Village of Orland Park to Host Second Telephone Town Hall Meeting

Photo: Orland Park Mayor Dan McLaughlin (left) and Village Trustee Jim Dodge listen to callers' questions during the village's 2015 Telephone Town HallMeeting. Orland Park will hold its next Telephone Town Hall on Thursday, April 28 at 7 p.m. Residents without land line telephones may participate in the meeting by calling 708/581-8777.

ORLAND PARK, IL — The Village of Orland Park has implemented a number of programs to increase its civic engagement, inviting residents to offer input, ask questions, clarify rumors and more. One of the town's newest engagement programs debuted in 2015, Orland Park'sTelephone Town Hall Meeting.

"We had a very good response to last fall's Telephone Town Hall," said Orland Park Mayor Dan McLaughlin. "It worked like a radio talk show where people called in to listen or to ask questions. We had nearly 3000 people participate."

Orland Park's second Telephone Town Hall will be held Thursday, April 28 at 7 p.m. The hour long meeting is held over the telephone and will address public safety in Orland Park and give updates on other items of interest.

The Telephone Town Hall enables residents to ask questions or simply listen to the conversations.

Like last fall, nearly 20,000 residents will receive pre-recorded calls from the mayor to their land line telephones a few minutes before the start of the meeting. The recorded message from the mayor will invite them to remain on the line to participate.

"We're always looking for ways to get people involved, learn how they think we're doing and what concerns they have," said Trustee Jim Dodge, chair of the Technology Innovation and Performance Improvement Committee. "This worked well last September because people called in with great questions and shared their thoughts on what's important to them."

Those with questions specific to the evening's topics can press star to speak to a call screener before being entered into a question queue. Calls are answered live in the order they are received.

Callers unable to get through during the hour will receive personal replies within the week. Those with questions unrelated to the night's topics may remain on the line after the meeting to leave messages along with their names and phone numbers.

"We're hoping that residents are able to join us for the Telephone Town Hall on April 28," the mayor said. "It's a neat way to ask about things that are happening in Orland Park --- from the comfort of your own home."

Residents without land line telephones may participate in the meeting by calling 708/581-8777 at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 28.