Lakewood Village Trustees Amy Odom and Bryan Younge are suing the Village of Lakewood and its Board for access to information equal to that provided other members of the Board.

Younge argues he “has the authority to participate in the governance of
the Village of Lakewood,” yet he has been denied access to Village records, books, information and transcripts, despite repeated requests for access.”

The suit enumerates the following information that has been withheld:

a. Copies of Recordings and/or transcripts of Board executive sessions.

b. Access to financial documents of the Village, including expenditure reports showing where money was spent.

c. Access to information regarding Village of Lakewood legal costs, including the identity of Trustees communicating with Village counsel.

d. Copies of security footage regarding an altercation between the Chief
Administrative Officer and two other individuals.

e. Copy of the August 18, 2020 transcript of the interview of Lakewood Police Chief Todd Richardson.

f. Copy of a policy referenced by the Chief Administrative Officer regarding
the ability to add agenda items outside of Board meetings.

g. Financial documents related to the 47/176 land sale.

h. Copy of a screenshot the Chief Administrative Officer tendered to Village employee Kenny Goodwin that prompted him to recant a written complaint regarding workplace conditions at the Village.

Younge further complains of being denied full access to his Village email account.

He contends that “restrict[ion of his] access to information and to his email appear to be solely retaliatory.”

Specifically, the Village of Lakewood has been the subject of media attention due to a series of extremely concerning events, including threats of physical assault by the Village President directed at Trustee Younge, a hostile workplace atmosphere in which Village employees routinely face harassment, and the recent suspension of the Village of Lakewood Police Chief over unsubstantiated allegations of “harassment” that appear to have been concocted between the Village President and Chief Administrative Officer.

Trustee Younge has been attempting to bring to light and investigate these serious concerns, particularly in his belief that the Village is exposed to substantial liability, and that there has been gross mismanagement of funds at the Village of Lakewood’s golf course, Redtail Golf Club.

Younge says he has been informed that to gain access to information that he must file Freedom of Information requests, but has been denied documents “about well drilling on Village property, insurance information for the Village of Lakewood’s golf course, water inspection reports, official communications between government employees, and official communications amongst board members.”

Even after filing FOIA requests, he has not received adequate replies.

Younge asks for court intervention.

Trustee Amy Odom has similarly been “denied access to Village records, books, information and transcripts, despite repeated requests for access.”

She also argues that the motivation for the denials is retaliation.

“Without an injunction, Defendants will continue to unlawfully restrict and deny access to information Trustee Odom requires,” the suit points out.

Besides a turnover of the information, attorney fees for Nathan Reyes of Crystal Lake’s Bruning & Associates, P.C., are requested.