Disorderly conduct citation against Bartlett library trustee dismissed at hearing
A disorderly conduct citation filed against a Bartlett Public Library trustee accused of threatening behavior toward staff at a May board meeting was dismissed at a village adjudication hearing Wednesday.
Trustee Joseph A.J. Olsen was cited by police May 28 after the library’s director and witnesses said he moved in a hostile manner toward the director and another staffer during an argument over financial documents.
Following the hearing, Director Karolyn Wessel said she is contemplating a way to contest the dismissal through other legal channels. She argues the dismissal happened because a village prosecutor was absent and she was not advised to have her own legal representation.
Witnesses at the quickly adjourned meeting in May said Olsen got up and rushed angrily toward Wessel and Assistant Director Mallory Knapp while disputing the accuracy of monthly fund transfer information, making others concerned for the women’s safety.
Olsen’s attorney, Paul De Luca, said the adjudicator made his decision to dismiss the case after hearing from Olsen and the complainants.
Bartlett Village Administrator Paula Schumacher said that while a prosecutor wasn’t present, the village believed it had provided all the information the adjudicator needed. But the hearing officer ultimately sought an additional witness not present.
Wessel said Thursday she had not yet identified a way to further pursue the complaint, and De Luca expressed skepticism she could.
“That would be like double jeopardy,” De Luca said. “I don’t think she has any further remedy.”
Nevertheless, the May 28 incident is why Olsen is barred from the library for six months for violating building policy. He can attend board meetings there only with a police escort.
His fellow trustees unanimously approved a censure of Olsen last month that urged him to modify his conduct in interacting with staff and others at the library.
In the approved minutes of the June 4 meeting, Olsen states he got up suddenly on May 28 in an effort to give Wessel a packet of information she didn’t have, which was the basis of their verbal disagreement.