It has begun, Ritter’s first challenge

The Daily Herald sat down to talk to Ed Ritter about his plans and intentions as the newly elected Village President of Carpentersville.

In answer to a question about how his leadership style will be different, Ritter responded, in part:

[T]o be much more inclusive of the trustees.  There were a lot of issues and decisions that we never heard about or never knew about. It was very frustrating. I am still learning about things that Bill made decisions on that we never knew about. Negotiations that were going on that none of us knew about.

So, how will Ritter handle “negotiations … going on that none of [them] knew about”?  Here is a fresh challenge to see if Ritter will make good on his promise…

At Tuesday’s upcoming meeting, the current Village Board will be discussing whether to revise the Municipal Code allowing school buses to be parked overnight at residences.  Setting aside the discussion of the actual issue for a moment, it seems that there have been some negotiations taking place.

Despite this being an issue  the current Village Board is considering and will likely decide at the meeting on April 21, Judy Sigwalt did not inform Bill Sarto and Linda Ramirez Sliwinski of the outside discussions taking place, or include them on the email that appears in the correlated posting.

How will Ed Ritter handle this first test?  Will he call out Judy Sigwalt the way he has Bill Sarto? (Yes, Ritter has made complaints at Village Board meetings about not having been informed.)

Or, will Ritter handle this situation with quiet acceptance the way he did with Humpfer’s domestic battery convication, violations of the Open Meetings Act, and other deceptions and unethical behavior by his allies?

In order for Ritter to do what he says he will do — “set a new course for Carpentersville” — he is going to have to stop this type of behavior.  I would love for Ritter to surprise me and actually take on Judy Sigwalt and tell her that she was wrong for not including Sarto and Ramirez-Sliwinski.  Unfortunately, I don’t think he will.  And the pattern of double standards and backroom negotiations and corruption will continue to be “respected” in Carpentersville.

See the post below “Sigwalt’s exclusionary email” for the email mentioned above.

Sigwalt’s exclusionary email

From: JUDY SIGWALT [mailto:newportt2000@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2009 8:34 PM
To: Cindy McCammack ; Craig Anderson ; E Ritter ; K Teeter ; PatS ; paul humpfer; [Paul Lanspa]
Subject: school bus drivers

Hi All, I just got a call from Paul Lanspa about the PCZ meeting. I’m relaying what he said at his request. Paul Lanspa asked if he should contact Craig Anderson . I suggested he should so Craig is not blindsided.

The school bus drivers showed up at the PZC meeting with protest signs in a pile and said a lawyer contacted them (the bus drivers) this week about their problem with parking their buses in the village. The bus drivers said they would be at our Tuesday board meeting.

It is Paul Lanspas thought, if they get a lawyer Krenz or Roeser will pay for it. Paul Lanspa said every time the bus drivers came before them Krenz was in attendance with them. Paul Lanspa believes it is because Krenz was parking his Amy plumbing trucks frequently in their subdivision of Spring Acre Hills. When he was told by the SAH/HOA he could not do this and they put a stop to it, Paul Lanspa said Krenz became very indignant and said he was doing some plumbing at his Mothers house.

Paul Lanspa believes Krenz has a stake in this issue as he wants to park his commercial vehicles in the subdivision. Paul Lanspa said he’s not opposed to granting a variance to the bus drivers as long as there’s a strong exclusion on all other commercial vehicles as we all are trying to improve the looks of our village.

Please email Keith and Brad for me. If you have any questions of Paul Lanspa his email is [redacted]. feel free to contact him. The PCZ continued the agenda item.

Take Care Judy