Northbrook returns to remote village board meetings

Surging COVID numbers, mainly due to the emergence of the highly-contagious Omicron variant, have resulted in the return to virtual meetings for the Northbrook Village Board.

In-person village board meetings returned last spring after being held remotely since the initial March 2020 shutdown.

At the start of the Tuesday's regularly-scheduled meeting, President Kathryn Ciesla asked Village Attorney Steven Elrod to explain why the village board is once again able to meet remotely.

He stated that the state of Illinois and the village are operating under an emergency declaration by Gov. J.B. Pritzker concerning the COVID-19 pandemic, and both the governor and Ciesla have determined that meeting in person is neither practical nor prudent.

"That allows the village board to meet remotely in accordance with the Illinois Open Meetings Act," Elrod said. "There's certain requirements to be met, (and) we've adhered to and met all of them."

Village manager Cara Pavlicek was present at village hall, which was open to the public for anyone who wanted to watch a presentation of the remote meeting. Pavlicek reported that no members of the public were in attendance.

"Arrangements have been made for meetings to be broadcast remotely, where participants can observe the meeting," Elrod said. "Public comments would be handled through written emails to the village."

Ciesla said the Jan. 25 board of trustees meeting will also be held remotely, and the status of February meetings will depend on virus numbers.

During the President's Report, Ciesla addressed concerns about Cook County mitigations that started during the new year in an effort to curb the pandemic, primarily in regard to the requirement that anyone 5 and older present proof of vaccination to dine indoors at a restaurant. Pickup and carryout patrons do not need to present proof of vaccination.

Ciesla stressed that the mitigation is coming from the county.

"I want to say to the community, and I've gotten a couple of emails on this, that this is not a Northbrook mandate," Ciesla said. "We do not require vaccine passports; this is something the Cook County Health Department has done."

Ciesla stressed that Northbrook restaurants need the support of their patrons at this point in the pandemic - now more than ever.

"Please think Northbrook first; our businesses have been through so much," Ciesla said.