Will County Gazette

City of Braidwood City Council met April 28.

Here is the agenda provided by the council:

Call to Order: The Special Meeting of the Braidwood City Council on April 28, 2025 was called to order at 5:30 p.m., by Mayor Lyons in the Council Chambers of the Braidwood City Hall.

Pledge of Allegiance: Mayor Lyons requested all rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll Call: Upon Roll Call by the Clerk, the following members of the corporate authorities answered "Here" or Present";

Elected Officials:

Present: Commissioner Dixon, Commissioner Wietting, Commissioner Walsh, Commissioner Mikel, and Mayor Lyons

Absent: None.

Appointed Officials:

Present: City Clerk Weaver, City Attorney Wellner, and Attorney Moustis

Absent: City Engineer Sean Kelly

Quorum: There being sufficient members of the corporate authorities in attendance to constitute a quorum, the meeting was declared in order.

Public Comment:

Kim Earling; 180 N. Mitchell St.: Wants the council to think about their morals and values and what is right for the city, not a special abuse of power or personal vendetta. When you campaigned, you campaigned for a better city, but this is showing that it will still be the same old Braidwood. Shortly after the resignation of Chris Early and the appointment of Karent Hart, the council approved the appointment of Tony Altiery as Supervisor of the water and streets department, and Commission Mikel was part of that board. Todd campaigned on these decisions as well, as he thought this was what was best for the city. At a meet-the-candidates event, it was stated that you would propose an ordinance at one meeting and pass it at another. It was also stated that you would not change anyone's employee status except the city administrator. Then, in less than a week, there is a special meeting to strip the powers of the council and make it a mayoral decision. This will terminate the contract all on one day and cost the city another payout. Asks the council to put personal feelings aside and think about the ordinance 25-21 that is on the agenda, and do what is in the best interest of the city.

Tony Altiery; 494 Kennedy Rd.: Is formally notifying the City of Braidwood regarding actions that have been initiated on my continued employment as Public Works Supervisor. I have served the city in various capacities over the past several years, including as the City Administrator. There have been direct and indirect indications that adverse employment actions may be taken based on events that occurred during my tenure as administrator. Any employment actions taken against me where the motivation factor is personal, prior administrations' decisions made in good faith under my official duties, or political retaliation would violate my First Amendment right protecting public employees from retaliation. The city policy also states that with termination, their need for notice of opportunity to respond, any applicable appointments to remove authorities rest with the mayor and city council; compliance with the Open Meetings Act. I reserve the legal right under the state and federal law to challenge any adverse actions that are retaliatory, politically motivated, procedurally defective, or otherwise unlawful. Request that any consideration of employment action regarding my position be conducted with full transparency, compliance with city ordinance and policies. Should adverse employment action be taken, I will respond appropriately through all available administrative and judicial channels.

Charles Booth; 594 N. Will Rd.: Mr. Altiery, you talk about legal stuff, remember the property taxes you published on Facebook, along with everything. The attorney knows I did not sue the city.

Mayor: Remember, this is public comment.

Booth: He wants to talk about being ethical because he is losing his job. He wasn't ethical on Facebook. I would like to request the city to amend a new ordinance regarding city vehicles. No personal use, only official use. I don't want to have taxpayers' money to pay for someone's trip.

Wayne Kancler; 226 Fossil Cove Ln: What is surprising is this meeting tonight on what looks like normal business. There was no information on the signboard. I know it was on the city website but I did not find out about this until midday. There was only the posting on the door. It was brought up about transparency at the meet-the-candidates, but this does not meet transparency. This is done at an odd hour on an odd night.

Chris Earling; 180 N. Mitchell St.: I have tried to remain friends with everyone who has ran here. This does feel like it is a vendetta against one person. We have two people here who hired him and need his help. I feel he has been great at the job he has done. We have commissioners who need help in their positions. I sometimes have co-workers that I don't like but I have to work with them because they were hired by my supervisors. Your positions are part-time and you all have people that are out there helping you with your positions. That is why they have asked Tony to be in this position. They needed the help, they asked him, and they hired him. I ask you to reconsider.

Dave Howard; 438 N. Center St.: I have lived here for thirty-five years and have been to about a dozen meetings and it seems like no one ever gets along. I know everyone except Liz, we have met through business and kids at school. I think this is a witch hunt. Todd, congrats on being mayor. What happened in the past is the past. The reason for this change was to get Mr. Altiery out. I have known him for thirty- five years. Not saying you have to like him, but for the city he has brought in money and equipment. I don't think what you are trying to do is good for the city.

