TRUSTEE VOTE 5 to 1 TO SHELL OUT $300,000 TO EX-COP

Courtesy Youtube-

Former Sgt Rebecca Vela-Sailsbery

Former Police Sergeant Rebecca Vela-Sailsbery retired May 7, 2020 after 27 years without ever achieving her goal of becoming Police Chief.  Sailsbery had joined the Sauk Village Police Department in 1993 and rose through the ranks.  She was appointed to Deputy Chief by former Chief Tim Holevis, but following Holevis' ouster on the heels the April, 2015 election ex-Mayor David Hanks took swift action to ensure that Sailsbery would not be the next Police Chief.    

Ex-mayor Hanks relentlessly and misogynistically attacked Sailsbery publicly during open meetings from 2015 until 2017 when he finally left office. (CLICK HERE TO VIEW ACTUAL VIDEO)  Sailsbery filed suit in 2015 in Federal Court against now ex-mayor Hanks and his former Village Administrator JW Fairman alleging among other things gender discrimination and retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 

In 2015, Hanks created what one Trustee at the time called a "sham" committee to pick the next Police Chief.  The committee consisted of JW Fairman, ex-Trustee Rosie Williams, the daughter of then Village Clerk and now Trustee Debbie Williams, and the late Cecial Tates a former Trustee.   Tates insisted that the whole committee selection process was a sham even saying that he had never seen Robert Kowalski's credentials, who would be appointed Chief, as part of the selection process.  Hanks moved forward anyhow with his appointment of  Kowalski as Police Chief in August, 2015 without the consent of the Village Board.  As part of Sailsbery's suit she claimed she was passed over for promotion, demoted and worked in a hostile work environment.   Hanks continued his unusual behavior attacking Sailsbery publicly at his "Meet the Mayor" rallies he held at Village Hall which were videoed (CLICK HERE TO VIEW ACTUAL VIDEO). 

This past Tuesday's Board meeting, Village Trustees voted to payout $300,000 to settle the case with Sailsbery.  Trustees voting yes were Debbie Williams, Linda Todd, Bernice Brewer, Gary Bell and Sherry Jasinski.  The only Trustee voting NO was Rodrick Grant. 

Sailsbery was named as a defendant in lawsuit against the Village No.11 C 7956 (N.D.Ill.Apr. 27, 2012) involving a now former Village employee, Susan Dobrzeniecki.  Current Trustee, Sherry Jasinski, was Dobrzeniecki’s supervisor at that time and was a witness against Sailsbery and the other defendants named in the suit including the Village.  During ex-mayor David Hanks' tenure, on January 27, 2015 Village Trustees approved a Settlement with Dobrzeniecki who claimed she was held against her will and her home searched unlawfully on November 8, 2011.  The Settlement, according to village records, was $290,000.  Dobrzeniecki also filed suit against the now shuttered St. James Hospital seeking more damages following the Village’s settlement.  (https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-ilnd-1_11-cv-07956/pdf/USCOURTS-ilnd-1_11-cv-07956-3.pdf)

According to public record no disciplinary action was taken against Sailsbery or others involved in the suit as a result of the Dobrzenieck incident in 2011 nor after the settlement of the case in 2015.  What Sailbery did get was attacks upon her from ex mayor David Hanks as you can view in the attached video.       

The settlement payouts to these two employees alone totaled $590,000.  Why Trustees Linda Todd, Bernice Brewer, Debbie Williams, Gary Bell and Sherry Jasinski have you not said a SINGLE WORD?  Taxpayers are footing the bill for a FOOLISH ex-mayor and his antics, and that entire time you sat silent.  You are clearly not watching the Village’s money.  Not a single time from 2011 to 2017 had any of them muster a single word to condemn the actions of ex-Mayor David Hank, but you just shelled out $300,000 without a care in the world.     

Now imagine what $590,000 could have done for the residents:

·         How many broken fire hydrants could the Village Fix?

·         How many broken Street Lights could the Village Fix?

·         How many dead trees could be cut down?

·         How many Police Officers could the Village hire?

·         How many Youth and Seniors programs could the Village implement along with the hiring of a much needed Director?

·         How much closer would the Village be to securing Lake Michigan Water, if not for these payouts?  

EDITORIAL NOTE AND COMMENT:   Sailsbery posted on social media "...I have received NOTHING from Mayor Derrick Burgess.... Hell I didn't even get a cup of coffee, lunch, card, email, or letter.  ABSOLUTELY nothing!!  It was nothing less than being TORTURED in HELL, working 27 years as a Law Enforcement Officer for an with some of the most unqualified, unprofessional, vindictive, racist, unethical, criminals I have ever met, in the most ridiculous and dangerous conditions you could ever imagine. Up to my very last day..." 

No cup of coffee, or free donuts either; But, $300,000 isn't a bad "thank you" don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out!  We sincerely hope that the $300,000 you got on your way out is in some small way a token from the taxpayers of Sauk Village for your anguish.  As you suffer so heavily living in Indiana with your bank account and your retirement pension courtesy of the taxpayers of Sauk Village for the rest of your life!  Your anger and bitterness for Sauk Village has been evident for many years, but to blame this current Mayor for all your "WOE" and not getting anything on your way out is disingenuous, and factually NOT TRUE!  We truly wish you well in your retirement, really we do. What the taxpayers of Sauk Village should REALLY be asking, WTF?    Why are we still paying for mistakes from the last failed administration and the ripple effects continue on?    

Oh and P.S.- For all you out there who are going to say "congratulations" to her, remember that when you get your property tax bill for the next 10 years to pay for the increase in your village's liability insurance claims.  BETTER YET, remember the FANATICAL FIVE TRUSTEES at election time!  Don't let this garbage back in again.