DICTATOR DAVID AND THE DAVIDIAN TRUSTEE PROTEST

WHERE WERE YOU JOHN POSKIN?

By Joseph Wiszowaty

OPINION EDITORIAL |  Well, if you were at  this past Tuesday night’s Special Meeting of the Village Board, it was almost surreal.  After 2 years and 52 days, it appears that at least 2 of the Bobbleheads have had enough of the closed door, back room meetings which have been commonplace in Mayor David Hanks’ administration.

The Village’s fiscal year historically begins on May 1st; however, Hanks and his administration couldn’t get their act together in order to get a budget put together and passed by May 1^st because he said at the time they were focusing on the delinquent audits.  It is glaringly apparent that Hanks cannot multi-task in such a demanding position----but I digress!  During Hanks’ whirlwind budget meeting with his Board of Trustees, Hanks bragged about being able to hold hearings on the budget in a record 4 hours! The budget consisted of 23 pages and was void of any real descriptions of what was going on and the public was left in the dark.  However, with virtually no questions of any substance or input from the 5 Bobblehead Board of Trustees, they agreed in lockstep with the Mayor's proposed budget.   

Trustee Derrick Burgess was the only Trustee who took the time to forensically go through the 23 pages to dissect what was being presented and prepared a 21 page analysis of Hanks’ budget  proposal to point out numerous issues and concerns that he found.  Burgess called Hanks' budget “not balanced” with over estimations of revenues and under estimations of expenses.  Burgess suggested that the Board of Trustees “work collaboratively” to come up with long-term solutions.  But no; what did Hanks do?  He called a special meeting so he and he alone could spend 3 hours criticizing Burgess’s analysis of his budget which turned out to be a waste of taxpayer money, time and nothing but a lot of hot air.  The vote to pass the budget was then presented to the Trustees for approval resulting in a 5 to 1 approval with Burgess casting the lone NO vote! 

Now fast forward to this last Tuesday.  Trustee Rosie Williams, Lynda Washington and Derrick Burgess called for a special meeting to discuss what Williams called a “budget crisis”. Williams admitted that she still had not read Burgess's analysis but did remember that it lacked "suggestions" as to what could be done.  Burgess countered that decisions should be collaboratively made by the entire board and not by him dictating what needs to be done.  So what did Hanks do Tuesday night instead of discussing with the Board of Trustees these most crucial matters?  He skips out on the meeting to avoid the criticism of his Village Board members and the anticipated “I told you so…”.  Hanks in a cowardice post on social media said, “since there is no clear urgency for tonight’s meeting, Linda and I will be spending time with our family…”.  

He went on to criticize his Village Board members for “not reaching out to me in person to discuss any issues prior to calling for a meeting…”.  Williams criticized Hanks’ back room “meetings before the meetings” and rightly so!  She also said that discussions such as these should be appropriately done during public meetings.  You know what??  I AGREE!  Meetings to discuss the finances of the Village are best conducted in an open and transparent process; not in the privacy of the Mayor's office as suggested by Hanks.  If you recall, when David Hanks was Trustee during the Towers administration, he condemned Towers for circumventing the authority and legal rights of the Village Board of Trustees.

Hanks laughingly went on to say that while he served as Trustee he had the “common courtesy to talk with the mayor in person (face-to-face) in hopes of resolving any issues prior to scheduling  such a meeting….”  REALLY DAVID?  Was that the same day you infamously stood up over Lewis Towers and threatened to shove the gavel up his “butt” at that oh-so special meeting? 

Dictator David, you’re a liar!  What you failed to tell the people in your social media post was how much the Village has in unpaid bills sitting in Finance Director Mohan’s magical drawer!  What you did not mention in your diatribe of dribble was that the over-time budgeted for the Police Department will be doubled the amount proposed.  But you countered Derrick's analysis during your “special meeting” that this would not be the case!  

Let’s face it Dictator David, your budget sucks!  You cannot fathom the fact that you’re wrong, cannot take criticism and are a dictator!  Trustee Jeff Morden was in attendance and defended your honor by not uttering a single word other than "Here" to open the meeting and "Yes" to adjourn.

Even though the office of mayor is a “part-time” job, it requires full-time dedication!  Elected officials are in their positions to represent the People of Sauk Village and you, David Hanks and John Poskins did not do your jobs.  You have failed the people of Sauk Village and have failed in your duty.