North Cook News

Village officials from Skokie, Illinois, discussed several position changes on village commissions at their April 3 meeting.

The public hearing featured several tense moments, according to a video of the meeting posted to the Sokie YouTube page. The agenda for the evening included discussing the resignation of Mike Shaah from the Planning Commission, and the resignation of Vijai Gupta from the Zoning Board, as well as consideration for appointing Gupta to a vacant position on the Planning Commission.

Council member James Johnson asked the council to consider tabling the appointment of Gupta to the Planning Commission position as doing so he said, “was not in the best interests of the community.” He said the council should not fill a vacant committee position with minimal notice as it was unfair.

Johnson said the council should allow time for residents to put in their applications for the positions before a decision is on made on any appointment, according to the video. Two residents shared Johnson’s sentiments with one saying she had a similar experience with the Technology Commission.

Skokie Mayor, George Van Dusen, said Gupta is an “extraordinary candidate” for the Planning Commission as he has a master’s degree in structural engineering and has years of experience in the industry.

“We did get applications, I got two other applications that were made in addition to this,” Van Dusen said. “All commissions are open, whether there is a vacancy or not, anybody can apply for any commission. And one of the things we do on the commission application is ask for three preferences, a first choice, a second choice, and a third choice.”

As opportunities become available, the mayor makes recommendations to the board, Van Dusen said.

“I try as best possible to interview everybody, and when I do interview people if their first or even their second choice is not open as a vacancy, I will frequently ask somebody, ‘would you like to work on public safety for a couple years and if a vacancy occurs you would be considered for this position?’”

Gupta has served on the Sustainability Committee and Zoning Board, so Van Dusen said he felt like a new application process was not needed, especially since Gupta expressed an interest in serving on the Planning Commission for eight years.

The council voted to approve Gupta’s appointment to the Planning Commission.