Island Lake Gov't. minus Mayor & 1 Trustee

The Trustees of Island Lake met tonight and, as expected, Mayor Debbie Herrmann and Trustee Donna O'Malley were MIA. Many residents showed up to protest the stonewalling of the community by the Mayor and to criticize her for refusing to meet with the Trustees to explain her suspension of police chief Anthony Sciarrone and Ofc. Fred Manetti.

The meeting started on time at 8:00PM, with Trustee John Ponio calling the meeting to order and asking for the first order of business to be the appointment of a person to run the meeting in the absence of the mayor. Upon motion and second, Ponio was voted to run the meeting.

Public comments were invited, and many of the residents spoke about the damage to the reputation of their community by the mayor's arbitrary and unexplained actions. Concern pertaining to loss of credibility for their police department was expressed. Trustee Ponio expressed his own concerns for the public safety of residents and the town.

Scott Puma, attorney for the Village who has been in the news recently, did not attend tonight's meeting. Representing Ancel Glink tonight was Don Anderson, who is listed on Ancil Glink's website as "of Counsel", not as a Partner or Associate Attorney of the firm. I did not hear him introduced or even his presence seated with the Trustees explained. For such an important meeting as this, why would Ancel Glink send an "of Counsel" attorney and not a Partner?

One member of the audience questioned the Trustees as to whether there had been any dialogue between the "legal person present" about the Mayor's or the missing Trustee's not attending tonight's meeting. Attorney Anderson said there had not been.

There was no reason to think that his answer was incorrect; he answered the question that was asked, which was whether he had had any dialogue with Herrmann or O'Malley. However, it didn't answer the question as to whether there had been any dialogue between any lawyer at Ancel Glink and Herrmann and/or O'Malley. Media reported this week that O'Malley had been advised by the Village's attorney not to attend tonight.

A woman resident in the audience stated, with great feeling, that the mayor had taken away the checks and balances that the Board provides and stated that she was very disappointed that the mayor did not show up tonight.

When Ponio was asked who started the investigation of the chief, he said that the Mayor started it and said she would inform the Board when she thinks the Board needs to know. In response to a question about whom the law firm of the Village represents (the mayor or the Village), Ponio said that the law firm represents the Village.

Another woman resident referred to the mayor's actions as "pathetic, regarding the lack of caring by the mayor."

At 8:20PM the Trustees voted to enter executive session, and the members of the public were asked to leave the Board room.

Ofc. Fred Manetti arrived as the members of the public were leaving the Board room, and he waited outside the Board room until he was called in. When I approached Ofc. Manetti about a possible comment, he politely refused any comment. After a period of time he left the Board room and the building. A comment on the Daily Herald website remarked that Manetti may be a part-time investigator for the State's Attorney's Office.

I heard only positive remarks tonight from the residents tonight about both Chief Sciarrone and Ofc. Manetti.

I also heard from a resident that sometimes it was difficult to get answers from the Village's law firm, because one attorney would be asked a question and say he would get back with an answer, but then a different attorney would show up at the next meeting and know nothing about that question or the answer that was to be provided. Perhaps the Trustees should inquire why Attorney Scott Puma did not attend this meeting himself.

At about 10:30PM the Board returned to open session and stated that no action would be taken tonight. In spite of that statement a letter from three of the Trustees will ask for the reinstatement of both Chief Sciarrone and Officer Manetti.

Obviously, there is much more to come from this. The next regularly scheduled Board meeting is Thursday, February 25. Anyone interested in following this saga should check the Village's website daily; visit www.VillageofIslandLake.com

Be sure to click the link on the left side for "Agendas/Notices" and then click on the link at the top of the Agendas/Notices webpage for the "upcoming meeting agenda." That's where you will find out about any special meeting before or after a regular Board meeting.