I am a Darien resident and new to this site. I am appalled by whats going on and did not know any of it. This is about my family and my house and I cannot believe any of this. My neighbors will be informed of this and I want to know wht can I do? This is very unamerican and the people that want to suer are very out of line.

Copperguy
That is good advice. There has been flyers put in the past. Another one would be good, with the article about the employees suing. Most here do not get the Gazette and might not know about that.
Records request is a good idea, too.

EarthAngel: Wish I had the magic answer for you. I don't. I had asked on the other post how many people show up at the meetings, but then someone obviously wrote something to get the forum taken down.

I know nothing of Darien. From what has been written, it would seem that even if the entire village population (except for 7) showed up at a meeting demanding an end, the seven would still probably not listen.

If that truly is the case, then even the adage of "strength in numbers" may not be enough. But if I were a Darien resident, I would certainly try to get the word out as much as possible, and get as many people as possible at any and all meetings of the board. Band together for a full-page ad in the local newspaper (if there is one)? Petitions? Who knows...be creative (but lawful!).

Has anyone put in public records requests for budget and actual attorney fees billed? And include in the request hours worked but not yet billed.

so Copperguy- What should we do? Mob the Village Hall? Picket? Lie down in the street?
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We NEED help here!
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The Village President is unwilling to listen to people, he is rude, he is smug, he has no 'boss', we are helpless.
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We are on the Titanic.
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SOS!

One other thought...If - as Prof and I suspect - the village attorneys are exploring a way to get Chief DeVoy to resign, they are likely using a financial incentive to do so. Any severance package would be a direct cost to the citizens of Darien. If, on the other hand, they were to terminate and have Chief Devoy file a suit against the village, settlement of such a suit would likely be paid by the village's insurance company. Of course, all of the attorney fess leading up to such a suit are, again, paid by the Village.

Bottom line is that the people of Darien are spending a whole lot of money on attorneys here, as is Chief DeVoy. And I do mean a lot. The only way Chief Devoy will likely recoup is if he gets fired and sues.

So, it's critically important to the citizens of Darien to actually DO something about this situation. I don't use hyperbole, and I do wonder if the village has enough reserves to survive all of this without going bankrupt.

I would like to say unbelievable...but unfortunately, it is not.

Thank you JohnDoe. Did you click on the link yet? Your thoughts?

DebiO...my comments were not intended for you.
It is obvious that you are actually taking the initiative and I applaud you for that.
My comment was a general observation (Iknow, generalizations usually get one in trouble) of what most others appeared to be doing...and that was not much.

Oops - put this on the wrong page -

People, check out THIS link for a jaw-dropper, new this morning....

http://gazettextra.com/news/2009/feb/27/...

http://gazettextra.com/news/2009/feb/21/...

DebiO - you might wanna look on CCAP. All 7 members of the Darien Board are due in court after being charged with violating the open meeting law. As far as your statement on the DA only taking cases that are referred by the WCSO...that's not correct. The DA's prosecutes all crimes referred by all agencies. Obviously municipal charges are handled locally. Depending on who you talked to at the WCSO, for example a dispatcher, would dictate who was sent to take your complaint. Typically complaints are given to the local police agency to investigate first, then that agency should recognize a conflict of interest and then turn it over to the WCSO to investigate further...obviously the whole Darien thing is one big conflict of interest so at this point....who knows!!!!

J.Doe: CuGuy's comments to you mirror mine. I don't think at this point Metzner could seriously argue that he has the citizens' best interest in mind. Just from the media reports, and this blog, you can get a pretty good feel for his bankruptcy in leadership--and perhaps even ethics and morality. What is striking, but unfortunately not uncommon, is how one person who is not afraid to assert an opinion can get otherwise good people to follow their lead. Add an attorney, looking for billable hours, pouring a little gasoline on the fire (perhaps not even improperly), and you have a bunch of followers instead of leaders that the citizens thought they were electing-whether they intended to be or not. And I'll bet a sum of money that at some point, SOMEONE mentioned two things: How much better it would 'look' if votes were unanimous, and 2)to change our minds now would look like we don't know what we are doing. Oh, and there is a third: At least one person is now more worried about potential liability moreso than doing whats right. Of course, all of these are tired, worn out, cop-out management philosophies. Meanwhile, DebO points out what I conjectured earlier: No one is doing the village business of serving the citizens.

