Village Board - Regular Meeting

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the Manteno Village Board meeting for Monday, August the 3rd of 2026. I'd like to call the meeting to order. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. And while we're standing, tonight we have Pastor Jacob Harris from the Christian Church of Manteno to do the invocation.

Micah chapter 6, beginning in verse 6. With what shall I come to the Lord and bow myself before the God on high? Shall I come to him with burnt offerings, with yearling calves? Does the Lord take pleasure in thousands of rams and 10,000 rivers of oil? Shall I give him my firstborn for my wrongdoings, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has told you, mortal one, what is good and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we open before you this call that we would be a people of justice, of mercy, and that we would humble ourselves before you. Father, I pray in the areas where wisdom is needed, that we would take appropriate measures for wisdom to seek out not what we wish, but what you wish, what your will is, Father. And that areas where we can seek out love and the well-being of others, Father, that we would make that our call. And above all, Father, that we would represent your son as you have asked us to. Father, we pray the most important message to anyone and everyone here, the gospel, that Jesus died, that he was buried, and that he resurrected three days later. And I encourage any and all who have not heard that message to heed that message here this evening. But as we go about our business, as we go about seeking out to do your will and to do your pleasure, that we seek them out in this way, justly, mercifully, and humbly before you. I pray all these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

Amen. Thank you, Reverend Harris. Roll call, please.

Barry. Yes. Boudreaux. Here. Vaughn. Here. Crockett. Here. Geske. Here. Zimbleman.

Here.

Thank you.

Can I have a motion for approval of the minutes from the July 20th meeting of 2026? Motion by Barry. Second by Vaughn.

Barry. Yes. Vaughn?

Yes.

Boudreaux? Yes. Crockett? Yes. Geske? Yes. Zimbelman?

Yes.

Thank you. Thank you. Motion carries.

Mayor, prior to moving on, I would move to establish the meeting agenda consisting of four pages. which has been posted on the Village of Manteno website continuously since Thursday, July 27th, 2026, and which was properly posted at the location of the board meeting since that time in accordance with the Open Meetings Act. The motion should then be, we need a second. I'll second.

You're out of order. I'm sorry, but I made the agenda, and we are not following the agenda that was previously shown.

I'll second that, Trustee Gieske.

Out of order. We're going to move on to public participation. Our first speaker tonight is Anne Gates.

I will call for the motion, Mayor, once again, for the previous question, which should be again seconded.

The final agenda was posted.

And a second.

At 48 hours before the meeting, the agenda posted before 48 hours before the meeting was since succeeded by the current agenda pending before the board. So if you're asking for an agenda that was not properly posted in accordance with the Open Meetings Act.

The only agenda posted on our village website. it's a gender that was posted website and i was a little bit more than forty hours i've had a fair night it was the only time that i saw there's a there's a motion on the floor with the most effective i'm asking for a vote

All right. Anne Gates, go ahead. You have three minutes. In the fall of 2023, I had a meeting with the fire chief, Mr. O'Brien. Out of order.

It's not the proper procedure.

Can I redeem my time? There has to be a vote. I'm one of the attorneys at Blue Side Cave Paralimited.

here for joe kane card tonight they're asking you're not the village attorney and there does not have to be the court has not told us otherwise it's not a problem actually the lawsuit got thrown out so right now we use our village attorney procedurally out of order we have a speaker at the podium please go ahead There's no vote on the motion. Okay, good evening, everybody. Glad to see you tonight.

In the fall of 2023, I had a meeting with the previous fire chief, Mr. O'Brien.

Roll call, please.

You can't call for a roll call.

Procedurally, Robert's Rules of Order. I'm sorry, ma'am. Procedurally, Robert's Rules of Order.

We don't follow those here.

You do.

No, we don't. It's in your code. Yeah, it is, but we don't follow it. All right You are all out of order the mayor ruled it out of order you may proceed It was ruled out of order It was I vote yes.

No. Yes, it was ruled out of order. That's the proper I vote yes

There are four yeses. Mike, how do you vote?

No.

Peggy?

No, the order to motion carried and Roberts rules of order which is in Roberts rules of order which is in village code that we're filing The motion I'm sorry not the motion the order of the mayor at the chair of the meeting stands Just calling the question after she ruled it out of order is not procedure precise so we can move on to public speakers Yes, she can go ahead

Okay, one more time.

I'm going to make a motion to adjourn.

I'll second. Goodbye. Anyway, good evening.

So that's actually procedure proper. You can vote on that now.

We don't want to do that.

You want to take a vote? Yeah, motion to adjourn.

Okay, there's a motion on the floor to adjourn the meeting.

No, I take that back. I don't want to adjourn. Let's continue on.

Let's let the speaker speak.

Call the question.

What's the question?

The motion was to adjourn. See who wants to adjourn.

Who wants to adjourn?

Call the vote.

Berry? No. Boudreaux? No. Vaughn? No. Crockett? No. Geske? No. Zimbelman?

No. All right, let's carry on with our speaker. Public participation is happening.

Okay. One more time. In the fall of 2023, I had a meeting with the former fire chief, Chief O'Brien. He gave me a copy of his report on Goshen and the requirements going forward. On page three and four of his report, he mentions a hazmat team, but there is no reference to a hazmat team in the memorandum. Every firefighter gets a measure of hazmat, but there is a subspecialty that should come into play here. It's on page three and four of former Chief Bryan's report that he gave me. And then in the memorandum on page three, it says in section seven, The Goshen and its fire brigade members shall at all times communicate and cooperate with the village, the district, the OERA, as the same pertains to fire and hazmat incident planning. Nothing about a hazmat team. Responses, duties, and reporting. At the request of the district, Goshen shall participate in annual emergency response training exercises with the district. Training may include, I would say training has to include, hazmat training. Since it is a hazardous situation and then further down on the same page in section 9 It says release an identification of the village Goshen assumed sole and entire responsibility for any and all loss of life injury to persons or damaged property wherever such property may be located that may be sustained directly or indirectly and due to the activities, operations, or use of, or on, or within the subject property and or facility, including any generation, introduction, treatment, transport, release, and other actions related to hazardous materials, environmental laws by Goshen. The only problem here is they can't be solely responsible when they're listed in all of the filings as an LLC. As I understand it, an LLC is a limited liability, so that would not apply here. I'm wondering if they're planning on falling back on it. They also said they would have fire apparatus on site in the event that there was a prolonged incidents and that they would reimburse the responding units? Well, if you have a Mavis response, you're talking multiple agency response, for more, say we're on site for six weeks, are they going to be willing to pay for rotating apparatus to come in and babysit that place while it continues to burn then for the purpose of the on page four for the purpose of this agreement term hazardous materials show me all toxic and hazardous substances materials or waste petroleum petroleum products petroleum additives constitutes or other waste contaminant or pollutant regulated under or for by which liability may be imposed by an environmental law what they should be including instead of Petroleum which is a fuel for a fire. That's time what they should be I'm redeeming a couple of minutes because y'all ever some of my what it should be including But it's not listed is sulfur dioxide the acid gene phylogene Hydro ferric cyanide carbon monoxide carbon dioxide that are all products when a battery begins to off gas like it did last week and there was firefighters on-site because the battery pack was off-gassing. Kind of looks like fog, that's the cyanide. So I think those should be included and as far as the Economic Alliance goes, I'm going to them for any help. I understand the purpose of having it. However, we're in this situation because of the Economic Alliance with their do not tell, do not ask and the remaining trustees sign on to this. I think that if they are going to help us bring anything into Manteno or to the county, then it should be brought to the people and that the people should have a voice as to what we want in our county. I know for a fact that CATL, K-A-T-L, One of the bigger battery places, bigger than Goshen, is also looking to purchase land in either Kankakee County or Will County. Thank you, ma'am. I, for what I'm saying, I don't want them here. It's bad enough we have them and we're working hard to get rid of them. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Terry King.

