Village of Forest Park Village Council met Feb. 23
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Students from D91 led all assembled in the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:04 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Commissioner Maxham, Commissioner Nero, Commissioner Melin-Rogovin, Commissioner Voogd, Mayor Hoskins
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE FEBRUARY 9, 2026 REGULAR MEETING OF THE COUNCIL
Motion to approve the minutes from February 9, 2026, regular meeting, as revised, was made by Commissioner Maxham, seconded by Commissioner Melin-Rogovin, and approved unanimously.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE FEBRUARY 9, 2026 CLOSED MEETING OF THE COUNCIL
Motion to approve the minutes from February 9, 2026, closed session, as revised, was made by Commissioner Maxham, seconded by Commissioner Melin-Rogovin, and approved unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Lou Arzon, a property owner in the Village who owns several properties within the community, addressed the Council. He expressed frustration regarding communication between the Village and property owners who may reside outside the area. He requested that the Commissioners and Village staff make a greater effort to communicate with the billing address on file, particularly concerning infrastructure projects.
Village Administrator Entler read a proclamation recognizing Public Schools Week and acknowledging School District D91.
COMMUNICATIONS
No formal communications were before the Council.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Public Works 2025 Annual Report
Public Health and Safety 2025 Annual Report
Community Center – February 2026 Report
Three reports were presented under Department Reports: the Public Works 2025 Annual Report; the Public Health & Safety (Building Department) 2025 Annual Report; and the Community Center Report for February 2026.
Commissioner Nero thanked staff for all three reports. He noted that the Public Health & Safety (Building Department) Annual Report was especially helpful in highlighting the accomplishments achieved in 2025. He thanked Director Glinke for the comprehensive report and for his continued efforts in supporting economic development initiatives.
Commissioner Melin-Rogovin stated that she found the reports helpful and insightful and thanked the Public Works Department for their continued services to the community.
Commissioner Voogd encouraged residents to review the reports and expressed thanked the Public Works Department’s transparency, including its openness in sharing the challenges faced while operating within a tight budget.
All three reports are available in the Village newsletter and on the Village website under their respective department pages.
BILLS BY RESOLUTION
Deputy Clerk Roach read the bills by resolution for the various departments, with a total amount of $633,471.14.
Motion to adopt the resolution on the bills was made by Commissioner Maxham, seconded by Commissioner Nero, and approved unanimously. This was recorded as Resolution 14-26.
NEW BUSINESS
1 Presentation: Burke Engineering 2026 Infrastructure Project
Jim Amelio of Burke Engineering presented an overview of the Village’s ongoing infrastructure projects. The Village continues to make progress on lead service line replacement, green alley initiatives, water main improvements, and other necessary infrastructure upgrades. Additionally, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is expected to renovate the Des Plaines Avenue bridge over Interstate 290 within the next one to two years.
2 Ordinance appointing Carla Taylor as Village Clerk
Motion to approve the ordinance appointing Carla Taylor as Village Clerk was made by Commissioner Maxham, seconded by Commissioner Nero, and approved unanimously Ordinance 07-26.
3 Resolution approving and authorizing the execution of a consulting agreement with addendum by and between the Village of Forest Park and Ryan llc (f/k/a Kane, McKenna and Associates, Inc) regarding the study and evaluation of certain areas within the village located at or near the intersection of Brown Avenue & Franklin Street in regard to a potential Tax Increment Financing district.
Motion to approve the resolution was made by Commissioner Maxham, seconded by Commissioner Nero, and approved unanimously Resolution 15-26.
4 Approval: Community Center Senior Trip Agreement – Timberlake Playhouse
Motion to approve the Community Center Senior Trip Agreement for Timberlake Playhouse was made by Commissioner Maxham, seconded by Commissioner Nero, and approved unanimously.
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Village Administrator Entler formally welcomed Carla Taylor as the Village’s new Village Clerk and thanked the Council for their patience throughout the selection process. She noted that the Village received approximately 25–30 applications. While the residency requirement limited eligibility for some candidates, the Village was pleased with the strong  pool of applicants and is excited to welcome Ms. Taylor to the team. Administrator Entler also reminded residents that vehicle sticker renewals are now due.
COMMISSIONER REPORTS
Commissioner Maxham welcomed Clerk Taylor and shared that she is currently compiling financial projections related to a proposed places of eating tax. She anticipates the topic will be discussed prior to the start of the budget review process in June.
Commissioner Nero reported that Courtney of Muse Consulting has concluded her contract with the Village, and the Village has begun the process of identifying a new urban planning firm. He thanked Commissioner Melin-Rogovin for meeting with him to discuss zoning matters and expressed appreciation for her feedback. He also thanked Jim Amelio for his continued insight regarding ongoing infrastructure projects.
Commissioner Melin-Rogovin thanked Commissioner Nero for the collaborative discussion on zoning. She reported that the recent Safety and Traffic Town Hall was a success, noting the significant effort made by the Safety & Traffic Committee to share goals with the public and to listen to community concerns. She expressed appreciation to District 91 students, families, and staff for attending and encouraged residents to participate in the March 7 parade.
Commissioner Voogd welcomed Clerk Taylor and expressed appreciation to local schools in recognition of Public Schools Week. She noted that there are currently open seats on the Recreation Board and shared her hope that appointments will be made from the recent applicant pool in the near future.
Mayor Hoskins reported that he recently had a productive meeting with the I-290 Corridor development team to discuss planning efforts along the Eisenhower Expressway. He noted that the Des Plaines Avenue bridge over Interstate 290 is in need of repair and that the I-290 Committee is aware of the issue and working with IDOT on a plan. He expressed hope that future improvements will also include enhancements to the CTA station at 711 Des Plaines Avenue.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn was made at 7:55 p.m. by Commissioner Nero and seconded by Commissioner Maxham.Â
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