Orland Park is proposing to change how it handles curfews during teen takeovers, but a trustee is pushing back on giving the mayor and police sole authority to declare them without board input.
Officials are looking to prevent teen takeovers by changing the language in civil emergencies.
At the Sept. 21 Committee of the Whole meeting, several ordinance changes were discussed.
One of those was to “modernize” the village’s declaration of civil emergencies, which would allow corporate authorities, including the mayor, and the police to coordinate what they feel the best course of action to take depending on the “danger presented, and the needs of the community at large,” according to village documents.
“Curfews may be established for adults and minors when conditions warrant, such as during street takeovers,” the proposal reads. “Ordinances will also reflect a law update changing the age of minors from under 17 years of age to under 16.”
The proposal also charges parents with a “responsibility requirement including a mandatory court appearance, to ensure the village is protecting the health and safety of our residents for the violations of these sections.”
Orland Park trustees are expected to make a decision on the changes during their Oct. 5 meeting, but there might be some alterations.
Trustee Cynthia Nelson Katsenes pointed out that in the past, the police and mayor had immediate authority to call for curfews but that the trustees should have a say in it as soon as possible.
Curfews were called for in 2020 to try to prevent potential teen-takeover incidents at the Orland Square Mall, but the board had its say days later.
“We called a special board meeting,” Katsenes said. “I just think the trustees and the mayor should be involved for something that’s continuing.
“You can’t try to contact seven people and get everybody on board (right away) but after 48 hours, I think the board should be involved, whether it’s this board or future board. Then, we’re fully transparent to the public.”
She said the system that the village had worked well.
“It’s good checks and balances,” Nelson-Katsenes said. “We’re not taking any authority (away). You are still in authority but there is a time limit, if I’m not mistaken. Who are people going to call in a crisis or emergency? They are calling the trustee they know.
“For us to sit on the sidelines after it’s been declared – I think there should be a special meeting.”
Mayor James Dodge said adjustments could be made before any vote is taken.
“These are useful ideas and we will do the research and check out the implications,” he said. “It will depend on the incident and we will adjust it.
“We can put it on the (Committee of the Whole meeting agenda) and if we have a debate and we’re stuck at the COW, we’ll just table it. That’s easy. We’ll get it right.”
