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Orland Park board adopts updated emergency‑management ordinance after detailed review
Summary
The village board adopted amendments to the municipal emergency‑management code after trustees questioned coordinator authority, volunteer coverage and budget placement. Staff said purchasing still follows regular procurement and volunteers will remain covered.
The Orland Park Board of Trustees voted to adopt amendments to the village code governing civil emergencies and disasters after an extended discussion about the ordinance’s scope and administrative details.
Trustee Jesse Lawrence moved to adopt the ordinance and it passed on a roll call that recorded multiple ayes and one no. Trustees pressed staff on how the emergency management coordinator’s procurement recommendations would operate, whether volunteers remain covered for workers’ compensation and where the program’s budget would be recorded.
Staff clarified that procurement would continue through the village’s regular process and that the coordinator’s recommendations still require the standard approvals. Trustees also confirmed the board intended volunteers to remain covered under the state workers’‑compensation and emergency‑management assistance grant provisions reflected in the ordinance language.
Discussion touched on lines of supervision, with trustees asking whether the coordinator would report through the village manager or the police chief; staff said the coordinator’s duties are exercised subject to the village manager’s designee and, operationally, will work closely with the police department and other department directors when needed. Board members also asked that definitions removed from the draft—such as a principal executive officer—were omitted because they were not applicable to local implementation.
Trustees framed the change as an update to align the village with current practices and to make sure the municipality can leverage existing facilities, equipment and personnel in emergencies. The board approved the ordinance and then recessed into executive session.
The ordinance amendment will take effect as provided in the municipal code; trustees did not set a separate implementation timetable during the meeting.
