4 TO 3 VOTE HIRES CONTROVERSIAL SUPERINTENDENT

Dr. Donna Simpson-Leak
Sauk Village's new Superintendent of Schools

By Joseph Wiszowaty
SAUK VILLAGE |  School District 168 School Board approved hiring the controversial candidate for Superintendent of Schools Dr. Donna Simpson-Leak to replace retiring Superintendent Al Travaglini.  Travaglini took over as Superintendent in 2011.

The vote to hire Leak was 4 to 3 voting yes were Mary Howard sister to Sauk Village Mayor David Hanks, Aisa El-Amin, Deloris Green and Jimo Kasali and voting no were School Board President Sharon Davenport, Tammy Jones and Melvin Stevenson.

The fact that Leak is a woman didn’t matter to a school board dominated by women.  “It’s not about gender, it’s about what’s best for the children, and it’s about the chemistry of the staff” Davenport said of her NO vote of Leak as Superintendent.  “The most important thing that we (the school board) can do is hire a Superintendent.  As a board, out of all the people we had to choose from, I feel like we should have been able to have more of a consensus on a candidate for the position” Davenport said.  Davenport pledged to work with the incoming Superintendent and respects the decision of the Board.

The $800,000 lawsuit filed by Leak against her former employer, Rich Township School District 227 did not weigh on their decision to vote yes according to Green.  “The lawsuit has not been settled yet.  I read about some of what they accused her of it did not happen” Green said following the board meeting.   “I feel good about my decision” Green said.  As for the board’s split decision Green said “I think it says we’re individuals and we vote our conscience”.

Long-time resident Rose Langston, who attended Monday night’s meeting doesn’t feel that Leak was the right decision.  “I think she is carrying too much baggage” Langston said.  “I wish her well and hope we don’t run into the same problems we had before” Langston said referring to the scandal of former imprisoned Superintendent Thomas Ryan.  Several residents who attended did not speak out but were not happy with the board’s decision, one long-time resident saying as he left the building “this summed up their sorry political career by voting yes for her (Leak)”.

Leak will transition into the position starting May 27^th until June 30^th and receive $693.87 per day and will work 10 days during this period according to her employment agreement.  Her employment agreement is for a two year period.  Leak will be paid $170,000 per year, only $1,000 less than Travaglini.  She will receive retirement contributions into the State’s retirement fund;  $500 per month in “expenses”;  $200,000 in paid life insurance;  100% paid health insurance benefits for herself and her family in addition $1,500 per month in any health related expenses; paid long-term disability;  $15,000 per year paid by the district into a 403(b);  20 paid vacation days commencing on day one;  15 sick days; $400 per month auto allowance; plus a paid cell phone and other expense reimbursements.

“I feel honored and privileged to be working in Sauk Village” Leak said following the meeting.  As for the split decision of the Board “I am going to continue the great things that he (Travaglini) has had going, but we have a lot of changes in education coming down the pike” Leaks said.  As far as staff changes Leak has no immediate plans “we have to look at budgets and really roll my sleeves up and get a look at it.  Al and I have some transition time so we’ll look at it” Leak said.

DISTRICT 168 MAY HIRE CONTROVERSIAL SUPERINTENDENT

Donna Simpson-Leak

By Joseph Wiszowaty

SAUK VILLAGE |  Community Consolidated School District #168 has been searching for a new Superintendent of School since Al Travaglini announced his retirement last year and apparently the search maybe over.  There were numerous applicants and 2 finalists.

 

The Board members are apparently split in their decision over a controversial candidate Dr. Donna Simpson-Leak the former Superintendent of Schools for Rich Township School District 227.  The Rich Township school board fired Simpson-Leak in June, 2013 by a 4-3 vote citing "gross improprieties in the process of student expulsions" and allegedly locking a school board member out of a meeting, according to a published newspaper report.   Leak is suing the Rich Township district for alleged civil conspiracy, breach of contract and infliction of emotional distress, seeking $800,000 in damages.

