Residents urge more committee review, raise allegations about past conduct and ask for audits

Several residents used the meeting’s public-comment period to press the board on procedure and past actions. CJ Vacker urged that more items be moved to committee and not voted on at the full board before public review; he criticized the recent police contract’s passage without what he described as adequate public review and asked for clearer coverage when board members are unavailable to take contractor calls.

Former trustee Mike Lawrence made extended remarks defending his record of projects and alleging that the village’s condition and conduct had worsened under recent leadership. Lawrence accused some officials of taking items off the agenda improperly and referenced missing or allegedly stolen items at the police department; he said he had contacted the attorney general’s office previously on related concerns and suggested an external audit. Mayor Pezze responded in part by noting prior conversations and asking Lawrence why boxes of materials were not brought into the office for review when requested. The board did not vote to open an external audit during the meeting.