Hey, everybody. Discrimination. Discrimination. treating someone worse than others because of whom they are, often in jobs, housing, public places. July 27th, I requested to rent Hassett Center for a local holiday vendor event. I have no personal issues with Ashley or any chamber members. I want you to know that. But Ashley told me all vendors would need a permit at a cost of $50. So I am taking this event at expense and work and everything and charging the vendors $25 per table and you want me to charge them another $50 for a permit. You're kidding, cancel it. I was going to share an event to the chamber to bring business to most members. I walked outside, made a few phone calls of many vendor friends that I have that have worked in this town. Not one has gotten a permit, not one, at Harley, at any of the bars they work at, not one. they never paid a fee and i've been at harley many times in my life so i get go back in and i ask about i'm sorry i get really upset about this stuff about this as i am pissed ashley says sit no i don't want to sit we could collaborate on your other ideas really and laroc comes in the room because i'm i'm hot and i'm loud you all know i'm just a loud person Okay, it's the Polish in me. You want to collaborate, but you won't have me at Heroes or Oktoberfest. I don't need to collaborate. I've been doing this for longer than you've been alive, I told her. Ashley says the volunteers don't want you there. The volunteers don't want me there. She said that. I don't have a problem with her. She came into this job six months ago. This started two years ago. Really, I've done nothing. And I'm welcomed everywhere else but my town. I was just at KKK County Fairgrounds in Iroquois last week. And next week I'll be at another county fairgrounds. So everybody wants me and they like my product. Discrimination laws—okay, really, I've done nothing, and I'm welcome everywhere but my town. Discrimination equals lawsuits. Do I sue the whole chamber? Do I sue the town? I have been vetted by the FBI and Secret Service because I was a— that close to the president. So you can't have a problem with my background, OK? My last boarder, I don't discriminate. My last boarder in my house for two months worked at Goshen as an intern. I don't discriminate against anybody. You don't like me, I could still work with you. I have a problem with this. I don't discriminate, but the chamber does. Okay, I'm thinking it's LaRock, Genske, Crockett, and the former mayor. And Goshen, I'm finishing this. The former mayor told them two years ago, we don't want her there. Strong women don't take crap from anyone but their grandchildren. Lawsuits. Judge Judy, anyone? I'm going to have a lawsuit when I get back from my next trip.

Thank you, Terry.

Our next speaker is Sandy Chiz.

Sandy Chiz.

Sandy Chiz. We're all having a bad day. I had one. I'm getting my roof replaced. Insurance isn't paying for it. So I had to pay for a permit, unlike Goshen. That got me upset. That got me pissed. Because I thought, why haven't they had to pay for all of their permits, or many of them, to the tune of, I think, $400,000? And further, though, why are they open? Why are they operating? They were promoted by Pritzker to be an EV manufacturer. They're not manufacturing EV factory batteries that we know of. I mean, we don't know for sure. So why are they open at all? I read their grants and their contracts, and yes, it includes energy-related products, but that's not the bag of crap that was sold to the public, to us. We were told EV batteries. They're not making them. So why are they still open? Then I started researching the Morris, Illinois lithium battery fire. After hearing what Mr. Ben Hanson said at the last meeting, I found it interesting that the batteries have to be under load in order for a possibility of thermal runaway and a fire. But remember that the Morris fire batteries were stored in a warehouse. They were inert. They were not under load. The Morris fire was believed to have been started because of water leaking in through the roof. Wait, wait. Didn't Goshen just have a flood not long ago? Okay. So, you know, that's concerning. Then I kept researching, and I found the owner of the warehouse where the Morris fire happened was Superior Battery. But they dissolved in 2012, and the company then was known as Nanfu USA. NANFU USA is headquartered in China. Getting the concept here? Communist China does not care about the laws of our country. They don't care about the fire code. They don't care about your fire brigade bullshit. The unions, they don't care about unions, as we've seen recently. They're employees they don't care about, or us, or us. So why are we willing to let them continue operating in our town? Then I got to thinking about what Trustee Yeske said about a capped tax rate to all residents, provided we paid, I think, a 150% increase in taxes that Goshen paid. So I'll gladly pay an increased capped tax rate, provided I get the same subsidies that Goshen got. So far, they've gotten, what, $168 million? And they're supposed to get somewhere around $500 million. It might be more. So I'll take my comparable share of that amount, and then I'll pay the cap rate with the increase happily. All Goshen is doing is giving us back the money they stole from us, the taxpayer, including you, Mr. Gutsky. Thank you.

Our next speaker is Francine Fatima. Francine Fatima.

I came across this article in the Daily Journal, and it is regarding Manteno. our mayor and a few things that she had to say. I just would like to say what she said, one little quote, but progress does not always mean growth in size. We do not have to become a bigger community to become a better community. And I firmly believe in that statement, and she's proving that's what she does. This is a lovely village. People love to come here, as you can see by the houses that sell. And I think it'll continue to grow. At least I'm hopeful because I am one of the residents of this lovely village. I think Annette is on the right track. She's a long time resident, she and her husband. I'm just happy to be here and I do want the other people who do live here to just hold on their hats. The good stuff is really coming. Other than that, I didn't really wanna look at anything else. Anyway, thank you for your time.

Thank you, Francine. Our next speaker is Bob Forsythe.

I can't tell you how happy we are that we saw change. We have Mayor Lamore, Mike Berry, and Peggy Vaughn. The residents are very fortunate to have people that care about the village. Mr. Getsky, you, you can sit and smirk because you already told me what smirk means. You think we're all clowns. I watched that. But earlier, you looked like you were about ready to cry. The whole deal with you sitting there and arguing earlier just showed how you're not workable. You don't care about the residents. You care about yourself. You and your wife do not run Manteno. You and your family have benefited from Manteno. Your son worked for the village. How much does your wife make? Is it $70,000? Not a bad deal so you can figure out what's going on in Village Hall. It's really sad, the idea of fighting to change for an attorney, which is due because the MOU should have been done three years ago before all this nonsense started. Where was Joe Kancar then? Everything that we're in trouble with right now was under Joe can cars watch and your watch I Don't know if you're still upset that you lost but pull your pants up act like a growing up You are not the mayor It's about time you realize that you told me at the committee meeting exactly What you thought? outside And it's sad that you have that attitude. You argued with me in here one night, I remember that, and your wife had to come down to tell you to quit yelling at me. But you know what? I'm fine with it. I told you that, you can continue yelling. But it's just, you guys are so disrespectful to the mayor. CJ, you can't stop talking over her. This town needs to move forward. We're on the right direction. But you don't want to do anything besides sit and argue, and you've done that from day one. I don't get it, and I don't think a lot of other people don't get it either. It's very sad to see four adults sit here that want to fight with everybody. Residents came out because we want the right thing. And we knew you were screwing us before. And that's what you didn't like, because we found out. That's time, Bob. Thank you, Bob.

