123 Madison Street  
Oak Park, Illinois 60302  
www.oak-park.us  
Village of Oak Park  
Meeting Minutes  
President and Board of Trustees  
Monday, November 22, 2021  
7:00 PM  
Remote  
I. Call to Order  
Village President Scaman called the meeting to order at 7:01 P.M. She  
authorized a statement be read providing that the meeting is being held  
remotely due to COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines and that it is not prudent  
to have people present at the Village Board's regular meeting location due to  
public health concerns related to that pandemic.  
II. Roll Call  
7 -  
Present:  
Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, Village  
Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village  
Trustee Walker-Peddakotla  
0
Absent:  
III. Agenda Approval  
It was moved by Village Trustee Parakkat, seconded by Village Trustee  
Buchanan, to approve the Agenda. 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 Taglia, and Village  
Trustee Walker-Peddakotla  
0
0
NAYS:  
ABSENT:  
IV. Non-Agenda Public Comment  
The following person read their Non-Agenda Public Comment aloud:  
Michael Baldwin: Michael Baldwin spoke their public comment  
representing the South Oak Park Safety Initiative regarding traffic offenses  
and an increase in crime in their neighborhood near Lexington Avenue.  
They request the Board join them in a community meeting to vet short term  
ideas and layout a plan for a more strategic long term improvement to their  
neighborhood.  
Village Clerk Christina Waters read the following Non-Agenda Public  
Comment aloud:  
Brooke Reavey: Brooke Reavey submitted their Non-Agenda Public  
comment regarding an unpleasant experience with a property inspector for  
a non-displayed permit for work being down in their home. They inquired  
why a display of a permit is required when the entire permitting process,  
and other village activities, is done online.  
V. Regular Agenda  
ID 21-374  
A.  
Village Board Review of the Recommended Fiscal Year 2022 Budget  
Interim Village manager Lisa Shelley introduced the Item.  
Village Clerk Waters read the following Agenda-Public comments aloud:  
Andrew Williams-Clark: Andrew Williams-Clark submitted their Agenda  
Public Comment in support of the Board allocating $769,349 for the  
Affordable Housing Fund from the four earmarked and three paid grants.  
They feel the Oak Park Housing Authority (OPHA) should not be funded  
using the Affordable Housing Fund for FY 2022 as the OPHA is a core  
human services program and should be funded accordingly through the  
General Fund.  
Gary Arnold: Gary Arnold submitted their Agenda Public Comment  
thanking the Board for creating an Affordable Housing Fund for FY 2022  
and recommends increasing the existing line item to $770,000 which  
accounts for the earmarks and grants tied to restricted affordable housing  
funds.  
Discussion of the following items noted for final direction followed:  
Define Incubator Project Board Goal:  
Interim Village Manager Shelley gave an overview of this Item indicating  
this is not a defined project and therefore a feasibility study will be more of  
a research project to determine what a project could be and how it fits in to  
the potential work of our Village government.  
Tammie Grossman, the Director of Development Customer Services,  
added after speaking with Trustee Parakkat the concept would be a place  
where entrepreneurs could look at sustainable start-up programs as well as  
a training location for people to learn about sustainable careers and gain  
experience.  
Village Trustee Parakkat added there are 3 outcomes; to bring in more tax  
base and businesses, create equity in the community and surrounding  
communities, and aligning the local economy to the future.  
Village Trustee Robinson requested clarification on if it is more cost  
effective to roll this into GRAEF's scope of services instead of putting  
money into another consultant.  
Director Grossman responded they could request a bid from GRAEF to  
see if there is a cost savings.  
Village Trustee Buchanan requested clarification on the goal for tonight's  
meeting - is staff trying to get direction or will there be a vote taken on  
these items.  
Interim Village Manager Shelley responded staff is looking for direction on  
the items if they should stay or be removed from the budget.  
Village President Scaman commented through her research she  
understands the resources required for this type of project are significant  
financially as well as land or shared workspace located in a proximity to  
entrepreneurial and manufacturing hotspots. She doesn't see this as  
fulfilling a need for Oak Park.  
