Public comments were heard from a lot of the residents who attend time and time again. But this time, there was a level of animosity and an exception that was tested later in the board meeting.
The village board time ordinance for public speaking is only three minutes. Trustee Joel Gesky would later comment on it, and public speaking that day would amount to 30 minutes, with four speakers.
He stated that although he is “thick skinned,” the ordinance also states no personal attacks should be made against board members. He later questioned the mayor if she needed to have the ordinance amended. Mayor LaMore addressed the board and said that “Everything is not going to stay the same. There will be changes.”
Consideration of a motion to appoint Tiffany Thompson as Village Attorney.
During the past 23 years, the village has been represented by the firm Louis Cainkar, Ltd. Joseph Cainkar currently has been serving as the village attorney. Along party lines, board members would, in fact, draw the usual split: Trustee Gesky, Trustee Annette Zimbelman, Trustee Todd Crockett and Trustee CJ Boudreau would be the dissenters for consideration of this appointment. Trustee Barry and Trustee Vaughn would again be the lone two welcoming the appointment. Tiffany Thompson approached the podium, and began with an introduction of all her family members raised in Manteno, herself a K-12 school member. She added to that a list of accomplishments in the 22 years she has practiced law and being extensive and familiar with all the qualifications for a new face on board.
The rejected motion would be met with the disdain of the crowd. One crowd member jumped up and stated: “This is the same old story. There is no working with the new board, and this proves it,” as he exited the room.
Trustee CJ Boudreau stated, “We are currently involved in litigation that has cost the village $118,000. I met with Tiffany Thompson, and I feel that she is very qualified.” He went on to state, “There are just two reasons why I really didn’t feel the need to replace right now. One being the litigation and, second was, so far, I don’t see the need to change lawyers. I have never heard anyone complain on this village board that this lawyer or the firm is not doing a good job.”
Trustee Crockett questioned the time they had to meet Ms. Thompson or discuss. Mayor LaMore countered that she had Village Administrator Chris LaRocque send an email last Thursday offering for the trustees to meet with Thompson. She went on to state that Thompson, herself, has been present for all the board meetings.
Donation of Land from the Torstrick Family.
The mayor discussed the Torstrick family’s land donation, suggesting it could be used for a dog park or other purposes. They decided to table the discussion due to the need for annexation with that parcel, in which Mayor LaMore agreed.
Committee Reports as follows:
Committee reports were discussed with a motion to approve Ordinance 25-03, presented by Trustee Crockett, Public Works and Utilities. The amendment would require multi-family properties with dumpsters to enclose those dumpsters with fencing on three sides.
Properties and Recreation Trustee Gesky asked for consideration of a motion to approve a swing set in the amount of $6,252 to replace the swing set at Hendrickson Park. He also asked for consideration of a motion to approve electrical charges at Legacy Park Phase II in the amount of $5,734. Village electrician Eric Webber pointed out the electrical improvements being installed at Legacy Park were designed per the original specifications but do not allow for any further expansion of devices. His suggestion was to upgrade the service now in case additional lights or other devices become necessary in the future. This change of order facilitates that expansion. Updates regarding the Legacy Park fishing pier is that it is hoped to open by the end of the month.
Trustee Peggy Vaugh of Public Safety presented Ordinance 25-04, an ordinance authorizing the sale of personal property, surplus municipal equipment. With the purchase and implementation of the new radios, the police department is ready to dispose of the old radios. Public Works looked at any parts they could use and took some of the batteries to replace the older ones. Several smaller communities expressed a need for updated radios, so the board will decide to donate for their cause. Any remaining radios would be sold.
Ordinance 25-06, an ordinance amending Title 3, Business Regulations Chapter 9, Liquor Section Hours of the Village of Manteno Municipal Code was introduced, as well. Currently, liquor sales and consumption are restricted between 2 and 11 a.m. on Sundays. Trustee Vaughn would like to see the village change that restriction to allow sales and consumption at 8 a.m., citing most other communities in the area have changed their restrictions recently. It was suggested the current set of standards stay in place, noting there always would be a request for permits for fundraisers if they wanted to serve alcohol before 11 a.m. The motion died.
Trustee Barry spoke of the ongoing issue of kids riding bikes and scooters in the street. He talked of the bike and scooter rodeo to be held on Saturday, June 28, at 11 a.m.
Gotion Signage Creates a stir with Planning Committee Chair Paul Motel
Trustee CJ Boudreau, of Planning and Zoning, introduced Ordinance 25-0-1 zoning, which would allow vehicle rentals in FB-1 zoning district, for the property at 707 North Locust Street. He also introduced Ordinance 25-07, in which it would grant a variance from section 9-13-14 and 9-13-15 of the Manteno Municipal code to permit two signs to be erected on the Gotion Building, at 333 Spruce Street. Each sign would have areas greater than maximum heights of 15 feet above ground level. A public hearing was held on June 10 by the planning commission to consider this request and dissenting was Planning Commissioner Chairman Paul Motel. Motel approached the podium during the discussion asking for permission to speak and stated the reasons he didn’t approve of the ordinance proposal. He went on to state that with the illumination from the I-57 corridor, there was an eight second rule for illuminated signage. “If there was a malfunction; if it blinks and flashes, it could be mistaken for an emergency vehicle,” he said.
