La Grange board appoints Timothy Griffin as chief of police; approves design review chair and consent agenda

The Village of La Grange Board of Trustees voted unanimously to appoint Timothy Griffin as the village’s chief of police and approved several routine items, including the appointment of Kevin Cahill as chair of the Design Review Commission and the consent agenda.

The board nominated and confirmed Timothy Griffin after a motion by Trustee McGee and a second by Trustee Thompson. Griffin, who most recently served as deputy chief of police for administrative and support services in the Mount Prospect Police Department, was described by the presenter as having a 25-year career that included service as an administrative sergeant, patrol sergeant, detective, and school resource officer. The presenter also noted Griffin is an FBI National Academy graduate and is certified eligible for chief of police through the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police.

Griffin recited the oath of office at the meeting, saying, “I will support the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Illinois,” and pledged to “faithfully discharge the duties of the office of chief of police to the best of my ability.”

The board’s motion to appoint Griffin passed on a roll-call vote with Trustees Augustine, Gail, McGee, O’Brien, Peterson and Thompson voting yes.

In the same meeting, the board voted to appoint Kevin Cahill as chairperson of the Design Review Commission to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Christine Banks. Cahill’s appointment was presented for a term expiring in 2025 and noted that he resides at 421 Brainerd Avenue. The appointment passed unanimously on roll call.

The board also approved the consent agenda — which included minutes of the July 10, 2023 regular meeting and consolidated voucher 2307204 — by unanimous roll call vote.

At the end of public business the board approved a motion to move into closed session under sections 2(c)(5), 2(c)(11) and 2(c)(21) of the Illinois Open Meetings Act; the chair noted no formal action would be taken while in closed session. The roll call on that motion was unanimous, and the board indicated it would return to public session on Aug. 28 at 7:30 p.m.

Votes at a glance: • Appointment of Timothy Griffin as chief of police — mover: Trustee McGee; second: Trustee Thompson; vote: Augustine Aye, Gail Aye, McGee Aye, O’Brien Aye, Peterson Aye, Thompson Aye; outcome: approved. • Appointment of Kevin Cahill as Design Review Commission chair — mover: not specified; second: not specified; vote: Augustine Aye, Gail Aye, McGee Aye, O’Brien Aye, Peterson Aye, Thompson Aye; outcome: approved; term expires 2025. • Consent agenda (minutes of July 10, 2023; consolidated voucher 2307204) — mover: not specified; second: not specified; vote: Augustine Aye, Gail Aye, McGee Aye, O’Brien Aye, Peterson Aye, Thompson Aye; outcome: approved. • Motion to enter closed session under 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5), (11), (21) — mover: not specified; second: not specified; vote: Augustine Aye, Gail Aye, McGee Aye, O’Brien Aye, Peterson Aye, Thompson Aye; outcome: approved (no formal action to be taken in closed session).

The board’s approvals place Griffin in the village’s top public safety post and install a new Design Review Commission chair; the consent agenda vote finalized the routine administrative items presented at the meeting. The board said it would not take formal action during the scheduled closed session.