Hainesville debates rules to quell trustee conflicts

Months of infighting has led Hainesville officials to consider making changes that would more firmly establish the power structure in the small village.

This week, Mayor Ted Mueller proposed amending village code to allow him -- with a two-thirds approval from the village board -- to charge a trustee with disorderly conduct and impose a $100 fine.

Mueller also proposed resolutions establishing rules for trustees seeking legal advice from the village attorney and information from staff members.

"I didn't want to do this, and am acting strictly on the advice of our attorney," Mueller said Wednesday. "I don't think this is necessary if we could just get back to common courtesy and Robert's Rules of Order."

Trustees acknowledged some change is necessary, but voted Tuesday to study the proposals in committee before making any decisions.

Trustee Wallace Stilz III will chair the committee that includes trustees Mark Gottsacker and Gary Walkington.

Coincidentally, it was Stilz who Mueller said forced him to propose changes.

Earlier this month, Stilz e-mailed 12 attorneys at Ancel Glink law firm, which represents the village. Mueller, and attorneys at the firm, said the move wasted time and was unnecessary; Stilz contends it was the only way he could get answers to questions he has been asking for a year.

"It is hard to get an answer around here, and finally I went right to the attorneys," Stilz said during Tuesday's meeting. "These (proposed changes) put a lot of information in your hands, mayor, and your hands only."

Village Attorney Jeffrey Jurgens said the resolutions were prepared before Stilz's e-mail was sent as a way to curb contentious meetings.

Jurgens said most municipalities have rules in place, whether written or understood, about contacting attorneys.

Charging trustees a fine for disorderly conduct, however, is rare, Jurgens said.

"Nobody wants to see a trustee expelled or fined, but at the same time, the village has to have some order to its meetings," Jurgens said, adding he supports trustees' decision to study the changes in committee.

"It is always easier to enforce changes when the trustees themselves and the mayor craft a policy. Whatever they decode on, we will certainly abide by those changes."