123 Madison Street  
Oak Park, Illinois 60302  
www.oak-park.us  
Village of Oak Park  
Meeting Minutes  
President and Board of Trustees  
Monday, March 11, 2024  
7:00 PM  
Village Hall  
I. Call to Order  
Village President Vicki Scaman called the Special Meeting to order at  
7:01 P.M.  
II. Roll Call  
Trustee Enyia joined the Meeting at 7:03 P.M.  
5 -  
Present:  
Absent:  
Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, Village  
Trustee Straw, and Village Trustee Wesley  
2 - Village Trustee Parakkat, and Village Trustee Robinson  
III. Consideration of Motion to Adjourn to Executive Session to Discuss Collective  
Bargaining  
It was moved by Trustee Straw, seconded by Trustee Buchanan, to adjourn into  
Executive Session. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as  
follows:  
4 -  
AYES:  
Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Straw, and  
Village Trustee Wesley  
0
NAYS:  
3 - Village Trustee Enyia, Village Trustee Parakkat, and Village Trustee Robinson  
ABSENT:  
V. Reconvene to Special Meeting in Council Chambers and Call to Order  
The meeting reconvened at 7:57 P.M.  
VI. Roll Call  
5 -  
Present:  
Absent:  
Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, Village  
Trustee Straw, and Village Trustee Wesley  
2 - Village Trustee Parakkat, and Village Trustee Robinson  
VII. Agenda Approval  
It was moved by Trustee Straw, seconded by Trustee Wesley, to approve the  
Agenda. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved.  
VIII. Non-Agenda Public Comment  
There was no public comment.  
IX. Regular Agenda  
RES 24-165  
A.  
A Resolution Approving an Amendment to the Funding Grant Agreement  
with the Oak Park-River Forest Community of Congregations to Provide an  
Additional $100,000 in Village General Funds to the Community of  
Congregations to Provide Short-Term Rental Assistance for Asylum Seekers  
for a New Total of $250,000 and Authorizing its Execution  
Village Manager Kevin Jackson and Deputy Village Manager Lisa Shelley  
introduced the Item.  
President Scaman requested that her colleagues consider the potential  
that Oak Park will be in good standing with the state to continue funds into  
the future. She requested the amount be increased to $200K. She thanked  
Senator Don Harmon for always being a strong advocate for the Village of  
Oak Park and helping us with the flexibility needed to work with the state.  
Trustee Buchanan requested context for needing the additional $100K.  
President Scaman said this motion was made in conversation with our  
faith-based community that we were pursuing a match that they would raise  
$100K and we would commit $100K. Since that time, President Scaman  
has had conversations with Sen. Harmon who has strongly advocated for  
us to receive the flexibility. The $200K was always the need but we will now  
have the ability to recoup the funds.  
Village Attorney Paul Stephanides explained that this can be a friendly  
amendment to add the additional $100K.  
Trustee Wesley asked if this will cover the residents at Grace Episcopal  
Church, which Deputy Manager Shelley confirmed it will. He clarified that  
this will shut down our current shelter program and there are no plans by the  
Village to reinstate a shelter program after this vote. He said he supports  
the $200K.  
Trustee Straw asked if this would also include the possibility to recoup what  
we have previously allocated to the Community of Congregations from  
Village funds. President Scaman said she thinks it is possible because it is  
allowing us to continue to work with IDHS so that we have the flexibility  
needed. Trustee Straw noted that if that happens, the entirety of the  
village's migrant response would be paid for by the state and the county.  
Trustee Enyia expressed his gratitude to the Community of Congregations,  
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, and everyone who made  
this happen.  
It was moved by Trustee Buchanan, seconded by Trustee Enyia, to make a  
friendly amendment to increase the amount in the original motion from  
$100K to $200K.  
President Scaman thanked Jack Crowe with Migrant Ministries and Pastor  
Colin Knapp for their attendance.  
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:  
5 -  
AYES:  
Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, Village  
Trustee Straw, and Village Trustee Wesley  
0
NAYS:  
2 - Village Trustee Parakkat, and Village Trustee Robinson  
ABSENT:  
X. Adjourn  
It was moved by Trustee Straw, seconded by Trustee Wesley, to Adjourn. A voice  
vote was taken and the motion was approved. Meeting adjourned at 8:58 P.M.,  
Monday, March 11, 2024.  
Respectfully submitted,  
Deputy Clerk Hansen