JohnDoe -
The 'apparent lack of initiative' you refer to is presumptuous on your behalf. I am a candidate running for the Village Board, and just one of MANY citizens who have been watching what's going on here with alarm and concern.
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I have looked for assistance everywhere, from the WI State Accountability Board, the WI Ethics Division, the Internet, the Walworth Co DA, the Walworth Co Sheriff's Dept., to my brother-in-law, an 11 year Village Board Member in Sussex.
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FYI - The Walworth Co DA will take no calls except those referred by WCSO. When I called Walworth County Sheriff's Office last week to report SEVEN complaints, from Open Meetings Violations to Election Violations - they sent a DARIEN officer to my home.
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DUH! HOW IRRESPONSIBLE WAS THAT? They know what's going on here in Darien!
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I will call today to check, but I'll bet that report was never forwarded to WCSO! Not only that, the officer who took my complaint was Chet Wilson - who is suddenly under fire. I was concerned by the knowledge that he would be turning over his report to Maltese - I am not convinced that Maltese is interested in upholding the law. And I would not put it past him to 'shoot the messenger'.
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Although I am not yet a Board Member, I have received calls and complaints about certain issues from citizens because they, too, are frustrated by the current situation and have run into their own brick walls.
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What more would you have us do, John Doe?

I understand what you are saying copper... I too am very familiar with the LE side of things.

But I think what it all boils down to, is that at this stage of the game...DeVoy is well aware of his supporters, and I'm sure, rightfully appreciates them. And the citizens of Darien; although they may appreciate the lessons of civil justice have their minds made up in this saga.

What's most amazing to me is the volume of questions presented here, but the apparent lack of initiative of such "concerned citizens" to actually seek the answers to the questions. (Outside of this venue.)

That leads me to believe that the majority of posters are not Darien citizens, but rather opportunists of the moment. And that is the focus of my previous comments.

Well, we seem to be getting far off-topic here. But, since my focus in the past has been to help folks understand the law and the process, let me first address the comments about someone pleading "not guilty" in a criminal case. That is not unexpected. It is almost always the first step at the initial appearance. No one should be ridiculed for pleading not guilty at their IA. Remember, we are still a nation of laws, where everyone is presumed innocent until proven/found guilty. Everyone.

Second, if you were regarding to Prof and me, JohnDoe, I will not answer for him, but will for myself.

Some of us are painfully familiar with how things work in police employment. A number of folks have spoken strongly in support of Chief DeVoy. The sad fact is that far too many people are supportive privately while publicly they are passive in situations such as this. Some very good people in policing have been hurt by that fact.

What I have spoken to on this topic is a likely scenario...one that I would suspect is pretty close to the truth. Been there, done it. Those who are supportive of the Chief can accept or disregard my hypothesis, and act accordingly.

I know none of the players in this situation. I am simply trying to be a resource for some concerned citizens.

Thisbites...if you actually read my post...you should realize thet I was referring to the fact that Sped was carrying her personal vendetta to this story that has NOTHING to do with this topic.
Apparently, you are too blind to see also.

WiSped....what does his grand-daughter have to do with this story?

Time to realize you lost and get off the personal vendetta.

If you want to take on Putnam, so be it, but keep his relatives out of it. She is a different story.

