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Village president’s reassignment plan draws sharp objections from trustees
Summary
The village president announced new trustee liaison assignments and a tightened agenda intake process; several trustees said they were not consulted, objected to midterm reassignments and asked the board to review whether the president may reassign liaisons without board approval.
The village president announced updated trustee liaison assignments and urged a stricter agenda intake process requiring items to be routed through administration and legal before placement on the board agenda. The changes, she said, are intended to broaden trustees’ experience and ensure items comply with the Illinois Municipal Code and the Open Meetings Act’s notice requirements.
The announcement listed new roles taking effect in July, including Trustee DeAtley as planning and zoning, Trustee Hoff overseeing water and sewer, Trustee Canelli keeping roads and parks and taking on village buildings and environment, Trustee Maguire as trustee at large, Trustee Schatzberger as police and public safety, and Trustee Thomas on finance. The president said items needing action must go through Administrator Van and legal counsel before being added to an agenda.
Several trustees responded forcefully. One trustee told the board that the reassignment notice felt like “corporate speak” and said moving experienced trustees midterm would disrupt ongoing projects and remove institutional knowledge. That trustee said, “I have been liaison to police and public safety for over 7 years,” and declined the reassignment, requesting instead to be designated a trustee at large if the change proceeded.
Other trustees described the new agenda process as overly complicated and asked for illustrative examples beyond recent water-main and easement matters. Questions included whether the code allows a trustee-at-large position, what voting authority such a trustee retains, and whether the president can make assignments without board approval. Attorney Schuster cited municipal-code language that appointments may be annual and said the office of the president has appointive authority; the board agreed to research the issue and consider whether an ordinance amendment is needed to change appointment timing or terms.
No formal action was taken on the liaison assignments during the meeting. Trustees said they wanted more consultation before changes are finalized and requested a follow-up review of municipal code language and any necessary clarifying ordinance language.
The board will revisit liaison assignments and any proposed code changes after staff and legal counsel review the municipal code and report back.
