Island Lake trustees defend walkout

The three Island Lake trustees who briefly walked out of a meeting rather than vote on a controversial issue defended their actions Friday.

The item in question was a resolution considered by the board late Thursday night confirming the employment status and salary of embattled village worker Sharon Hyde.

Hyde, the wife of ex-mayor Thomas Hyde, faces criminal charges in what prosecutors have described as a ghost-payrolling scheme that victimized the village.

Thomas Hyde faces charges in the case, too.

Trustees John Ponio, Laurie Rabattini and Don Saville have questioned Sharon Hyde's continued employment as director of the village-owned Creative Playtime Preschool, but all three opted to leave the boardroom rather than make their opposition formal.

The resolution passed 4-0. Supporting it were Trustees Connie Mascillino, Donna O'Malley and Don Verciglio and Mayor Debbie Herrmann. The quartet typically vote together on divisive issues.

Herrmann and some of her allies on the board have publicly defended the Hydes since the charges were brought.

Ponio, Rabattini and Saville returned to the boardroom after the vote ended.

Ponio said the walkout - which followed a nearly two-hour closed-door discussion about Hyde's employment - wasn't planned before the meeting. He said he chose to leave the room rather than vote, because Hyde is the subject of a criminal prosecution.

"I don't feel that I should take a vote on this until the trial is complete and the verdict is in," he said Friday.

Even so, Ponio questioned why "a part-time employee is even on salary in the first place."

Rabattini said she left the boardroom to protect herself. She believes the resolution, which establishes Hyde "has been and shall continue to be a part-time salaried employee of the village at the annual rate of pay of $25,740," could be covering up the crimes of which Hyde is accused.

"I didn't want to be a part of it in any way, shape or form," she said.

Rabattini acknowledged the walkout may not have looked professional.

"But there are things going on (people) don't have knowledge of," she said without elaborating.

Saville questioned the very nature of the resolution and the motives for adopting it.

"This is about friendship and not the good of the village," he said.

The group walkout, Saville said, was coincidental.

Mascillino shrugged off the protest.

"I guess that's their right," she said. "I chose to stay and declare my vote, however."

Verciglio was more critical of the trio, saying the trustees were "walking out on their responsibility."

"I think it was very unprofessional," he said. "I think they let the people down."

Thursday's resolution essentially quashed a separate effort by Rabattini to suspend Hyde without pay. Before the meeting, Rabattini said she knew she didn't have enough support for the plan.

Sharon Hyde declined to comment on the board's decision and referred questions to her attorney.

Hyde was arrested in June 2009 after authorities said she collected an estimated $114,000 in pay from the village for hours she did not work between 1999 and 2009. She is charged with theft of government property, official misconduct and making false entries.

Thomas Hyde voted to approve the payments to his wife, authorities said. He is charged with official misconduct and having a prohibitive interest in contracts.

The Hydes' attorney has said neither client did anything wrong.

Both cases are pending in Lake County circuit court.

<div class="infoBox">

<h1>More Coverage</h1>

<div class="infoBoxContent">

<div class="infoArea">

<h2>Stories</h2>

<ul class="links">

<li><a href="/story/?id=365447">Ex-Island Lake mayor's wife to stay on the job <span class="date">[03/12/10]</span></a></li>

</ul>

</div>

</div>

</div>