Village trustees overturned a veto by Mayor Deborah A. Vasels that would have blocked a June 12 board decision to withhold her voting privileges at the committee level.
At Monday’s meeting, Vasels delivered a stinging veto message to the four trustees-Charles Crawford, Jim Krischke, Jim Weakly and John Tolomei-who oppose Vasels having a vote at the committee level.
Two other trustees, Gary Winchester and Karen Demos-Rosenthal, favored keeping Vasels’ voting privileges.
Soon after Vasels announced her veto decision, the four trustees, who comprise a majority, voted to amend the agenda in order to address Vasels’ action. The board then overturned her veto, 4-2, with Crawford, Krischke, Weakly and Tolomei voting against Vasels.
“You guys aren’t dealing fairly with the public,” said Demos-Rosenthal in an emotional response to overturning the veto. “Are you trying to reinvent Lake Zurich? You disgrace the community with your form of open government.”
Vasels said that board meeting minutes over the last two years prove “overwhelmingly” that she has a role in Lake Zurich’s legislative process. “I am entitled to a vote,” she said.
Trustee Krischke, who voted to overturn Vasels’ veto, said he was tired of arguing about the issue.
“I’ve been willing to go halfway with you so far, but there’s no halfway here,” Krischke said in reference to Vasels’ voting privileges.
