Machesney Park mayor fills board vacancy, appoints committees

By Bob Balgemann
REPORTER
Newly elected Mayor Steve Johnson has filled the vacancy on the village board that was created when he decided to leave in mid-term and run for the position also known as village president.
His recommendation of Jake Schmidt was approved, 6-0, without comment, at the board’s May 15 meeting. Schmidt now will serve the remaining two years of the District 2 seat, which expires in May 2019.
He is the village’s former zoning inspector and that was one of the reasons why Mayor Johnson selected him for the trustee vacancy.
“He knows the village well and knows the village staff,” the mayor said. “When trustees are elected they are elected to a four-year term. With only two years left of the unexpired term, I know Jake will hit the ground running and that is important with a shortened time frame.”
Johnson also appointed members of the various standing board committees.
But before he did any of that he opened the meeting by asking for a moment of silence in memory of Peter Vitale, who died May 2 at 80 years of age. Mr. Vitale had served as a member of the public improvement and safety committee for almost 10 years.
Most of the committee members are

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