Changes come as Carpentersville board is seated

A new-look Carpentersville village board was seated Tuesday night, and it didn't take long for the freshly sworn-in village president to make some changes.

Soon after taking his oath of office as the village president, Ed Ritter eliminated some old practices and added a few new ones.

"I want to make this a more informal meeting," said Ritter, who defeated incumbent village president Bill Sarto by a 3 to 1 margin, as well as local businessman Jim Krenz, at the April 7 consolidated election.

Instead of calling on village board members by title, Ritter said he will refer to trustees by first names.

Additionally, the village president will now vote only in tie-break situations or when a supermajority of the board is needed. During his one term as village president, Sarto voted on every item.

"I will not vote on matters before the board unless under these conditions," Ritter said. "We will also not vote in the same order. I always found that disconcerting."

Ritter served one term as trustee before entering the village president race.

Trustees Kay Teeter, Bradford McFeggan and Pat Schultz, who ran with Ritter on the Carpentersville Cares slate, were also sworn in Tuesday.

Teeter was the lone incumbent trustee to retain a seat. McFeggan and Schultz defeated incumbent trustee Linda Ramirez-Sliwinski at the polls, while a third seat was made available when Ritter announced his run for mayor. In all, eight residents vied for three trustee positions.

Sarto had little to say as he handed the gavel to Ritter, but he later congratulated the new board members and wished them luck.

"I wish the new board well," said Sarto as he left village hall. "I hope they continue to make good progress in the village."

Ramirez-Sliwinski did not attend the board meeting.

Village Clerk Theresa Wilde was reappointed to the position, while Finance Director Lisa Happ was appointed village treasurer.