President Scaman recommended opening a discussion with PlanItGreen  
and with neighboring communities, as well as having Oak Park host Green  
Town and create an innovation track as part of the conference.  
Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla commented what many of these items  
are getting at is the need for transformational change in the way we are  
doing things. Sometimes those changes required a bit of upfront  
investment to study if a project is feasible.  
Additional Staff Support for Vision Zero Plan Board Goal:  
Interim Village Manager Shelley gave an overview of this Item of staffing  
shortages for filling vacancies in engineering which could impact projects in  
the Capital Improvement Budget and the traffic calming requests.  
Public Works Director John Wielebnicki added the challenge with the  
shortage of staff is how to prioritize the work for 2022. Staff recommends  
engaging a traffic consultant to assist with exploring a Vision Zero plan,  
and noted that the Vision Zero goal may bump other projects.  
Village Trustees Buchanan,Taglia, and Robinson are supportive of holding  
off on the Vision Zero goal due to the vacancies in engineering.  
Village Trustee Parakkat suggested leaving the Vision Zero plan in place  
in case staffing increases to accommodate the project - if staffing is still  
problematic then they can push it to the next year.  
Director Wielebnicki responded they can leave it in the budget as long as  
the Board understands they will not move the project forward until the  
staffing issue is resolved.  
Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla expressed concerns over delaying this  
project and believes a rethinking of how to address pedestrian safety is  
what is needed. She is in support of leaving the Vision Zero plan in the  
budget and leaving it up to staff to determine when the appropriate time is  
to move forward with it.  
Village Trustee Enyia commented he wants this to be a priority but  
understands the staffing issue and wants to ensure we have the staff  
capacity to do the project right.  
President Scaman commented she wants to be realistic in accomplishing  
their goals and does not recommend adding this to the budget at this time.  
Staff was directed to not include the Vision Zero plan in the 2022 budget  
and to re-evaluate it in the third quarter of 2022.  
Funds for Alternative Service Delivery Model:  
Interim Village Manager Shelley gave an overview of this Item and clarified  
the amount of funds to be allocated for this project.  
There was discussion around if this Item ties in with the request to increase  
the service delivery in the Fire Department (EMS Services).  
Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla recommended increasing the funding  
and to allocate $800,000 from ARPA funding.  
Village Trustee Robinson requested clarification on the placeholder  
amount and what an appropriate amount might be for the placeholder.  
Interim Village manager Shelley responded currently the placeholder  
amount is $50,000.  
Chief Financial Officer Steve Drazner added increasing the request an  
additional $750,000 would bring the tax levy increase from 3% to 5%.  
Village Trustee Taglia thanked Paul Goyette for communicating with the  
Board the request for the $800,000 potential commitment for this program.  
Village Trustee Taglia does have concerns with earmarking more than  
$50,000 for this as the scope has not been defined and recommendations  
from the consultant are not yet determined. He is not in support of  
increasing the tax levy on residents without understanding how much will be  
needed and determining how to fund this for the long term. He suggests  
leaving the allocation as is and doing budget amendments in 2022 once  
the scope of work and recommendations are in front of the Board for  
determination.  
Village Trustee Taglia also recommended holding off on the additional fire  
fighter staffing request at this time.  
Village Trustee Buchanan requested clarification on if allocating ARPA  
funds for this Item would result in an increase in the tax levy. Village Trustee  
Buchanan is in support of allocating more funds to this Item if they are  
available through ARPA to develop an alternative model in the immediate  
future.  
President Scaman commented this needs to be a community response  
and sustainable beyond 2026 after the ARPA funding is done. She would  
like the community health partners at the table to help figure out how to pay  
for whatever the 911-alternative response is going to be.  
President Scaman supports identifying a dollar amount that demonstrates  
the Board's commitment that does not increase the levy.  
Village Trustee Enyia believes the Board needs to be intentional with  
moving forward with the alternative service delivery model and expressed  
concern if $50,000 is enough to address this. If the Board does not move  
forward with this now we are putting ourselves at a disadvantage down the  
line.  
Village Trustee Parakkat commented although he supports the mental  
health concerns of the community and the fact we need to address that,  
allocating money without the scope and solution in place seems premature.  
