Story posted Friday, March 12, 2010
Recall Law OKd
By TIM O'CONNOR Journal & Topics Reporter
The Buffalo Grove Village Board approved a recall measure Monday, Mar. 8 and some citizens are already threatening to use it.
The ordinance allows Buffalo Grove residents to remove elected officials from office. The measure was discussed last fall, but was tabled in December to allow for language retooling.
Those wishing to start the recall process must first file a Notice of Intention to Recall with the village clerk not more than 200 nor less than 190 days before the next election. Enough voters would then need to sign a recall petition in order to put a referendum on the agenda.
The number of signatures needed is at least 33% of the average of the ballots cast in the last two preceding Municipal elections, but not less than 1,000. If the same elected official is recalled twice, the number jumps to 50%, but not less than 1,500 signatures.
Objections against the recall can also be filed.
A successful recall would result in a vacancy that would be filled the same as any other.
The board approved two minor changes to the recall ordinance before it was passed. Officials cannot be recalled within six months of the date of the next election they are running in, and the official's term dates were removed from the petition for.
Some in the village were already clamoring to put the new ordinance to the test.
At the end of a heated exchanged between Buffalo Grove resident Jeff Rotman and Trustee Lisa Stone, Rotman said that he would be the first to circulate a recall petition if Stone didn't start showing more respect.
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