Island Lake trustee accuses peers of 'bullying-type' pressure at meetings
Without specifically naming anyone, Island Lake Trustee Thea Morris has accused some of her peers on the board of “bullying-type” behavior at meetings.
Morris, who is seeking a second term on the board, regularly finds herself in the minority on controversial issues. Three trustees and Mayor Charles Amrich ran together for office two years ago and they have the numbers to control the outcome of votes.
Four candidates are running for three seats with 4-year terms. Morris will be joined on the April 7 ballot by incumbent John Burke, fire and police Commissioner Debra Jenkins and political newcomer Sandy Hartogh.
Burke, Jenkins and Hartogh are running as a team.
The candidates discussed meeting protocol and other issues during a group interview at the Daily Herald's Libertyville office.
At one point, they were asked about how the trustees settle differences of opinion and whether votes come down to one political bloc against another.
Morris, who was elected in 2009, complained that most of the trustees have their minds made up about issues before meetings start.
Those who disagree are subject to bullying at meetings, she said.
“Very rarely do I see individuals actually taking a look at the other opinions being presented or the other thoughts being considered prior to making a decision,” Morris said.
Burke, who was appointed to fill a vacancy in August 2014, said he “(doesn't) see a lot of that” in his time on the board. He said he expects a heated discussion when the panel debates the possible merger of the building inspector and code-enforcement officer jobs.
“There's issues coming up that a lot of the members seem to be split on,” he said.
Hartogh, a former Daily Herald freelance writer, said she's seen distrust and resentment on the dais.
She said she refuses to “sit on a rubber-stamp board” if elected.
“(I) won't be shamed or punished or ridiculed because I voted one way against someone else,” Hartogh said.
When asked if she's seen that type of behavior in Island Lake, Hartogh couldn't cite an example.
Jenkins, a prominent backer of Amrich and his allies who was appointed to the police commission in 2014, said she's seen more of a cohesiveness recently on the board. But she said she's also seen trustees who ran together two years ago “getting into it.”
“I'd like to see everybody working together professionally,” Jenkins said.