Buffalo Grove president: I never turned off Stone's microphone

Buffalo Grove Village President Elliott Hartstein said emphatically Tuesday he did not turn off Trustee Lisa Stone's microphone at Monday night's village board meeting. He threatened to, but did not do it.

The threat came during a discussion among trustees over Stone not sharing with them an e-mail exchange last spring between herself and a federal EPA agent. The agent, Paul Reusch, had canceled a meeting with Stone over the issues surrounding the Land and Lakes Landfill because the landfill had been given a clean bill of health by the EPA, the Illinois EPA and Lake County.

Trustee Jeffrey Berman said, "She chose to hide it (the e-mail). She hid it from you. She hid it from us. She hid it from the village staff."

Stone protested, saying former Village Manager William Brimm had relayed the same information about the canceled meeting and the clean bill of health to trustees.

"I put things everywhere (make things public)," she added, saying she's never been secretive.

During the meeting, Hartstein allowed Stone to speak beyond her time limit but also repeatedly warned her about misusing her time. Stone responded by saying she would step down from the dais and speak as a member of the public, which would give her more time.

Matters came to a head when Trustee Beverly Sussman took the floor and asked Stone for the time and date she had gotten Reusch's e-mail.

Hartstein directed Stone to give "just the answer, please."

Stone gave the answer (March 14, 10:15 p.m.) and then started to elaborate, at which point Hartstein said, "That was the answer to the question, thank you very much."

"Can I please finish what I'm just saying?" Stone asked.

"No you may not," Hartstein answered.

When she pressed further, Hartstein told her, "Trustee Stone, I will turn off your microphone. Trustee Sussman has the floor." At that point he appeared to reach out with his left hand.

In an e-mail Tuesday, Hartstein said he didn't hit the switch. "I did threaten to in hopes of getting compliance but I never in fact turned off her microphone," he wrote. "I never even touched the switch."

Asked about it Tuesday, Stone wasn't sure. "I can't say whether he turned off my microphone ... although it certainly wouldn't surprise me."