Island Lake battles over bickering ground rules

Island Lake residents and officials seem to agree the village board is in a rut.

Trustees and critics of the board alike say too much time is spent bickering and not enough on village business. But that's where the agreement ends.

When Trustee Deborah Herrmann introduced a resolution urging the board to "focus on current and future business of Island Lake," some residents and board critics said they didn't like the tone of the proposal.

"If my elected officials want to bring up particular topics and bring them to light, I feel that is absolutely their right to do so," resident Laurie Rabattini said. "I absolutely disagree bringing up old issues … is keeping business from getting done."

Former village employee Mary Jo Martin said she agreed, saying Herrmann is trying to "prescribe, exclude or otherwise set the parameters for discussion."

"That is censure any way you look at it," Martin said, calling it a First Amendment violation. "(Herrmann) is trying to limit discussion on the board."

Herrmann responded that not only does the village not have the right to prevent someone from discussing whatever they want, officials don't want to limit discussion.

"You can't do that," she said. "They have their First Amendment rights. They can ask anything they want."

She said the resolution is intended to encourage trustees to focus on accomplishing village business as opposed to fighting over issues resolved years ago.

"It's not to restrict public comment," Herrmann said. "It's infighting and we don't need to do that."

The village board will discuss the resolution at its board meeting tonight and vote on whether to adopt it.

Mayor Tom Hyde said he favors the measure and thinks some have misinterpreted the proposal.

"I understand (Herrmann is) trying to get away from some of the negativity of the past," Hyde said. "I think her ambitions are going in the right direction."