By Lisa Hammer, correspondent@qconline.com

CLEVELAND -- Trustees continue to spar with Mayor Jim White over the December suspension of village treasurer Rick Lindell.

Toward the end of Thursday's village board meeting, trustee Leo Henkelman asked if Mayor White had obtained an opinion about the suspension from new village attorney Joseph Polaschek. Mayor White said that, whenever two parties disagree on a contract, the only way to take care of it is to go to court.

Mr. Henkelman then left the meeting, angrily saying Mayor White had not provided the information he had sought under the Freedom of Information Act.

"I asked the clerk specifically for the information and here we are again, Jim," he told the mayor. "I can't talk to you rationally because you don't want to deal with it.

"You are totally out of order, Jim White."

The mayor disagreed, saying it was a difference of opinion.

"It's a very big difference of opinion," the mayor added. "I'm sorry you (Mr. Henkelman) feel that way."

Trustee Richard Waterman also was asked if he had submitted a written question to Mr. Polaschek about the suspension. He said, instead, that he contacted a different lawyer.

In other business, the board approved a $135,000 appropriations ordinance in exactly the same amount as last year, although $5,000 was taken out of building and grounds and added to police. Funding for professional services also was increased by $1,000, to $3,000.

Trustees heard the village has not kept up with inflation in the police contract, and the amount for animal control had been omitted for some years. They also were told it costs $50 to have an officer attend village board meetings, which has happened two months in a row.

The board on Thursday also:

• Approved police protection and mosquito control contracts with Colona
• Set community yard sales May 17-19 and clean-up days May 21-28
• Approved paying the Henry County Economic Development Partnership dues of $75.