Carpentersville trustees consider new attendance policy

These days, the three-strike rule applies to much more than baseball -- parents use it to discipline children and states use it to target repeat offenders.

In Carpentersville, the rule could soon affect village commission members who play hooky from meetings.

On Tuesday, trustees will discuss a proposal that would allow the village board to remove commissioners for poor attendance.

The proposal sponsor said the measure is a response to the action of some audit and finance commissioners who refused to attend a recent meeting because of the uncertainty over Trustee Paul Humpfer's board seat.

Humpfer chairs the village board's finance panel.

"The issue with Humpfer should have no bearing on whether these people attend the meeting or not," Trustee Judy Sigwalt said. "These commissioners work for the residents of the village and they should fulfill their duties as required."

Though no guidelines have been set for the measure, Sigwalt said three absences would be an acceptable number.

"If people do not want to uphold their duties, there are a number of residents interested in taking their positions," Sigwalt said.

Commission members now serve for the duration of their two-year term, regardless of attendance.

Only the village's planning and zoning commission sets rules for attendance.

The village code related to the planning and zoning commission says, "Three consecutive absences without good cause shall be grounds for removal."

The absence of three resident members -- and the village president -- forced the adjournment of Tuesday's finance meeting due to the lack of a quorum.

But Village Manager Craig Anderson said attendance is not a problem on the village's seven committees and boards.

"It is very rare for people not to be at village board and commission meetings," Anderson said. "Sometimes people are sick or on vacation. Up until the other night we never had a quorum problem."

Sherry Dobson, one of the absent commissioners, said the idea would create more problems than solutions.

"This would further limit people and we need to find ways to work together," Dobson said. "Putting up more barriers does not help the village. I am not sure this is appropriate."

Village President Bill Sarto had encouraged members not to attend Tuesday's special commission meeting.

In an e-mail to commission members, Sarto said Humpfer's recent conviction for domestic battery and residency outside of the village preclude him from serving on the board -- and subsequently as chairman of the commission.

Residents Dobson and Michael Sievertson said in e-mails to village staff that they would avoid future meetings until the village board had made a final decision on the legitimacy of Humpfer's seat.

Prior to Sarto's e-mail, Commissioner Nathan Spain said he would not attend if Humpfer remains chairman.