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Steger trustees deadlock over mayor pro-tem; Tim Perchinski appointed to lead meeting
Summary
After multiple tied votes to select a mayor pro-tem, the Village of Steger trustees appointed Trustee Tim Perchinski chairman pro-tem so the board could proceed. The board heard a legal opinion that it cannot continue without a chair and then approved minutes and moved to regular business.
Clerk Joseph Zagone opened the Feb. 3 meeting, called the roll and began taking nominations for a mayor or chairman pro-tem to preside.
"With no objection: I will begin in the absence of a President to ask if any of you have nominations to make for that position," Clerk Zagone said as the board started the nomination process. Trustees nominated multiple candidates over successive roll calls but the board repeatedly split on the choice.
After several failed rounds that left the body deadlocked, Trustee Tim Perchinski urged colleagues to be practical. "Guys, we have five more meetings. We have done the exact same, when we were in need of a mayor, every time for the last 12 years, Ernie Lopez has been our choice. Can we get this together so we can get this meeting going?" Perchinski said.
Village Attorney James Vasselli told the board he had researched the question of whether the meeting could proceed without an elected chair. "Without a chair, I do not see how we can proceed with the meeting," Vasselli said, citing the duties of a chair under Robert's Rules and state practice.
Following that legal guidance Trustee Tim Perchinski accepted a nomination and the board appointed him chairman pro-tem by roll call (Thurmond, Lopez, Trotier, Joyce and Perchinski voted aye; Stewart voted no). The appointment allowed the board to return to business: the Jan. 21 minutes were approved and the meeting continued.
The episode underscores how the board's internal divisions can affect municipal operations: the clerk and attorney warned that, without a temporary chair, the corporate authorities had no lawful way to proceed with official business.
