Although the Estates Property Owners' Association Vacancy Committee submitted the name of one applicant to fill the seat left vacant by former trustee Laurence Kettner, Mayor Harold Hecken stated at last Thursday's Village Board meeting that he would prefer to make an appointment after the vacancy committee has given him more than one name.

When Hecken first announced that he had asked the vacancy committee of the Estates Property Owners Association to begin the process associated with finding a new trustee from that section of the village, he requested the names of two or three applicants to choose from. At the most recent meeting of the village board, Hecken announced that the Estates POA had submitted only one name, late Thursday afternoon.

"I have asked the nominating committee if they had more than one nominee, if we could possibly have a selection. I have no problem with naming the person who's been submitted but I would much prefer, and I think it's been fairly common practice in the past, the board has asked for a choice of nominees, even if they are in priority order so that we'd have a little more opportunity to see what features a particular nominee or recommended person might have in view of the needs of the village," said Hecken.

In light of this, Hecken stated that he would not make the appointment at the April 13 meeting as expected, and asked the Estates POA to honor his request for the names of multiple applicants. "Hopefully we'll be able to make an appointment for the next trustees meeting," added the mayor.

The mayor also, at the April 13 village board meeting, swore in Lawrence Nedelka as the new fire chief, replacing Richard Chiarella. Ex-Chief Chiarella noted that Nedelka has been in the fire service for 25 years and added that he was very proud to have Nedelka as the new fire chief. One of the members of the Board of Fire Commissioners, Village Trustee, Dr. Barbara Miller swore in the assistant chiefs. The new chief and assistant chiefs all swore to abide by the by-laws and covenants of the Village of Garden City and to strive to protect lives and property entrusted to their care to the best of their abilities.

In other village news, it was announced that the Kenny lawsuit was adjourned until May 15 because the attorneys for Kenny have made a second motion for summary judgment. It was noted that the judge who adjourned the case in this instance is the judge who will be hearing the case, not the same judge who originally dismissed both the Village of Garden City and the Kenny's requests for summary judgments.

It was also announced that the planning commission is expecting to hold a public meeting on the consultant's parking study in late May or June. Village Administrator Robert Schoelle noted that the planning commission is striving to get as much public input as possible regarding the village parking situation.