59 Responses

1. Praise the Lord. Better late than never.
   Now let’s just hope her replacement is t worse than she was…Bucur is picking after all.

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   1. Bucur is part of the problem also. Poor leadership, period.

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      1. I hope she learns from this. Of course, she didn’t bother showing up last night I hear

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2. Don’t offer her a dime. She likes Democrats, so throw some lawfare at her-30~40 indictments should be a good start. Good negotiating material for her resign voluntarily.

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3. I’ll believe it when I see it.

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4. Bye girl!! No one will miss you!!

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5. Why has nothing been said about the Fire Chief leaving and the search for a new one.

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   1. This was an agenda item and public knowledge for months.

      Pay attention !

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   2. They just paid $13k for a group to interview candidates to replace him. You used to just ask a few local chiefs to sit in and do the same for the cost of a lunch. Nope- we’d rather spend thousands of tax dollars on this. 🙄

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      1. Again poor leadership from the President. Let the Fire Commission do their job. Stop micro managing. Speak when you need to and also try to understand what your employees are doing and have to go through to do a good job for the constituents. Stated by the President at the board meeting they hired the consultant, Fire Chiefs are hard to fire and get rid of. Its boards like this that the Fire Commission was created in the state of Wisconsin to help protect employees, ensure they do what is expected of them and keep politics out of Public Safety.

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   3. He is retiring, he came out of retirement to do this job. No secret

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6. Well, if she gets shown the door, you read it here first — weeks ago.

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   1. We read it the min. they went against the committee selected to help choose the best candidate, and again when they overshot the budget on her.

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7. She’s leaving on a broom, good riddance. The damage she has done.

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8. The meeting notice isn’t terribly cryptic like many but is unusually specific: “Convene into closed session pursuant to Wis. Stat. §§ 19.85(1)(c) for purposes of “considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility”. Specifically, this closed session will relate to the annual review and employment status of the Village Administrator.”

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   1. That’s why I agree, I’ll believe it when I see it. They’ll prob just end up giving her a raise.

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      1. Right! Wasn’t there an article about the board wanting to extend her contract when they thought she was leaving and her Linked In page was updated saying she was available? Probably a ploy to do her review and give her raise for all her accomplishments!

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9. We tried to love you, gave it a whirl,
   But your Illinois roots made our heads swirl.
   You called us dumb hicks, thought we’d just sit
   But we love our sticks and we don’t quit.
   Now you’re packin’ bags, hittin’ the road,
   Won’t miss the drama or the heavy load.
   You and Bucur had your grand little plan,
   But now it’s our turn to take back the land.
   We’re showing you the exit door,
   So we can fix what you chose to ignore.
   The mess you made? Oh, we’ll restore—
   With grit, grace, and a whole lot more.

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   1. Too bad if people want their land, only 6 of you showed up to the Comprehensive Plan open house last night.
      No one cares, or if they do they don’t want to be bothered. They only care when it’s convenient to their schedule.

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      1. I went to the 6-8pm open house and only one Village Board member showed up, Hiller showed up late and stayed for only 5-10 min. The entire P&Z was there at least but you’re correct only a handful of citizens care.

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      2. People often only pay attention when action is already underway, and by then, it’s often too late. Speak up sooner. For those who feel their voice isn’t being heard—take a look at the changes in the Village staff. Citizens haven’t hesitated to push back when their homes are threatened or when employees act secretively or dishonestly. The system works—it’s messy, but effective. Remember, government moves slowly. The Village has a voice, but everyone should attend meetings, support others, or speak up themselves. Board members aren’t mind readers; your presence can often change the course.

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         1. To Anonymous: I pay attention. I also speak to the village at citizen comments. Please understand this- the board “listens” and nothing happens. They are instructed not to engage, so the comment goes without response and ignored. Here is the basic problem. We can speak to an empty room……Remember that ALL the citizen comments against land swap were completely ignored as the board approved the swap anyway! Where does the voice of the voters get considered? Not at citizen comments! That needs to change for a responsible government.

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   2. Love the poetry! Says it all!! So long and don’t let the door hit you in the ass!!

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10. Wow! So, a couple admins, a couple clerks, a couple treasurers, a couple fire chiefs and a couple DPW supers in the same amount of years. It sounds like Salem Lakes is where local government careers go to die. Good luck finding any quality replacements. Sounds like joining Salem Lakes would be career suicide. However, for the board to be able to continue on with their plans and corruption, it’s likely the replacement will be someone already on staff or someone close to the Village.

