[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6374393,"mediaKeyId","2144708-942d86af66d99d4894b6953f91d192cc","parentId",2144708,"title","Resident criticizes politicized hiring of village attorneys; Mayor Van Dusen defends appointments","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",2920000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2144708-942d86af66d99d4894b6953f91d192cc&start=2920&end=2920","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2144708-942d86af66d99d4894b6953f91d192cc/thumbnail_2920000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6374393/Skokie/Cook-County/Illinois/Resident-criticizes-politicized-hiring-of-village-attorneys-Mayor-Van-Dusen-defends-appointments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6374393-8b5ea9158369dd7c31548e7288a3d942/orig.mp4?Expires=1775960772&Signature=P11b40RF41KL~hZnmInkYsE6VCa31ucQnkawDlHE3fvzAK19RRB30Jx~lyPQ4NWIezS5DKW9rEwoOZt1G~8JXlmiqRfmW7VsspBOwqSfuXhtzSr3~ud7h8nYlc4uH2y3Wo8ePI8PeC-9BqQJT5Pwn0GesGjuZXMFRxWB4W2~9JKFVcqRpBajgSjSBhIAs~JWi8eIB3ldxlmEgBMWpNyD5mFSEx2ADfVA2rgXOjawS0w~7mA9mSGOsYs1BnAORm2G~AHZjfR7PUk3KwS2SMNbcla9rYDN2h2paVUnZWIeQpXDqwY4vSpKXJLKwybC-Rhu255XJatmxfhWgP6fB3nlYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Village of Skokie, IL","date","2025-01-22T14:34:01Z","article","Public comment at the Jan. 21 Skokie Village Board meeting included a lengthy complaint that the village's legal department hiring practices are politicized, followed by a defense of past appointments from Mayor George Van Dusen.

An unnamed resident who said this was their 28th consecutive meeting to raise the issue argued the board has \"politicized and corrupted Skokie's legal department\" and called for reform. The commenter cited a 2002 appointment and related newspaper coverage as an example of politicized hiring.

Mayor Van Dusen responded directly, saying he nominated Pat Hanley based on experience and that appointees are not prohibited from participating in local politics. He recounted how the board's vote on that appointment was divided and named trustees who voted both for and against Hanley during the meeting: he said Dan Perrill and Frank McCabe voted in favor, while Michael Gelder, Michelle Brownberg and Harry Piper voted against, and he characterized the decision as made with the village's interests in mind.

Earlier in the public-comment period, Richard Vonitz of 7420 Kenneth Avenue used his allotted time to praise Van Dusen's quarter-century of leadership and to announce the mayor's reported decision not to seek another term; Vonitz credited Van Dusen with providing \"stable, mature municipal government.\" Van Dusen acknowledged the comment as unsolicited.

Under unfinished business, a trustee asked to set a firm date to review the village's term-limits ordinance; the board's target was to bring the matter to the first meeting in February, or if drafting was incomplete, to the second meeting in February.

Trustee Stocker offered condolences and resources for those affected by grief and loss in the Los Angeles area during public comment and then moved to adjourn for an executive session; the board voted to do so.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","January 21, 2025 Village Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","During public comment the board heard repeated criticism alleging political hiring practices in the village legal department; Mayor George Van Dusen defended past hiring decisions and cited split votes on a past corporation counsel appointment. The board also set a target date to review a term-limits ordinance.","taxTitle","Skokie, Cook County, Illinois","taxId",3818,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6374398,"Skokie board adopts resolution on executive-session minutes, authorizes executive session on pending litigation",806,2722000,3528000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2144708-942d86af66d99d4894b6953f91d192cc&start=2722&end=3528","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2144708-942d86af66d99d4894b6953f91d192cc/thumbnail_2722000.jpg","/articles/6374398/Skokie/Cook-County/Illinois/Skokie-board-adopts-resolution-on-executive-session-minutes-authorizes-executive-session-on-pending-litigation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6374398-96286110ca6faf151469ab8d202ea251/orig.mp4?Expires=1775960772&Signature=ex6PqF0qzerA~8EoiyY8lrY0Hr4Ve~lZca0ksJwQLpmF4GplcnlQqMOkgZHLUQCvRiaHXzOReHfeEN9ymNYp4Rm-8dxGUYlSw~meGRm4vub~V7dn8hUJm9b6hgMmoaJeDejbUDH2GGwEe33Biwgn2VFGymACnoxs3WY9wd3HgTxF0x9~8O7dUu0q-SdpBTjkAsC2~cI0BarAyFzgECE2ED0-wFAv240B59jMmNhPGfHnrMS-h6WQb6JDnX-XaWAto2tFsg7laLmQGYgPBS6dQSkwT0~2A45AYsU-U9-5QOcukXscctKApb-D2VGVdZv5trmzCae7pRGlN1b4vUYF2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Skokie Village Board on Jan. 21 adopted a resolution on the approval, release and continued confidentiality of executive-session minutes and considered the statutory status of associated verbatim recordings.

