Homer Glen Mayor, Trustee Walk Out Of Special Board Meeting

HOMER GLEN, IL — Homer Glen Mayor George Yukich and Village Trustee Beth Rodgers walked out of Monday's special Village Board meeting after arguments during discussion for two agenda items.

Rodgers had asked if agenda items regarding licensing and regulating video gaming, and an ordinance for a villagewide hiring, salary and position reclassification freeze could be removed or tabled.

However, Trustee Ruben Pazmino had previously asked if those agenda items could be moved up on the agenda to be discussed first and second. Rodgers voted no, but trustees Consolino, Fialko, Pazmino, La Ha and Reynders voted yes, so the items were not tabled, and were voted on and discussed before public comment.

"In my own opinion, I have not had enough time to do my due diligence on [the ordinance about amending video gaming or the villagewide hiring freeze], considering I got [the items] at 5 o'clock on a Friday before the weekend," Rodgers said. "I didn't have any opportunity to speak to public safety on what their thoughts were on it ... I think it's really unfair to not allow the public to be heard before you take a vote."

The first ordinance amended the eligibility requirements for video gaming licenses by allowing "certain businesses and commercial establishments that have been issued liquor licenses" and qualified truck stops to qualify for video gaming licenses, according to board documents.

Video gaming was previously prohibited at automobile service stations in Homer Glen.

The amendment also removed requirements for a minimum area of 1,500 square feet and that a liquor license-holding business must wait six months before being issued a video gaming license, according to board documents.

Yukich said the board was making it so no one could make any money on video gaming, and he didn't think changes were needed.

"We're not taking gaming from anybody," Pazmino said, adding that the board was not taking gaming away from the restaurants. Pazmino then asked to call the vote, although trustees Rodger and La Ha both attempted to speak on the item. La Ha had not yet had a chance to speak.

"I don't understand, I'm not against this, but I have the right to speak," she said.

The ordinance was approved, with Trustees La Ha and Rodgers voting no.

"We should have respect for each other enough to hear each other's opinions," La Ha said after the vote.

The board then moved to vote on the villagewide salary and hiring freeze.

Rodgers again said she did not have enough time to do due diligence on the item, and didn't have the opportunity to speak to any of the 41 families that this could impact.

"There's no real relevance as to why we're doing this," Rodgers said, adding that she wasn't saying she was against the ordinance, but she couldn't make an educated vote.

According to board documents, the ordinance implements a freeze on hiring and salary raises, as well as reclassifications for village staff. The freeze would expire on June 30, unless terminated earlier by the board.

All raises and new positions must be approved by the Village Board.

Pazmino asked Interim Village Manager Matt Walsh if anyone was up for raises or bonuses during this time frame, to which Walsh responded, "not specifically, no."

Rodgers tried to speak during Pazmino's comments, and he responded that he had the floor. Trustee Consolino called a point of order, and bickering ensued between the trustees and mayor. Shortly after, Rodgers got up and left the meeting.

"That's just one more meeting that she's gone from, because there's been four," Pazmino said as Rodgers left.

Pazmino again asked Walsh if the board was affecting any families by the freeze, and Walsh said "not at this time."

"Nobody knows that," Yukich said.

"He knows it, he's the village manager," Pazmino said.

After a back and forth with Pazmino, Yukich then also got up and left the meeting.

"I'm sick and tired of the people and the residents getting taxed to death," Pazmino said as Yukich left. "And you're adding to it. We are fixing it."

The Village Attorney suggested voting on the ordinance and moving on to the next item. La Ha asked if she could have a chance to speak first.

"I think this is getting to the point where this is ridiculous, where we're speaking over each other, and we're yelling at each other," La Ha said. "We all have that right to speak."

"We're missing the point of why we're here. We're here to do things for our village, we have good intentions, and it's getting lost in this arguing," she said.

La Ha said the hiring and salary freeze was not to hurt people, but to get a "finger on the pulse" and it was not to punish people.

Consolino said this is "normal practice" when there are budgetary issues.

"This is not meant to hurt the community," she said.

"Our commitment when we got into these chairs, to the people, was that we were not ever going to raise a property tax," Pazmino said. "We promised you that during the election, and we will keep going on that."

The board unanimously approved the temporary freeze.

Lastly, the board approved a $1.5 million property tax levy, which is the same rate as last year's tax. Earlier in the meeting, the board had removed a $3.79 million tax levy from the agenda, instead choosing the $1.5 million option.