Deer Park trustee resigns over Vehe Farm lawsuit

A first-term Deer Park trustee has announced her resignation from the board over disagreement with a lawsuit against the original contractor on the Vehe Barn restoration project.

Joyce Trost, who was elected to the board in the spring of 2009, said it wasn't enough for her to simply disagree with the decision to sue R & W Clarke Construction Inc. because she feels it's an issue that's going to escalate.

"It's not going to stop with the first vote," Trost said Thursday. "They're going to go after anyone with deeper pockets."

Village President Bob Kellermann said he could not respond to Trost's suggestion because her letter to the board said no more than that she was resigning.

"That's her personal opinion and I'm not going to comment on a personal opinion," Kellermann said.

While Kellermann is already searching for a replacement who is "conscientiously looking out for the interests of Deer Park," there is a technical issue that could hold up any immediate appointment.

He said Trost's resignation letter wasn't signed or notarized. Both must occur before her resignation can be considered legally binding.

Trost said Thursday she was out of town.

The second two years of her four-year term would be up for election next April 5. Kellermann said he would consider it a plus if his nominee for the interim expressed an interest in running for the seat at that time. Kellerman's pick must be ratified by the village board.

The village board voted to file suit against R & W Clarke Construction in July.

The firm was hired in 2004 to restore the Vehe Barn, which has since become Deer Park's village hall, with the expectation of completing the project in 2005.

The village fired the contractor from the still unfinished project in 2007 and the restoration work was taken up by another company.