SAUK VILLAGE | It seems that changing ones mind is become more and more common in Sauk Village as Mayor David Hanks and the 5 Village Trustees who voted to hire REM, a consultant to hire a Chief of Police, changed their minds on Tuesday night.
Village Trustee Derrick Burgess stated during a recent public meeting that he supported hiring from within the Police Department and that the Village did not have to spend money, it did not budget or have, for REM to do a search.
Minutes released from an Executive Session (See attached) showed that Hanks wanted to bring in REM to do the search. Burgess' wanted the firm to bring three candidates to the board not just one. Burgess was not being disagreeable with what Hanks wanted to do, but did not agree with hiring outside the department. "I do not want to discuss what happens in any Executive Session but I will say that it makes meetings go more professionally when you can agree to disagree. Sometimes people hear what they want. The facts in open session speak for themself" Burgess said.
Hanks and the Village Board voted to make Timothy Holevis the permanent Chief of Police by a vote of 5 to 0 with Lynda Washington abstaining on the vote. (Editorial note- an abstention vote goes with the majority and consequently Washington's vote was a "yes"). Holevis, who was already sworn in as Chief of Police last week, took the ceremonial oath of office.
Holevis served on the Sauk Village Police force since 1985 at the time Dick Rhodes was Chief of Police. Holevis rose through the ranks from patrolman all the way up to Chief of Police.
The Village is under a contractual obligation with REM and so Hanks proposed that REM could find a Deputy Chief of Police instead of a Chief. According to Village's ordinances the Deputy Chief of Police must be from within and is appointed by the Chief of Police with the consent of the Village Board. It is not certain how or if the Village can back out of their agreement with REM.
EDITORIAL OPINION:
I'm not sure when it became bad for a Village Board member to agree to disagree! Some are trying to cast Derrick Burgess as the villan by posting Executive Session minutes highlighted (which I share on here for your view). I commend him for trying to make the best of a situation where he STOOD ALONE!
I am very pleased that David Hanks and 4 trustees have changed their mind! Well done to ALL! I want to commend David Hanks on making a tough decision to change his mind again, but this time that turned out to be a good decision for Sauk Village! Some may say Derrick Burgess threw the Village Board under the bus by casting the lone NO vote for REM! Burgess said he voted NO because for "LOYALTY" to the Department and to those who endured the "reign of terror of Lewis Towers". I'm glad he did, I'm glad that the Village Board, with the exception of Lynda Washington found that Tim Holevis was not only the BEST CHOICE but the only choice for Sauk Village!
Thank you Mayor Hanks and Village Board, you did a good thing in this action!
I hope that some people stop the personal attacks on others and stop the negativity that continues to drag Sauk Village down. The same people that praised what I did when Lewis Towers was in office now find the TRUTH a hard pill to swallow! Some say that what I post is negative, that my opinion is "negative".... give me something REAL that is positive! Something that is not a photo op and we'll talk! Isn't it time to stop the stupid and really move the village forward?
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| Minutes from August 27, 2013 Executive Session |
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