 

According to Cook County Circuit Court records, Simpson-Leak had hired in her suit against Rich Township the same legal team as the former temporary Chief of Police Robert Fox had that sued Sauk Village,  Ancel Glink Diamond Murphy & Cope, a powerhouse law firm in the State of Illinois.  The firm has, however, since withdrawn from the case as of April 8^th of this year according to court documents.

 

Sauk Village was the center of controversy statewide and in the news media when the former criminal Superintendent of School Thomas Ryan ripped the district off of cash while he ran the district like a dictator with a puppet School Board.  Ryan pled guilty and served time in prison for what prosecutors said was "stealing kids milk money".

 

Simpson-Leak, of Flossmoor, was a finalist for the Superintendent position for Kankakee School District 111 in January of this year, however, she lost out to another candidate for the position.  Simpson-Leak lost out most recently for a position in Crete Monee School District to an out of state candidate.

 

Village residents may remember when the Sauk Village Board took a chance on a “controversial” hiring pick, Henrietta Turner, for Village Manager in 2011.  Turner was suing her former employer, Country Club Hills following her dismissal and ended up suing the Village of Sauk Village as well. 

 

“I do not have and cannot comment at this time” Sharon Davenport, Board President said.  “The board will take formal action on the matter Monday, April 28^th at the meeting at 6pm” Davenport said.

 

Attempts to reach School Board Member Mary Howard for comment were unsuccessful.  School Board Vice President Tammy Jones could not comment beyond saying "please come to the board meeting on Monday night that is when action would be taken" Jones said.  Board Member Deloris Green had no comment on the matter.  Calls to Board Secretary Melvin Stevenson not returned at the time of publication.

Retiring Superintendent of Schools Al Travaglini echoed Davenport.  “At the Board’s request, I was instructed not to comment on any questions regarding the selection of the next Superintendent of Schools.  The Board will announce their selection April 28^th, which is a regular meeting” Travaglini said.

 

HELPFUL LINKS: 

 FORMER SUPERINTENDENT SUES DISTRICT

 

VIDEO:  SD227 DISMISSES SUPERINTENDENT LEAK

 

KANKAKEE SUPT SEARCH

 

SUPERINTENDENT PLANS LEGAL ACTION

 

TAXPAYERS COULD FACE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR PENSION MESS

By Joseph Wiszowaty
SAUK VILLAGE |  The Sauk Village Police Pension Board met Thursday afternoon  and while the Pension Fund is solvent and earning money the Village taxpayers could be on the hook for millions of unfunded liabilities because the Village officials are not contributing.  The Village has not made their contributions to the Police Pension Fund in over 4 years, including this year according to Village Treasurer James Griegel.

Longtime resident Judy Cast, who is a widow of the late Sergeant Alan Cast, attended the Pension Board meeting looking for answers.  “I have FOIA’ed (Freedom of Information Act Request) this information and I do receive my late husband’s pension.  I don’t understand why this group has not had an audit.  This group with all these intelligent people in here, why don’t we have an audit” Cast asked.

Pension Board Attorney Cary Collins, attorney with Collins and Radja, who has served as the Pension Board attorney for about 25 years explained  “Usually the village has someone (doing their audit) and that person will come in and do our (the pension board’s audit) for a fee.  Presently no one has told us that they are doing the village’s audit and would be willing to do our audit” Collins said.  “We’re required to do it (the audit)” Collins said to which Cast responded “but it’s not being done”.

“How much is the village supposed to be putting into the pension fund” Cast inquired during the meeting.  Collins responded stating that the Pension Board files with the state Department of Insurance a financial report who in turn provides an actuarial study, the Pension Board submits the study to the village, the Pension board also provides the village board with an additional actuarial study from another source as a second opinion along with a request for a tax levy.  The Village is suppose to act on the Pension Board’s recommendation and levy (or collect) the property taxes to fund the pension. 

