Trustee Janet Berson formally censured after board debate over confidentiality and conduct

The Village of Hampton Hills Board of Trustees adopted a formal statement of censure for Trustee Janet Berson after a prolonged debate during its Jan. 7 meeting.

The motion to censure was introduced after trustees said they had repeatedly counseled Berson about conduct they say included sharing confidential information and communicating with parties engaged in litigation with the village. A written statement read into the record accused Berson of "leaking confidential information, including information discussed in village board closed sessions to outside parties" and of "engaging in conduct which raises new potential liabilities, expenditures, and compliance issues for our village." The board moved to adopt the statement and approved it by roll call.

Berson denied the allegations during the meeting, saying she did not violate closed-session confidentiality and noting she had learned at a municipal conference that closed-session confidentiality is not itself the subject of a censure under Illinois law. She also said the repeated accusations were intended to silence her political speech and that much of the board's criticism was personal rather than procedural.

Other trustees urged a return to civility and professionalism. Trustee Ed Munsey and others said the censure followed repeated notices and training and was intended as a formal admonition, not a removal from office. Trustee comments during the debate referenced prior meetings and training where closed-session conduct had been discussed.

The roll-call vote on the censure recorded a majority in favor and the censure was entered into the meeting record; the clerk will include the statement as part of the official minutes.

Ending: Trustees said they want to move forward as a professional board; the censure will be part of the official record and the board asked the clerk to include the statement in the minutes.