123 Madison Street

Oak Park, Illinois 60302

www.oak-park.us

Village of Oak Park

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

8 -

Present:

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:

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

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

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:

7 -

AYES:

Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, Village

Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, Village Trustee Wesley, and Village

Trustee Taglia

NAYS:

ABSENT:

1 - Village Trustee Straw

ABSTAINED:

VII. Oath of Office: VILLAGE TRUSTEE

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

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

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:

7 -

AYES:

Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, Village

Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, Village Trustee Straw, and Village

Trustee Wesley

NAYS:

ABSENT:

1 - Village Trustee Taglia

ABSTAINED:

IX. Diversity Statement

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:

7 -

AYES:

Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, Village

Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, Village Trustee Straw, and Village

Trustee Wesley

NAYS:

ABSENT:

1 - Village Trustee Taglia

ABSTAINED:

X. Remarks from the Newly Elected and Re-Elected Trustees

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

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.