Now that the ordinance governing the voluntary Tree Board has been amended to give the mayor sole power to appoint members, Mayor Kyle Hastings said he plans to advertise for candidates to interview for the three vacancies.
The board was created seven years ago as a requirement of the National Arbor Day office. It actively monitors tree growth and beautification in the village.
Last month, Trustee Steve Chiarito’s attempt to name two members to the board was blocked by other trustees who claimed the provision in the ordinance that allows the “mayor and the board to make appointments” was confusing. They voted to table the issue.
When the matter was returned to the board Wednesday, Hastings submitted a revised ordinance, which provides for appointments to be made only by the mayor with the advice and consent of the board.
According to Trustee Chris Andrews, all other boards provide for mayoral appointments, so “we are just making this uniform.”
Tree Board Chairman Brad Bray said he’s eager to have new members appointed and highly recommended his two candidates, Lynn Dvorak and former mayor Lorin Schab, because of their background in environmental science and biology. Bray, who is a member of the Orland Park Garden Club, has a bachelor’s degree in environmental science.
The Tree Board’s latest mission is to transplant about a dozen green ash saplings from the site of the Pepperwood home development to a small lake in the Ashbourne Hills subdivision.
