Lake Bluff president outlines process to fill trustee vacancy after resignation

Village President Regis Charlot notified the Board of Trustees on Sept. 8 that Trustee Steve Wrapping resigned effective Aug. 26 and summarized the statutory process the village must follow to fill the vacancy.

Charlot said because fewer than 28 months remain in the unexpired term, the president must nominate a replacement within 60 days and the board has 30 days after the nomination to act. If the board rejects a nominee twice, the president said a unilateral temporary appointment authority exists under the statute cited in the meeting.

President Charlot also told trustees he intends to seek a candidate who can "jump right in," citing the village's near-term infrastructure agenda, including Sheridan Road, Green Bay Road and a stormwater tunnel. He said he is prioritizing candidates with finance experience and an engineering background to serve on the finance committee and to help oversee capital projects.

Charlot noted the board may discuss candidates in closed session under the Illinois Open Meetings Act. "We have work, and we're looking at candidates," he said. Trustees expressed support for filling the seat with someone prepared to take up financial and technical matters promptly.