Homer Glen Special Meeting Terminated After No Quorum

HOMER GLEN, IL — Several village trustees were absent for a special meeting on Tuesday to discuss a misdemeanor battery charge filed against Trustee Rose Reynders. The charge was filed after a "verbal altercation" between Reynders and Village Clerk Christina Neitzke-Troike.

Mayor George Yukich, Trustee Beth Rodgers and Trustee Dan Fialko were present at the meeting; while trustees Reynders, Nicole La Ha, Ruben Pazmino and Jennifer Consolino were absent.

After roll was called, legislative counsel from Odelson, Sterk, Murphey, Frazier and McGrath, Ltd., said there was no quorum for the meeting, and it should be terminated. He said written notice of the meeting was not given personally to village board members, which violates village ordinance.

Present board members trustees Rodgers and Fialko also said they did not receive personal notice of the meeting.

Trustee Rodgers left the meeting to allow discussion without violating the Open Meetings Act, and Yukich attempted to allow residents to speak, but legislative counsel from Odelson, Sterk, Murphey, Frazier and McGrath, Ltd. advised him to terminate the meeting.

"You are not allowed to conduct any type of meeting, or convene any kind of whatever you want to call this at this point of time," he said, adding that a complaint would be filed if Yukich continued.

Members of the public in the audience asked if residents could still speak, and Village Attorney Eric Hanson said the public could move outside and speak.

Patch has reached out to the absent board members asking for comment on their absences.

Reynders responded, and said she had no comment per the advice of her attorney.

Pazmino also responded to Patch, and said he couldn't attend due to it being a "last-minute meeting" and he had business staffing issues. Second, he added, there is a no-contact order between Reynders and Village Clerk Neitzke-Troike, so Reynders was not allowed to attend the meeting and defend herself.

"Everyone is entitled the right to defend themselves from an accusation, trustee Reynders is no exception," Pazmino said, adding that before this meeting, he has not missed a single scheduled official board meeting or special meeting in his time in office.