OP_051619

OPPrairie.com news
the orland park prairie | May 16, 2019 | 3
Orland Park Village Board
La Margo out as manager at first meeting for new officials
Jon DePaolis
Freelance Reporter
The search is once again
on for a new Village manager
after the Orland Park
Village Board voted 6-1 on
May 6 to accept the resignation
of Joe La Margo.
The vote came after a
short executive session,
after which Trustee Dan
Calandriello cast the lone
dissenting vote.
After the meeting, La
Margo said he was asked
to resign by Mayor Keith
Pekau shortly after the
April election.
“It was within two days
[after] the election, but
he has been a gentleman
about it,” La Margo said.
La Margo said he met
with all three of the newly
elected trustees recently
and that he thought he
would have been able to
work with them had he
continued working as Village
manager.
“They really do seem
to have a passion for the
community,” he said. “I
wish them the best.”
La Margo said part of
his employee agreement
allows for him to be terminated
without cause.
“They decided that they
were going to exercise that
agreement, so we entered
into a separation agreement,”
he said. “I think it
was good and fair for both
parties. Again, I wish the
board the best of luck.”
La Margo worked for
the Village for 13 years
and has lived in town for
nearly 20 years. He said
he was leaving his role
with the Village with fond
memories.
“When you can help a
resident that doesn’t know
where to turn — that is
why I got into local government,”
he said. “Because
on the State level, it
is hard. On the local level,
when someone is having
problems, you can really
try and make a difference.
That, to me, was the best
part.”
After the meeting, Pekau
further explained why
he thought it was time to
move forward with a new
Village manager.
“Joe and I had a discussion,
and he determined
that the best course of
action was for him to resign,”
Pekau said. “Just
feel like for the Village going
forward that there are
other avenues we need to
explore moving forward as
far as [someone] that will
be more effective from the
Village manager-mayor
working relationship perspective.”
Pekau said there was
no specific thing about La
Margo that led to the decision
to ask the Village
manager to resign, and the
mayor said he would not
comment on La Margo’s
job performance.
Pekau also would not
comment on what would
have occurred if La Margo
opted not to resign.
“Not a decision we had
to worry about,” Pekau
said.
Pekau said the reason it
was on the May 6 agenda
— the first at which the
newly elected trustees
were seated — was to
move the Village forward.
“It’s better for Joe, and
it’s better for the Village to
just move forward and not
drag this out,” Pekau said.
Tom Dubelbeis appointed
to interim role
Immediately after the
Village Board voted to accept
La Margo’s resignation,
the board members
also voted 6-1 to approve
the appointment of Tom
Dubelbeis as the interim
Village manager.
Calandriello again cast
the lone dissenting vote.
He noted he supports
Dubelbeis but was concerned
about spending
money on La Margo leaving,
as well as money on
Dubelbeis, just to spend
more money once the Village
finds a new manager.
Dubelbeis is a former
Village trustee and current
Village liaison for the
Village’s Veterans’ Commission.
He is to be paid
$140,000 annually, with
the goal of having him in
place for 4-6 months, Pekau
said.
“We’re going to start
the search for a new Village
manager [May 7],
and we’ve already started
all the paperwork,” Pekau
said. “I think [Dubelbeis]
is as like-minded as me
as far as how information
should move throughout
the Village and how information
should flow and
how the team should work
together.”
Pekau also said he
reached out to Dubelbeis
for the position.
“That was my choice
Village Manager Joe La Margo serves his final Village Board meeting in that capacity
on May 6. He resigned amid a leadership change on the Orland Park Village Board.
Jon DePaolis/22nd Century Media
for the interim position,”
Pekau said. “I never really
talked to anyone else, because
he was at the top of
my list.”
As far as what Pekau
is looking for in terms of
the new permanent Village
manager, Pekau said his
feelings have not changed
since the last time the Village
was searching for one.
“The most important
quality for me is leadership,”
Pekau said. “Part of
leadership is integrity.”
He added there are several
directors on the staff
level who bring municipal
experience, so Pekau
wants someone who has
leadership capabilities.
Take Me Out to
theBallgame
RewardsChecking
%
2.85APY *
On balances up to $25,000
if qualifications aremet **
*APY =Annual PercentageYield. Kasasa Cash® checking accounts
earn 2.85% APY on balances up to $25,000, and 0.25% APY on
the portion of the balanceover$25,000 if qualificationsare met.
If qualifications are not met, all balances earn 0.05% APY.**
(888) 498-9800 •parkwaybank.com
24 Chicagoland locations
*Annual Percentage Yields (APYs) accurate as of 5/01/19. Rates and rewards are variable and may change
after account is opened. When your account qualifications are met during aMonthly Qualification Cycle,
balances over $25,000 earn 0.25% interest rate on the portion of balance over $25,000, resulting in arange
from 2.85% APY to 0.77% APY depending on the account’sbalance. Fees may reduce earnings. Overdraft/
returned item fees may apply. Account approval, conditions, qualifications, limits, timeframes, enrollments,
log-ons and other requirements apply. $100 minimum deposit is required to open the
account. Enrollment in online banking, at least 12 debit card purchases during each
monthly qualification cycle, and receipt of electronic statements are conditions of this
account. Limit 1account per social security number. Contact aParkway Bank Personal
Banker for additional information. Kasasa and Kasasa Cash are trademarks of Kasasa,
registered in the U.S.A. ** During aMonthly Qualification Cycle.