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GET INVOLVED, OAK PARK !
Citizen voluneers embody long history of open government When it comes to citizen involvement in the process of making public policy,
few communities can match the number of opportunities offered by the Village
of Oak Park where volunteers on more than 20 separate boards and commissions
advise the Village Board on a wide range of important issues. The issues
dealt with by these citizen groups are many and varied. From proposals
for new developments to plans to better manage Oak Park's limited supply
of parking, the residents who participate on these bodies play key roles
in making sure policy enacted by the Village Board has had thorough public
review and is in the best interests of the community as a whole. As issues
have grown more complex, the work of these citizen groups has become more
valuable to the elected members of the Village Board. As part time lawmakers,
the Village president and trustees rely on the boards and commissions
to do much of the in-depth investigative work that a single board could
never have the time or expertise to complete. In the area of economic
development, for example, the Plan Commission typically reviews proposals
from developers in an open forum designed to allow for maximum input by
residents who have an interest in, or will be the most affected by, any
new structure. Long established to provide the primary forum for public
discussion on proposed major development projects, the Plan Commission's
charge is to ensure that developers have prepared specific, detailed plans
that preserve and enhance the character of the neighborhood and the community,
and to encourage citizen input and participation throughout the review
and approval process. Other boards and commissions operate in a similar
fashion. They conduct in-depth studies, evaluate research and hold meetings
that create the public record for citizen sentiments on possible future
actions by the Village Board. The boards and commissions then make recommendations
to the Village Board whose members have the statutory responsibility to
take any appropriate actions that may be needed or required. When vacancies
occur on these advisory bodies, the Citizen Involvement Commission interviews
those Villagers who have volunteered to serve. The commission then makes
recommendations to the Village president, who makes the formal appointments
with the consent of the Board of Trustees. For more information on volunteering to serve on one of the commissions
or boards call 708.358.5670, e-mail
the Village Clerk or click here to download application materials. Click on links below to learn more about each commission, including meeting agendas and other related information.
For an application or for more information about getting
involved in Village government on a volunteer basis, call 708.358.5670,
or e-mail the Village
Clerk
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Copyright © 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 Village of Oak Park, All Rights Reserved |
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