W. Dundee will pay official's legal fees

West Dundee will use village funds to cover legal expenses for Village Manager Joe Cavallaro, who is scheduled to go on trial in August on misdemeanor battery charges. He is accused of poking a local business owner in the chest during an argument.

Village board members on Monday voted 7-0 in favor of paying up to $2,500 to Gary Johnson of Aurora, who is Cavallaro's defense attorney.

The rates include a base fee of $1,200, plus $1,300 to try the case. If the case is settled without a trial, the $1,200 base fee is the only charge, according to a letter from Johnson to Cavallaro that was included in a memo to trustees.

The proposal caught the ire of resident Julie Reed, who expressed disbelief and called the notion a "perceived effrontery" toward the residents.

"It is special treatment for Mr. Cavallaro," said Reed, adding the public should not foot the legal bill. "The village would never pay for the defense fund of a private citizen."

Trustees, however, said the incident occurred during business hours and was an extension of a discussion that took place during a board meeting the previous evening.

At the May 3 board meeting, Randy Errington, owner of Hammerhead's Billiards Pub at 107 W. Main St., addressed the board regarding a proposed sign ordinance.

The following day, Errington and Cavallaro were involved in a heated discussion inside a local business, during which Errington says Cavallaro poked him hard in the chest.

"It wasn't like this occurred off hours," said Trustee Tom Price, adding he struggled with the decision. "It occurred on business hours, and occurred largely because he is a village official."

Village President Larry Keller said the incident was out of character for Cavallaro.

"Joe has been an employee since 1998, and this is the first time something like this nature has ever occurred," Keller said.

Board members said expenses would be covered by money from the village's litigation fund.

A bench trial before Kane County Judge Bruce Lester is set for 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 4, in Elgin Branch Court.