Things get tense as Caseyville Township takes steps to remove supervisor

Caseyville Township trustees on Thursday approved a resolution that authorizes their attorney to file a lawsuit in hopes of removing Township Supervisor Bruce Canty.

The move is the latest in the ongoing battle between Canty and trustees. Trustees Richard Donovan, Don Chrismore and James Lemansky Sr. voted to move forward with a lawsuit.

Trustee Dorothy Moody was absent from the meeting.

Eric Evans, an attorney hired by Canty, said the lawsuit would be waste of taxpayer dollars and time.

He said the wait-time before a lawsuit has a trial in St. Clair County is more than 14 months. He said he expected any case would not reach trial before the April elections.

Evans added there has never been a case in Illinois where a politician has been successfully removed on the basis of malfeasance.

If Canty wins the lawsuit, the township would have to pay him back for attorney fees, “which would be a further waste of taxpayers’ money.”

Evans said the lawsuit is a null and void issue no matter the outcome of the election.

“So why are you going to make all the taxpayers in the township pay for a frivolous lawsuit,” Evans said.

Canty said he intends to run for re-election.

He was the lone ‘No’ vote against the resolution.

“This is the biggest waste of taxpayers’ money you’ll ever see. That being said, if you want Caseyville Township taxpayers to pay for this lawsuit, go right ahead,” Canty said.

“You’re going to make taxpayers pay for a political fight,” Canty added. “You think you’re going to get me to resign, so you don’t have anyone to run against. I’m not going anywhere. If you want to take me on, take me on. You’re so sure you can beat me, beat me at election time.”

Lemansky said Canty doesn’t follow through on board votes.

“You are supposed to do what this board wants you to do,” Lemansky said.

“If you did your job we wouldn’t be discussing this right now piece by piece,” Lemansky added.

To which Canty responded, “I do my job everyday.”

Todd Fleming, the attorney for the township board, said he wasn’t sure when he would file the lawsuit, as it would depend on how long he needs to write it.

Among the issues trustees brought up in their resolution are Canty neglects to present the board with annual accounting of township money within 30 days before the annual township meeting, fails to present township bills to the board, failed to report the amount of the tax levy needed to pay off township debt, failed to abide by board vote outcomes and failed to provide a safe and harassment free workplace.

Donovan estimated the lawsuit would cost no more than $20,000 and it would depend on how long the case takes.

In November, the board slashed Canty’s pay by $20,000, though it won’t take effect until after the 2017 municipal elections. At the time, Canty said the move was “political.”

The pay cut took place about month after township employees found five computer hard drives in a box of Halloween decorations.

Township trustees photographed the drives, labeled and sealed them and placed them in the township vault. Trustees then filed a report with Fairview Heights Police, which has said the investigation is ongoing.

Trustees even stopped the Dec. 4, 2015 township meeting to compare serial numbers on computers issued to supervisor Canty over concerns that township files may have been tampered with.

This story was originally published August 4, 2016 at 9:40 AM with the headline "Things get tense as Caseyville Township takes steps to remove supervisor."