Rutland Township holds special meeting to fill open positions

The issues involving the Rutland Township Board of Trustees continued on Tuesday, September 24, with a special meeting called to appoint a new Township Supervisor and two new Trustees.

The fifteen residents in attendance were fewer than half of the attendees at the regular Board of Trustees meeting that was held on September 14. This special meeting had a 48-hour advance notification, which is all that was required by State laws.

Once Deputy Supervisor Janet Siers opened the meeting for public comment she recognized Adeline Lewis, a township activist. Lewis commented that “just because it’s legal, doesn’t make it right,” referring to the appointment of new trustees and the management of the township.

Lewis also asked why “thirty-five thousand dollars in the General Assistance funds” were not spent.

David Nash also asked “how are the General Assistance funds are spent and if forms were available to apply for the funds.”

Lewis and Nash were the only ones to speak during the public comment portion of the meeting. The board is not required to respond to any public comments made during the meeting.

The board then went into Executive Session for “the selection of a person to fill a public office” as defined by Illinois law. The board moved into a closed office for the session.

During the Executive Session, members of the audience continued the discussion of the General Assistance funds as initiated by Lewis and Nash. Highway Commissioner Howard Schultz explained to the audience how the General Assistance funds work.

Schultz stated that “the laws require individuals to apply for and be approved to receive the funds” and that the township can’t “just give the money away.”

The board returned and Siers asked the board for nominees for the Supervisor position. No nominations were made. Then Siers asked the board for nominees for Trustee and Raul Lemus of Pingree Grove was nominated. His nomination was approved by the board and he was sworn in as the new Township Trustee.

Siers later said that “there had been candidates for supervisor position but they backed out at the last minute. There was only one candidate for the trustee slot.”

Ronda Goldman, who had made social media posts questioning the actions of the township board and encouraged residents to attend the township board meetings, was asked why she was not in attendance at the special meeting.

She responded with “I did not go because I am leaving the house in a few minutes to stand on my feet for four hours to help with the Lions Club pancake breakfast at Fall Fest. I needed to rest up.”

Lewis was asked why she didn’t apply for any of the open board positions. She replied, “The Board had my letter of interest, resume since May. When I removed myself from contention for Trustee, and said I would like to be considered for Supervisor, I asked ‘Do you need a new submission?’ Both Margaret Sanders and clerk Rendl nodded and waved no. I was asked to affirm I did not want to be considered for Trustee at the July meeting wherein two were to be appointed, I responded something to the effect of ‘Correct, I want my application to be considered for Supervisor.’”

Lewis stated, “Plainly, my application has been effectively submitted, and acknowledged, since the verbal, and subsequent resignation of Margaret Sanders. If my application suddenly disappeared during the shuffling of roles in August, I am not at all surprised the then present powers that be would not wish to look in their email for my previously submitted paperwork. I am not a wanted, nor would be a welcome, member of the Board.”
Lewis continued, “I did not submit an application for the newest Trustee vacancy, created by Nick Hoffman’s August resignation because I did not want to be a Trustee responsible for or associated with actions taken by not yet retired Margaret Sanders, and the equally questionable new Trustee, then Deputy Supervisor Ms. Jan Siers. It was my hope to offer my vast experience in software use, project management and public service advocacy in the role that drives the Supervisor’s work as Treasurer, COO and in General Assistance outreach.”

This current appointment still leaves the township board short one Trustee and a Township Supervisor. No comments were made as to when the board plans to fill the open positions.

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