Eleven weeks short of ending his 16-year tenure as village president, Frank Paris is showing no signs of giving up the gavel. Monday night, however, a slim majority of the village board indicated a desire to assume a more controlling role.
In a rare demonstration of independence, the board voted down by a 4-2 margin a request by Paris to cancel a Feb. 23 village board meeting. Trustee Susan Conti, who generally supports Paris, cast the decisive vote.
Paris asked the board to cancel the regular village board meeting and replace it with a Finance and Administration Committee meeting. Several trustees openly scoffed at the idea in light of the fact that a finance meeting had been scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 5:30 p.m., specifically to discuss the village budget and revenue
“You asked that a finance meeting be held, and that meeting has been scheduled prior to the next board meeting,” Russ Nummer told Paris.
Then Paris asked to be able to participate in the meeting by telephone, due to a previous obligation. Paris said the obligation was “a family birthday party that was scheduled long ago,” in Florida. Pat O’Brien, who made a motion to allow the cancellation, said he had no problem with Paris’ request, if there was no “pressing business” at the next board meeting.
Nummer said the village, which is facing a reported $700,000 budget shortfall, has plenty of pressing business.
“With all due respect, we just tabled three items tonight,” Nummer said, noting that those three items – proposed increased fees for zoning variances, vending and food service licenses and demolition fees – all directly related to the village’s attempts to pump up flagging revenues.
Steve Dudek objected both to the proposed cancellation and to Paris participating via telephone from Florida.
“If you read the ordinance, the only exception is for being out of town for business,” he said. Paris objected that Dudek was “misstating the ordinance,” but Village Attorney Lance Malina sided with Dudek’s interpretation.
“You need to be out of town on business, or unable to get there because of a family emergency,” said Malina.
When Paris ignored Malina’s interpretation and continued to press for a motion to allow him to participate by telephone, Dudek replied, “It’s not an emergency family birthday party.”
“Why would we cancel a regular board meeting to have a committee of the whole?” Nummer asked. When Nummer wondered what the difference was, Paris replied, “There’s a big difference,” but didn’t explain. Paris then said, “The last time we had a meeting and I wasn’t here, you and Trustee Hoke managed to take over the Police Committee.”
The incident in question actually occurred at a 2007 meeting during which Paris was present, but from which Trustee Nancy Dillon was absent.
“He said what he’s doing,” Hoke pointed out. “He doesn’t want to have a regular board meeting because he can’t make it. And he has to be here for the vote; otherwise we can’t have a meeting.”
“I think it’s kind of ludicrous we’ve cancelled two meetings in the span of three,” said Dudek.
“I actually find it incredulous that you think that after one meeting, you think we’re going to have the ability to come to a consensus on something as large and convoluted as the budget,” said Nummer. “You’re asking us to do exactly what you’re accusing us of doing, and that’s not having a meeting.
“You’re the one assuming if you’re not here, we’re going to take over,” he added. “Basically, you’re assuming that if you’re not here, we can’t do the job. Is that correct?”
Paris shot back, “Trustee Nummer, you can’t do the job no matter who’s here or not.”
When the roll was called on the motion to cancel the meeting, Conti hesitated a second, then softly said “No.” Asked later what she was thinking at that moment, Conti said, “I wish it hadn’t been on the agenda.”
Nummer was more blunt.
“He couldn’t prevent us from meeting, so he was going to prevent us from voting,” he said Tuesday morning. “Here’s a guy who in two months is going to be retired and in Florida. Why does he have a death grip on things?”
CONTACT: bdwyer@wjinc.com
