Several Island Lake trustees to push for Sharon Hyde's suspension

Despite her arrest last summer on theft and official misconduct charges, the director of Island Lake's village-owned preschool has continued collecting a paycheck.

Some village board members say that needs to change.

At the end of Thursday night's meeting, Trustee John Ponio said he wants the panel to discuss placing Creative Playtime Preschool Director Sharon Hyde on administrative leave.

"We as a board have to consider ... the seriousness of the charges," Ponio said. "This is a big thing."

Hyde, the wife of former Mayor Thomas Hyde, is accused of collecting an estimated $114,000 in pay for hours she did not work as Creative Playtime's director between 1999 and 2009.

Her husband voted to approve those claims, prosecutors have said. Thomas Hyde is charged with official misconduct and having a prohibitive interest in contracts in what authorities have termed a ghost payrolling scam.

Sharon Hyde also is charged with making false entries.

The Hydes' attorney, Charles Smith, maintains neither client did anything wrong. He said Sharon Hyde is a salaried employee whose pay is the same no matter how many hours she works.

Sharon Hyde could not be reached for comment Friday morning.

Mayor Debbie Herrmann and some trustees have defended the Hydes. They spurned calls to remove Sharon Hyde from her post and Herrmann called Sharon Hyde "a model citizen" after her arrest. The mayor could not be reached for comment Friday.

Hyde is set to earn $25,740 this year as Creative Playtime's director, village Finance Director John Little said.

This week, a Lake County judge denied a motion to dismiss the criminal case against Sharon Hyde. That decision prompted Ponio to move forward with a board discussion about her employment.

The debate isn't personal, Ponio said.

"I don't get any personal joy or glory out of what they're going through," he said. "But we as a board have to decide what we're going to do in this case."

The political makeup of the Island Lake board, however, means the odds of suspending Hyde are slim. Herrmann and her allies have the majority, with four of the seven votes on the board.

Ponio and trustees Don Saville and Laurie Rabattini say the board should debate placing Hyde on unpaid leave.

"It's our responsibility," Ponio said. "That's why we were elected."

Rabattini said it's "amazing" the village has continued to employ Hyde even as she faces a criminal accusation that she stole money from the town.

Regardless, Rabattini and her allies realize the votes aren't there.

"But for me it always has been the right thing to do," Saville said Friday. "We just should have done the right thing to begin with."

Board member Connie Mascillino believes personnel-related discussions should be held privately, as the law allows. That's for talks about Hyde or any employee, she said.

"For all parties concerned, I think it's best if matters like that are discussed in executive session," Mascillino said.

Ponio said he'd like the issue on the agenda for the board's next gathering on March 4. It could end up being discussed in closed session, he said.

Sharon Hyde faces a mandatory prison sentence of six to 30 years if convicted of all the charges against her. Thomas Hyde could face up to five years if convicted of official misconduct and having a prohibited interest in contracts.

In a related matter, Thomas Hyde was charged this week with battery and attempted unlawful communication with a witness. Prosecutors say that during a 2009 village Christmas party, Hyde grabbed and insulted a man who had been subpoenaed in the investigation of his activities.

Attorney Smith said the matter has been blown out of proportion.