FOIA Information

This information is published by the Village of Westchester as required by Section 4 of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/4). It describes the Village, identifies the officials who handle public records requests, and explains how to submit a request.

About the Village of Westchester

The Village of Westchester is a municipal corporation operating under the council-manager form of government as defined by the Illinois Municipal Code. The Village President, Village Clerk, and six Trustees are elected at large to four-year terms; the Village Manager is appointed by the President and Board of Trustees. The Village has served residents since 1925.

• Main office: Westchester Village Hall, 10300 W. Roosevelt Road, Westchester, IL 60154
• Main phone: (708) 345-0020
• Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM (closed the first Wednesday of each month)
• Operating departments: Administration, Clerk's Office, Community Development, Finance, Fire, Police, and Public Works
• Boards and commissions: Planning & Zoning, Fire & Police Commission, GROW Ecological, Ethics, Liquor, Veterans, Economic Development, Senior Commission, Police Pension Board, Fire Pension Board, and the Broadview-Westchester Joint Water Agency
• Organizational and financial details, including the current operating budget and number of employees, are available on the Village's Transparency Portal and Government pages.

FOIA Officers

Written requests for public records may be directed to the Village's designated Freedom of Information Officers:

How to Submit a Request

Requests for public records must be made in writing. You are not required to state a reason for your request, except that the Village may ask whether the records will be used for a commercial purpose. You may submit a request using the form below, by email to [email protected], or by U.S. mail or in person at Westchester Village Hall, addressed to the attention of a Freedom of Information Officer.

Note on email requests: Effective January 1, 2026 (Public Act 104-0438), a FOIA request submitted by email must appear in its entirety within the body of the email. As a cybersecurity measure, the Village is not required to open attached files or hyperlinks to view or access the details of a request (5 ILCS 140/3(c)).

Response Time

The Village will respond within five (5) business days after receipt of a written request. This period may be extended by up to five (5) additional business days for reasons permitted under 5 ILCS 140/3(e); any extension will be provided to the requester in writing. Requests for records to be used for a commercial purpose are handled under 5 ILCS 140/3.1.

Fees

• The first 50 pages of black-and-white, letter- or legal-size copies are provided at no charge.
• Additional black-and-white letter- or legal-size pages are $0.15 per page.
• Color copies, oversized copies, and records produced on other media are charged at the actual cost of reproduction.
• Requests for a commercial purpose may be subject to additional fees as allowed by the Act.

Categories of Records Maintained

The Village maintains records by department, including but not limited to: ordinances, resolutions, contracts, meeting agendas and minutes (Administration/Clerk); budgets, audits, expenditure and payroll records (Finance); permits, inspections, and zoning records (Community Development); incident, arrest, and accident reports subject to applicable exemptions (Police); incident and inspection records (Fire); and infrastructure, water, and maintenance records (Public Works). Some records are exempt from disclosure in whole or in part under 5 ILCS 140/7 and other applicable law.

Submit a FOIA Request

Use the form below to submit your request online. Required fields are marked.

Right to Review

A requester who believes a request has been improperly denied may seek review by the Public Access Counselor, Office of the Illinois Attorney General, 500 S. Second Street, Springfield, IL 62701, (877) 299-3642, or may seek judicial review in circuit court under 5 ILCS 140/11.