The views expressed here are my own as an individual and do not represent the official position of the Village of Round Lake, the Village Board, or Village staff.
I believe local government should always be willing to ask one simple question:
Is there a better way to do this?
When it comes to the Village Clerk, I believe there is.
On November 3, Round Lake voters will decide whether the Clerk remains elected or becomes an “appointed” position.
But don’t let that word confuse you.
“Appointed” is the legal language used for the referendum. In practical terms, this allows the Clerk to become a hired administrative position. The Village President would select the Clerk with the advice and consent of the Board.
To me, that makes sense.
The Mayor and Trustees are elected to make policy and set the direction of the Village.
The Clerk’s role is different. It is administrative. The Clerk maintains records, takes meeting minutes, handles election responsibilities, oversees FOIA requests and manages other official duties. The Clerk does not vote on the Board or establish Village policy.
So why require someone to run for office to do an administrative job?
Why not hire someone based on their qualifications and experience?
And importantly, this isn’t about adding another layer of government or simply adding another employee.
The goal is to maintain our current staffing levels while organizing the work more effectively.
The Clerk’s legally required duties will still get done. The Village can also structure the position and workload in a way that better fits the needs of Village Hall. That means improving efficiency, strengthening continuity and allowing staff to focus on the work they do best.
And ultimately, that’s what this should be about: better service for residents.
- Better organized work.
- Better use of staff time.
- More continuity.
- Clearer accountability.
And most importantly, getting the work done for the people who live here.
We’ve experienced turnover and vacancies in the Clerk’s position. At one point, no one even ran for the office. The position is vacant again today.
If the job is important, and it is, we should have the flexibility to find and hire the right person when we need one, rather than depending on someone being willing to run for office.
For me, this isn’t about a person or a political party.
It’s about asking whether the way we’ve always done something is still the best way to serve our residents.
I believe we can do this better.
And that’s why I support changing the Village Clerk from an elected position to an appointed, more simply, hired, administrative position.
The opinions expressed above are solely those of Brian Brubaker in his personal capacity and do not represent an official position, endorsement, recommendation, or statement of the Village of Round Lake, the Village Board of Trustees, or Village staff. Residents are encouraged to review the referendum information and make their own informed decision.
Forward Motion 
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