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Board plans public meet‑and‑greet for mayoral applicants; one applicant withdraws
Summary
Trustees agreed to hold a public forum and meet‑and‑greet for the candidate(s) to fill the unexpired mayoral term; Kathleen Sabo withdrew her letter of interest and Lawrence Rael remains the active applicant while trustees discuss timing and whether to delay swearing‑in until after a pending development matter is resolved.
The board opened discussion on a process to fill the unexpired mayoral term. Two residents had submitted letters of interest: Lawrence Rael and Kathleen Sabo. Rael introduced himself and highlighted his decades of local government experience and interest in transportation, Main Street and keeping village government responsive. Sabo introduced herself but announced she was withdrawing her application, citing other priorities and concerns about national political developments.
Trustees discussed process options: conducting a public forum and a meet‑and‑greet to allow residents to submit questions for candidates, then taking a vote by majority to appoint a qualified elector. Village counsel (Attorney Chapel) reminded the board that state statute requires the governing body to appoint a qualified elector to fill the vacancy but does not prescribe a deadline; the board may lawfully design a public process but must ultimately act by majority vote.
Some trustees favored waiting until key items (notably the Palindrome site‑development matter) reach resolution to avoid immediate involvement of a newly appointed mayor; others emphasized potential legal exposure for prolonged vacancy and urged a sooner appointment. The board voted to defer formal adoption of written selection procedures so trustees could review a proposed procedure in writing; the motion to defer passed. Trustees said they will schedule community engagement events (a public forum and small-group meet‑and‑greet) and consider a final appointment timeframe in the coming weeks.
