La Grange Board Questions Proposed Removal Of Parking Power

LA GRANGE, IL – La Grange's lawyer on Monday disputed assertions from a local critic that an administration proposal would shift power from elected officials.

It turned out two of the elected officials also had concerns with the proposal for parking regulations – at least the way it was presented.

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At Monday's Village Board meeting, resident Jonathan Robinson, who has criticized the village government over the last year, focused on the proposal.

He pointed to a provision that would grant power to the village manager to establish parking policies, removing language giving the board that authority.

Robinson called that a "massive" shift in power that the village administration "glossed over" in its memo describing the ordinance changes.

He also noted the board's agenda called for approving the ordinance changes as part of a package of items known as the "consent agenda," meaning no debate. (The board later removed it from the package to discuss it separately.)

In response, the village's attorney, Ben Schuster, said another provision already gave the village manager such powers. And he said the board can always override the manager's decision.

"Unlike the claims earlier that this was a significant policy change, there has been no policy change offered by change of authority within the code," Schuster said. "It's also consistent with what the village practices have been over the last several decades."

But Trustee Beth Augustine said she had asked the administration before to alert the board to any proposed reductions in its powers well before meetings.

"I have noted instances of this in the past, and I've asked that we always be consulted in advance, no matter how minor," Augustine said.

She said she had considered voting against the parking proposal based on the provision in question.

But she said she was fine with it based on what she heard at the meeting.

"But I will continue to be looking for these things," she said.

Village President Mark Kuchler said he entirely agreed with Augustine.

"I spoke with staff," he said. "If there's going to be a change, small or large, on anything with regard to the power of the board, we really need to have that spelled out – reasons why it's being done or suggested to be done," Kuchler said. "For the most part, we don't want it being done."

Trustee Steve Palmer, who was attending his first meeting as a board member, said the provision takes no power from the board, which has the ultimate say.

The board voted unanimously for the changes. Trustee Shawana McGee was absent because of a family medical emergency, officials said.

Two years ago, Augustine and other trustees balked at an administration proposal to give the manager power to hire two officials, removing the board's authority.