Sussman delays Buffalo Grove committee appointments as questions linger over husband's role

As questions linger over whether she can, or should, appoint her husband to an unpaid position on a village commission, new Buffalo Grove Village President Beverly Sussman on Monday doled out some assignments to her fellow village board members.

Sussman assigned each village trustee a "portfolio," an area of local government each is expected to became knowledgeable of, and serve as a resource of information for other board members on the topic.

Trustee Jeffrey Berman will have the transportation and legal portfolio, while Trustee Lester Ottenheimer received economic development and Trustee Andrew Stein public works. Trustee Steven Trilling received engineering and public safety, and new Trustee Dave Weidenfeld received environmental and information technology. The trustee who eventually fills Sussman's vacated board position will get finance and golf.

In the meantime, Sussman postponed until next month her permanent appointments to several boards, committees and commissions. Instead, the village board Monday extended temporary appointments that were made at the last meeting, Sussman's first as village president. She said she will make permanent appointments June 15.

The status of one possible reappointment, that of Sussman's husband Martin Sussman to the Committee for Residents with Disabilities, remains in limbo while officials await a legal opinion from the village attorney.

Berman questioned the appointment earlier this month, arguing it would be inappropriate for the village president to place her husband on a commission. Sussman questioned why the same objections weren't raised when former Village President Jeffrey Braiman appointed his sister to a village panel, and called the timing of Berman's objections "rude."

She said she postponed the other appointments to make sure they were correct and timely.

"It is not exactly up to date," Sussman said of the list of appointments. "This morning we found about three or four mistakes, and before we vote on it, we want to make sure there are no other errors and that everyone has been contacted and we know for sure that they will be on the committee and commission for this coming year."

Sussman said the village is seeking applicants through Friday from candidates wishing to fill the village board seat she vacated to become village president. The board will review candidate applications in June. Interested candidates are encouraged to email a resume and cover letter to Julie Kamka, deputy village clerk, at jkamka@vbg.org.