Our next speaker is Sandra K. Hall.

My problem is I live in the trailer park. And this past March, the storm that we had in Kankakee was over my trailer. and it ripped off my roof. And the trailer park where I live, they've had two owners since I've been there, and they don't care. I mean, I know it's my trailer, but they don't care. So now I have to move out because it's not fit for me to live in there anymore. There's a tree at the end of my building that has knocked everything off my trailer. I had to shut my gas off in March because it dented my pipe that runs from the heater. So you all talk about people. This guy that runs this complex, he's a dirty. It's all about the money. And most of those people that live in there, they're very elderly. And they're living on Social Security just like me. I'm a widow. And he takes full advantage of it. And it's not fair to people to have to deal with somebody like that. It used to be really nice when I first moved there, but now it's not. The police are in there all the time. As a matter of fact, they evicted somebody out of there, and then they decided, it's okay. You can move back in your trailer. I mean, you can sell your trailer, even though you're not owner of it anymore. And so they keep changing the rules and they keep adding things. And I don't know if you can do anything about people like him or make the trailer park better. But like I said, most of those people, they're older than me. I'm only 66 years old. But some of them women are in their 80s, 90s. You know, they're widows too. And they have to endure rude people, people coming in, flying through. You know, there's handicapped people riding around on their little strollers and they're

Walking in that and it's just a horrible place and I know that's just just for our reference What park are you referring to? I'm in Maple Crest Manor Maple Crest, okay Yes, that is the worst.

I mean, I'm the other park is so what he did was to make more money He decided he's gonna start charging us $50 for the water. He used to pay the garbage He's decided to add that to it. So this past new lease that we made is uh... he added ninety dollars to that so you know he's adding every time we turn around he tried to get the water meters in there but he didn't get it so he's decided to do it that way and he just keeps up in the rent that's thirty dollars on the rent and then everything else he added to it he's all about this he doesn't give a crap about the people in there or whatever as i said my trailer's trashed it's leaking the ceiling's coming down you know i have to get out And they said, oh, well, you know what, Sandy, we can help you. Let us renew you a lease on another trailer, and you can pay that. No. Because the new trailers they put in, they're crap. And they're falling apart, and they've been back and forth. And this guy, like I said, he only cares about what's there. Like, he just fired our office lady because she wasn't selling the trailer, she was renting him. He's asking a ridiculous price for them. They're paying $900 a month. My myself, I only make like a little over a thousand. I don't know what they make, but that's too much. You know what I'm saying? Thank you, Sandra. Thank you very much.

Our next speaker is Emily Herman.

Hi. At first I had three things to say, but I'm going to just share the good news because I feel like we all need that a little bit more than anything. fundraising updates for my almost non-profit. We are just awaiting approval from the state on our paperwork, so that's exciting. The post office here in town, I want to give them a quick shout out. They solved a major issue for us for shipping that was just a miscommunication and now instead of only being able to send 10 care envelopes a month, we're able to send out 90 again. So thank you Manteno Post Office for letting us help more people. We are going to start printing our own materials now. I'm going to start making everything. So we are fundraising for a printer, and I just think that's an amazing big step that we're taking from ordering on Amazon to doing everything ourselves now. Yeah, and like I said, just awaiting state approval now. So there's some good news for everybody. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Emily. Thank you. Our next speaker is Karen Brzecki.

Annie, I have a lot, so I'm going to talk fast. I am a retired firefighter. In 1992, I started with Bourbonnet Fire Department. I initially started in a firefighting class and an EMT class while I was working full time. By 1995, I was certified as a paramedic and an advanced firefighter. In 1999, I was on the scene of City of New Orleans Train wreck. I was the first paramedic on scene. My efforts at that train wreck were written in the New York Times as well as the Reader's Digest. So I'm probably the only person in the room who's ever been at a disaster scene as well as trained for a disaster in the area. Next, I worked in a union fire department in Schaumburg. I was on heavy rescue for several years, which included, ironically, someone was talking about earlier, hazmat qualifications. I have those. I have the next tier hazmat qualifications. I have not only been on hazmat scenes as the person in the suit doing the mitigation, as well as the person doing the research for the hazardous materials. So not only am I trained, I've been on the scenes as well. In 2020, I had to retire from my profession due to cancer, which is now federally considered a presumptive cancer from firefighting operations. I have lists of June of 2026, June of 2026, the hazards of lithium ion batteries in the area. I'm good at research. This is what I was trained to do. Last week, they talked about firefighting. firefighting standards from NFPA. Unfortunately, you were misquoted. Those standards came from 1710 and 1720, which are for residential firefighting, which does not include lithium-iron battering. This is the correct one, 855. NFPA 855 is what you need to reference. Not 1710, not 1720. They're two totally different things. So the requirements are different because of the hazards involved. I have multiple... peer-reviewed studies showing water runoff from firefighting is hazardous without a closed-loop system, even with the closed-loop system, according to three different sources, including the EPA website. Volumetric overflow. We are at risk of volumetric overflow if... we end up having a fire at this place. While they do have a closed-loop system, it can be quickly overwhelmed, which means the path can go into the south branch of Rock Creek, because we have a shallow water table in Manteno. I keep being told, it's safe, it's safe, it's safe, because they're telling you it's safe. I'm telling you, based on my research, multiple studies, multiple different places, As late as last month, it's not. It's not safe. There's a tremendous risk to us, off gassing. EPA requires, excuse me, not only a closed loop system, but air determination. That doesn't even get into NMP at all.

Thank you very much, Karen. Our final speaker tonight is Kevin Artman.

Yes, my name's Herman, and there's a lot of things going around in this town and our trailer park. You people don't see that, but this is the end of days in the Bible. Okay, this is it. And we don't need a Chinese factory here at all. And you need to find a new job because you don't work here no more, okay? This is the boss right here. She is the boss. Nobody else. She is. They put a civilian in charge of us instead of the military. Do you understand that? Now, I didn't write a speech up because I didn't think I was going to speak. I'm going to start protesting about God. They took our freedoms away in the trailer park. I can have God anywhere on my trail, and I used to have God all over my trail, all over. Until the rapture, this is a Christian nation, and you should follow your forefathers. Well, that's all I can say, but next time I come, I will write a big thing out. But you've got to work together, otherwise it will never work between you guys, okay? So somebody should think about resigning, okay? Walking out of here. Thank you, Mr. Ayrton.

