LaGrange Park board appoints seven to Youth Commission after student pitch to decorate park for Halloween

President Decipio and the Village of LaGrange Park Board of Trustees on the evening approved appointments and reappointments to the village Youth Commission and heard a short presentation from a student who proposed seasonal decorations for LaGrange Park. The board unanimously approved a motion to appoint five students and reappoint two existing members to staggered two‑year terms.

The action followed a brief presentation by Ava Hanson, an eighth‑grader at Park Junior High, who said she had “a vision of, if any of you have seen Gilmore Girls, I’d really like to decorate LaGrange Park” and asked the board for support to put up Halloween decorations such as bales of hay and cornstalks. President Decipio introduced Hanson and said village staff had met with her about coordinating decorations and possible youth involvement.

The Youth Commission appointments the board affirmed were Knox Crook (sophomore, St. Ignatius), Kennedy Mulhall (eighth grade, South East Gross), Beatrix/Beatrice Provost (eighth grade, SC Gross), Ava Hanson (eighth grade, Park Junior High), and Jack Utney (junior, LT High School). The board also reappointed Luca Depa and Harry Keenan to terms running to September 2027.

Staff presented the commission’s composition and the number of current vacancies caused by recent graduations and recommended the appointments. Trustee (motion maker not specified in the record) moved to appoint the named students and reappoint the two members; the motion was seconded and passed by unanimous roll call. The board encouraged student participation and thanked Hanson for bringing the idea forward.

The board directed staff to coordinate logistics with village maintenance staff and the Chamber Youth Commission to explore safe and permitted placement of decorations in public park areas, and to confirm any necessary permits or site preparations (discussion only; no separate permitting decision was recorded at the meeting). The Youth Commission appointments take effect as specified in the motions and will be reflected in the commission roster.

Because the remarks and the motion occurred during the formal agenda item for appointments, the presentation by Hanson and the subsequent appointments were treated as agenda business rather than public comment.