I'm with you, Teacher. The white-hairs and no-hairs on the board need to go. They have grown too fat and comfortable on their thrones.
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They do NOT have our best interests at heart. That's why they are called Trustees, we trusted them, and they are only after their own interests.
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Well guess what - the residents WANT police protection. But many may fall for that politically worded announcement of the referendum in the Family Connections.
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We now have THREE cops being railroaded by these old men with their own agendas. Enough!

Vote for the 2 incumbents who have proven they are not going along with politics as usual, and vote for the new ideas of the obviously caring and civic-minded candidates, Etten and Olmstead.

The most interesting part of this little Peyton Place saga, is the interest of the outside world.
By that, I mean the ones who have no connection to Darien, other than what they read, either in the paper or on the blogs.

They all seem to have the answers and solutions.

But you know what? They should be left alone to chart their own path. If they want help they should ask for it.

If they can't figure it out by now...too bad...so sad.

It's amazing how little police coverage we have in the village these days...
WE NEED OUR CHIEF BACK!

We need to GET OUT THE VOTE and vote for McCue, Kenyon, Olmstead and Etten!

The tired old geezers on this Board need to be voted out. What they are doing to our village and our police department is inexcusable and UNCONSCIONABLE.
MOST have been in office too long to remember they are supposed to HONOR the trust residents put in them, and ONE seems to think he's God.

The meeting was held @ the Library because the Library Committee & the Senior Advisory Committee were held before it @ the Library...it only makes sense to keep all the meetings @ one place if you are already there.

No,

Metzner wants the Attorneys to think he is a high roller. So they take them to the Taja Mahal, I mean Library. That Library was the start of this Village going under, and that is the only thing Puttman has to hang his hat on. Remember him saying, "it won't cost the tax payers anything, its all grant money" yeah right, lets hire another librarian and anyone seen the heating bills? Alot of good engineering went in to that building what a joke. Just like our Village attorney, what a joke!!!

Could start renting it out again with the stipulation that an officer has to be rented with it. Maybe thats a way to keep them employed. Oh, but that would bring money into the village, we don't want that unless it goes in Pelisheks pocket. After all the DPW mows his lawn for him with our tax money. hmmmmm

You can bet there will be a large turnout for this one.

FateisFickle
I think it’s because there’s not enough room for the public at the Village Hall when they come back into open session

The comment I find amazingly odd in this story - the closed session will be held at the Public Library. Do they not have a room in city hall where they can close the door?

CuGuy: That would be my bet exactly: What would it take for the two of you to depart, AND NOT TALK ABOUT THE TERMS OF THE DEPARTURE....I had no idea that Chet was even involved in this; where'd he come in to this whole issue? And for what reason?

copperguy
There is another scenario. What if they did find something & are giving DeVoy a chance to resign. Then asking Wilson if he wants to be chief.
I heard McCue yelling that DeVoy would reinstated at this meeting no matter what. The vote was 7 to 0

Prof, I'm interested in your take on this. As transformer07 noted, I was also curious about the sudden inclusion of Officer Wilson???

Here's the way I perceive it: They don't have gounds to terminate. Their attorney will contact the other attorneys and try to convince them that the Chief and Officer should leave since they're not wanted. He will ask something along the lines of, "What will it take for them to resign?"

So, people of Darien, it is now up to you. You need to let the two know that those who don't want them working there are limited to a very few. There will be a lot of pressure from the attorneys for these guys to resign. Has anyone thought about organizing a community "Pro-DeVoy" rally?

I sincerely hope Cheif DeVoy retains his position if he still wants it, and Metzner loses his, irregardless of his own personal desires.

Where's the 5 to 2 vote we have been hearing about?

more money down the drain...

From what little I know, the suspended chief should explain to the atty. when he calls, what the phrase 'unconditional surrender' means--that's what the chief should demand. Metzner needs his butt on a platter. And, as far as the acting chief is concerned, do they have 'meter maids' in Darien???

What does Chet Wilson, an officer have to do with this or did I miss something?
Are there two officers and admin leave?

Here we go, folks!