All right, the report of the village officials. I'm going to begin with a statement again. This one will not be quite as long as the last time. I'd like to say a few words again this meeting as to be transparent with the villagers and inform you of some updated facts. My aim continues to be how I and the rest of those who represent and work for the village of Manteno can best serve the public, as I'm aware that the citizens of Manteno are the ones paying the bills and counting on us to fulfill our duties effectively and to prioritize their interests as representatives of the people. To be transparent, I want to update the public to the current status of Manteno Village government as there continues to be conflict with four village trustees and the rest of the village board. Pertinent issues include, number one, who is the rightful village attorney? Number two, four village trustees attempt to supersede Illinois state law to obstruct my authority as village president. Number three, continued problems with paid village staff members defying requests to conduct village business. Most of us hear the public requests to stop the conflicts within village government, so I am stunned. that the four village trustees and now more enlisted village employees continue week after week to obstruct efforts for me and now the village clerk to do our jobs and to fulfill our responsibilities to the citizens of Manteno. How does the obstruction actually benefit the Manteno citizens? It simply doesn't. It's bad for our village, and I again request those who are trying to circumvent my efforts to do my job as village president, please consider the villagers' interests and stop the continued drama. Our village government could work smoothly, more cost-effectively, and collaboratively if the trustees would not continue to obstruct, mock, and disrespect my efforts to execute my duties as Mantino's duly elected mayor. The repeated pushback is exhausting for everyone and the purpose of the obstruction does not serve the public interest. Since the last village board meeting two weeks ago, we continue to have one previously removed village attorney be at the center of the conflicts within the village government. The costs to the villagers that are related to this one former employee are extraordinary. and for what in addition to the continued insistence by trustees to obstruct my legal right to appoint my own preferred officers during my term as mayor efforts also continue to be obstructed by village staff members this week and here's a fact Don Geske employed as mantino administrative assistant again defied my request as mayor to post my meeting agenda again catering to the agenda presumed to have been supported by her husband, Trustee Joel Geske, and three other trustees. There are legal protocols for trustees to add agenda items, and paid administrative assistant Dawn Geske has no business navigating the protocols between village board members. Her job is to execute basic village duties as directed, and trustees cannot direct village staff to act on their own behalf. Fact, Chris LaRock, employed as Manteno administrator, refused the request of the village clerk for password access to the village website, as is within the authority of the village clerk. Fact, after the aforementioned refusal by Chris LaRock, the village clerk's electronic key access to the village hall was deactivated. As the clerk was apparently purposefully locked out of village hall. Key access to village hall is typically maintained by crystal rock. Fact with the approval of the village clerk and myself, the mayor, our agenda was posted on paper in village hall and at the Leo Hassett center. And this posted agenda was physically removed from both places and concerningly The Leo Hassett Center doors were found left unlocked during hours when the Leo Hassett Center was closed. This afternoon, Chris LaRock admitted that he was the one who took down the agenda at 5.55 p.m. on Saturday night, and he replaced it with his own agenda. I have suspended him from his job for five days with no pay. and that is for insubordination. The citizens of Manteno are already paying for a Goshen-related lawsuit that likely would have been prevented had the former village attorney effectively done his job to properly advise and ensure Manteno followed its own laws. In addition, the former village attorney's questionable representation of the village may be considered as evidence related to the merits of the lawsuit thereby creating a potential conflict, impeding his ability to represent the village in this case. Fact. The four trustees promoting this former village attorney, Geske, Crockett, Zimbelman, and Boudreau, expect villagers to continue to pay salary costs and legal fees for the previously removed village attorney that they continue to be advised by as he tells them how they can help him keep his job. And tonight they are set to ask for more taxpayer money for yet another lawyer to defend the previously removed village attorney and themselves in order to pay for a legal proceeding that could end immediately if the four trustees would stop trying to inexplicably obstruct the replacement of this village attorney. I continue to confer with the current village attorney as to adhere to the law when I make decisions and take actions, and I am therefore confident in acting within my authority when I serve in the interests of the citizens of Manteno. The village of Manteno is categorized by the state as a non-home rule village, which means that the trustees cannot make their own rules that supersede Illinois law. Illinois law clearly outlines the authority given to the mayor and the trustees. Conflicts between such parties are not new in the state of Illinois, and there are laws already written to legally guide village decisions and authorities. It is very unfortunate that we need legal proceedings to create order in our village government. The legal proceedings are avoidable. but continue due to the four trustees' choice to obstruct my efforts to serve the people of Manteno. Currently, the obstruction is focused around one employee who was removed so I, as mayor, could appoint my own officers as is legally allowed in Illinois. Finally, I continue to be disheartened by the obstruction, insults, and degradation of our reputation as a village. Due to these obstructive acts by the four trustees and the employees enlisted to support them, all to protect and promote one person who has not done his job effectively, leading to the same village lawsuit he wants to represent the village in. This is not good for the citizens of Manteno. And I ask the trustees to stop the obstruction of my decisions prioritize the aims of the voters and allow the people of the village to be served in the way they deserve thank you committee reports finance trustee barry thank you ma'am

All business on the agenda none new business on the agenda payment of the bills on three hundred eighty two thousand three hundred thirty dollars and thirty nine cents Major bill was our MFT the road road bill was three hundred and seventeen thousand dollars bills authorized and paid between board cycle forty five thousand two hundred eighty two dollars and fifty cents Our next Finance Committee meeting is Monday, August 17th at 5 p.m. In the village boardroom. I Have a question That agenda was taken off the door.

Yes.

At 5.55 on Saturday.

Yes.

So what's your answer to that?

What's my answer?

What's your answer to that?

The agenda is a matter of the whole board, not just the mayor. So if there was an agenda posted previously, that's the agenda.

I'm sorry.

I don't know what happened.

You're incorrect. It's actually the chair of each meeting under Robert's original order sets the agenda for the meeting, and it's established by the clerk... Basically for posting it. You're incorrect in how agendas are established.

What if a trustee wants something on the agenda? Then they can request it. That's great.

I wanted something on the agenda. And my secondary question, too, to you is that who gave him the authority to go and take it off the wall?

I don't know.

Trustees are welcome to request things put on the agenda, but it's the mayor's agenda.

Certain things that are missing from the mayor's agenda are required by some statute.

Like what, for example?

Considering her veto.

Considering her view?

Veto.

Her veto. If she hasn't put it on?

The law requires it to be heard at the next regular board meeting, which is tonight.

If she hasn't put it on the agenda, it's not on the agenda. You understand the Open Meetings Act, correct? That's right. If it's not properly noticed within 48 hours.

It will be considered.

It won't be considered because it's not properly noticed.

You're saying the mayor is allowed to break the law? Section 3.14050 says every veto has to be posted on the next board agenda.

She didn't post it, so she broke the law. Are you saying that properly noticed items can appear after 48 hours?

It was properly posted because the agenda that the mayor put up removed the agenda that was already posted on the door. They also tore down one, too. I mean, we could play the game of who tore down what.

Wait, so are you telling me trustees have the ability to set an agenda for the village?

I'm telling you, trustees should have the ability and do have the ability to put items on. That's why I...

Right, they can request items to be put on.

Correct, and I emailed our administrator the request.

Who doesn't set the agenda.

He has the power to add items to the agenda.

No, he does not. According to the Village Code of Ordinances, his responsibilities are... What about... No, no, I'm sorry.

What about the veto? Wait, wait, wait. What about the veto part of the Illinois State Law?

I'll give you... Hold on a second. So, under 119-5 of the Village Code, specifically... C, this is the duties of the village administrator. The village administrator shall assist the president and committee chairman with the preparation of the agenda for meetings of the village boards and committees. And under Robert's Rules of Order, which is also, I understand that the board hasn't followed in the past, but it's still codified in your code of ordinances, the chair of the meeting under Robert's Rules of Order creates the agenda, not the trustees. The trustees can request something to be put on the agenda, but they do not create the agenda.

So what about the veto? That's state law.

It's right now, the agenda that was prepared is what's before you.

So this agenda is illegal? Is that what you're saying?

No, it was properly posted on the open meeting set.

She vetoed it, which means it should be posted on this agenda.

Right now, this is what was properly posted on the open meeting set.

So the meeting agenda is illegal?

No.

No? So she can break state law?

No, she's not breaking it. It was a properly noticed agenda within 48 hours before the meeting. Well, it was on the door. And post-availability website.

All right, I want to go back because I forgot to mention something that was in my report. Harbor House is a not-for-profit that helps victims of domestic abuse. And they have come to our meeting several times to talk about what they do to help people in Kankakee County. And they have asked for our help. And we have not ever brought this up for a vote. So I plan to put it on the agenda for our next meeting because they have been getting money from all the area municipalities for a new building that's under construction right now to house people who need to get help because they're being abused. So they've been asking for $4 per person. And so for the village of Manteno, I think the amount is approximately $36,840. So this will be on the agenda for our next meeting, and if anybody has any comments about that, you're welcome to give them to us. But we want to help our fellow members of our community and our county who are in trouble and who are in danger. So I think it's a worthy cause.

It's on both agendas, Mayor. I believe we could vote on it this evening.

You can vote on it?

Yeah, if you want to.

Is there a motion? I didn't.

I didn't hear what he said, I'm sorry.

You want to vote on giving a donation of $36,840 to Harbor House? Yeah. I need a motion and a second.

I'll make a motion.

Motion by Geske, second by Vaughn.

Anyone want to have a discussion?

Although I think this is a very worthy cause, a very worthy organization, I think that we need as a board to determine how are these donations going to be made moving forward. There's many good causes out there, and how do we determine which ones we donate 36,000 or 6,000 or 50,000? I think we need to talk about it. I'm an animal lover. Do we donate to that cause as well because I think it's a good cause? I don't think we have a president or an agenda set that determines, is this a budgeted item? I don't think we did put this in the budget.

I think it's common sense to want to help our fellow man.

I'm all about helping our common man as well, Mayor, but my question is, when do we draw the line and say no, and when do we say yes? Have you determined that?

Do you want to have more discussion on this?

I think we should.

I'd like to put that on our discussion for the Finance Committee, because there was the other lady that came in that Chief Sunford works with that we had discussed about, too. I mean, I think we should have a discussion. I mean, I'm all for it, but I just think we've got to figure out how we're going to do it.

i think it's a very worthy cause but there's a lot of worthy causes and we haven't discussed it to determine which one you know word again where do we draw the line we don't have an open checkbook i wish we did no but there are a lot of there are a lot of more important and i'm sure i'm sure he has good causes i'm sure cj has good causes and the rest of us have good causes okay let's just have a motion on the floor to emotion to move it though can we just motion to move it to the next meeting

Make the motion. Obviously, we all want to discuss it more. I think I would motion to move it to defer to the next meeting. Defer to the next board meeting.

So I'll withdraw my motion. Yeah, I want to put it on the 17th, my finance meeting.

All right. We're going to move it to August 17th.

I'd like to make a motion to withdraw my motion. I'll withdraw my motion.

Okay, and then you want to make the motion.

Motion to discuss donations at the August 17th meeting.

Okay, is there a second to move it to finance on August 17th? I'll make that motion. I'll second.

Roll call.

Berry? Yes. Boudreaux? Yes. Vaughn?

Yes.

Crockett? Yes. Geske? Yes. Zimbleman?

Yes.

All right, motion carries. We will discuss it on August 17th.

Mayor, can I ask a question?

Yes.

Would you introduce yourself to us?

My name is Gary Perlman. I'm an attorney at Lewis F. Cancar Limited. I'm here for Joe Cancar, who's out of town.

Okay.

I've been with the firm 40 years.

Okay, thank you. Thank you very much. All right, planning and zoning, Trustee Boudreaux.

I got nothing old or new on the agenda. Our next planning and zoning committee meeting is Wednesday, August 12th at 7 a.m. in the Village Boardroom. Our next planning commission meeting is Tuesday, August 11th at 6 p.m. As was mentioned, I mentioned at the last committee meeting, I had met with the Kinky Economic Alliance something that i hope to discuss i know it is a habit as old old business was built gross is kind of one of our next steps is i think of a good pathway for what i asked the play commission maybe start putting together the good use of their time for this kind of having same conversations uh... is putting out a survey to the town uh... of kind of what they want what they don't want on that kind of range again some people want through some people don't want rose uh some people want restaurants some people don't want restaurants just getting a feel that way us as a board kind of have a better idea of kind of where we're at of course we're not gonna get 100 we know that but if a majority wants something then we kind of can kind of pursue that kind of avenue to what we want and how to kind of do that in that way so that's what they're going to be discussing i would assume at the next planning commission meeting and that's all i have thank you thank you public safety and health trustee vaughn thank you mayor um i have nothing

On the agenda, new business, nothing public safety committee report is going to be given by officer Zach Boringa. Thanks.

Um, I'm just going to give a quick, uh, road construction update on 9,000 North or County highway nine. Um, yeah. So beginning this week, motorists should expect changing traffic patterns. As construction crews continue concrete paving at the intersections of Spruce Street, or also known as 1000 East Road and Eagles Landing, while every effort is being made to maintain access to homes, businesses, and the church, drivers should anticipate delays and temporary road closures as work progresses. To help reduce congestion and improve safety for both the traveling public and construction workers, we encourage residents who do not need to travel through the construction zone to consider using alternate routes until the project is completed, such as Bourbonnet Parkway, which is 6,000 north or 10,000 north. If you do need to travel through the area, please slow down, obey all posted signs, and use extra caution, as there are multiple workers out there and construction equipment. There will be heavy construction equipment trucks entering and exiting the work zone throughout the day. We appreciate everyone's patience and cooperation as this important infrastructure project moves forward. Thank you for helping keep both our community and construction crews safe. Thank you all.

Thank you. Before I give the end of my meeting here, I have a few questions that I was going to ask Mr. Cancar this evening. So I'm going to direct them towards you and I will give a copy to every one of the trustees this evening besides yourself. And you can take this back to Mr. Cancar and I would like him to address me back by Friday. So here goes. He won't be back Friday. Okay. Well then we'll give them the following Friday. Will you be back then?

Yes.

Okay. Thank you. All right. At the time, the original 2023 deal was negotiated and, Were you retained, this is addressed towards Mr. Kanker, were you retained to advise the village independently or through the economic alliance of Kankakee County? Number two, were you aware during the negotiation that no host community agreement clawback provision or decommissioning closure bond was being included if so did you advise the board of that omission number three why was the clawback provision tying the tax cap to actually delivering the 2600 jobs never proposed or included number four Why was there no decommissioning or closure bond given Goshen's abandoned Michigan project was public knowledge before man's Tino's deal closed. Number five, Who bears liability today for the environmental incident at the plant in the absence of a written remediation agreement, the Village, the Fire Protection Edition, or Goshen alone? Number six, in drafting the 2026 Fire Brigade MOU, did you flag that it doesn't address cost recovery for emergency response, insurance minimums, or public records access. Was that scope intentionally limited? Number seven, was the absence of these agreements a legal recommendation at the time, a cost-driven choice, a time pressure choice, or simply never raised by either sides? Given Cirrus Industrial Safety Review Committee is now drafted, would you advise the board that it can legally require these missing agreements retroactively as a condition of phase two or only prospectively for future facilities? And I would like for him to answer these questions for me. And I have copies for every one of you. So if you would like to pass these down to everybody, trustee Vaughn, I'll deliver that to Mr. Thank you. Appreciate it. Okay. My next, um, meeting is August 17th at 5 PM and that's all I have.

Mayor, thank you. Thank you, Trustee Bunn. Public Works and Utilities, Trustee Crackett.

Thank you. I don't have any items on the agenda for this evening. Our next Public Works Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August the 25th, 7 a.m. here in the Village Boardroom. Unfortunately, I was not able to make our last Public Works Committee meeting, but Jim, can you provide us with some updates from that meeting, please?

Yep. Just touching back on MFT, they almost completed the entire project. There's some landscape restoration and maybe a couple other spots of patching and cleaning up. That project went well. Officer mentioned the County Highway 9 project. They've made a lane shift. They've closed off Spruce until they work through that intersection. And they'll be opening up that and then closing Eagles Landing North So there's a little bit of back and forth between those two roads. Pavilion over in the square. The turf company has been back in town working away. They've got stuff around the pavilion except for the south edge, and they're working their way north. So there's been some improvement over there. The shed over at Heritage for the soccer program. We've got the siding and roofings completed. We've got the concrete driveway done. We've got dirt moved in, and we're getting the electric connected, so it'll be in this week.

Gotcha. As far as the new pavilion, do you have an estimated completion, like 100% completion date on that yet?

We're still waiting for a ComEd connection, so temporarily we've had to disconnect as they made the final connection. Waiting on ComEd's connection on that. Other than that, getting the fence back in, finishing the turf and everything else. It's winding down. We've got the landscape block still to do around those piers.

That was my next question. I know we've got some nice decorative blocking going around the support posts and piers. That should start happening... Hopefully sometime soon.

Yep. We got a lot of, got a lot of material hauling around right now. A couple other things we're trying to wrap up, but yep, we got that as well.

Very good. Thank you very much for the update.

Where is the fencing that you took down? Is that stored somewhere? It's onsite.

Thank you, Jim.

Is that all?

That's all I have for this evening.

Thank you, Mr. Crackett. Properties and Recreation, Trustee Geske.

I do not have anything on the agenda tonight under new business or old business. Our next Park and Rec Committee meeting is scheduled for August 12th at 7 a.m. right here.

Thank you. General Government, Trustee Zimbelman.

I have nothing on the agenda tonight. Uh, the next general committee meeting is August 25th at 7 00 AM in the village boardroom. Ashley, would you like to update us on the events?

Sure, thank you. So tomorrow we have Cruise Nights on Main Street from 6 to 9 p.m. And then on Wednesday we have our Manteno Market that's from 4 to 8 p.m. That's going to be over here on the square and on 2nd. Thursday is our last Movies in the Park. I know, we're sad. Summer's coming to an end. But we're going to feature Hoppers. That's going to be over at Legacy. Concessions open at 6.30 by Wildcats. And then the movie starts at dusk. And then this Saturday is Yoga on the Square. We actually have a special guest this time. Her name is Nicole. She will be leading that this Saturday at 8 a.m. And then next Wednesday, the Manteno Chamber is hosting our annual Ladies Night Out. That's from 6 to 9 p.m. That is on the square over here on 2nd as well. So that's not just for ladies, but come and support them. And we look forward to seeing everyone there. Thank you.

Did we resolve the issue we had, Ashley, with the background checks and the additional $50?

My understanding is that's supposed to be discussed with you all at some point, so hopefully we get a resolution to that soon.

Okay, thank you. All right, under old business, there's nothing else. Under new business, consideration... regarding a motion to approve an MOU between the village of Manteno, Kankakee County, Illinois, and Goshen, Illinois, New Energy, Incorporated, for fire brigade staffing and emergency response procedures regarding operations at 333 South Spruce Street, Manteno, Illinois. Joel, did you want to talk about that? I'm sorry, not Joel. Mike, did you want to talk about that?

So go should ended up signing the agreement that we had given to them last Friday On the agreement and that that's the first step the second step is August 31st. They have to have 18 certified level 1 firefighters In the agreement which will give copies to everybody it'll be posted on the website as soon as we get opportunity there is I know there was a couple comments about They are held responsible for back paying people if there was an emergency. I That was one of the biggest things that we did put in there. The other thing, too, is that the fire department is going to be the one that's going to go through and make sure that all their fire brigade members are up to staff. If they fall below levels, there's ongoing things that if they keep falling below levels, we have the opportunity to pull their occupancy permit six months from now, a year from now, if they're able to come up with a team. So, I mean, there was a lot of stipulations in this agreement, Joel and I, and worked hard with it. The fire department was included into that. They made a couple of changes to it. That's why it took a little bit longer, but Goshen did sign off on it. And that's at least now we have a legal piece of paper holding them to something. And I want everyone to know that that's huge. Okay. We came across the table. We worked together on it to make sure that going forward, And a month from now, six months from now, a year from now, two years from now that they could be held, their feet will be held to the floor.

So was this final?

The agreement they signed off on and now they have to come up with a second phase of it.

Once we vote on it tonight, if we agree to it, they've agreed to the term.

What about if we forgot some things in there? I mean... I just have a couple questions on this. Like the host community agreement, it's a standing agreement separate from the zoning, spelling out ongoing municipal fees, mitigation payments, reporting duties owed to the village for the life of the facility. And then there's a development agreement. I don't think that is stiff enough in there governs infrastructure phasing performance milestones and what happens in construction Hiring falls behind schedule what happens there?

That's I didn't see anything if hiring of the brigade files behind schedule or Their actual employees if they don't have the by August 31st if they don't have their staff in there their occupancy permit gets pulled.

you' re talking about two separate things you have to understand that the state of illinois is the one that gave them all the incentives to come here. per our tax abatement, we doubled the taxes, which wasn't enough, we all know that. But the state of Illinois is the one that gave them all the extra money. So at the end of the day, if there's concerns with their job numbers, they have job parameters that they have to meet in certain criteria. I mean, at the end of the day, people should start calling up the governor governor's office and start saying to him hey listen we got a problem over here because it's it's not based it doesn't come back to the village unfortunately that big money that was given to them was all state of illinois stuff and they had jobs and yes 10 taxing bodies did approve the tax abatement agreement you know so i mean a lot of those things that you're bringing up now that that's great but we don't have full control over that now we have control over the safety of our residents and and to be clear we didn't have that

until friday and to kind of put it in perspective what we are requiring of them is to maintain six firefighters on staff 24 7. How that relates, that's exactly what our fire department currently has on staff at any given time. So it's basically doubling what we're having for a fire department for the entire town. We're making them keep on site 24-7 and have the same certified training that the fire department has and even potentially more than the 18. So they have until the end of the month? They have until the end of August to have that up and running and staffed. If they do not, then their occupancy permit gets pulled.

And I'm pretty sure we put in there, too, we can still pop in. Like, let's say September 1st, you know what I mean? We could still pop in, check on those numbers, make sure that kind of stuff is there. That way, again, just because they have it by August 31st, if they don't have it in October, we can still pull it based on this agreement.

And we discussed with them and put in there, obviously anyone who's had any employment... background they may have someone call off sick a day and is that uh is that are we closing down because they have one day someone no but we did put a checks and balance in there that they have to send an email to the fire chiefs this way there's a record with the fire chief and they're also aware of a shortage if there is one and to the village administrator so this way if we see a repetitive pattern of

shortcomings we would have teeth to go back to say did we i didn't read it super super close but environmental mitigation remediation agreement is that in there the environmental remediation agreement once again would have to be done like when they do the permitting and stuff like that that's not our stuff that's the state of illinois stuff okay and i'm going to be clear as everyone knows in this room that we they gave them everything they wanted to come here and i'm going to tell you something that there's not you know i i hear about this is missing from the green dismisses from the green dismisses from the green at the end of the day is that we looked at everything i spoke to a lot of people i know joe spoke to a lot of people and we we went through this thing with the fine tooth comb and i mean there was things that we put into this agreement that people so there's no way that they're going to sign off on and they did so now we have a legal binding agreement to hold them to the fire i mean for three years we had nothing people don't understand that we had nothing

There was a lot of time put in between. A lot of fucking time.

At the end of the day, we're done playing.

Well, Mike, answer me. Why did we have nothing?

Peg, I can't go back in the past. I can only look to the future. That's a question. And I understand it's a question, and that's a good question to ask. But we were very clear at the last meeting with them is, and I don't mean to swear it, that I told them, your bullshit is over with. Your bullshit's over with. And then... we have things in parameters now to hold them to the feet of the fire the fire departments been involved there they're involved into it. I don't know about their staffing issues that in my deal my deals when we got elected to make sure that we had some type of agreement in place this has been an eye opener. The amount of time and energy and effort that's gone into this thing has been crazy. So at least we have a legal document to stand on. at the end of the day.

And this agreement has stricter standards in it than are required by state fire code or by even our fire brigade ordinance. So it's as strict as we could possibly have made it.

So this spells out the personnel. Does it also spell out the equipment required to operate? Spells out the training. All of it. And they're responsible to provide their own equipment.

their biggest thing was is what they wanted to do was they didn't want to have level one certified firefighters They didn't want that. They wanted to have two of them. We said absolutely not. OSHA standards, it's six. Two in, two out, and two extra people. Then they wanted to have another thing where you could have a janitor take a test and then become a firefighter. No, that don't fly. So come whatever date that they have this, August 31st or whatever it is, our fire chief's going to go in there and he's going to look at every one of those people with their certifications. And if you don't feel comfortable with it, we don't feel comfortable with it. It's real simple.

And there was a point that they wanted to actually pay to have to pay the fire department and let the fire department have control of the people who are in there versus them, which personally I would have preferred, but the fire department did not feel comfortable with it, and we can't force their hand to do what they're not comfortable with. But the $31 million that would have created staffing that maybe those people could have provided other services to the village, but again, we're not in control. We can't tell the fire department what to do, but we can. and each and every person sitting up here has said safety of our community was always the forefront and this is probably the best example of the two opposing sides working together for common good. Mike, I appreciate your help as we went through it. I think it... And B&F Technical liked it too, right?

B&F Technical was involved in it? What at the end of the day is that B&F Technical liked it, we looked it over, the fire department looked it over. So the fire department's happy with it. Those are the people that are going to be going and fighting for it. Correct. So at the end of the day, whatever it is, We can move on with it and move forward and it'll be very interesting to see what comes the 31st very interesting I'm gonna tell you there was and we had a conversation on Friday morning And there was a conversation on Friday morning and he says are you a hundred percent on board with this? I said, yes I am he goes if they don't have it at 430 in the afternoon crystal Rock was we go there and put a red tag on their door and at 255 we got an email confirmation back from them with the signed agreement

Well, thank you, Joel. Thank you, Mike, for putting that all together and getting it done. Thank you very much, Mike. You did a really great job.

Yeah, I mean, it was a team effort, and at the end of the day, I just want residents to know that that was a big, this has been my life now for the last, unfortunately, my wife will tell you, it's been my life for the last six or seven months.

We need a motion.

I'll make a motion.

Motion by Gary, second by Geske. Roll call. Okay.

Barry? Yes. Geske? Yes. Boudreaux? Yes. Vaughn? Yes. Crockett? Yes. Zimbelman?

Yes.

Motion carries. Thank you.

Consideration regarding a motion to approve payment of the bills in the amount of $388,330.39, including TIF number 3 at $0.

I'll make that motion.

Motion by Barry. Second. Second by Vaughn.

Can we have some discussion on this? I'm just a little confused. I know you don't. See the agenda that was posted as it, but that was at 367,000. This bill is now at 382,000. Could you just clarify why an extra $15,000 of that?

We had contracts to have some work done in town and we don't need to vote on paying that because we already know how much we owe them.

Contracts for what? What contracts to who?

Contract for the porta potties and contract with the auditor. We have contracts.

The port-a-potties, we did discuss back in April. We talked in a committee meeting. We agreed. We sent a message to Lee's Rental. They responded on April 22nd. They were disappointed, I understand, but they agreed.

I told them to leave the port-a-potties there because it was the early spring and the baseball season was starting. We needed porta-potties in all of our parks.

Which is what we recommended to NYBSL, NYSA, the Wildcat Park. If they want to provide them. We already spent a lot of money on permanent bathrooms and a lot of residents. This is why we built the pavilion. A lot of residents come to us and say, we don't want to use porta-potties. So that's why we responded with that.

Well, maybe that's over at Heritage Park.

Heritage has permanent bathrooms.

When you have 3,000 people in a park because there's 2,000 kids playing soccer, you need more than four bathrooms.

That's why we recommended to those organizations. CJ, you got an email from a resident, and I got two other emails about the concerns of the bathrooms. And the secondary thing, too, is that, like we talked about with the bathrooms when I was involved into it, is that there was one at Eagle's Landing Park, which I don't see the need to have a bathroom there. But that was the only one I discussed about. But I don't understand where... We're not using bathrooms, but the leaves go out there every week and clean the bathrooms. So people are using them. They were misinformed by our mayor.

The mayor made an executive decision. We had talked to the committee meeting. We agreed it's going to save us $1,000 a month. and then she went back to ninety five dollars a month we don't have to service them we don't have to clean them we don't have to provide that's why we built permanent bathrooms but permanent bathrooms can't service three thousand people on one saturday morning that's your opinion and that's not why bsl and mysa that's not an opinion the residents have said again and that should have been brought up she made that executive decision and never informed us that she did that so you're right i made the decision which again you should let us know when you make these decisions so that we know are very important have you ever used a port-a-potty because you told me last year you'll never use a port-a-potty that's why you come in here i never saw so i love that you like are pro-port-a-potty but you don't even use port-a-potties all right let's come back to order here what about the forensic audit we had talked about that

We have a contract.

What about the July 14th meeting we got? I'd never even heard of a July 14th meeting. Who called that meeting? I'm not paying for that. One of the bills was a July 14th meeting, and they said the government called it. It had that he had to fly back from D.C. for $700. Who called that meeting? Because it wasn't a committee meeting. It wasn't a board meeting. Did you call a meeting with him on July 14th?

As I recall, at the regular board meeting, there were certain trustees that didn't want to hear the auditor's report. and so they stopped it from happening.

Not that, that was a different invoice, Mayor. The second invoice was a July 14th meeting. I'm going to ask that those two be removed, and that we do not pay for the forensic audit, except for what we had agreed to, and for Lee's Rentals, until we clarify this, because I don't want to offend Lee's Rentals, who's a great business, because we have two different organizations. I use reported bodies, so I don't know. I'm fine with that.

In regards to the forensic audit, Mayor, were there any reimbursables removed from that invoice?

We've got a motion on the floor.

Mayor, I have a question. In regards to the forensic audit bill, the final bill, were there any reimbursables removed or deducted from that final invoice?

No, because we had a contract.

Okay, so what their actions cost the village money, but we're not going to subtract that?

That's not necessarily true. That's a matter of opinion.

But no, it's not... We have a contract, and we're going to follow through and pay the bills. The village had to have checks reproduced, reprinted, new checks. They didn't have to do that. There was costs associated with their mistake, and we're not going to hold them accountable for that? There were two banks that did not say that we had to hide the account numbers. Once again, hang on. Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on. Okay, so you talk about spending money wisely, but yet we're not going to hold them accountable.

When you sign a contract to pay a bill, do you think you should be allowed to deduct money from it?

if you want to subtract what they cost us well then this is what i want to do then if we're going to hold everybody accountable for everything that goes on then that's what we're going to do so in the past when we had people that were there were overages on bills your exact words todd were We have to make sure that our contractors get paid. That was a $47,000 error.

Mike, what I said was the village needs to pay its bills. The village needs to pay their bills.

You signed a contract for $13,600. Pay the $13,600.

We shouldn't pay for their mistakes. Okay, well, why did we pay, the residents, pay $47,000 for an overage? Mike, I'm sitting here. You can talk. You don't got to get all heated up. Well, because you make the point when you want to make the point. Let's have a conversation. My point is that there was a final bill, and there was costs associated with mistakes that the auditor made that we've discussed at committee meetings, and we said that we would subtract those amounts from their final bill. I'm not saying we shouldn't pay them. I'm in complete favor to pay them. But what I'm in favor of is subtracting the amount that it costs us as a village to fix their mistake. And I would hold that opinion for any... vendor that we do work with.

Let it be known that the auditor never admitted that he made any mistakes. He's been doing this for 20 years. Of course he's not going to admit his mistakes. He has never had anything like this happen before because audits use account numbers.

You know, that's another sign of a leader when you could admit your mistakes.

We didn't make a mistake. Banks protect your account even though your bank number is on every check you write to everyone.

I will vote in favor of paying the bill when they subtract their mistake from the bill.

How much is it?

$1,300.

So we're going to swallow over $1,300 freaking dollars? Let's bring this.

Swallow over $2,000 for a car. What are we talking about? Please stop. Every dollar matters. Stop.

You just bought three picnic tables for $2,400.

All right, everybody stop.

We have a motion on the floor. We're going to call for a vote here. Motion by Berry, second by Vaughn. Payment of the bills.

Perry? Yes. Vaughn?

Yes.

Boudreaux? No. Crockett? No.

Geske? No. Simpelman?

No.

Can I make a motion to reconsider payment of the bills, editing out a lease or forensic audit? I'll pay for lease rentals because they're a respectful business and I apologize on the village's mistake over that. No. But I do not want to pay for... You're saying the auditor is not a respected business? Right. That's on the mayor for adding it in there. Thank you, mayor.

All right. That motion did not pass, so we're not paying the bills this month, thanks to the certain trustees in this room. I would like a motion to adjourn this meeting.

I'll make the motion.

Motion by Barry. Second. Second by Vaughn. All in favor?

Aye.

Aye. No. Meeting is adjourned. No.

It's not adjourned, Mayor. You don't have a majority.

Meeting is adjourned. Majority is adjourned.

No.

Stay in there, guys. Nope. Let it be reflected that I voted no. I voted no. I voted no.

I voted no.

You don't have legal authority to appoint an attorney.

I vote yes.

I vote yes. You do not have legal authority to appoint an attorney. You have a legal authority to appoint a legislative counsel.

Peggy, are you voting? Peggy refuses to vote. Motion carried on four to two.

You can't make yourself chair of the meeting. You haven't appointed yourself chair of the meeting, trustee.

Second is a motion to approve payment of the remaining balance to these rental. I guess we don't.

Should we appoint you mayor pro tem or a mayor pro tem to have it be in proper order?

Should we appoint us mayor pro tem? Can I make a motion to approve?

Okay. Okay. There's no record of these actions.

The meeting has been adjourned. There's nothing to decide. The meeting has been adjourned.

Under old business, a motion to reconsider the motion to approve Lewis Cancar assignment and continuous retention letter with respect to certain legal matters and to authorize village administrator to execute the same.

You are not the chair of this meeting. You do not get to call motions.

Motion by Crockett. second by Zimbelman roll call Crockett yes Zimbelman yes Boudreau? Yes. And I vote yes, 4-0. The other two trustees' record can reflect that they refuse to participate. Motion to approve Louis Kankar's assignment and continuous retention letter with respect to certain legal matters and to authorize the village administrator to execute the same over the veto of the mayor. Is there a motion? I'll make the motion. I'll second. Motion by Boudreau, second by Zimbelman. Again, roll call. Boudreaux? Yes. Zimbelman?

Yes.

Crockett? Yes. And I vote yes. So again, there is 4-0.

What you don't understand is you didn't appeal the ruling of the chair which was the proper procedural motion so therefore the ruling of the chair stands and the meeting was adjourned. So none of these actions right now are binding upon the village.

i will not motion to adjourn is there a second i just want to make a quick comment again for those still watching it was not voted properly to close the meeting for the trustees you have to give a majority opinion it was not closed properly also as we mentioned earlier state statute says we have to reconsider all vetoes that's just proper law just because the mayor didn't put it on her agenda doesn't mean it's not on the village agenda that's why it was on there we have to vote on that was that kind of stuff to continue us onward. Why we have to do that too, again, to protect ourselves legally on all bounds. If they don't want to follow the rules, that's fine. That's why we still held it. That's why we're doing it. Again, I'm a civic teacher. I've taught this. We know how proper rules go. We didn't do that. Correct, I'm not an attorney. That's why we're hiring an attorney. That's why we have an attorney present. The bill is because the lawsuit that the mayor filed got thrown out. The meeting was properly adjourned.

The motion to adjourn in the ruling from the chair was not properly appealed. So motion to adjourn by? I'll make the motion. By Boudreau, second by Zimbelman. Boudreau? Yes. Zimbelman?

Yes.

The motion to adjourn was ruled upon by the chair. any action station after the chair was not properly appeal to the date meeting was adjourned the trustees had the opportunity to appeal any ruling the chair they failed to do so you know robert's rules you need to bone up on your robert's rules now they did not actually appeal the ruling of the chair so the motion was adjourned no but thirty hundred people the meeting was adjourned which does give me the right to adjourn without a majority

No, I'm looking at my lawyer. Perfect. Look at the village lawyer. He is the village lawyer. The lawsuit got thrown out, Peggy.