The Village of Forest Park is incorporated under the Commission Form of Government with the Mayor and Commissioners elected every four years.  Forest Park has five Commissioners, four of which are elected at large.  The fifth commissioner is the Mayor who has the dual role of both Mayor and Commissioner.

Each elected official is responsible for one or more specific departments within the Village and each also oversees or presides over one or more of the various Boards, Commissions and Committees that are constituted by law or by the needs of the Village.

The total amount of the operating budget for fiscal year 2009/2010 is $22,416,079.

The Village of Forest Park employs 113 full-time, 67 part-time and 22 seasonal employees.

View Organizational Chart

LOCATIONS:

Village Hall, Clerk’s Office, Police Department and Department of Public Health and Safety
517 Desplaines Avenue

Community Center
7640 Jackson Boulevard

Fire Department
7625 Wilcox

Public Works
7343 W. 15th Street

COMMITTEES, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS:

Ethics Commission:

Paul Barbahen, Chair
Kathleen Garness
Lillian Coleman
Sharon O’Shea, Ethics Advisor

Board of Fire and Police Commissioners:

Steve Hinton
Brad Zandstra
Amy Rita, Chair

E-911 Board:

James Ryan
Craig Lundt
Steve Glinke
Laureen Thornton

Historic Preservation Commission:

Richard Vitton
Charles Crump

Library Board:

Andrea Blaylock, President
Karen Childs, Vice President
David McNeilly, Secretary
Trudy Roznos, Trustee
Margaret Rudnik, Trustee

Plan Commission:

Kevin Harnett
Bill Kirchner
Kristin Hartsaw
John Plepel
Paul Barbahen

Recreation Board:

Jennifer Wolfe, Chair
Blain Schneider
Micki Leventhal
William Walsh
Odessa Bynum Wynn
Theresa Marousek
Jessica Rinks

Traffic & Safety Commission:

John Hosty, Chair
Michael Chvatal
Audra Holmes
Kevin Harnett
Michael Smith
Terrance McMahon
Sharon O’Shea

Youth Commission:

Melissa Turek
Kila Bell Bay
Brenda Powers
Eric Connor
Karen Dylewski
Steven Knysch
Kathleen Ryan
Jorie Stevens
Richard Barger
Nicole Petrey
Kathy Grzelak
Susan Kunkle

Zoning Board of Appeals:

Austin Zimmer, Chair
Ray Paulin, Secretary
Kevin Hibbits
Sara Paguia
Burak Tanyu
Joan Antonio Montesinos
Richard Scafidi

REQUESTING PUBLIC RECORDS:

Pursuant to the fundamental philosophy of the American constitutional form of government, it is declared to be the public policy of the State of Illinois that all persons are entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts and policies of those who represent them as public officials and public employees consistent with the terms of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. Such access is necessary to enable the people to fulfill their duties of discussing public issues fully and freely, making informed political judgments and monitoring government to ensure that it is being conducted in the public interest.

The Village of Forest Park also believes that an open, honest and accountable government is the cornerstone of a democracy that can only be achieved through the free and open exchange of information between the government and the public.

The Village of Forest Park maintains many public records.  Public records can include anything of fiscal, historical, administrative or legal nature.  Some examples of public records available for provision under the Freedom of Information Act include, but are not limited to:

Accident reports	Agendas
Annexations, subdivisions, easements and land vacation records	Applications
Appointment books/calendars/phone messages	Appraisals
Audio and visual recordings (including digital)	Archives
Bids	Audit reports
Bond records	Board packets
Building records	Budgets
Certificates of publication, legal notices	Census records
Comprehensive Plans, studies and surveys	Checks
Contracts	Construction records
Department reports	Correspondence
Employment Applications	Election records
Films and other recordings	Equipment records
Grant records	Financial statements
Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund records	Health inspections
Insurance policies	Insurance Claims
Ledgers, Journals and Registers	Invoices
Liens	Licenses
Maps	Management letters
Ordinances	Meeting Minutes and recordings
Personnel, pension and payroll records	Permit records
Policies and Procedural manuals	Photographs
Resolutions	Press releases
Time records	State and Federal Tax records
Zoning plans	Utility records

All requests for copies or inspection of public documents under the Freedom of Information Act must be made in writing and should be addressed to:
                                                Vanessa Moritz, Village Clerk
                                                Village of Forest Park
                                                517 Desplaines Avenue
                                                Forest Park, Illinois 60130

Such requests may be tendered by mail or in person at the above address, by fax to (708) 771-0177 or by email to vmoritz@forestpark.net. Click here for our records request form.

The Village of Forest Park has designated the following individuals as Freedom of Information Act Officers:
            Vanessa Moritz
            Sally Cody
            Susan Bothie   
The cost to obtain copies is as follows:

• First 50 black and white letter, legal or ledger size copies – No Charge
• Any copies over 50 pages of black and white letter, legal or ledger size - $0.15 per page
• Color Copies - $0.25 per page
• Non-standard size copies – actual cost for outsourcing the copies – please ask for price estimate
• Electronic data on a compact disc $0.35
• Certification of any document $1.00