Hanover Park commissioner ousted by Craig

Rich Bergmann looked forward to his role in helping orchestrate Hanover Park's future now that efforts are underway to create a village comprehensive plan.

So the 10-year member of the development commission was especially surprised when calls poured in from people asking why he was stepping down. They saw the original agenda for Thursday's village board meeting, which listed an item to accept his resignation.

The only problem was, Bergmann hadn't resigned.

Mayor Rod Craig interrupted with an explanation as Bergmann read a prepared statement to the board, saying, "That was a clerical error. Any distress we may have caused you, I apologize."

Still, Bergmann's out. A corrected agenda removed his resignation, but also omitted his name from a list of re-appointments to the nine-person commission. And Bergmann, who served as campaign manager to Craig's foes on the CommUnity Party, thinks the decision was political.

"It seems to be a trend that anyone who crosses certain individuals are being eliminated," Bergmann said, referring to the post election ousting of the former village manager, the manager's staff and village attorney.

Craig, who maintains authority over who sits on village committees, said he wanted to give other people a chance and denies Bergmann's connection to the opposition party.

"Rich is still involved in CERT (the Community Emergency Response Team) and other activities making him very engaged in Hanover Park," Craig said later.

Jeff Bakes, chairman of the development commission, said Bergmann was an exemplary member who "came to just about every meeting. He's on top of everything and really does his research."

Bakes said that while he hopes politics didn't play a role in Craig's decision, this was the first time that, to his knowledge, a mayor didn't follow the chairman's recommendations. Craig also reappointed a couple members Bakes advised against reappointing because poor attendance.

"In the past, the mayor has always heeded the chairman's recommendation because they have the best handle on the commission," Bakes said. "This is the first time I wasn't listened to."