Morton Grove board honors long-serving Plan Commissioner Dick Dorgan, proclaims Arbor Day and notes library director retirement

The Village of Morton Grove Board of Trustees on April 14 recognized longtime plan commissioner Dick Dorgan for decades of local service and issued a proclamation declaring April 24, 2026 Arbor Day.

Mayor Janine Witko presented a plaque to Dorgan and recounted his 52 years of community involvement and 37 years on the Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals. "His passion for enhancing our town for the benefit of all residents was palpable," Witko said.

At the podium, Dorgan thanked staff and neighbors and shared a self-deprecating anecdote about his time in the village: "I told them it was my parole officer checking on me," he said, drawing laughter from the meeting.

Witko read the Arbor Day proclamation, noting the village's 25th year as a Tree City USA and a fifth Growth Award from the National Arbor Day Foundation. The proclamation urges residents to support Morton Grove's urban forestry program and to plant trees to benefit future generations.

The mayor also announced the upcoming retirement of Morton Grove Public Library Director Pam Lefler and thanked her for years of service to the village. No formal action was required for the recognitions and proclamations. The board closed the item after brief remarks from trustees and the corporation counsel, who also thanked Dorgan and his family for their service.

The board scheduled its post-meeting travel to Springfield for trustee meetings with state legislators to advocate on village priorities including a new police department and village hall.