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Orland Park board adopts civility resolution after months of edits and debate
Summary
After extensive discussion and amendments including the phrase “to the best of our abilities,” the Committee of the Whole voted to adopt a civility resolution. Trustees debated language, scope and whether further review was needed; the motion carried on a roll call with one recorded dissent.
The Orland Park Committee of the Whole adopted a civility resolution May 19 after extended discussion and edits to the draft language, including an amendment adding the words “to the best of our abilities” to a pledge for elected officials.
Trustees described multiple drafts and redrafts during the meeting. Village staff said the original draft combined model language from the Illinois Municipal League and the U.S. Conference of Mayors; trustees and the clerk supplied subsequent edits that produced multiple versions. Trustee Mike Milani said he rewrote part of the draft to use a more positive tone and to make the document clearer and more concise.
The amended language added a commitment clause stating that elected officials “pledge to sign the civility pledge and adhere to it in their official actions demonstrating commitment to civility that inspires others, to the best of our abilities.” Trustee Milani and others argued the change acknowledged human imperfection while creating a public commitment.
Some trustees asked for another round of review. Trustee Milani moved to send the item back to committee for a final pass, but a motion to table that request failed. Trustee Milani and Trustee Malani urged additional edits; Trustee Leafblatt said she favored a final review before signatures. Trustee Lawler and several others argued the group had already undertaken substantial collaboration and that the board should adopt the revised pledge.
During debate, one trustee urged awareness of past personnel matters involving the village manager and cautioned against language that could be used to restrict or compel protected speech. Village Attorney Dennis Walsh responded to a separate public question earlier in the meeting about disclosure and legal requirements and said that, under state law and village code, the particular relationship raised in a public comment did not create a legal disclosure obligation for the speaker.
On final roll call the committee recorded: Trustee Leafblatt — Aye; Trustee John Lawler — Aye; Trustee Katsenas — No; Trustee Malani — Aye; Trustee Jesse Lawrence — Aye; Mayor Dodge — Aye. Trustee Healy was absent. With that vote the committee recommended adoption of the resolution as amended and the matter will proceed to final action by the village board as required by the village process.
Trustees asked staff to finalize a single, clearly worded version and to prepare a mechanism for officials to sign the pledge, acknowledging edits requested during the meeting. The board did not create any enforcement mechanism beyond the public pledge.
