Carol Stream swears in two police officers; board hears community events and pending FOIA/OMA changes

Carol Stream Mayor Dominic Savarino administered the oath of office Tuesday as the Village Board welcomed two new officers to the Carol Stream Police Department and heard a series of community updates, including adopt‑a‑highway volunteer activity, upcoming recycling and holiday events, and an update on pending state open‑government legislation.

The board heard opening remarks from a police department representative who introduced Officer Justin Barnett and an officer identified in the record only as Jacob. “The men and women of the Carol Stream Police Department are entrusted with immense responsibility, and we expect every one of them to demonstrate empathy, accountability, and respect for those they protect,” the representative said. Mayor Savarino later told the officers, “Congratulations to both of you, and welcome aboard.”

The newly sworn officers’ backgrounds were summarized at the meeting. Barnett was described as having more than four years of prior law enforcement experience with the Pima County Sheriff’s Office in Arizona, including service as a corrections officer, patrol deputy and school resource officer; the record also says he holds a bachelor’s degree in human and social services from Ottawa University in Surprise, Arizona. The record states the other officer is a lifelong Chicagoland resident and a 2018 graduate of Taft High School who previously worked in the finance industry and is fluent in English and Polish. According to the transcript, Barnett will begin his field training program immediately; the record says the other officer is scheduled to attend a 16‑week basic training academy at the Illinois State Police Academy in Springfield beginning next month. The transcript contains multiple variants of the second officer’s last name; the board record does not provide a single, verifiable last name for that officer.

Trustees and staff used their reports to note recent volunteer and community efforts. Trustee Guthrie and Trustee Berger referenced a recent Rotary cleanup on Gary Avenue and the village’s Adopt‑a‑Highway program; trustees said 10 organizations have signed up to adopt street segments and that 14 block captains have volunteered to organize local cleanups. Trustee McCarthy reminded residents that the village will run a free leaf pickup during the third week of November (leaves only, no stickers required) and noted a Nov. 1 pumpkin recycling event. Assistant Village Manager (name not specified in the record) provided a schedule of seasonal events: a recycling and shredding drop‑off (electronics, textiles and pumpkins) on Nov. 1 from 8 a.m. to noon at Town Center; the Carol Stream tree‑lighting on Dec. 5 from 6 to 8 p.m.; and registration dates for the Carol Stream Christmas Sharing program (registration Nov. 10–20; donations collected Nov. 3–Dec. 2).

Acting Village Manager Mallory briefed the board on a pending bill on the governor’s desk that would amend Illinois’ Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Open Meetings Act (OMA) if signed and take effect Jan. 1, 2026. Mallory told the board the OMA changes include a slight expansion of the closed‑session exception under Section 2(c)(16) to allow regional (not only statewide) associations, a prohibition on holding public‑body meetings on election days, and explicit authorization for individual members on active military duty to participate remotely. Mallory said staff will summarize the legislative changes in a future memo once the governor acts.

The meeting closed with additional community reminders — including trick‑or‑treat arrangements and a Nov. 1 pumpkin smash/recycling event — and congratulations to the new officers.

Upcoming dates noted at the meeting include the Nov. 1 recycling/shredding event and the Dec. 5 tree lighting; the record also references the village’s Nov. leaf pickup week and the Christmas Sharing program registration and donation windows.