City of Joliet Announces New Planning Director and Inspector General
From the City of Joliet:
City Manager Beth Beatty announced two key leadership appointments that underscore Joliet’s continued commitment to strategic planning, public accountability, and community-focused development.
Jayne M. Bernhard Named Planning Director
Jayne M. Bernhard has been appointed as the City of Joliet’s new Planning Director. In this role, Bernhard will oversee both short and long-term planning initiatives aimed at guiding Joliet’s continued growth and development.
“Jayne brings an extraordinary blend of expertise in planning, grant writing, and historic preservation, along with a deep personal connection to our city,” said Beatty. “Her work has already made a lasting impact in Joliet, and we’re confident her leadership will help shape a more vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable future for our community.”
Bernhard has served in the city’s Planning Division since 2017, most recently as a City Planner. In her new role, she will lead major citywide projects such as the Joliet Comprehensive Plan, the Interstate 80 Des Plaines River Bridge Community Plan, and implementation of the Downtown Joliet Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (ETOD) Plan.
A skilled grant writer, Bernhard has helped secure more than $3.7 million to support 15 planning and preservation initiatives. This includes the $3 million grant that is funding the new City Square in downtown Joliet. She also oversees historic preservation efforts, including the Joliet Area African American Historic Context Study and the nominations of Downtown Joliet and the Old Joliet Prison to the National Register of Historic Places.
“I love Joliet and I am very excited to serve in this new role,” said Bernhard. “I am backed by an excellent team in the Planning Division who care deeply about this community.”
Prior to returning to Illinois, Bernhard worked at the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, where she led award-winning planning studies in the Worcester and Springfield metropolitan areas. She was the primary author of the Pioneer Valley Regional Housing Plan, which earned the American Planning Association Massachusetts Chapter (APA-MA) Comprehensive Planning Award in 2013, the same year she received the APA-MA Young Planner of the Year honor.
Bernhard holds a bachelor’s degree from Marquette University, dual master’s degrees in History and Regional Planning from the University of Massachusetts, and a Certificate in Public History.
She is a graduate of Joliet Central High School and a native of Jackson Township. Today, she resides in Joliet’s Cathedral Area and serves on the board of the Joliet Area Historical Museum. She is also the proud mother of two young children.
Stephen H. DiNolfo Appointed Inspector General
City Manager Beth Beatty also announced the appointment of Stephen H. DiNolfo of Ottosen DiNolfo Hasenbalg & Castaldo, Ltd. as Joliet’s new Inspector General (IG), following a competitive bid process.
Mr. DiNolfo brings more than three decades of legal experience, with a distinguished career focusing on litigation, labor and employment law, and the representation of public sector entities. A significant portion of his practice is devoted to representing local governments and EMS providers in employment and malpractice claims.
Mr. DiNolfo has also successfully led investigations within the Joliet Police Department for many years. Police Chief Bill Evans added, “Our department has worked extensively with Mr. Dinolfo, utilizing him for a variety of sensitive internal investigations. Steve strikes me as a no non-sense investigator that is balanced and thorough. I welcome the opportunity to work with Steve as the city’s Inspector General.”
Under the city’s ordinance, the Inspector General reports to the City Manager and serves as an independent authority responsible for investigating allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, and misconduct within city government.
“Stephen DiNolfo’s extensive background in public sector investigations, coupled with his deep understanding of labor law and municipal operations, makes him exceptionally qualified to serve in this vital role,” said City Manager Beth Beatty. “We are confident that his leadership, impartiality, and integrity will help strengthen public trust in our city government.”
Mr. DiNolfo is well-versed in complex litigation and has represented clients in both state and federal courts, as well as before administrative tribunals. He has represented clients against a wide range of claims, including wrongful death, improper emergency response, and civil rights violations.
He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Toledo College of Law, where he served as Research Editor of the Law Review, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from LeMoyne College.
Mr. DiNolfo is admitted to practice in Illinois, New York, the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Central, and Southern Districts of Illinois. He is an active member of the Illinois State Bar Association, DuPage County Bar Association, Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, and the National Defense Research Institute.