Oswego Village President Appoints New Legal Team

OSWEGO, IL—In a reversal of action, the Oswego Village Board of Trustees approved the staff appointment of Ottosen Britz Kelly Cooper Gilbert and DiNolfo as attorney during a May 7 special meeting. This firm previously provided legal counsel to the village.

The decision served as Village President Troy Parlier’s first move in changing the way the village operates.

Some controversy was incited as Trustee Luis Perez tried to open up discussion over the appointment for attorney.

“Because we receive a vote, it begs a little bit of due diligence, investigation, or in some cases—what I might call—a vetting process or interview,” Perez said. “I was just wondering why that isn’t necessarily the process for our new legal team.”

Parlier tried to explain.

“My role as village president is to assemble a team and make appointments,” he said. “I responded to you already privately. So, I’m asking you for your support.”

As a home-rule unit of government, state statute stipulates that the village president has the authority to make appointments with the consent of the village board.

Perez said he needs some answers in order for Parlier to gain his support.

“I do have some concerns and they may not necessarily become conflicts, but in the spirit of ‘I think you gentlemen said it succinctly: Transparency for the residents of Oswego,’ I think this is an appropriate moment to have this discussion,” he said.

Trustee Brian Thomas questioned why Perez was calling the village president’s appointment into question.

Further discussion regarding the item died for lack of board support in a 4-1 vote.

Perez was the lone trustee voting in opposition to changing the village’s legal team. Trustee Pam Parr was absent.

Also during the meeting, the village board confirmed several other appointments. Those include:

• Administrator Dan Di Santo
• Chief of Police Jeff Burgner
• Clerk Tina Touchette
• Engineer Jennifer Hughes
• Treasurer-Budget Officer Mark Horton

The appointments are effective now until after the 2023 election results are certified.