NW Illinois News

Actions taken by the Lena Village Trustees in Illinois on behalf of the village clerk have come under scrutiny as a watchdog group is taking the town to task. 

Through Illinois Leaks, the Edgar County Watchdogs reported the trustees have for all intents and purposes given the clerk a pass for cashing in unused vacation days and sick days as an elected official. The trustees took action with a couple of resolutions to address the issue revolving around Lynn Polhill, the village clerk, following a review of the situation. 

In a 4-2 vote, the trustees determined that Polhill, a city employee for 25 years, did not intentionally take actions that resulted in overcompensation and no further action was necessary.

The trustees also ruled commencing on passage of the resolution that the clerk’s duties will be applicable to any other official and personnel policies of the village will be applicable to additional monetary payments for unused vacation days and unused sick days to the village clerk, other than for the reimbursement of authorized expenses, shall no longer apply to the village clerk. It also found in the event of a lawsuit, the clerk could employ an attorney to represent her to defend what the village finds to be an improper claim relating to her official services for the village.

Illinois Leaks took exception with a number of the findings, including the idea the clerk could use public funds to defend herself for receiving excess compensation. Another example the watchdog cited included the village was not authorized to make the vacation and sick days effective on the date of the resolution because they were not approved in the first place.

It has submitted a request to review two alleged Open Meeting Act violations on the dates of July 13 and Aug. 10 of this year, based on reasons stated to enter into an executive session.