Ex-Island Lake mayor's wife to stay on the job

Despite a brief walkout by half the trustees, Island Lake officials on Thursday night formally confirmed the employment of the embattled director of the village-owned preschool.

The move to support Sharon Hyde essentially quashed a movement to place Hyde on unpaid administrative leave because she's facing criminal charges.

The resolution, adopted by a 4-0 vote, establishes Hyde as a part-time, salaried employee who earns $25,740 a year.

The vote followed a nearly two-hour closed-door discussion of personnel and legal matters.

Three trustees - Don Saville, Laurie Rabattini and John Ponio - walked out of the meeting before the vote was taken. That left trustees Connie Mascillino, Don Verciglio and Donna O'Malley and Mayor Debbie Herrmann to vote on the resolution. The four votes were enough for it to pass.

Saville, Rabattini and Ponio returned to the boardroom after the vote.

Herrmann and some of the trustees have publicly defended Hyde. Other trustees have called for her suspension.

Hyde, the wife of ex-Mayor Thomas Hyde, was arrested in June 2009 after authorities said she collected an estimated $114,000 in pay for hours she did not work between 1999 and 2009. She is charged with theft of government property, official misconduct and making false entries.

Thomas Hyde voted to approve the payments to his wife, authorities said. He is charged with official misconduct and having a prohibitive interest in contracts.

The Hydes' attorney has said neither client did anything wrong.

Despite her arrest, Hyde has continued working and collecting a paycheck from the village.

Job: Dissenting trustees abstain from vote