By Gail Peckler-Dziki/Correspondent
The item, “first reading of ordinance 504 filling vacancies on the village board” was on the Aug. 7 Silver Lake Board meeting agenda. That first reading never happened. The board could not agree on what president Sue Gerber proposed, so it’s back to the attorney.
The village board has filled several vacancies in the past several years. Board member Barb Ironside resigned in 2011 and then was reappointed with no other candidate considered. She was off the board for a year and ran again.
Last April, Soti Wilber was appointed to fill the trustee position when sue Gerber won the president spot. There was some complaint from audience members that Wilber was not the highest vote getter, Nancy Barranco was. But the board chose Wilber.
Trustee Dave Snow resigned next for job reasons and newcomer Paul Snellen was appointed. Prior to this appointment, the board had discussed the method that Paddock Lake uses to fill vacancies. That method includes letters of intent and public interviews and Silver Lake used it to appoint Snellen.
Gerber said she heard from several residents that they believe the next highest voter getter on the ballot should be appointed to fill vacancies. Gerber proposed that this method be used or the seat be left vacant until the next election. She said that state law was vague regarding filling vacancies, leaving it up to the board.
Gerber said that this way, the board can “stack the board.”
Wilber disagreed and that state law is specific. The president can suggest and the board must approve. The majority of the board fills the vacancies. She also read the state law regarding the timing of putting vacancies on the ballot.
Wilber also brought up trustee Mike Decker’s previously stated opinion that the seat should not be left vacant. An odd number is needed to break ties to keep business moving along.
Trustee Pat Dunn said that Gerber’s proposal had no time frame in it, such as how long out from the election this ordinance would be in force. Trustee Cyndy Schwebke reminded Gerber that she previously was in agreement with interested parties sending in letters of intent and undergoing a public interview.
During the discussion, Gerber allowed residents Roger Johnson, Colleen Dystra and Karen Erb to speak out without being called on. At one point, other board members reminded members of the audience that the board was not taking comments.
Gerber commented that the way the last two vacancies were filled was not fair. Trustee Barb Ironside lectured the board on why elections are held and that the board needs to be responsive to the wishes of voter for filling vacancies.
Dunn stated that those who lost the election lost that election and the state statutes lay out the pattern for filling vacancies. Wilber suggested that the ordinance goes back to the attorney to tweak the ordinance. The measure was tabled.
Website issues
In the past several months, the village website has been spammed. Gerber suggested returning to a county-run website. Clerk/treasurer Terry Faber was concerned about increased spamming once the point to pay link was put on the website. Wilber explained that the link put the user at a different website that had good security measures and going to the link had nothing to do with the village website.
Wilber also said the village did use the county services at one time and it cost $700 a year. The village pays about $180 a year for the website with Cyvon.
Wilber asked Eric Schultz, who owns Cyvon, the company currently handling the webswite to attend the meeting and address issues.
He explained that he received one phone call from the village office and was under the impression that the matter was cleared up. Schultz said he has taken greater security measures and is monitoring the situation.
Gerber asked if the website should have fewer users. Current users are clerk/treasurer Terry Faber, deputy clerk/treasurer; Sue Nelson, deputy clerk/treasurer; Johnny Abbatee, administrator and Wilber. Schultz said he downgraded each user to an editor only.
The item was tabled and the board decided to wait and see if the measures Schultz took removed the problem.
No bids cost village
During citizen comments, Johnson took the current board to task for wasting money, getting bids for village projects. He mentioned a flyer that was passed out to village residents the last time he ran for president in 2011 and lost to Jeff Albrecht.
That letter contained information that the village had awarded $89,470 in work to contractor Gary Faber for work done in 2010 through the spring of 2011. The flyer said that there were no competitive bids sought and the $13,420 in charges included a 15 percent fee for overhead and insurance.
In general, state law requires cities and villages to competitively bid for “public construction,” the estimated cost of which exceeds $25,000.
If the estimated cost exceeds $5,000 but is not greater than $25,000, according to state statues, the municipality must give a Class I notice of the proposed construction before the contract is executed.
Also, when grant money is being used, municipalities should be aware of grant requirements that may require competitive bidding. No Class 1 notice for the projects was given, according to clerk/treasurer Terry Faber.
During citizen comments, Johnson also remarked how he and the village attorney decided not to bid out work needed to make repairs at the water treatment plant, but decided to contact the company that built the plant. Johnson did not explain how not seeking bids saved money.