Cast continued to ask questions.  “How much does the village owe the pension fund”?  Cast submitted this in her original Freedom of Information Act request she stated to the Pension Board.  “I just got an estimate from the auditors here for the last four or five years the amount is approximately $1.7 million” Griegel reported to the Pension Board.

Collins indicated to the Board that the Pension Fund must be “fully funded” by 2040.  “So what happens is that shortfall carries over which increases the annual tax levy requirement” Collins said.  “You pay me now or you’re going to pay me later, later is going to be a lot higher” Collins said.  “They have shorted us over the years.  That shortfall rolls over each year into the ‘unfunded liability’” Collin said.  The current “unfunded liability” to the Police Pension Fund is nearly $6 million.  Collins summed it up by saying “When they (the Village) shorts us it’s like kicking the can down the road”.

“At one time this pension fund was 100% funded” Collins said.  Collins suggested that many municipalities plugged up financial holes in their budgets by underfunding their pensions.  The Village’s pension is currently only funded at about 52% according to financial reports.

The Police Pension has not been audited in several years and will be engaging the services of MPS (Mulcahy, Pauriitsh, Salvador & Company LTD) out of Orland Park, Illinois to perform and complete their audit reports.

Pension Board President and former Sauk Village Police Sergeant Theodore “Ted” Sanders said when he came and saw the mess that the pension  was in he wanted to come back and do something to make things right.  “We’re currently exceeding our target of actuarial projections and overall the pension fund is in good shape” Sanders said.  But Sanders and the Pension Board expect the village to do their part and will work hard to ensure that the pension fund remains solvent.

The Pension Board consists of Griegel, Sanders, who is President of the Board, Sergeants Scott Langen and Rebecca Sailsbery and resident Pat Couch.  Both Salisbury and Couch were not in attendance Thursday.

 

Original material, copyright 2014 Sauk Villager News; all rights reserved.

RESIDENT ASKS: WHERE IS THE TRANSPARENCY?

Opinion Editorial
by Sauk Village Resident
Thomas James
TRANSPARENCY???? YOU decide.
Bear with me as I go back in time.  David Hanks was elected as our new Mayor. Good thing? I'm not too sure now but reserve the right to CHANGE MY MIND.

#1. Mayor Hanks with the approval of the bobble heads got rid of all legal groups and made Odleson and Sterk group our only legal group. Now Odleson and Sterk basically own and run our town (in this author's opinion). Mayor Hanks is making questionable decisions, is this based on the advise of this legal group?

#2, Do you remember the REM group?  Yep talk has it they were recommended by our legal group.  Was this because the legal group had someone they wanted in the chief's seat?  Now we have the chief WE wanted but paid the REM group to find us a Deputy Police Chief.  To date we do not have a deputy chief.

#3. A referendum for 911 update was on the April ballot....did YOU see anything in the paper about this? Did you read it on Facebook?  Obviously it wasn't important enough for our clerk to let residents know. She has pushed for her out of town Easter egg hunt than she did for the referendum. The referendum failed.  David Hanks IS VERY SERIOUS about getting rid of the police dispatch service. We have State of the art communications equipment we still owe over a million dollars on. WE should be seeking other towns to bring their dispatch to us and WE could bring in the money....but our legal group again doesn't appear to think so.

#4. Did you know that on 2/12/14 Crete East Com who is being considered to take over our dispatch, dispatched a mutual aid call for our homeland security to assist in blocking off a lane of 394 in Crete. Our Homeland Security responded and blocked off the lane of 394 they were instructed to close. OUR people were on the highway doing their job to the best of their ability.  What did East Com and Crete do?   They completed their task and went home without notifying Sauk Village for over an HOUR.  East Com now has 7 towns they dispatch for.  They have 2 police dispatchers and 2 fire dispatchers to cover 7 towns. 2 of the new towns to sign on used their own radio's and told officers not to dispatch any traffic because East Com couldn't handle the calls. Does our legal group thinks they (East Com) are great?  Just where the hell would we be if they had to handle last nights shooting, stabbing, fire, mobs forming, and domestics all at basically the same time?  NO MAYOR HANKS, this is not acceptable.  Keep our dispatchers where they are.  Tell the legal group to stick to legal stuff and leave Sauk Village alone....WE ARE NOT FOR SALE. 

