Dolton trustees approve Class 8 implementation, hires, historic commission and three settlements

The Dolton Board of Trustees on Monday approved a package of measures affecting development incentives, municipal staffing and legal settlements, including the implementation of a Class 8 resolution, a new finance hire and an ordinance creating a historic commission.

Why it matters: The votes advance property-tax incentive implementation and administrative capacity in finance and recordkeeping while concluding multiple legal claims against the village.

Trustees voted to implement Resolution 25-014, a Class 8 measure that the mayor and trustees said had been approved previously by the board in March 2022 but not implemented at the time. The mayor said the current action was to move forward with implementation tied to economic development on Martin Luther King Drive.

The board approved hiring a new accounts-receivable/finance staff member to the village payroll and authorized opening a separate bank account for Pope Leo activity. Trustees also adopted Ordinance 25-005 creating (or amending title to create) a Dolton Historic Commission.

The meeting concluded by approving three settlements discussed in executive session: Dukes v. Village of Dolton (approved), a related Miles settlement (approved with mixed board votes and abstentions), and Thompson v. Village of Dolton (approved). Vote tallies recorded during roll calls were entered into the public record for each motion.

Trustee Belcher read the corporate warrant lists and led roll calls for each motion. Mayor and trustees discussed that the Class 8 item was previously approved in 2022 and is now being implemented as part of local economic development planning.

The actions were taken by roll-call votes during the Oct. 6 meeting; individual trustees' votes are recorded in the meeting minutes.