Village Trustee Robinson commented this is an opportunity to use this the  
ARPA money that we temporarily have and won't have in the future and an  
opportunity to be proactive about mental health issues. This has to be part  
of the discussion about ARPA funding and the possibility of streaming  
some ARPA money towards mental health.  
Village Trustee Taglia commented the most intentional and responsible  
way to proceed is to utilize the budget amendment process and to amend  
the 2022 budget when it is necessary. To make a decision now, in advance  
of getting the data from the assessment and discussions that will happen  
with other community partners, is a little premature.  
Village Trustee Parakkat agreed with Village Trustee Taglia, adding he is  
not comfortable setting aside money without knowing how it will be spent.  
Increasing Service Delivery in the Fire Department (EMS Services):  
Interim Village Manager Shelley gave an overview of this Item.  
Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla requested Village Trustee Taglia's  
input on this topic.  
Village Trustee Taglia responded he supports the additional staff due to  
the increase in seniors and developments in the village. He would like  
clarity on if the numbers of calls for service were impacted by Covid, and  
would like to see a little more normality in numbers to validate the data.  
Village Trustee Robinson requested clarification on a previous discussion  
regarding if an increase in calls was related to Covid.  
CFO Drazner responded in a memo dated November 16 which stated  
Covid-19 has not increased the number of calls.  
Village Trustee Buchanan requested clarification on if Oak Park has 2 or 3  
ambulances.  
Interim Village Manager Shelley clarified Oak Park mandates 2  
ambulances full time, but will staff 3 ambulances if needed. The third  
ambulance was temporarily mandated during Covid.  
Village Trustee Buchanan suggested putting a hold on this request until the  
numbers are more stable from staff.  
Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla agrees the village will eventually need  
three full time ambulances, but the timing does not seem right. She  
recommended revisiting this conversation in the middle of 2022 to see  
what the data looks like at that time.  
Village Trustee Parakkat commented he would like to see the data  
normalize a bit before making a decision.  
Village Trustee Enyia requested clarification on how the fire department's  
staff is handling all the overtime.  
Fire Chief Ron Kobyleski responded they are reaching Covid burnout and  
are seeing an increase in injuries.  
The Board will revisit this Item for additional fire personnel in 2022 - staff  
was directed to provide more data in year 2022 regarding calls for service.  
President Scaman resumed discussion on how to fund the Alternative  
Service Delivery Model Item. She recommended reallocating the $300,000  
request from the additional fire personnel to fund the Alternative Service  
Delivery Model.  
Village Trustee Robinson requested clarification regarding the ability to  
earmark ARPA funds to cover this.  
President Scaman responded they can use ARPA funds, she was looking  
for consensus on how much to allocate from those funds.  
Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla supports allocating $800,000 with half  
being allocating from ARPA and the General Fund.  
Village Trustee Parakkat commented he prefers to have a discussion  
around balancing the affordability of the community. How are we optimizing  
these long term programs against other needs of the community?  
CFO Drazner recapped the 3 staff directives:  
1. Leave $10,000 in the budget for the feasibility study.  
2. There is not an additional $25,000 being added to the budget for Vision  
Zero  
3. $300,000 will be reallocated from the additional fire personnel request to  
the village manager's operating budget within the General Fund for the  
Alternative Service Delivery Model.  
ID 21-387  
B.  
C.  
Discussion Regarding the Survey Results for the Expenditure of American  
Rescue Act Funds  
Interim Village Manager Shelley gave an overview of this Item.  
There was no further discussion of this Item.  
ORD 21-92  
An Ordinance Amending Chapter 20 (“Public Health”), Article 1 (“Oak Park  
Department of Public Health”), Section 20-1-6 (“Authority and Duties of  
the Director”) of the Oak Park Village Code to Permit the Public Health  
Director to Make Reasonable Rules, Regulations and Orders Due to the  
Outbreak of COVID-19 Disease  
Interim Village Manager Shelley introduced this Item.  