Boudreau stated he recently took a tour of the Gotion plant, along with Mayor La More, Village Administrator LaRocque, Trustee Vaughn and Trustee Barry. He stated that “when it comes to Gotion, I understand the frustration, but they are here to stay, and I’m on board. Most of the board here is in that mind frame. They have invested over five million on one side.”
Boudreau went on to state that a village board also must be a good neighbor. “We are going to benefit from them. The people ask, how do we benefit from that? And the kind of stuff like jobs, they’re going to bring other businesses, they’re going to bring in more people. We will reap the benefits. It’s not going to be immediate, but in the next 10 years, I will bet you money. I will bet all the money that I have that we will see great benefits to our town. I get the anger that it’s China and all that stuff. I don’t think anyone on this board is communist, so we don’t have to worry. I don’t know how we can prove to you; do you want us to take a loyalty oath?” The motion was approved with Trustees Crockett, Boudreau, Gesky and Zimbelman voting aye, and Trustees Vaughn and Barry voting nay.
The train has seemed to have derailed
The contentious atmosphere didn’t dissipate when the final comments were addressed. Trustee Gesky had a list of questions he presented to the mayor regarding issues such as allowing public commenting to go past the allotted time. He questioned the mayor’s handling of the property tax rebate, noting people were asking about that. He questioned her regarding the job postings not being up, but four people were given background checks. He told her she could be liable for not being transparent.
Mayor LaMore countered by stating she was getting all these resumes and wanted to see if they ever needed somebody that she would have a pool to choose from. He went on to ask about a 5,400-page FOIA request she submitted, which took the staff roughly 40-50 hours to complete. He asked the mayor why that duplicate request was asked of the staff.
Her response was “all the documents given were stacked up very high, and there was so much to go through it would take me several days to read through everything to find what I was looking for. Nothing was divided up, nothing was bound with clips or folders. It was all stacked up.”
Gesky went on to state how this was creating a hostile work environment. Mayor LaMore’s response was “Joel, when you’re sitting in this chair you can decide how you want to handle it. That’s the way I did it.”
Gesky responded, “I’m sitting in this chair, and I have a right to question you about documents you request. As you need to understand, we’re here to work together and, for the last month, I’ve been trying to work with you, but in the last two weeks we have not. The train has seemed to have derailed.”
Gesky wasn’t through. His final question to the mayor was regarding why she hadn’t signed Village Administrator LaRocque’s contract. He stated that, “It is my understanding that that has not yet been signed and delivered to him. Is it? So, I guess the question I have first is if the village board voted on it and approved the contract on it, we then overrode the veto and then amended the contract. I guess the question why hasn’t it been signed in which?
Mayor LaMore stated, “I wasn’t comfortable signing it from the beginning because it wasn’t an appointment I made, and it was forced on me at the first meeting that I presided. The board has voted in favor of it, but I have the option to either disagree or agree.”
In which Gesky responded. “So, you’re just doing it out of spite?” The mayor countered that it wasn’t spite, while Gesky replied, “Sure to hell sounds like spite to me; Chris has done everything in his power to make your transition smooth.”
The mayor interrupted by stating, “I’m not saying Chris is doing a bad job. What I’m saying is there must be changes made. Everything is not going to stay exactly the same. We have new people who have joined the board, and I have the right to make appointments. We do need to make changes. If everything stays the same, how does that benefit the town of Manteno?”
Trustee Zimbelman, then asked her what if somebody wasn’t signing your contract? In which the mayor’s response was “I would look for another job or find out what I could do. I’m not saying Chris is doing anything wrong.”
You could cut the tension with a knife in this room
Trustee Crockett began his public speaking with “You could cut the tension with a knife in this room right now, but I don’t quite understand some things that are being done so far. Many things will improve, but maybe they will change. But tonight, we were asked to appoint a new attorney. I had to call you last week and ask you why. I had no idea we were even talking about a new attorney until I called you and your response was because you need to make some changes.”
He continued to speak of the way the mayor was doing her job. He went on to ask why they were not made aware to discuss this at a committee meeting, which they’ve done for years. “You need to take a close look at some of these things that are being presented.”
Mayor LaMore responded, “I am not like the previous mayor, and they might do the things the way you think they should be done, but I am trying my best, and I’m trying to be open and forthright with everybody.”
The meeting concluded after 90 minutes, with no real resolution presented to the divide.
When the trustees were making comments at the end of a meeting, CJ Boudreau made the comment that Gotion is here to stay. Who the heck is he to say that publicly . Does he realize it’s still going through court very unprofessional making that statement.
If the opening invocation that the new mayor has instituted had to be approved by the board it probably would have been voted down. That’s how contentious the board is towards the new mayor.