There was controversy last night dealing with a couple of appointments during a special meeting of the Hillcrest village board. Patty Moreno and Penny Peyton were reappointed as VIllage Clerk and Treasurer. Board President Steve Dodson wanted to make a change in the village's attorney from Paul Keller to Doug Henry of Rockford. Randy Salsbury and Tim Ball voted for the change while Jeanie Sparacino and Dave Long wanted to keep Keller as the village's attorney. Rich Elliott abstained in his vote. Following an executive session that lasted 50 minutes, the board took no action on the issue. Keller will remain as the attorney for Hillcrest.
Dodson also wanted to appoint former Trustee Rick Rhoads to the board. No one ran for the open 2-year term during the Consolidated Election in April. Rhoads finished in 4th place out of the 3 candidates elected to the board in a 4-year term. Ball was the only Trustee who was in favor of having Rhoads on the board.
Dodson would also like to have Moreno work a half day on Tuesday and Thursday in the Clerk's position. Right now she works 7 and half hours each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Dodson said that they have had several requests on those 2 days for building permits in the village. The board tabled the request until their meeting next Wednesday night.