ZRFM Shares Ideas on Effective Local Government

Richard G. Flood, Ruth Alderman Schlossberg, and Kelly A. Cahill spoke on the topic of effective local government at the annual conference of the Illinois Municipal League. The conference took place on Sept. 15-17, 2011, at the Hilton Chicago Hotel.

Their hourlong Sept. 16 presentation was titled, “You’ve Been Elected. Now What Do You Do?” A video of the event appears below. (Flood speaks first, followed by Schlossberg at the 15:50 mark and Cahill at 37:10.)

The practical session provided officials with a better understanding of their roles, powers, and limitations. The session focused on a combination of theory and practice to help attendees make sure their term as an elected official is productive and satisfying.

The three attorneys practice local government law at ZRFM. Flood and Schlossberg co-authored a 170-page book for newly elected officials, published by the Illinois Municipal League, from which their presentation got its name. For more information, please view ZRFM’s Books and Publications.

During Flood’s tenure with Zukowski, Rogers, Flood & McArdle, the Crystal Lake-based firm has grown from six lawyers to 19 and from one to three offices. ZRFM is the largest law firm in McHenry County, Illinois. In addition to Flood’s renowned local government law practice, he also focuses on divorce and family law.

Schlossberg joined Zukowski, Rogers, Flood & McArdle in 2003. She is thoroughly familiar with all of the recently rewritten provisions of the Illinois “sunshine laws” — the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Illinois Open Meetings Act (OMA). She advises elected officials and government administrators on operating with increased certainty so they can streamline work and avoid unfunded expenses.

Cahill serves as a municipal attorney for the village of Algonquin and acts as counsel to the planning and zoning boards of the cities of McHenry and Genoa. She also practices employment law. Cahill speaks frequently on labor and employment law and provides training to various organizations on diversity and sexual harassment awareness.

For more about their professional credentials, please view the biographies of Richard Flood, Ruth Alderman Schlossberg and Kelly Cahill.