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Villa Park trustees unanimously amend employee handbook to add misconduct examples and clarify complaint process
Summary
The Village of Villa Park Board of Trustees on March 2 unanimously approved an amendment to the employee handbook that adds 'releasing of confidential information' and 'conduct unbecoming' to examples of illegal or dishonest activity and clarifies that complaints go to a supervisor or HR, then to the village president if necessary.
VILLA PARK — The Village of Villa Park Board of Trustees on March 2 unanimously adopted an amendment to the municipal employee handbook that expands examples of prohibited conduct and clarifies how complaints are reported and escalated.
The board recessed into an executive session under exception C1 (employment of specific individuals) before returning at approximately 7:19 p.m. to consider the resolution. Trustee Alfano moved to approve the amendment; Trustee Constatos seconded. Following discussion and minor wording changes, the board approved the resolution in a roll-call vote.
The amendment, read aloud for confirmation by village counsel, lists examples of illegal or dishonest activities as: "violations of federal, state, or local laws, billing for services not performed or for goods not delivered, other fraudulent financial reporting, releasing of confidential information, and conduct unbecoming of a village official, employee, contractor, vendor, or volunteer." Attorney Morton read that paragraph to the board at the meeting.
Trustee Constatos asked the board to add more specific language to the examples under consideration. "Misconduct, mismanaged duties, and releasing of confidential information," Constatos said during the discussion, urging the board to be explicit about actions the handbook should cover. Several trustees and counsel debated whether broad phrases such as "mismanaged duties" might be legally vague; the board agreed to use "conduct unbecoming" and explicitly extend coverage to contractors, vendors, volunteers and village officials.
The resolution also clarifies the complaint pathway. Attorney Morton explained the proposed process: an employee or covered individual should first bring a complaint to the immediate supervisor or the human resources manager; if the complainant "has a genuine belief" those avenues cannot properly address the concern, the complaint may be submitted to the village president. In cases where the village president receives a report, the president "shall disclose the existence of any report submitted to him or her" to the board while preserving substantive details and, when needed, presenting specifics in executive session to protect confidentiality.
Trustees discussed the need to balance confidentiality with oversight. Trustee Kumar said the board should be informed when a complaint rises to the level of the village president so the board can "keep our eyes on the actionable circumstances after the fact." Counsel confirmed that notifying the board of the existence of a report is appropriate while preserving confidential details unless executive-session review is necessary.
The motion to adopt the amended resolution carried on a unanimous roll-call vote. Clerk Lalin recorded votes of "yes" from Trustees Alfano, Cordova, Gustados, Kumar and Sabri. The board adjourned at approximately 7:34 p.m.
The village earlier entered executive session under exception C1 to discuss employment of specific individuals; no action from that session was announced when the board reconvened and voted on the handbook amendment.
