During his first assembly of the Board of Directors as Mayor of Lansing, Brian Hardy reached the land by working, taking actions that included the dismissal of the village public works supervisor and the hiring of somebody new.
Hardy advised Daily Southtown about her resolution to place apart Gary Richardson in favor of Earl O’Neal help in her objective of pulling the village in a brand new course. He stated Richardson’s contract has elevated and has been recognized for a number of years.
“I do know his background. I know how he presents himself,” Hardy stated. “It’s all about transparency. It’s about listening to employees and every part else.”
Hardy wouldn’t disclose any explicit implenishment with Richardson, however stated he believed that O’Neal can be extra proactive in guaranteeing that the division is totally private and that staff are properly skilled. The village declared in a declaration that O’Neal isn’t the substitute of Richardson, however is “presently supervising the operations”.
“Only time for a change of course, that is all right here,” stated Hardy.
Richardson was employed as public works supervisor in 2019 by the previous mayor of Lansing Patty Eidam with a wage of about $ 115,000. Eidam was elected the primary feminine mayor of Lansing in 2017 and got here out of the function this yr as a result of time period limits.
O’Neal has taken management of the Department of Public Works on May 12 and can earn $ 70,000 per yr, in keeping with the village.
According to the state statute, the mayor can take away any official appointed each time “it’s of the opinion that the pursuits of eradicating the municipality’s demand”. The Statute requires the Mayor to report the explanations for the removing in a gathering between 5 and 10 days after removing.
Hardy advised the Board of Directors on May 20 that “he has no confidence in his capability to hold out and implement the insurance policies of this administration”.
“In evaluating the evolution wants for the function and course wherein the village is heading, I’ve established that Mr. Richardson’s efficiency doesn’t align to the course of the village that strikes ahead underneath my administration,” Hardy wrote within the relationship.
Olivia Stevens/Daily Southtown
The Board of Directors of Lansing Village votes to take away Gary Richardson as public works supervisor on 20 May 2025. (Olivia Stevens/Daily Southtown)
When requested about different potential employees modifications, Hardy stated “The door is all the time open”.
“But for now, I get pleasure from working with our heads of the division and employees,” stated Hardy. “I’ve simply been in workplace for 2 weeks and I’m studying lots.”
Hardy additionally appointed Lionel “Leo” Valencia, an ex-trustee, to return to the Council to fill the Maureen Grady-Pervich headquarters. Graony-Pervich was an elected elected by the village this yr, leaving his place of trustee.
Other ongoing tasks embody the substitute of the Hangar doorways at Lansing Municipal Airport.
Alexandra Kukulka / Daily Southtown
The web site for the municipal airport of Lansing was bought in 1925 by the automotive innovator Henry Ford, who was ready for plane equivalent to Ford Trucotor. The village purchased the airport in 1976. (Alexandra Kukulka/Daily Southtown)
The administrator of the village Dan Podgorski stated that the doorways have been in approximate kind and don’t open with out mechanical help.
The $ 737,000 venture might be virtually solely lined by the funds offered by the Federal Law on the previous president Joe Biden, with the Metropolitan Corporation employed as a contractor, stated the officers.
The village will cowl about $ 14,500, with the proposal that ought to be on the agenda for the following assembly of the Council on June 3.
Ostevens@chicagitribune.com