If indeed this will go on in the not too distant future, it would behoove you MAYOR to have meetings and let the people voice their positions....YOU promised to hear the people when you ran and now you hide things so the people don't know anything until after the bobble heads vote the way you want them to.  You have changed Mayor.  Some of the things you very emphatically put Towers down for, you are doing. Dud the legal group get their way with (the selection of ) a Police chief?  So now the pressure is on the Police Department!  When did you plan on telling residents you are considering getting rid of OUR Police Department and bring in Cook County?  You put down Towers for attempting this for God's sake. And your bobble Heads know This is true and believe me when I say you need to settle down the legal group and start being our Mayor and fulfilling the promises YOU made.

SO, to clarify: Was the REM group was recommended by our legal group? Was the quiet referendum was on the advice of our legal group?  Was getting rid of our dispatch was on the advice of the legal group getting rid of 1 Police and 1 Fire dept. employees was that too on the advice of our legal group?  Now ALL FOIA'S (Freedom of Information Act Requests) go to our legal group and it is costly......well, when our legal group paid for by resident's is representing the Village Clerk (Debbie Williams) for what she still say's was a personal trip, I smell a rat. Let the clerk pay for her (Williams) personal problems.

At a later date I will let residents know about what it will mean to Sauk Village dispatch service as well as having Cook County Police run our town.  Did you know that the FOP person for the Police Dept retired and went to work for our legal group as a consultant?  They have their hands in many issues and it is time Sauk Village demands answers NOW before OUR town is lost.  Where are you P.L.A.N.?  Are you still out there?  I feel the same as when Towers was here...THERE IS NO TRANSPARENCY. 

The board needs to get their heads out of the sand and Quit bobbling. You really can't believe this craziness is for the good of the people. You don't talk to the people...you are where you are because of the promises YOU MADE. Now you ignore the people.

Oh yes one more thing...as you know we had a shooting, stabbing, mobs forming, domestic calls all around the same time, Lynwood PD, Cook County and State Police assisted OUR Sauk Village Police. Crete, Steger and South Heights Fire Departments responded for the fire call. OUR Homeland Security was on the scene. A Trustee showed up in the area. What for? I hope you don't think Sauk Village would pay if one of the mobs got active again and you got hurt. We the People put our TRUST in the men and women who were doing their jobs. Our trust is not with a bobblehead.

Ok people enough thought for now. I am not done by a long shot.....more later.

OFFICIAL DISCLAIMER:  The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by this author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Editor or Publisher of the Sauk Villager News or official policies of the this blog.

TRAVELGATE: ATTORNEY GENERAL DEMANDS VILLAGE CLERK RELEASE ALL RECORDS

VILLAGE CLERK DEBBIE WILLIAMS

By Joseph Wiszowaty
SAUK VILLAGE | After a 7 month battle with the Village and their attorneys, the Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office has finally determined that the Village  possessed records responsive to our Freedom of Information Act request from July, 2013.  “The vindication by the Illinois Attorney General shows that this Village Clerk and this Mayor have been anything but open, honest, transparent or accountable to the people” Joseph Wiszowaty states. 

 

Debbie Williams contended during the July 23, 2013 Village Board meeting that her trip to Washington DC to attend the Building One America Summit was a “personal trip” then contradicted herself during the meeting stating she was “representing the people of Sauk Village”.  The Attorney General’s office agreed, this trip was in her capacity as “Village Clerk” and her daughter Rosie Williams' as Village Trustee.  Another attendee, Patricia Couch also attended the conference.  Couch served on the Village’s Ordinance Committee and is also a Village vendor.  Couch has subsequently been named to the Police Pension Board.

