Ray Heise to Retire

Village attorney Ray Heise, a veteran of public life in Oak Park, is retiring after nearly 40 years of employment, officials announced Friday.

The retirement is effective June 30. Heise will be replaced in the interim by assistant village attorney Simone Boutet as village officials deliberate the future of the village's law department.

According to a press release issued Friday, Heise "expects to continue to be available to work part-time as the Law Department transitions into its new configuration."

Heise spent time as a law clerk with Oak Park in 1975, became village prosecutor in 1976 and was later promoted to assistant village attorney and, in 1984, became village attorney, the post he's held ever since.

"It has been an honor to work with Ray for nearly five years now," Village Manager Tom Barwin said in a press release. "His historical perspective on so many issues and unwavering integrity and sense of ethics have been invaluable as he helped guide us through a fair number of challenges. The Village Board, Village staff and the people of Oak Park have benefited greatly from his unwavering commitment to the ideals of Oak Park. He will be missed."