Yorkville City Council Appointments Made After New Members Sworn

With Yorkville’s new mayor comes a new power structure on the city council

Not long after Gary Golinski solemnly swore to faithfully discharge the duties of office of mayor on Tuesday, the new council approved appointing Larry Kot as Golinski’s replacement as Ward 2 alderman. Aldermen also approved his council committee leadership assignments and his appointments for the city’s hearing officers.

Ward 4 Alderman Rose Spears will serve as mayor pro tem and take on Golinski’s role when he’s unavailable.

Spears also will chair the council’s Administration Committee. Here are the other leadership assignments:

• Economic Development Committee Chair: Ward 3 Alderman Marty Munns

• Public Safety Committee Chair: Ward 1 Alderman Carlo Colosimo

• Public Works Committee Chair: Ward 1 Alderman George Gilson Jr.

Former Ward 1 Alderman Wally Werderich, who did not seek re-election last month, and Yorkville attorney Daniel Transier were appointed as the city’s hearing officers.

The aldermen also voted to repeal the governing ordinance, which spelled out rules for how items are placed on the City Council agenda and how committee chairmen appointments are made, among other things. Under that ordinance, Ward 4 Alderman Diane Teeling would have had a committee chairmanship.

Golinski said a council committee will rework the ordinance, which he said had been confusing at time and often wasn’t followed.