What’s in a name?
At the Nov. 14 Northbrook Village Board of Trustees meeting, a nameplate was lacking on the boardroom dais. Trustees Joy U. Ebhomielen and Johannah K. Hebl had moved over two seats to the left, leaving one seat vacant on the far right.
Hebl was seated in the designated chair typically occupied by Trustee Muriel J. Collison. That Tuesday evening, Collison was not present.
Collison had resigned as Northbrook village trustee, revealed Northbrook Village President Kathryn L. Ciesla to the audience during the president’s report.
“In late October, Muriel Collison approached me and the rest of the village board indicating that for personal reasons, she was very likely to step down.
“On Nov. 6 of this month, I accepted her resignation to be effective Dec. 11,” Ciesla said.
Ciesla then read aloud a statement prepared by Collison.
Collison’s words included, “It is with great sadness that I announce my resignation.
“I love this community.
“I wish I could remain on the board but my children need me due to a family medical issue and I must step down,” Collison wrote. “Northbrook is such a special place and forever in my heart.”
The Village of Northbrook’s website has posted a trustee vacancy application. Collison’s term ends in April 2025.
Ciesla makes the new appointment after consulting with the village board. Applicants must adhere to requirements and can formally apply online or via hard copy.
The deadline to apply is 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 28. Applicants may be asked to participate in an in-person or virtual interview with the board. Apply at
https://www.northbrook.il.us/1143/Trustee-Vacancy-2023.
Collison’s most recent trustee career highlight was voting in favor of the massive redevelopment package for Northbrook Court last Oct. 30.
Collison said, “I’m very excited about this project.”
To the Brookfield Properties, operators and owners of Northbrook Court, in the audience on Halloween Eve, “I’m so excited that you guys want to invest this kind of money into our community,” Collison said.
“Our schools need it. Our community needs it.”
While the news about naming a successor to Collison stunned, the president’s report also included Ciesla’s comments about unnamed people and name calling.
On Nov. 12, more than 800 people converged in downtown Northbrook to address the Oct. 7 events in Israel by Hamas. There were two groups of thought, the smaller one at about 20 people, and the larger one as part of a silent vigil that was anything but silent.
The smaller group assembled on the plaza at the corner of Meadow and Shermer Roads that Sunday afternoon to call for a cease-fire. Hundreds more supported Israel’s right to defend its country against Hamas with a demand to release hostages.
Shouted profanity and slurs directed at the smaller group became overt name calling by some. On Nov. 14, Ciesla responded to feedback still circulating days later.
Social media users as of Nov. 16 included people from Northbrook and beyond who defended Israel’s name and called out posts they felt were outrageous, inappropriate and possibly dangerous.
From the dais, Ciesla said, “I’ve thought about this for a while and I wasn’t sure if I would address it or not.”
Ciesla assured the community the Northbrook Board of Trustees has a solid statement in support of Israel.
“It’s available on the website,” Ciesla said. “And I know there’s a whole contingent of people, maybe a handful of people on social media, that think it’s funny to poke fun at the village board and/or particular trustees.”
“But you really did this weekend, is you caused a whole group of our community members to be scared, to feel unsafe, shame on you, like, what are you thinking?
“It’s just absolutely horrible. I am just at such a loss,” Ciesla added. “And I don’t know what kind of soul would do that but it’s certainly a dark one.”
To that, Trustee Robert P. Israel said, “A lot of the community has been scared.
“I want to thank the police for what you did to keep us safe,” Israel said. “I’m looking forward to a future where we hear a lot more good things than bad things and a lot more safety than fear.”
What’s in a name continued to be a theme by Ciesla during the president’s report.
An ordinance amending the municipal code was passed on the unanimous consent agenda, changing the name of the village’s Special Needs Inclusion Commission to the new name of Disability Inclusion Commission.
For this, Ciesla welcomed Randi Gillespie of Northbrook to the podium. Gillespie is commission chair with a term ending in April 2025.
The commission is meant to, “coordinate and/or carry out programs in order to bring about full and equal participation in all aspects of life in Northbrook for people with disabilities,” according to https://www.northbrook.il.us/1052/Special-Needs-Inclusion-Commission.
Gillespie said the commission’s request to change the commission name is justified and appropriate because, “The term ‘Special Needs’ is sort of old, it’s sort of, some would say, even derogatory at times.
“We want to change the commission to disability, we think that it would be a little bit more hip, a little bit more aware,” Gillespie added.
“We sort of figured that we should get with it and as parents and committee members and people who have loved ones, we want to change the name.”
To Gillespie, Ciesla said, “We had no idea that it was like that so you’ve educated us.
“Sorry about that,” Ciesla said.
Gillespie said, “We’re good.”
“Excellent,” Ciesla then said. “Thank you.”
Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.
