Town-hall frames stakes as Oglesby voters prepare to decide on city manager referendum

The Oglesby Plan Commission hosted a town‑hall meeting where municipal attorney Carl Addison outlined what a binding April 1 referendum to adopt a city manager form of government would mean for the city and its elected officials.

Addison, introduced as a municipal lawyer from Neighborville and managing partner of Addison Denalfo, told attendees that under a manager form the professional manager would oversee departments, appoint department heads according to council policy and take on day‑to‑day executive authority that now rests with individual commissioners. "In the commission form the individual commissioners have authority over the department," he said. "In the managerial form, the manager oversees everything." He added: "I don't have any skin in the game. I don't care what the citizens vote for here."

Why it matters: If voters approve the referendum, Addison said the managerial form would take effect at the next municipal election unless the council adopts an ordinance to implement it sooner. He cited Section 5‑14D of the Illinois Municipal Code and said, using the calendar available to the Commission,…