Corporation Counsel Michael Lorge told the board the resolution \"consistent with village procedure and state statute\" addresses approval, release or continued confidentiality of executive-session minutes and that the statutory trigger date for destruction of verbatim recordings for some sessions had not yet occurred. He also noted that executive sessions listed in exhibit 3, while eligible by date, were not recommended for destruction at this time.

Following Lorge's presentation, a motion to adopt the resolution was made by Trustee Johnson and seconded by a trustee whose name was recorded in the transcript as not specified. The board approved the resolution by roll call; the clerk recorded ayes from six members with one member absent.

Lorge then requested an executive session \"in accordance with paragraph 2 c 11 of the Illinois Open Meetings Act pertaining to the review and discussion of pending litigation.\" A motion to hold that executive session, moved by Trustee Sucker and seconded by Trustee Robinson, passed on the board's roll call vote. The board adjourned to executive session following the vote.

The resolution references exhibits 1, 2 and 3 with specific executive-session minutes and verbatim recordings; the transcript records counsel's recommendation that some recordings are not yet eligible for destruction and that others, while eligible by date, should be retained. The board did not detail the contents of those exhibits in the public record during the meeting.","The Village Board adopted a resolution governing approval and confidentiality of executive-session minutes, addressed statutory triggers for destroying verbatim recordings, and voted to enter executive session under the Illinois Open Meetings Act to discuss pending litigation.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6374403,"Skokie board approves new contracts to expand compost drop-off and subscription service",574,2237000,2811000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2144708-942d86af66d99d4894b6953f91d192cc&start=2237&end=2811","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2144708-942d86af66d99d4894b6953f91d192cc/thumbnail_2237000.jpg","/articles/6374403/Skokie/Cook-County/Illinois/Skokie-board-approves-new-contracts-to-expand-compost-drop-off-and-subscription-service","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6374403-76659c20b55efbf94ebe0d045d82bb71/orig.mp4?Expires=1775960772&Signature=cEgBEFvgFrfMWgM94eABKcTJR07PD9ceEmAPkoLFMkhzT5KRlJXvrzai0Jo~DY2uyNpQi5z~~pihGOhf3Uzrl4HT5yau~hCz9Ayi1yfia5DN8av6jjfTAjxNwZzxkxy0d8QX~SAyR-dJFqDXU3DX0xKKebDNSplVNLjmtS0PHJQ7pAjtOh7p9jWMgGoMkjfcXki56NekZbSiJhTlbEqeTrsPmQ9ylHruCp9HSpaoiErysycxCOVISdSwiJCBsT6yOWqmF0PxR0DFRaGKXRNZ2nrRrwlADYOwfogvEDsSK0XuyO2gMREpb7n79PnX-wut5G~V6F2RhPG7tMwIA3oYNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Skokie Village Board on Jan. 21 approved contracts with Waste Not Incorporated and Collective Resource Compost Cooperative to expand container-swap compost services for village drop-off sites and subscription accounts.

Village Manager John Lockerbie said the program has grown since its 2020 start, from 76 subscribers and about 14 tons of food scraps that first year to 343 customers and 12 free community drop-off sites; he said the village now projects more than 280 tons of food scraps will be composted this fiscal year. \"Food scrap composting continues to expand within the village since its inception in 2020,\" Lockerbie said.

The contracts emerged from a recent request-for-proposals process that Lockerbie said produced competitive pricing and new container options. According to staff, Waste Not will offer larger 64–65 gallon toters and 7-yard rodent-resistant dumpsters for drop-off sites, while both vendors will maintain flexible service options including biweekly collection schedules that better fit commercial customers.

Max Lankard of the Public Works Department, whom Lockerbie identified as a resident expert on the program, said the next outreach priority is multifamily housing and condo buildings, and cautioned that the program's growth raises education and contamination risks. \"The biggest challenge that I see with the program as we grow is maintaining strong education and keeping contamination out of the compost,\" Lankard said, noting contamination in compost streams is harder to remediate than contamination in recyclable streams.

A resident who identified herself as a subscription customer praised the service to the board, saying the household had less garbage and fewer odors after subscribing and that communications about pickup schedules had been \"outstanding.\" Trustee Robinson asked the resident and staff questions about program operations during the discussion.

A motion to approve the container-swap compost services contracts, made by Trustee Johnson and seconded by Trustee Klein, passed in a roll call vote with six ayes and one absence; Trustee Pierce Logan was recorded as absent.

Board members framed the vote as supporting the village's environmental sustainability plan, which the manager said targets a 5% annual increase in residential participation. The manager recommended board approval of contracts for Waste Not for both village drop-off sites and subscription accounts, and for Collective Resource Compost Cooperative for subscription accounts.","The Skokie Village Board approved contracts with Waste Not Incorporated and Collective Resource Compost Cooperative to expand container-swap compost services for village drop-off sites and subscription customers, citing rapid growth since 2020 and a need for education to limit contamination.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Resident criticizes politicized hiring of village attorneys; Mayor Van Dusen defends appointments

Skokie board adopts resolution on executive-session minutes, authorizes executive session on pending litigation

Skokie board approves new contracts to expand compost drop-off and subscription service