By JOE LOGAN  (4/8/2010 6:41:49 PM)

Talk about a wild meeting.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE ENTIRE MEETING

The first work session held by the 2010 village board was held on Monday immediately following the reorganization meeting where newly elected mayor Al Kasprzak and trustees Pat Shea, Ernie Scheer and Randy West were sworn in.

The meeting was not light on topics as the board went through over a dozen items.  However they saved the best for last when they discussed the police agreement with the town.

Recently the town board sent a letter to the village letting them know that they were triggering a clause in the agreement that allows them to terminate the agreement prior to 60 days of the end of the contract which is June 1.  (The town says it has no intention of terminating the police service or terminating all parts of the current agreement but wanted to have "a seat at the table" when decisions are made regarding the police service)

Supervisor Jolene Jeffe and councilwoman Sue Friess were in attendence and sat there while the board chastised the town for sending the termination letter.  "The phone is a beautiful thing" said mayor Kapsrzak.

The village blasted the town for several things including meeting in executive session to agree on the termination plan and not having it on the agenda, not talking with the village before making the decision, stressing out the police force who may think that they will not have a job if the agreement isn't continued, and using the police as political pawns.

The village seemed to almost want to allow the contract to lapse and give the town an ultimatum to either continue the contract as planned or get their own police service.  "They don't want to," said West.  "If they want to [use another service provider] let them."

The town seemingly has no leverage since councilwomen Friess told the board that they only want a seat at the table and there was no other issues.  "You can believe us or not," she said.

The town can play the card of saying they could just go with the county sheriff service like the surrounding towns, but they have said that they want to continue with the village police service so that seems like an unlikely scenario.

The village board was frustrated that they couldn't figure out exactly what the intent of the letter was since the current agreement already allows for input from the town.  If they were interested in a more formal role that could have been done without terminating the contract, they said.  Trustee Kevin Biggs said that by law they couldn't have a vote in police matters.

I thought it was great when trustee Biggs said that they should discuss this all in public and not in executive session so the entire debate was heard.  I think both governing bodies should make an informal rule never to go into executive session unless the item is specifically (and not tangentially) a union contract negotiation item.

Enjoy the video.

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User Comments:

Kristin ...(4/12/2010 5:25:33 PM)
"The village seemed to almost want to allow the contract to lapse and give the town an ultimatum to either continue the contract as planned or get their own police service." I am utterly stunned. Trustee West is not the entire Board. Being at the meeting told another story. There was some talk of contingency plans, which you must agree is prudent when one side suddenly terminates a contract. But the Board clearly wondered how a 90-day extension could possibly be necessary if, as Councilwoman Friess said repeatedly, all the town wanted was a seat at the table. I can't rewatch the video here, but I recall multiple board members (as well as Councilwoman Friess) stating that this issue could and likely would be settled long before the termination date on June 1. That's hardly the same as allowing the contract to lapse. But perhaps I am misremembering. Could you give us an idea of when such an ultimatum was suggested or supported by anyone besides Trustee West? Regarding executive session, I agree wholeheartedly.

David Foley ...(4/12/2010 11:59:08 AM)
I can't figure out why the Village can't figure out why the Town would want a say in decisions that effect their constituents taxes.