President Hartstein should step down

Over 9,000 citizens of Buffalo Grove cast their votes on the recall of Lisa Stone. While I was one of the people seeking the recall, I feel obligated to speak out to President Hartstein and the trustees.

As a municipal employee for over 30 years with two different municipalities, one of the “commandments” they preached was that, as an employee, we were extensions of the village and that, at all times, we should conduct ourselves as if we were representing the village or city. If I got into an argument in public where I worked, it could be mentioned in a news article. If I were picked up for DUI, it could be mentioned who I worked for.

As a municipal employee or an elected official, we do not get to pick and choose when we represent our village or city. Once we accept that office or job, we are expected to conduct ourselves in a way not to embarrass the citizens of the Village.

Mr. Hartstein, it is time for you to step down. Your sophomoric antics at the Village Pub and Grill on Nov. 2 are unforgivable.

A citizen could overlook the president telling a trustee to shut up at a village board meeting. Everyone has and can lose their cool once.

A citizen could overlook the frustration when you wrote an open letter, asking the citizens to recall Lisa Stone. As president, you would have been better to remain neutral and trust the citizens to do their duty. The same goes for all the other trustees who did not trust the citizens to make up their own minds.

But you crossed the line Nov 2nd in the backroom of the Village Pub and Grill when you donned the wig and mimicked Lisa Stone. The recall vote was done, it was over, the citizens had voted over 3-1 to recall Lisa, but in your mind, it was OK to take one more shot, try to get one more laugh at her expense.

Mr. Hartstein, step down you lost my vote and, worse, you lost my respect.

Thomas M. Jackson

Buffalo Grove