TRUSTEES SET TO DO ABOUT FACE, AGAIN

Hang on residents of Sauk Village, you might get whiplash after the nonsense going on at Village Hall!  The Fanatical Five Trustees are slamming on the brakes...AGAIN and doing another about-face as they continue their assault on the taxpayers of Sauk Village.  When Derrick Burgess was elected by the residents to be Mayor and Village President of the Sauk Village in May, 2017, Mayor Burgess began his administration with a Trustee Board of business professionals and a Pathway to Progress Plan authored by the mayor in hand.  This plan outlined the blueprint for the rejuvenation of Sauk Village and its Residents.  Mayor Burgess AND his Board quickly assessed what worked and what failed about former Mayor David Hanks’ Administration.  Hanks hired a full-time Village Administrator, who then hired himself a part-time assistant.  The Village’s contracted Risk Management  company, The Owens Group also provided a Human Resource Consultant, Dr Alicia Straughter on a limited basis.  Mayor Burgess and his new Board of a Trustees envisioned an expanded need for Human Resource needs outside of what was identified by the previous administration.  Dr. Alicia Straughter was retained by Burgess after he became mayor and the Village Board engaged her as HR Consultant and the Village’s representative outside of her agreement with the Owens Group.  Ms Straughter’s expanded role focused on revamping the Village’s human resource processes aimed at minimizing violations of employees’ rights thereby virtually eliminating lawsuits which had continuously plagued the Village.

Following the election of Trustees Debbie Williams, Sherry Jasinski and Gary Bell, in April of 2019 the trio joined political forces with Bernice Brewer and Linda Todd to terminate the agreement with Dr. Straughter.  By July 31, 2019, the Trustees voted 5 to 1 to terminate the agreement with Dr. Alicia Straughter over the objections of Mayor Derrick Burgess And Trustee Rodrick Grant who knew the Village needed a Human Resource professional.  In August 2019, The 5 trustees led by the taxpayers’ law firm won their lawsuit to hire Village Administrator Christopher Williams over Mayor Burgess’ objections.  Now, In less than 9 months, the same Trustees who voted to bring in Christopher Williams turned on him and fired him. 

Just like last week when the Trustees hired a new Village Administrator, tonight at a Special Meeting,  the Trustees will once again perform their 2nd Do-Over to hire a new Human Resource Consultant, Sonya K. Douglas.  Ms Douglas comes with 14 years of Human Resource experience including having worked in the Village of Markham from 2015 to 2016 and is currently a Consultant for Elementary School District 159 in  Matteson.

Mayor Burgess had indicated to the Village Board that a Human Resource professional is critical to the Village long before the Trustees had dismissed Dr. Straughter last year.