Things That Really Happened

Mayor Kreps

Last night, Village Manager Frank Rollason and Deputy Village Manager Jenice Rosado both resigned from their posts and left.  

Wait.  That's not right.  After a nearly year long campaign on the part of the mayor and her various personalities, and following the sleazy firing of Robert Switkes, and in the middle of an extortion investigation in which the mayor and the wife of a commissioner have been publicly called out as persons of interest by the former Village Attorney, and amazing disorganization on the dais, Village Manager Frank Rollason and Deputy Village Manager Jenice Rosado both resigned.  

Yeah, that's better. 

That was not a surprise.  There's only so much people will put up with.  But the Village was left in a bad situation.  Frank Rollason has offered to help in the transition but did not agree to stay.  I have not talked to Jenice Rosado but in her resignation letter, she referenced a "toxic work environment."  Mayor Kreps assured the meeting that "procedures will be followed" because the Village cares. 

Commissioner Mary Kramer's Husband
was at the meeting too. 

So today, in response to the resignations, the Village called an Emergency Meeting.  The description "emergency" was deliberately chosen as "Special" meetings require 24 to 48 notice.   Our charter makes no mention of procedures for an "Emergency" meeting (it should) but in the judgment of the new village attorney, the lack of a chief administrative officer in the village constituted an emergency so normal notice procedures, typically 48 hours, were suspended.   There was 8 hours notice.  

Anyway, to make a long story longer, the meeting went on with just 3 members of the dais, the Mayor, Commissioner Jackson and Mary Kramer's husband.   There was little suspense as the subject matter had been picked over before the meeting and Bert Wrains, our affable finance director, was appointed interim Village Manager by the commission, and then Ana de Leon, one of the best neighbors I've ever had, was appointed acting HR director by the commission which is not legal because the commission only hires the Village Clerk, Village Manager and Village Attorney but still it was a nice gesture.  It does make me wonder what the commission thinks their job is.   

Then the commission declined to authorize travel expenses if there is an attractive candidate for Village Manager which was odd again because that's the Village Manager's decision but that's how they roll.  

A few residents were there and several spoke.  The best line of the night was Celia Veloz who congratulated the commission on finally getting something done - driving Frank Rollason out.  She was being sarcastic, or is it ironic?  Still it was a good line and I wish I had said it.  

Laura Cattabriga, a self anointed vigilante out to destroy Doug Hornsby, went to the microphone and implored everyone to all learn to get along.  Or she'll sue their asses too.  (Not a direct quote but implied.)

Fane Lozman made an appearance to state that the meeting itself was illegal and there's no way a personnel matter should be considered an emergency like, I don't know, a tornado or a tsunami.   He used to be a good friend with Mayor Crazy Eyes but apparently that soured.  

So here we are, 2018, and we still don't have a commission that knows how to vote or what they are supposed to vote on.  I don't think it's going to get better soon.  

No Reason - Just liked the image.

And I almost forgot - the investigation into the extortion of Doug Hornsby is alive and well.  That could work out okay so there's reason for hope.  We might finally get all that publicity we've been looking for.  

Kevin Vericker

January 17, 2018.