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Oak Park trustees approve series of proclamations, confirm three commission appointments
Summary
The Village of Oak Park board approved proclamations honoring Fire Chief Ronald Kobaleski and recognizing several April observances, confirmed three commission appointments and passed the consent agenda at the village board meeting. Several residents spoke in support of recent proclamations, including Trans Day of Visibility.
The Oak Park Village Board approved a series of proclamations honoring Fire Chief Ronald Kobaleski and designating multiple April observances, and confirmed three commission appointments during the village board meeting in Oak Park.
The board unanimously approved a proclamation honoring Fire Chief Ronald Kobaleski on the occasion of his retirement after more than 40 years with the department. Chief Kobaleski addressed the board and public, calling the experience "a fantastic 40 year, really," and thanked the board and the community for their support.
The board also approved proclamations designating Arbor Day and Earth Month in April; National Community Development Week; Black Maternal Health Week; Arab American Heritage Month; Dr. Percy L. Julian Day (April 11); Transgender Day of Visibility (March 31) with a related public celebration; and National Volunteer Week. Clerk Waters read several proclamations onto the record and the village posted them on its website for public viewing.
Public comment accompanied some of the recognitions. Speakers who addressed the board during or immediately after the proclamations included residents and community members who thanked the board and described local events tied to the proclamations. During the Trans Day of Visibility portion of the agenda, multiple residents and parents described Oak Park as a welcoming community for transgender residents and invited others to local visibility events.
The board approved the consent agenda, which included three appointments: Cheryl Wazniewski to the Community Relations Commission, Rachel Grama to the Community Relations Commission, and the reappointment of Frank Sullivan to the Plan Commission. During the roll call on the consent agenda the board recorded affirmative votes from trustees present; one trustee was recorded absent earlier in the meeting.
The board closed the agenda item with expressions of appreciation for volunteers and community organizers and moved on to other business.
Votes at a glance: - Proclamation honoring Fire Chief Ronald Kobaleski: approved (voice vote, recorded as "Aye"). - Proclamation — Arbor Day (April 2025): approved (voice vote). - Proclamation — National Community Development Week (April 2025): approved (voice vote). - Proclamation — Black Maternal Health Week (April 2025): approved (voice vote). - Proclamation — Arab American Heritage Month (April 2025): approved (voice vote). - Proclamation — Dr. Percy L. Julian Day (April 11, 2025): approved (voice vote). - Proclamation — Transgender Day of Visibility (March 31, 2025): approved (voice vote). - Proclamation — National Volunteer Week (April 2025): approved (voice vote). - Proclamation — Earth Month (April 2025): approved (voice vote). - Appointments (Cheryl Wazniewski, Rachel Grama, Frank Sullivan): approved (roll call recorded as affirmative for trustees present).
