IN THE CIRCUIT COURT
TWENTIETH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS
GENEVA DOTSON, FERRIS WILLIAMS,
and CARLENE TUCKER,
Plaintiffs,
)
)
»
d
)
) No, 21-MR-177
)
VILLAGE OF WASHINGTON PARK and)
LEONARD MOORE, President of Board)
of Trustees of Village of )
Washington Park, IL, )
)
Defendants. )
On August 20, the Court convened a hearing on Plaintiffs’ Complaint for
Mandamus. In addition to the named parties and their counsel, approximately 12
other individuals attended, all of whom were either past or present elected officials,
or otherwise directly involved and/or interested in the Village's governmental
process.
At the outset of this proceeding, the Court advised all present of the
limited, prospective nature of the Mandamus remedy. The Court explained that
nobody is seeking damages. For this reason, from the Court's perspective, little
would be gained by calling witnesses to perpetuate testimony which looked
backwards.
No, 21-MR-177
Page 1 of 4‘The Court then asked counsel for cach Party their view. The Court made
clear that if either side disagreed, the Court was more than willing to conduct a full
hearing, with witnesses, But neither side did; rather, the Parties agreed that such
a formal hearing would be neither necessary nor productive.
Thereafter, a full airing of the respective parties occurred in open court.
Nearly everyone present had an opportunity to address the Court directly, including
several individuals who were not named in the Complaint.
Further, the Court has fully reviewed all of the pleadings.
‘The Court is fully advised on the matter.
Being fully advised, the Court Orders as follows:
‘Trustee Carelene Tucker shall be reinstated immediately, and - - consistent
with the requirements of 65 ILCS 5/3.1-25-5; 65 ILCS 5/3.1-10-15; 65 ILCS 5/3.1-10-
50; and 65 ILCS 5/3.1-10-55 - - the appointment of Christine Jackson shall be
rescinded.
The Defendant shall fully comply with:
+ 65 ILCS 5/3.1-10-50;
= 65 ILCS 5/3.1-40-20;
~ 65 ILCS 5/3.1-40-30;
ind Pen meatk.nne Act
- All other non-discretionary requirements of Illinois law.
5 ILCS 120/2.01;
‘The Defendant shall fully comply with the Open Meetings Act.
No. 21-MR-177
Page 2 of 4Insofar as, pursuant to applicable law, a meeting is to be conducted via Zoom,
but the Trustees are able and willing to physically attend the meeting, in person,
they shall be permitted to do so.
The access of the Trustees to City Hall and the Senior Citizen Building shall
not be abridged; in fact, the Defendant shall install a panel with an access code by
the door of each building. This code shall be distributed to cach Trustee, and other
government and necessary personnel as appropriate.
Packets shall be made available to the Trustees by the Friday proceding the
Tuesday meetings.
Actions previously taken without a quorum must be re-voted on by the full
Board of Trustees,
Actions previously taken that, but-for the presence of Christine Jackson,
would have been taken without a quorum must be reviewed and re-voted on by the
full Board of Trustees.
Actions previously taken wherein Christine Jackson's vote constituted the
deciding vote must be reviewed and re-voted on by the full Board of Trustees.
‘The Court cannot Order, but STRONGLY ENCOURAGES, the following:
‘The Parties are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to work together, for the
betterment of the Washington Park community.
The Parties are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to consider team building
exercises, ideally led by a trained professional,
No. 21-MR-177
Page 3 of 4The Parties are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to form subcommittees, and
utilize these subcommittees in a constructive manner to more efficiently accomplish
city business.
The Parties are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to agree on a process whereby
proposed agenda items which were not taken up at a meeting be given priority at
the next meeting.
‘The Defendant has filed a Counter-Complaint for Mandamus, seeking a
finding that certain Trustees have abandoned their role. For now, that action has
not been called up. However, once this Order is in effect, the Parties are warned
that if any clected Trustee fails to attend meetings, the Court may be willing to
entertain Defendant's Counter-Complaint at a later date.
‘Therefore, all Trustees are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to attend all
meetings.
SO ORDERED.
Hon. Judge Date
No. 21-MR-177
Page 4 of 4