Dupage Policy Journal

The Village of Orland board voted unanimously on Jan. 16 to put a proposal on the April 4 ballot that will read: “Shall the Village of Orland Park retain the managerial form of government?”

Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau wants residents to vote no on this referendum and instead alter the village manager-village board form of government system that has been in place for more than four decades.

“Ultimately, the people get the choice,” Pekau said. “They should get the representation they want to have.”

According to the Chicago Tribune, while the village manager now “has final decision-making authority in key areas” and “acts as administrative and executive head of the village government for key purposes.” 

While a village manager acts as the village’s chief executive officer as far as overseeing village departments and day-to-day operations, that CEO role would be primarily filled by the mayor if the managerial form were to be abandoned.

Orland Park voters established the managerial form of government by referendum in November 1983, according to the village’s website, and the first village manager was hired in March 1984 after then-Mayor Fred Owens led a campaign to bring the managerial form system to Orland Park.

The village’s board will meet next  at 7 p.m. on March 6 at 14700 Ravinia Ave.