The following persons read their Agenda Pubic Comment aloud:  
Ranga Bodila: Ranga Bodila spoke their comment in support of modifying  
the public health code to grant our Public Health Department the power to  
make necessary rules, regulations and orders to keep the public safe.  
Village Clerk Waters read the following Agenda Pubic Comments aloud:  
Christina Welter, DrPH, MPH: Christina Welter, DrPH, MPH, submitted  
their public comment in support of reinstating Dr. Chapple's emergency  
authority and emergency powers. This will allow Dr. Chapple to focus on a  
strategic, evidence-informed and engaged approach for the next phase of  
the response as well as longer term plans for improving public health in our  
community.  
Thomas Ptacek: Thomas Ptacek submitted their public comment to not  
alter the village code extending the authority of the village's Department of  
Public Health (DPH) as the code already grants DPH the authority sought  
by the proposed amendment.  
Dr. Suzanne Feeney, PharmD, Dr. Abigail Silva, Dr. Judy Ann Carter:  
Doctors Feeney, Silva, and Carter submitted their public comment in  
support of extending the authorization for Dr. Chapple -McGruder.  
Authorization will allow Dr. Chapple to quickly make public health  
decisions, and the community deserves swift action, not red tape.  
Dr. Robin Kalish: Dr. Robin Kalish submitted their public comment asking  
the Board to extend Dr. Chapple-McGruder's temporary authorization to  
make reasonable rules, regulations and orders related to COVID mitigation  
measures. They added they believe this authorization should be  
permanent, so that health directors are able act quickly when needed.  
Kathrine Nichols: Kathrine Nichols submitted their public comment in  
support of the Public Health Director. They requested to extend her  
authorization not only to enable her to make fast decisions that will benefit  
our whole community, but also to send a clear message that we support her  
authority, and to be an example for others (school boards, day cares,  
pediatricians, business owners, etc.) to do the same.  
Kim Jackewicz: Kim Jackewicz submitted their comment in strong  
support for Dr. Theresa Chapple-McGruder and her work as director of the  
health department. They also support amending the village code to give Dr.  
Chapple-McGruder broad authority to make reasonable rules during times  
of emergency.  
Kelley Clink: Kelley Clink submitted their public comment expressing their  
concern over the expiration of the health emergency authorization and  
asked the board to extend the emergency authorization.. The community  
deserves clear communication regarding who is going to be in charge of  
pandemic related policies and for how long.  
Jennifer Gnolfo: Jennifer Gnolfo submitted thier pubilc comment  
requesting that Dr. Chapple-McGruder's authorization be extended during  
this hopeful yet still risky phase of protecting our community against  
COVID. Retaining the person who has been the head of our community's  
efforts in fighting COVID and showing her the support of our entire Board of  
Trustees would mean clarity and peace of mind.  
Erin Hutto Sowers: Erin Hutto Sowers submitted their support for Dr.  
Chapple and urge the Village Board to extend the Health Department  
Director’s authority to make reasonable rules, regulations and orders due  
to the outbreak of COVID-19. At a time when public health experts are  
under attack, both nationally and here in Oak Park, our village leaders need  
to explicitly confirm their support for Dr Chapple so she can continue to act  
with speed and authority to address this pandemic’s continued challenges.  
Elle Morton: Elle Morton submitted their public comment to express  
support for extending Dr Chapple's authority to make decisions related to  
pandemic mitigation measures. By extending the order, village leadership  
can send the message that harassment and undermining of our public  
health professionals will not be tolerated, and there will be no ambiguity  
regarding her authority.  
Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla requested clarification on this Item.  
Interim village Manager Shelley responded no power or authority has been  
removed from the Public Health Director regardless of if this emergency  
authorization is extended or rescinded.  
Village Attorney Stephanides added subsection "Z" of section 20/1/6 of the  
code provides the Public Health Director with the authority to make rules  
and regulations when there is an emergency in place. There has been an  
emergency declaration in place since the pandemic began as declare by  
Governor Pritzker. Subsection "BB" was created early on in the pandemic  
when it wasn't clear if the governor would continue the emergency  
declaration. Under subsection "Z" , the authority of the Public Health  
Director still continues due to the emergency declaration, so the need for  
subsection "BB" to continue the Public Health Director's authority is not  
needed.  
Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla requested clarification on the impact if  
the governor's disaster proclamation expires.  
Village Attorney Stephanides responded the emergency declaration would  
not be in effect and the Village Board would need to take action to extend  
the Public Health Director's authority if they believe that there is still a  
Covid-19 emergency in Oak Park.  
Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla requested clarification from Dr.  
Chapple if this Ordinance is what she requested.  
Public Health Director Dr. Theresa Chapple responded what is written in  
the Ordinance is what she requested.  
Village Trustee Taglia requested clarification on the need to extend the  
authority if the extension is not required to maintain the authority.  
Dr. Chapple responded she has heard different explanations of what  
happens if the authority expires - at this point it is not clear what she can or  
cannot do without the authority in place.  
Village Trustee Robinson commented given there is a lot of confusion  
around this provision (subsection "BB") and the best way to provide direct  
support is by making sure we are putting forth a clear and concise  
Ordinance, and the Ordinance presented does not provide clarity.  
Village Trustee Robinson added there is a real benefit in having the  
Director of Public Health at the Board meetings during these discussions  
to inform the discussion by lending her expertise and to prevent any  
additional confusion or lack of clarity.  
Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla expressed concern that the village has  
created a precedent since the start of the pandemic that the emergency  
declaration is needed to maintain the Public Health Director's authority, as  
well as a concern of opening the village up to potential litigation if the  
emergency order expires.  
Village Trustee Buchanan expressed concerns that the Public Health  
Director is not clear of the implications of extending or expiring the  
emergency authority.  
Interim Village Manager Shelley responded some of the confusion may  
have generated from social media posts and emails from the public stating  
that the Public Health Director would lose their emergency authority if the  
Board let this expire, which is not the case.  
Dr. Chapple commented her understanding was this Item was originally  
going to be brought to the Board at their last meeting for a vote but it was  
pulled as it was thought the governor's disaster proclamation would stay in  
place. She also has concerns over the way the code is written - it states the  
authority is extended if there is an emergency declaration, but the governor  
has it written as a disaster proclamation which may cause confusion or  
contention.  
Village Trustee Parakkat commented there is misunderstanding and a lack  
of clarity on this subject and would like the village to put out a clear  
communication to the public regarding the authority of the Public Health  
Director. He added we are in a different place than we were when the  
emergency authority was implemented - we should start to create a path to  
normalcy with this umbrella declaration of emergency from the governor  
which provides the framework for us to act in case things change.  
Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla responded there is an argument to be  
made that not extending this authority opens up the village to litigation. The  
main reason to extend the emergency powers to the Public Health Director  
is to eliminate the ambiguity. She suggested extending the emergency  
authority through the winter months, which may be a peak Covid season,  
and then in the first quarter of 2022 revisit the need to extend the  
emergency powers long term.  
Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla then made a motion to pass this  
Ordinance as is written.  
Village Trustee Enyia spoke in support of the Public Health Director, the  
Health Department, and staff in their efforts to keep the community safe  
during the pandemic.  
Village Trustee Enyia then seconded the motion.  
President Scaman expressed her support of the Public Health Director  
having what she needs to do her job. President Scaman commented that  
the Board has added to the confusion of this Item and clarified that, with the  
emergency order or without the emergency order, nothing changes in  
regards to the Public Health Director's authority until the governor's  
declared emergency order is gone.  
It was moved by Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla, seconded by Village Trustee  
Enyia, to adopt the Ordinance. The motion was approved. The roll call on the  
vote was as follows:  
4 -  
AYES:  
Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, and  
Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla  
3 - Village Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, and Village Trustee Taglia  
0
NAYS:  
ABSENT:  
VI. Adjourn  
It was moved by Village Trustee Robinson, seconded by Village Trustee  
Buchanan to adjourn. The motion was approved. Meeting adjourned at 10:35  
P.M., Monday, November 22, 2021.  
Respectfully Submitted,  
Deputy Clerk DeViller  
7 -  
AYES:  
Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, Village  
Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village  
Trustee Walker-Peddakotla  
0
0
NAYS:  
ABSENT: