Island Lake might bring in mediator

For a local government with a reputation for odd behavior, Tuesday night's Island Lake village board meeting was particularly unusual.

Mayor Debbie Herrmann and the trustees scrapped nearly the entire agenda planned for the meeting — a special session called over the weekend — and instead handled two routine items before meeting in closed session to discuss pending litigation.

In interviews before the meeting, Herrmann and attorneys for the village and the board said the closed-door gathering was called to discuss bringing in a professional mediator to help resolve the strife between Herrmann and four trustees who have united against her politically.

Those battles have led to a lawsuit and, on Monday, a request from Herrmann for a temporary restraining order against the foursome.

The agenda had included a proposal to replace the town's finance director and to consider a new organizational plan for the board and administrators, among other proposals.

But the officials dumped the docket following a Lake County circuit court appearance earlier in the day by attorneys representing Herrmann and the four trustees, who are being sued by Herrmann over their recent efforts to limit her powers.

The lawyers were before Associate Judge Mitchell Hoffman because, on Monday, Herrmann had requested a temporary restraining order against trustees Donna O'Malley, John Ponio, Laurie Rabattini and Don Saville. The legal maneuver sought to prevent them from enforcing a number of village ordinances or amendments to existing village rules Herrmann had approved despite a mayoral veto. Most concern personnel matters, such as the ability to fire the village's attorney or police chief.

Hoffman took no action on the request. Instead, he and the attorneys agreed officials should discuss hiring an independent mediator to end the legal fight.

Hoffman said he will review the matter again April 28.

After talking privately for an hour Tuesday night, the trustees reopened the room to the public, dealt with some clerical business and adjourned. They took no action on the mediation proposal.

The items initially scheduled to be debated Tuesday night will be postponed until the board's next meeting, also set for April 28, said David McCardle, the attorney representing the four trustees.