Wauconda Mayor Bart suggests changing meeting schedule
Despite a suggestion from Mayor Frank Bart, Wauconda trustees aren’t very interested in changing how and when they meet to discuss village business.
Trustees and the mayor typically gather four Tuesdays a month.
The meetings on the first and third Tuesdays of the month are board meetings at which trustees vote on a variety of issues.
The meetings on the second and fourth Tuesdays are committee-of-the-whole sessions at which trustees and staff discuss issues but don’t take any action.
Bart asked board members about changing their routine during a committee-of-the-whole discussion Tuesday night.
He suggested holding one board meeting and one committee-of-the-whole meeting each month. Committee meetings that would focus on more departmentalized issues could be held during the other weeks, Bart said.
Other villages in the area have similar schedules, he said.
Trustee Lincoln Knight said he’s not interested in altering the schedule now. There are too many important issues on the table, Knight said.
It might be something to consider in spring 2014, he said.
Trustees Ken Arnswald and John Barbini quickly agreed.
Barbini said he liked the idea. But like Knight, he said the board is dealing with too many big issues to adjust the meeting calendar now.
Barbini suggested talking about it again in April or May.
Trustee Linda Starkey said it’s something officials should discuss once a new village administrator is brought aboard. Officials have made an employment offer to a candidate, but the board hasn’t yet voted on the contract. That could happen next week.
Public Works Director Brad Fink has been serving double duty as interim village administrator for a few months.
Bart also suggested moving meetings to Monday nights. He travels frequently for his consulting business and said Monday meetings would be more convenient.
That idea didn’t get any support from the trustees.