 The Attorney General issued a 6 page response  that determined the Village Clerk Debbie Williams and her daughter Rosie Williams’ trip to Washington D.C. was “official village business”.  The letter also determines that “the Village of Sauk Village, including the Village Clerk, are subject to public records under FOIA.  This office furthers concludes that the Village did not conduct a reasonable search for those records” the Attorney General stated.

  (***CLICK HERE*** TO VIEW ENTIRE LETTER)

The Attorney General in their determination stated ”the Village Clerk’s records and any other records in possession of the Village concerning the summit – including records related to the funding of the trip – are “public records” under the definition of that term in section 2(c) of FOIA” the Attorney General stated.

 

VILLAGE CLERK DEBBIE WILLIAMS AND DAUGHTER
VILLAGE TRUSTEE ROSIE WILLIAMS

“This office twice asked the Village to describe the measures it took to search for responsive records, and the only substantive information provided was that the mayor indicated that the Village does not possess any responsive records, that the Village Clerk was not required to submit documentation concerning the trip, and that the records department reported that it does not possess records of the Village Clerk’s travel expenses, itinerary, or schedule” the Attorney General states in their determination.  The Attorney General also determined that the Village has not demonstrated that it searched any recordkeeping systems likely to contain responsive records such as the Village Clerk’s e-mail account or paper correspondence.

“The Village Clerk publicly stated that she submitted a draft of her presentation to other Village officials, yet the Village’s response to this office did not account for that draft or communications related to the draft.  Likewise, it is unclear whether the Village possesses the invitation that it acknowledges that the Village Clerk received for the summit” The Attorney General states.

The Village Attorneys billed 5.5 hours for legal fees for an “investigation” it launched into the Travelgate scandal.  The Village in their response to the FOIA requested provided a 1 page spreadsheet for their legal fees.  The Attorney General states “it also appears likely that the investigation generated records that the Village has neither provided to Mr. Wiszowaty nor denied in accordance with section 9(a) of FOIA.”  The determination goes on to state that any investigation that the Village’s attorney conducted are “public records” under the Act.

 

The Attorney General in their determination states “The Village has not demonstrated that it conducted a reasonable search for responsive records, and the available information strongly suggests that such records may be in the Village’s possession.  Accordingly, this office directs the Village to search all recordkeeping systems – including the Village Clerk’s records – that are likely to contain responsive information concerning the summit and to provide those records to Mr. Wiszowaty”.

 

It still has not been determined how much money was raised during Debbie and Rosie Williams fundraising efforts to fund the trip to the Building One America Summit in July, 2013, but we are continuing to press this issue to determine how much money was raised, from who, and how much the total expenses were for this “official village business”.   

“I will not let up on this until we have all the answers.  Debbie Williams, Rosie Williams and David Hanks  are not above the law and are subject to the same rules and laws we all must follow” Wiszowaty states.  “Residents must remain vigilant and must hold their elected officials accountable.  This is taxpayer money, these are vendors for the taxpayers, this is not the personal piggy bank for government officials and vendors should not be shaken down or hit up for ‘donations’ which smells of impropriety for those who sit in positions of authority.  It gives a bad perception of Sauk Village when vendors are routinely asked to “donate” for whatever causes and reeks of pay to play politics” Wiszowaty states.

NO tHANKS VOLUNTEERS!



Edward Sullivan- ex-Volunteer

By Joseph Wiszowaty

SAUK VILLAGE | Spurred on by the election of David Hanks less than 1 year ago, long time resident Edward Sullivan had been determined to resurrect the Village’s baseball and softball this summer, now finds himself on the outside looking in.  Sullivan volunteered to help restore the Village’s baseball and softball programs had been told thanks but no thanks.

Hanks put Village Trustee John Poskin, who was appointed to the Village Board and not elected, in charge of the Parks and Recreation Committee.  Sullivan was working with Poskin to get the baseball fields, fences, dugouts, bleachers, supply shed, concession stand and washrooms back in working order until Sullivan was “dismissed” by Poskin.