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    1. Maybe ask yourself, why did those people leave? Maybe what is happening with the Administrator is part of the pay backs are a bitch theory?

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       1. Is there usually that much turn over in government jobs? I always thought those jobs were the kind you stayed at for the long haul. Did they leave or were they forced out by Hiller and Bucur? Something stinks in Salem Lakes and I have a feeling more than a change in Administrator is needed, a new board would help. Corruption and bad government like this doesn’t happen in a vacuum.

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    2. They had a few great candidates from WI to choose from, in which most of the groups that interviewed them chose over Hiller. Maybe one of those is still interested in the position.

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11. This 19.85(1)(c) is for review.

    19.85(1)(b) is for firing as she would then be able to bring her legal support and to have it be an open meeting at her choice

    If she is gone after the meet, it would be at her own resignation.

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    1. There it is, resignation.

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12. Has anyone read her contract? What are the provisions for non-renewable? The dates? Board vote?
    Is non-renewable the same as firing?
    If she quits has she met the contract requirements?

    I think we are wish jumping – to a firing that may not occur. But maybe some writers are insiders with additional facts.

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13. Administrator Hiller was hired even after a citizens group who sat in on the interviews rated her third, at best.The board ignored the recommendations and hired her anyway. Poor decisions equal poor results. Consequently, the village is a mess once again.
    Not all hires work out and unfortunately she is one of them. A bad fit from the start, one that needed to be corrected long ago. Good leadership admits their mistakes to those they are accountable to: the voters. Will it ever happen or forever be hidden in the endless string of closed sessions? Their self proclaimed commitment to “deeply caring about openness and transparency” is on display for all to see. BS at its finest.
    Let’s see what happens tonight. Surprises? Let’s hope they do ALL the right things for once. We’re watching…..

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    1. Well said.

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       1. Expansive definition of Health, Safety, and Welfare is the excuse for every single government overreach.

          Sadly a kick ass candidate who would tell bureaucrats to pound sand would offend the majority.

          Salem Lakes is cooked as soon as they approve a hefty tax payer funded recreation center!

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          1. Never happen!

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14. I guess we will find out about real story behind the wetland, if she leaves. Employees will talk once they know she’s out. Who knows, maybe they are going to give her a raise, nothing would surprise me anymore.

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    1. If they wait until she’s gone to share the wetlands fiasco, we have cowards in office.

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15. If she’s leaving it’s pointless to bash her, we need to focus on the downward spiral the Village is on.

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    1. Not pointless at all when she and Bucur make it a point to kick people when they are down and take pride in ruining peoples lives and this Village. Had the board done the right thing and removed Hiller when her lies and manipulation started being exposed rather get on board with the cover up and assist in her lies then maybe but the downward spiral will continue with Bucur and Hopkins on the board.

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16. Change Salem lakes movement has really taken our village into an area that’s hard to recover from. The highest taxes ever, lost revenue, endless turnover with staff and the list goes on.
    Citizens really lack knowledge of how anything in government works, but trust our board members for the correct decision.Our current
    board fumbles meetings like little league football. Continuously lacking any education about running a community.
    It’s about time to move before taxes get any higher.

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17. The challenge with any movement is that some people involved may not be the best fit for government, and unfortunately, this often becomes clear later on. It’s a bit of a gamble. However, many individuals in Salem Lakes are undoubtedly a blessing to the Village and have the potential to foster new leadership—only time will tell. At least, people are making their voices heard. It’s always easy to complain much harder to fix.

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18. If your story headline is true than the village board is violating Wisconsin closed meeting laws.
    August 27, 2025 meeting agenda reads:

    CALL TO ORDER
    2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
    3. ROLL CALL
    4. OPEN MEETING COMPLIANCE CHECK
    5. CLOSED SESSION
    5.1. Convene into closed session pursuant to Wis. Stat. §§ 19.85(1)(c) for purposes of
    “considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of
    any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises
    responsibility”. Specifically, this closed session will relate to the annual review and
    employment status of the Village Administrator.
    5.2. Reconvene Open Session pursuant to Wis. Stat. 19.85(2) for possible additional discussion
    and/or action concerning any matter discussed in closed session.