Linda Santerelli; 806 W. Bergara Rd.: Under the last council, I did question the legality of Tony getting this position and I still question it today. With this board, I hope we will be able to find out. I don't know anybody who can be appointed to a position in 2023 and hold that position and can go right back and still be the administrator. In the newspaper, it was stated that Tony was performing these jobs during that time frame. Is that legal? Has it been? These are the questions I would like answered.

Jeremy McPherson: I do not live here yet, but I do have investment accounts here. I can't speak on personal grievances against Mr. Altiery. I do believe, like Mrs. Dixon said, that people need to think for themselves when they vote. My question is: Does the man do his job or not? Whether we like him or not. It's not a popularity contest. Maybe at first, but down the road ahead, it is not. You will need to do what is best for everybody. I believe Tony did that. Whenever I had a question, I always got an answer or a reply. He has had the same number for over twenty years, which means you are not hiding from anyone. I am questioning if you are putting the right person in the right place. Did anyone ask the people he works with from the water and streets?

Executive Session: Commissioner Wietting made a motion at 5:50 pm, seconded by Commissioner Walsh to into executive session to discuss (i) the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees (5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (1)). Motion carried with 4 ayes: 1 nay: (Wietting, Walsh, Mikel and Lyons)

Commissioner Wietting made a motion at 6:19 pm, seconded by Commissioner Dixon, to end executive session. Motion carried with 5 ayes: 0 nays: (Wietting, Dixon, Walsh, Mikel, and Lyons)

New Business:

Mayor Lyons requested a motion for Ordinance 25-21. Commissioner Dixon made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Mikel to approve Ordinance 25-21 Amending Sections of the Braidwood Code of Ordinances pertaining to Department Heads. Motion carried with 3 ayes: 2 nays: (Dixon, Mikel, and Lyons)

Mayor Lyons requested a motion to approve the termination of Tony Altiery. Commissioner Dixon made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Mikel, to approve the termination of Tony Altiery's employment as Supervisor of Public Property and Supervisor of Streets and Public Improvements. Motion carried with 3 ayes: 2 nays: (Dixon, Mikel, and Lyons)

Mayor Lyons appoints Tyler Geiss as a member of the City of Braidwood Plan Commission Board. Commissioner Mikel made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Dixon, to appoint Tyler Geiss as a member of the City of Braidwood Plan Commission Board. Motion carried with 3 ayes: 1 nay: 1 Abstain (Mikel, Dixon, and Lyons)

Mayor Lyons appoints Nicholas Stewart as a member of the City of Braidwood Plan Commission Board. Commissioner Dixon made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Mikel, to appoint Nicholas Stewart as a member of the City of Braidwood Plan Commission Board. Motion carried with 4 ayes: 0 nays: 1 Abstain (Dixon, Mikel, Walsh, and Lyons)

City Clerk Weaver gave the oath to Tyler Geiss and Nicholas Stewart for the City of Braidwood Plan Commission Board.

Mayor Lyons requested a motion for Ordinance 25-22. Commissioner Dixon made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Mikel, to approve Ordinance 25-22 Approving and Memorializing Expiration of Terms of the members of the Plan Commission. Motion carried with 4 ayes: 0 nays: 1 Abstain (Dixon, Mikel, Walsh, and Lyons)

Mayor Lyons spoke that the people from the proposed data center is wanting to come to our next meeting to speak and answer any questions anyone may have. We are still talking about if we will have a Town Hall or have them in our regular council meeting. It will be announced later once we figure it out.

Commissioner Walsh: I want to know who initiated this meeting? I was not notified or asked if I was free tonight.

Mayor Lyons: I wanted to have a special meeting. We were looking at the employment of our Public Works director and also wanted to have people on our Planning and Zoning Board before the next meeting.

Commissioner Walsh: Did you not want me here? I was not available but made myself available. I only found out when everyone else found out.

Adjournment: Commissioner Dixon made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Mikel to adjourn the April 28, 2025 Special Meeting of the Braidwood City Council. Motion carried with 5 ayes; 0 nays. (Dixon, Mikel, Wietting, Walsh and Lyons).

https://www.braidwood.us/file-share/de159199-d626-48f5-8c1b-f5e9ea2b7b23