Hartstein appoints ethics commission in Buffalo Grove

Buffalo Grove Village President Elliott Hartstein this week named the members of the village's new ethics panel.

The panel, which was approved at this week's village board meeting, has many names that voters or those involved in the community will recognize.

The chair is former Trustee Brian Rubin. Rubin is known for his work with residents with disabilities and has served as chair of the village's Commission for Residents With Disabilities.

Hartstein told the board Monday, "I want to make sure we have the best possible people on the commission, who will serve objectively and serve fairly, and also I wanted to get someone to serve at the helm who was familiar with village government and who has a reputation for honesty and integrity and someone who will really do a superb job of leading this commission."

He added, "I'm hopeful that this is a commission that we won't need too often, if at all."

Another member is John Green, a prominent architect and longtime member of the Friends of the Parks Foundation.

The remaining members will be:

• Walter Jasinski, a 38-year resident and former high school administrator.

• Bruce Bohrer, a 28-year resident and former administrator at Harper College for 25 years.

• Nancy Aldrich, a 22-year resident who is a superintendent of human resources for the Arlington Heights Park District, which she also serves as a Freedom of Information Act officer.

• Lenna Scott, a former member of the Blood Commission and a 12-year resident who is co-president of the Prairie School PTO and director of marketing at the Wealshire Retirement Home in Lincolnshire.

• Debra Rybarczyk, a commercial customer service representative for Harris Bank and a 43-year resident who served on the village's 50th Anniversary Committee and is a member of the Buffalo Grove Days Committee.

The ordinance establishing the commission was passed in December. Among its duties are investigating, conducting hearings and recommending to the village board "judicial and disciplinary actions and/or fines." The commission will only act on a recommendation from village authorities and not on its own.

Under the ordinance, anyone may file a complaint that there has been an ethics violation with the village clerk. However, there could be penalties for false complaints.