Village President's Newsletter Column Draws Ire From Trustee

The village trustees insist they are not in favor of censorship.

But the next time Village President John Hermes writes his President’s Corner in the village newsletter, not only will the Village of Greendale’s six trustees see the column in advance of publication, Hermes’s message will also come with a disclaimer that indicates the views are his own.

Both suggestions came at Tuesday’s Village Board meeting from trustee Jim Birmingham, who said Hermes does a great job with the column and suggested it be on the front page of the newsletter, but added he has concerns about the president's “views being considered the views of the board.”

Birmingham said he fielded complaints about Hermes’s latest column about the state of the village, and more specifically, what to do with the old police and fire station.

Hermes wrote “loss of this building would not likely jeopardize the overall original Village historic landmark designation.”

He added:

“The bottom line is that it will be a (sic) very expensive for anyone to bring this building to new use. So we must decide: Is this building worth keeping even if – despite our best efforts – developers show little enthusiasm for the property and the taxpayers will continue to foot the high costs of utilities and ongoing maintenance?”

Birmingham, co-owner of Broad Street Coffee, was also confused as to why Hermes re-ran an excerpt from a column he ran a year ago that, in part, said:

“Over the years, other major retailers and retail centers began springing up in surrounding communities. Today, big box stores and retail districts are so common and easily accessible by automobile that Greendale residents can find greater selection and competitive prices all within a short driving distance. That’s the reality.”

“That had a detrimental reaction the first time you wrote it,” Birmingham said. “You’re saying people can leave (downtown) to get better deals and better selection. … Why are you saying that again? What do you want from (the business owners)?”

Hermes said he has no problem with adding a disclaimer and said his only concern about getting advanced copies to the trustees was meeting his deadline. He added he thought he was delivering facts and apologized.

“I can write a newsletter and 10 different people will read it and I’ll get 10 different responses,” Hermes said. “I’m not a professional writer. If I struck a nerve somewhere, I apologize. That was not my intent.”

To Birmingham specifically, Hermes said, “I apologize for you taking it out of context, because that’s what you did.”

Several other board members liked the idea of seeing the column before residents do, if only to know what questions they might have about Hermes’s message. They insist they don’t want to censor the president.

“I don’t believe we have any right to censor anybody here,” Trustee Greg Turay said. “We have the freedom of speech and the constitution, but I agree, sometimes what you (write) catches me by surprise.”

Trustee Sally Chadwick, however, said seeing it in advance won’t have an impact.

“What you say, you say,” she said to Hermes. “What happens for us, we get the backlash. We’re the ones who get the citizens who say things. … Most of the time, we’re caught off-guard, and we’re trying to backpedal.

“It hurts when you don’t come to us and ask us for our opinion, when you don’t seek out our advice and our opinion for the things you’re writing.”

Village Attorney John Macy warned the board calling or emailing Hermes after seeing an advanced copy and asking him to make changes or talk about the column could be construed as a violation of the state’s open meetings laws.