CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION SOUGHT IN SAUK VILLAGE

Christopher Williams- Village Administrator

***Criminal Fraud Investigation Sought*** 

Calls and inquiries to the US Attorney, Cook County States Attorney and to the Better Government Association (BGA) to begin a criminal investigation for ghost payroll by Village Trustees are being made as Village Administrator Christopher Williams is paid for over 35 days of work missed at the apparent direction and/or knowledge of Fanatical Five Trustees!  Ghost payrolling is when employees are paid but have not actually worked or did not exist.  The Administrator's contract calls for no such time off, as all employees have to wait 12 months for vacation time and are not afforded 35 personal days when hired.  Taxpayers paid out $16,019.06 in salary and benefits for absentee Village Administrator.  No other Village employees are allowed to take such paid time off nor have any been permitted to do so like Williams has been allowed. 

Christopher Williams was given a contract by the Trustees to serve as Village Administrator to the tune of $112,000 with beneifts, yet Williams has not worked a single 5 day week since he began in July, 2019.   The same Trustees who gave us Williams are the ones saying they want to “watch the money”.  Mayor Derrick Burgess was forced by Court action brought by the Village Trustees to allow Christopher Williams to serve as Village Administrator.  Burgess had not had a Village Administrator for the first two years of his term saving residents some $224,000.  Burgess did not appoint Christopher Williams and has stated that Williams lacks the requisite experience to do the job.  Burgess was working full-time at a part-time salary of $20,000 per year.    

Trustees who fought to hire Christohper Williams have refused to answer which one of them allowed him 35 days off with full pay?  Many residents have been asking who gets 7 weeks paid time off from the day they start?  

Exacertbating matters, the Fanatical Five Trustees (led by ringleader Debbie Williams, Linda Todd, Sherry Jasinski, Bernice Brewer and Gary Bell) said they couldn't afford Mary Klopp's annual salary of $9,600 who had performed many more duties including the "dreaded" time-consuming Community Center Rentals.  The burden shifted to the overtaxed current Village Clerk causing delays in getting minutes timely completed which has resulted in the Illinois Attorney General to issue rare binding opinions claiming Village Trustees are in violation of the Illinois Open Meetings Act.