IV. Village President's Welcome President Scaman welcomed guests to the swearing in of the new elected members of the Village Board and to express gratitude to Trustee Taglia. V. Public Comment Pat Koko, representing Celebrating Seniors Coalition: Because of building security, it is impossible for disabled people to get into Village Hall after 5:00 P.M. Celebrating Seniors Week is back, with 50 free events throughout Oak Park, River Forest, and Forest Park May 11-18 during Older Americans Month. More info can be found in the resource guide and on celebratingseniors.net. VI. Resolution Certifying Election Results A. RES 23-157 A Resolution Proclaiming the Results of the Consolidated Election Held on April 4, 2023 Village Clerk Christina Waters read the following statement into the record: The Cook County Clerk has certified the results of the Consolidated Election held on April 4, 2023 for the election of three persons for the office of Village Trustee for the Village of Oak Park, each for four-year terms. The Village of Oak Park Page 1 Printed on 5/16/2023 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes May 1, 2023 three candidates receiving the largest number of votes for Village Trustee are as follows: Cory J. Wesley with 5,110 votes, Brian D. Straw with 4,983 votes, and Susan Buchanan with 4,654 votes. It was moved by Trustee Wesley, seconded by Trustee Enyia, that this Resolution be adopted. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as follows: AYES: 7- Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, Village Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, Village Trustee Wesley, and Village Trustee Taglia NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 0 ABSTAINED: 1- Village Trustee Straw VII. Oath of Office: VILLAGE TRUSTEE B. ID 23-210 1. Remarks from Mid-Term Trustees a. Remarks from Trustee Parakkat b. Remarks from Trustee Robinson c. Remarks from Trustee Enyia d. Remarks from Village President Scaman 2. Remarks from Outgoing Trustees a. Remarks from Trustee James “Jim” Taglia 3. Oath of Office for the Newly Elected Clerk Waters will swear in each Trustee at the podium. a. Village Trustee Cory J. Wesley After the oath of office, Trustee Cory Wesley will return to his seat at the Village Board table b. Village Trustee Brian D. Straw After the oath of office, Trustee Brian Straw will take the seat of Trustee Taglia at the Village Board table c. Village Trustee Susan Buchanan After the oath of office, Trustee Susan Buchanan return to her seat at the Village Board table Trustee Parakkat thanked all five candidates for their willingness to serve on the Village Board. He gave special thanks to Trustee Taglia for his years of service and fiduciary and historic knowledge. He congratulated Trustees Wesley, Straw, and Buchanan for earning the mandate to serve our community. Trustee Robinson congratulated Trustees Buchanan, Wesley, and Straw. She gave a special note of appreciation to Trustee Taglia for his Village of Oak Park Page 2 Printed on 5/16/2023 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes May 1, 2023 leadership, accountability, mentorship, and parlaying care and concern into practice. Trustee Enyia acknowledged Trustee Taglia's mentorship, passion for the community, and fiduciary knowledge. He welcomed Trustees Buchanan, Wesley, and Straw. He acknowledged the other two candidates for their willingness to serve. President Scaman thanked Trustee Taglia for all he did at the Village and Township to make Oak Park a better, stronger, vibrant, and inclusive community. She congratulated Trustees Buchanan, Wesley, and Straw. Trustee Taglia addressed his friends, colleagues, and constituents as his role as a public servant. He said he has been privileged to contribute to expanding affordable housing, broadening our tax base, bolstering public safety, curbing tax growth, safeguarding renters, and navigating the challenges of a global pandemic. He acknowledged former Village President Anan Abu-Taleb and President Scaman and current and former Village Trustees and staff. He expressed gratitude to his wife Anneke and his family. He congratulated the newly elected Trustees. He thanked the residents of Oak Park for their trust and confidence. Village Clerk Christina Waters performed the swearing in of Trustees Wesley, Straw, and Buchanan. VIII. Resolution of Appreciation & Service Award C. RES 23-158 A Resolution in Appreciation of James “Jim” Taglia Trustee Taglia will be presented with the Resolution & given a service award. Trustee Robinson read the Resolution into the record. It was moved by Trustee Buchanan, seconded by Trustee Wesley, that this Resolution be adopted. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as follows: AYES: 7- Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, Village Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, Village Trustee Straw, and Village Trustee Wesley NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 0 ABSTAINED: 1- Village Trustee Taglia IX. Diversity Statement Village of Oak Park Page 3 Printed on 5/16/2023 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes May 1, 2023 D. RES 23-159 A Resolution Adopting the Diversity Statement President Scaman read the Diversity Statement into the record. Trustee Buchanan noted that this is a new Diversity Statement and not the one that was approved in 2019. It was moved by Trustee Buchanan, seconded by Trustee Enyia, that this Resolution be adopted. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as follows: AYES: 7- Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, Village Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, Village Trustee Straw, and Village Trustee Wesley NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 0 ABSTAINED: 1- Village Trustee Taglia X. Remarks from the Newly Elected and Re-Elected Trustees E. ID 23-209 1. Remarks from Trustee Susan Buchanan 2. Remarks from Trustee Brian Straw 3. Remarks from Trustee Cory J. Wesley Trustee Buchanan introduced her husband Steve Brown. She explained the shirt she was wearing represents climate stripes and the increasing global temperature. She said her number one priority is assuring that Oak Park village government adheres to our trajectory toward our climate actions goals. She included her commitments to racial equity more equitable public safety. She thanked everyone who helped on her campaign and everyone who emails the Village Board. Trustee Straw said the ideas the Village Trustees are talking about are the everyday lived experiences of people in our community. Village government is where we can have the biggest impact. The voters communicated that they want safer streets and to focus on gun violence prevention, climate action, and tax fairness. The Village is poised to make great strides on these issues. Trustee Wesley said his family has lived in Oak Park for 11 years in the house of a former Village President and Village Manager. He thanked his wife Michelle, his children, family, and friends. He thanked Trustee Taglia for his service, mentorship, and for leading by example. He thanked the Village of Oak Park for their support and a first place finish for this new term. XI. Closing Remarks from President Scaman Village of Oak Park Page 4 Printed on 5/16/2023 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes May 1, 2023 President Scaman thanked Jim and Anneke Taglia and congratulated Trustees Straw, Wesley, and Buchanan. She spoke of the Village Board's core values to be community-centered, fiscally responsible, build trust through respectful dialogue and Board actions, strive to be transparent and accountable, and communicate and collaborate with colleagues and community partners. Board goals are focused around affordability, community safety, racial equity, supporting vibrant and diverse neighborhoods, and investing in a sustainable future. A representative of Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle's office congratulated the new and outgoing Trustees. XII. Adjourn It was moved by Trustee Straw, seconded by Trustee Buchanan, to Adjourn. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved. Meeting adjourned at 8:06 P.M., Monday, May 1, 2023. Respectfully Submitted, Deputy Clerk Hansen Village of Oak Park Page 5 Printed on 5/16/2023