At the last meeting of the Lakewood Village Board, by a vote of 4-0, the Trustees voted to confirm Village President Phil Stephan’s dismissal of Police Chief Todd Richardson.
Trustees Amy Odum and Bryan Younge did not attend.
“The meeting was invalid and illegal,” Younge wrote.
That meeting was held via an inadequate Zoom session at the RedTail Golf Club dining room with room for less than twenty people.
Following the meeting, a complaint was filed (see below) with the Illinois Attorney General arguing that it violated the Open Meetings Act.
The FoxTail meeting followed one at the ballroom of the Turnberry Country Club, which was adjourned because more than fifty people attended.
Now, the meeting will be held at the Village Hall, the old Board room of which is filled with files and cubicals.
Will the meeting be held in the Chief Adminstrative Officer’s office?
Here is the agenda for Thursday:
Don’t forget reserved seating for select residents, sanctioned police intimidation of a resident attendee in an attempt to remove him from the meeting, artificially limiting meeting space and failure to properly notice the public of an in person meeting.
All filed via OMA complaints.
Solution?
Dissolve the village.
You know what they say…….third time is a charm.
Only hope the room is large enough for the egos of the Younge -Odem posse!
That is if they have the courage to attend,of course.
Get over yourselves already.
Welcome to Lakewood !
I must ask was the Village Attorney, or someone from The Firm in attendance for this violation of the open meetings act?
You all may be barking up the wrong tree again………
Maybe the board can hear the investigation from the audio since the transcript are not ready.
Jeannie or Phil should release it so the board can make their own decision and not what the attorney opinion is.
Pam Eddy, Bryon Berman, Doug Ulrich, Amy Odom, Bryon Younge do you have a copy of the Investigation audio To make your own decision from.
Or is Jeannie , Phil or the village attorney not releasing it to you .
Which they can since you are voting on Chief Richardson termination.
How would you feel if you just voted then heard the audio or read the transcript after the fact then realized you made a huge mistake.
Ruined a mans career over not taking the time to see for yourself.. could you live with yourself making the wrong decision????
Just wondering…
Your the jury and you could be making a huge mistake if you don’t listen to the audio for yourself.
depending on someone else’s opinion is foolish and why even have a board if your not willing to do your job and ask questions on the matter.
Again your the one that has to live with what you agree to or not.
Please step up and just do what is right.
. This board needs to start reading and asking questions before signing off on things..
If something not right they need to find out.
That’s what their job is .
To make sure their doing what’s best for the village residents.
Facts and truths..
Maybe the board should reach out to Chief Richardson and ask him questions?
Their was a witness to that accusation of him not responding to a resident if there was a emergency.
But it’s funny how they left that witness statement out when Berman was giving his speech.
Chief Richardson never said that but they want you to believe it.
So much doesn’t make any sense…
It’s time to step up and ask questions??????
Enough is enough…
Hey, John Aor is back as “Mike”.
I suppose Younge is at fault for OMA violations too.
I love the comment about ego’s… Berman and Ulrich don’t have the biggest ones?
None of this will go away with Younge or Odem gone.
This is about how the chief has been treated by Stephan, Smith, Berman and Ulrich.
This is about how this entire board is not effectively governing the issues brought up by staff and why the turnover rate is outrageous.
The comments about no actual complaints because they didn’t respond are most likely because of intimidation, retaliation and the fact they have to live here with their families.
This is understandable and does not excuse things.
I would like to see staff stand up with a louder voice with specifics that the board can’t ignore… in a meeting.
Maybe we can have the Younge posse start yelling at the meeting again.
Maybe Younge can start chanting “point of order” and try to stop the meeting again.
This is you who are dragging this thing on and costing the taxpayers money.
Stop this nonsense you self-absorbed ego-maniac.
Maybe Tricia Babischkin can find something wrong with the length of the table and then write a 2 page opinion piece on how evil it was for the board to use it.
Get over yourselves you maniacs.
Let this meeting happen and be done with this so we can get Village business done.
John Aor, you are a big part of the mess!
Can’t the Village attorney determine if there is an illegal meeting and give them advice to such?
If not, fire the Village attorney and hire one that knows the OMA and how to host a legal event?
While you are at it, disincorporate ASAP.
John Aor, you mad bro?
Your emotional rants arent helping your case. You have no credibility.
It appears this epic battle is far from over.
Buckle up.
How much has the Village Attorney, The Firm, charged for all of this?
Folks I Believe You Have A Problem.
Now I see they are putting some sort of petition together.
I am currently looking for slogans for the signs I will fund for the resignation of Younge and Odom.
They’ll be all over Lakewood if they don’t stop this ego trip.
Gotten a few good ones so far from residents but looking for the best.
And I love when you think I am the one posting other requests for this madness to end.
The more people learn, the more people want you crazies to go away.
John, you’re bringing up taxpayer money?
How much is it costing for all time CAO and Stephan have racked up.
This OMA mistake is costing us money.
How much will the law suit from Chief or other staff going to cost, which has nothing to do with Young.
Amazing you don’t think the board should listen to the interview first hand before voting.
That shows your true bias.
The new movie….
INCOMPETENCE AT IT’S FINEST
Starring LITTLE phil and sMORON
Two fools costing the taxpayers of Lakewood a fortune in legal bills
Kraftman John – “Kraftman” .mp4
He’s the Kraftman! Wii-ba-bop-ba-dop-bop!!!
😉