    Specifically if this story is accurate than the notice should be under 1b not 1c:

    (b) Considering dismissal, demotion, licensing or discipline of any public employee or person licensed by a board or commission or the investigation of charges against such person, or considering the grant or denial of tenure for a university faculty member, and the taking of formal action on any such matter; provided that the faculty member or other public employee or person licensed is given actual notice of any evidentiary hearing which may be held prior to final action being taken and of any meeting at which final action may be taken. The notice shall contain a statement that the person has the right to demand that the evidentiary hearing or meeting be held in open session. This paragraph and par. (f) do not apply to any such evidentiary hearing or meeting where the employee or person licensed requests that an open session be held.
    (c) Considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility.

    For village board members to be charged with violating the open meeting law they would have to be told prior to the violation.

    The majority of times they are not charged because the rely on the attorney guidance.

    In that case an ethics charge with the state bar should be made against the attorney erroneous counsel.

    Essentially if they take action and it relates to 1b matters the action is avoidable as they violated the Wisconsin Open Meeting law.

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    1. In fact they admit within the notice 1C does not apply as they ARE considering “employment status” that is not a 1C exemption as 1C deals with data!

       The attorney is playing games with the peasants of the village!

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       1. If they come out of this meeting with any negative or positive action for Attila the Hiller it is voidable as an illegally noticed meeting!

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          1. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

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          2. This is exactly what they did with the first PUD agenda!!

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          3. Unless she resigns.

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          4. If they come….

             Is inaccurate

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          5. Now the board needs to find a new attorney otherwise he will make out of thin air bad legal advise that will shield the board to continue having illegal board meetings

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       2. I guess they protect each other to the end.

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    2. What if she offers her letter of resignation?

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       1. That would be the most respectable thing she could (and should) do.

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       2. Then that statement of considering a resignation of an employee is required to make a closed session notice valid

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    3. B only applies if the board is initiating a firing. sounds like that isn’t the case.

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       1. The fact we are all confused on what this meeting notice is about, except for some who may have it leaked to them, supports the idea the notice was insufficient. In fact it was insufficient as it should have included “to consider the resignation of an employee”. It did not and the meeting was in violation of law, the attorney gave bad counsel and the board will continue this behavior on all matters of controversy.

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    4. Looks like a typo but there is no doubt what the meeting is about.

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19. And the board members all knew that a resignation would be tendered therefore this meeting did not qualify for any section of a closed meeting!

    All of them should be charged with violating Wisconsin Open Meetings law

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20. Under Wisconsin’s Open Meetings Law (Wis. Stat. §§ 19.81–19.98), the meeting notice must specifically state that the governmental body will consider an employee’s resignation if it plans to discuss it, especially in a closed session. Wis. Stat. § 19.84(2) requires that the notice provide the “subject matter” of the meeting, including any contemplated closed session, with sufficient specificity to inform the public of the business to be conducted. While the notice does not need to name the employee or provide excessive detail, it must clearly indicate that the body will be addressing an employee’s resignation (e.g., “consideration of a public employee’s resignation” or “personnel matters involving an employee’s employment status”). Additionally, the notice must cite the relevant statutory exemption, such as Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(c) for employment matters, to justify the closed session.The Wisconsin Attorney General’s Open Meetings Law Compliance Guide emphasizes that notices should be specific enough to avoid vagueness, like simply stating “personnel matters,” which may not adequately inform the public. For example, a notice stating “closed session to discuss employee resignation under Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(c)” would typically suffice. Courts and the Attorney General have ruled that insufficiently detailed notices can violate the law, potentially leading to penalties or voided actions.

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21. Now a request for the minutes of this closed meeting is in order!

    closed session minutes are subject to the same access rules as other records. The public body must demonstrate why withholding is justified.
    Court rulings (e.g., State ex rel. Cities Serv. Oil Co. v. Board of Appeals) emphasize that exemptions are narrowly construed, and the public’s right to access prevails unless a clear reason exists to withhold.

    Request Process: Anyone can request closed session minutes via a public records request. The governmental body must respond “as soon as practicable and without delay” (Wis. Stat. § 19.35(4)(a)), providing the records, redacting exempt portions, or denying with a specific explanation.

    Example for Resignation: If a closed session discussed an employee’s resignation under Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(c), the minutes might initially be withheld to protect employee privacy. Once the resignation is public (e.g., announced or effective) and no sensitive details (like performance issues) are at issue, the minutes—or at least portions (e.g., the vote to accept)—may be released, often with redactions.

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22. This board is deep into non transparency. They posted no videos of their official actions for the public portion of voting on the resignation.

    Government is behaving like anarchists where the rule of law does not apply to them.

    All of this is on the shoulders of the town attorney! He should be terminated.

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