Park Forest — Ch. 54 Human Relations § 54-3
Procedure for the reporting and independent review of allegations of sexual harassment against an elected official by an elected official
Operative Text
(a) Pursuant to Section 70-5 of the Act, elected village officials are encouraged to promptly report claims of sexual harassment by another elected official. Every effort should be made to file such complaints as soon as possible, while facts are known, and potential witnesses are available. If the elected official feels comfortable doing so, he or she should directly inform the harassing individual that the individual's conduct or communication is offensive and must stop. (b) Elected officials should report claims of sexual harassment against a trustee to the village manager or the mayor. If the report is made to the mayor, the mayor shall promptly notify the village manager. If the mayor is the subject of the complaint, the village manager shall notify the most senior trustee. The senior trustee is defined as the trustee who was sworn into office on the earliest date. If two or more trustees were sworn in on the same date, seniority will be determined by alphabetical order of the trustee's last name. If the report is made to the village manager, the village manager shall promptly notify the mayor. If the village manager is the subject of the complaint, the mayor shall notify the most senior trustee. Reports of sexual harassment will be confidential to the greatest extent possible. (c) When a complaint of sexual harassment is made against an elected official, the mayor shall appoint a qualified law firm that has experience in workplace investigations to conduct an independent review of the allegations. If the allegations concern the mayor, or the mayor is a witness or otherwise conflicted, the village manager shall make the appointment. If the allegations concern both the mayor and the village manager and/or they are both witnesses or otherwise conflicted, the senior most trustee shall make the appointment. The investigator shall prepare a written report and submit it to the mayor and board of trustees. (d) If the investigator finds that the elected official that is the subject of the investigation has engaged in sexual harassment, the matter will be addressed in accordance with the authority of the board and the finding shall be forwarded to the complainant and the Illinois Department of Human Rights.
Park Forest Village Code Ch. 54 § 54-3 establishes a process for handling sexual harassment allegations made by one elected official against another. Complaints are to be reported to the village manager or mayor, kept confidential to the greatest extent possible, and reviewed by an independent, qualified law firm experienced in workplace investigations. If an investigator finds that harassment occurred, the finding is forwarded to the complainant and the Illinois Department of Human Rights, and the matter is addressed according to the board's authority.
Plain English — not legal advice.
As a property owner or manager, Ch. 54 § 54-3 does not directly govern landlord-tenant relationships; it applies to elected village officials in Park Forest. However, operators should be aware that the village's broader human relations framework, of which § 54-3 is a part, reflects the municipality's commitment to anti-harassment standards. Staying informed about the full scope of Ch. 54 helps operators understand the regulatory environment in which they conduct business.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants in Park Forest should know that Ch. 54 § 54-3 is specifically directed at elected officials and the procedures governing harassment complaints among them, rather than at landlord-tenant matters. If a tenant believes a village official has engaged in conduct that implicates this provision, the section outlines a path through the village manager, mayor, or senior trustee, with findings potentially referred to the Illinois Department of Human Rights. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Park Forest's human relations ordinances can help residents understand which provisions of Ch. 54 may apply to their own circumstances.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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