A loud, bizarre silence in Island Lake

Here's a bizarre case of stone-cold silence that could happen almost no where in the suburbs but Island Lake, a community buffeted by odd government scandal in recent years.

Two weeks ago, Village President Debbie Herrmann surprised the community by announcing she placed Police Chief Anthony Sciarrone on administrative leave.

The news, which came in an e-mail to the village board, caught everyone off guard. Even her board allies said they didn't see it coming; it was made unilaterally and without their consultation.

It followed a similar action in January when Herrmann placed Officer Fred Manetti on administrative leave without discussion.

She has said precious little about what amounts to a couple of important decisions in Island Lake. She won't comment to the media and won't answer residents' questions. She even blew off a special meeting called by trustees to discuss the matter behind closed doors.

The closest she's come to an explanation was at a meeting last Thursday when she said Sciarrone "was an interim chief and we were working on some changes." She also revealed Sciarrone's contract for the chief's post expired last year, which also surprised some board members.

We join trustees and residents in being confused and upset over being left in the dark on this decision, and say the time has come for Herrmann to drop her silence.

Herrmann must promptly and fully explain why she removed the village's highest ranking law enforcement officer and a beat cop.

Is there a serious problem in the police department, or is this politics Island Lake-style?

Neither Sciarrone nor Manetti has been charged with a crime or indicted, and there has been no public indication either is the subject of a criminal investigation.

Herrmann's action is contradictory and more than a bit troubling when you consider the situation involving Sharon Hyde, the director of the village-run preschool.

Hyde remains in her job even though she faces felony charges of theft and official misconduct as part of a ghost payrolling scam that also involves her husband, former Mayor Thomas Hyde.

In 2009, prosecutors alleged Sharon Hyde collected an estimated $114,000 for hours she did not work between 1999 and 2009. She is set to earn $25,740 this year as Creative Playtime's director. Her husband is charged with official misconduct and having a prohibitive interest in contracts for voting as a trustee and mayor to approve those payments.

Herrmann's response to the allegations? She and some trustees have defended the Hydes and spurned calls to remove Hyde from her post.

There's a lot here that doesn't add up and it's time for Herrmann to provide an explanation.