Council hears letter alleging October petition dispute and public posting of documents; residents say they were not notified

A letter read into the March 2 meeting record described events from an Oct. 6, 2025 council meeting, alleging that two council members behaved inappropriately, that documents and emails were posted to social media, and that the actions amounted to defamation. The letter said council leadership had sought legal counsel and that attorneys sent cease-and-desist letters to those responsible for the public postings.

The letter also described a dispute about election-petition signatures. It said the writer initially understood that 75 signatures were required, but that a review of the village charter showed ward candidates needed 25 valid signatures. The letter said consultation with the law director and subsequent contact with the Board of Elections clarified the requirement. Several residents in attendance contested parts of the account, saying they had not received the letter and that the petition dispute had affected their campaigns. One resident said they had to visit the Board of Elections multiple times to confirm their place on the ballot.

Council members Jeff Patterson and another member issued a joint response at the meeting, saying they had not received cease-and-desist notices and that their actions were taken to promote transparency. The council did not open a formal ethics investigation during the meeting; one speaker suggested referring process clarifications to the charter committee so the rules governing candidate petition handling and council-staff communications can be made explicit.

The council recorded residents' requests for copies of the letter and for any counsel communications. No formal vote or disciplinary action resulted from the discussion at the March 2 meeting; council members asked staff to preserve the record and consider whether charter language needs revision.