Do commissions need photo IDs?

Picture this: Villa Park issues commission identification cards with photos.

The concept coming into focus is one that trustees view as a way to make it more difficult for people to misrepresent themselves as village leaders.

There are about 94 people serving on 15 village commissions.

Since May, some commissioners have been sworn-in during televised meetings, as outlined in current village code.

But none of those people have yet to receive a commission card, said Village Clerk Hosanna Korynecky.

That's partly because the village still hasn't received all of its commission cards back from former village clerk Connie McCrum, said Village Manager Robert Niemann.

McCrum resigned from office April 30.

In June, the village sued McCrum seeking the return of village documents including the cards McCrum had maintained.

If approved, new cards with photos would supplant the outstanding ones, Korynecky said.

The village clerk would maintain the cards and create a registry to account to whom they've been issued.

Trustees are expected to take a final vote on the issue at next week's meeting.

The idea to include photos on the cards was first raised in 2006 after a convicted felon who had worked on Village President Joyce Stupegia's successful election campaign tried to use a village card to claim that he was the deputy village president of Villa Park during a traffic stop, state police said.

No such position exists.

Jason T. McDermott, an Elmhurst native who'd been living in Macomb, was charged with impersonating a public official among other charges connected to that August 2006 arrest.

McDermott remains a fugitive wanted on at least two no-bond warrants, including one stemming from skipping a July court date on charges he stole Stupegia's ID and illegally used her name for credit card use.

In October 2006, Stupegia said one way to guard against improper use of cards would be if they included photos.

Along with taking photos, potential appointees also would be subject to a criminal background check to determine if they are eligible to serve on a village commission.