“I would ask John if this was getting things he said he would do done and it just never would get done” Sullivan said.  Sullivan served as President of the Sauk Village Sports Association back in the 1970s and remained active in the 1980s in hopes of bringing a Park District to Sauk Village.  The referendum to bring the Park District to Sauk Village failed in the 1980s and in 1963 prior to that.

Sullivan said back in August “We need to get people to trust us again” referring to the failed attempt at the Village’s takeover of the baseball and softball programs in 2009 by now former Trustee Enoch Benson.

In January while other communities are registering children for the baseball and softball programs, Sauk Village will once again not have a viable program in the community.  Hanks and his supporters cleaned up the concession stand and painted in a circus of photo ops many of his political opponents charged as there was never any way that a baseball program would get underway. 

Enbridge, the company which will be putting a 36 inch pipeline through the village, will be spending several thousand dollars in restoring the baseball fields which have not seen an organized children’s program since 2009.

Marva Campbell-Pruitt

Marva Campbell-Pruitt, who chaired the Village’s Beautification Committee and Human Relations Commission resigned in exasperation over the political backlash from the “sore winners”.   Political tensions and personal attacks by supporters of Village Clerk Debbie Williams, who won the April, 2013 election, against Campbell-Pruitt had got worse since The Williams’ election victory.  “Clearly they think they can do a better job, then they should be given the opportunity to do so” Campbell-Pruitt said at the time.

Campbell-Pruitt instituted the Community Garden, taken over now by the McConathy Public Library, the Clean, Preen and Green Program, reinstituted the Hootsie Awards and she also worked with church groups and volunteers to help clean up the village’s landscape as well as picked up garbage.

Sullivan was clearly disappointed “you know all we wanted to do is do something for the kids”.  Now Sullivan, like Campbell-Pruitt has become insignificant to this administration for trying to make a difference.

VOTE NO FOR 9-1-1 INCREASE

OPINION EDITORIAL
By Joseph Wiszowaty
If it doesn't make sense, you shouldn't spend your dollars!  Voters are voting this Tuesday on an increase in the Village’s 9-1-1 Fund from the current cost of $1.00 per phone and cell-phone lines to $2.00 per line.  Sauk Village has 9-1-1 service already and spent $1.9 million on updating the Village's 9-1-1 Center several years ago. 

A NO VOTE is ENCOURAGED for the 9-1-1 Referendum because you get NOTHING MORE IF YOU VOTE YES and it doesn't make sense!  If you take anything away from this, you must vote NO.  

Mayor David Hanks' supporters want you to believe "what's $1.00?  Isn't the Village worth it..."?  Well isn't principal worth something too?

 “Forward Motions”? Come on people, this is the most asinine thing I have heard of doubling your cost of the Village’s 9-1-1 under some bullcrap of providing improvements!  REALLY….

 

What improvements has this Administration proposed to make?  NONE what-so-ever!

To vote YES to this is giving David Hanks a free hand to “borrow” money from this fund without the bobble heads giving a damn about it!

The 9-1-1 Board has NOT voted to recommend an increase in the 9-1-1 Fund that you residents pay, yet David Hanks feels that he needs to raise revenues.  Why is nobody asking this man any questions and giving him Carte Blanche leaving him to his own devises.

VOTING NO on the 9-1-1 measure ensures that David Hanks and the Bobble Heads will not rape the fund to pay for bills.

NOT ONE DIME OF THIS MONEY goes to pay for salaries!  Not a single DIME!   Hanks has already been talking about contracting the dispatchers out begs the question:

Why should residents PAY MORE and GET LESS? Does that make sense?

IF THE RESIDENTS WERE GETTING SOMETHING MORE FOR THEIR MONEY I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF THIS REFERENDUM 110% BUT THEY GET NOTHING!   Tell David Hanks and the Bobble Heads they need to do a much better job than they are doing today!

A NO VOTE is recommended on the 9-1-1 increase!