Ethics Allegation Against Village Trustee Will Be Investigated

Mount Pleasant village officials say they plan to take a serious look into a citizen's complaint that accuses Trustee Sonny Havn of ethics violations.

The author of an anonymous letter accuses Havn of having a close relationship with a village employee and says it could inhibit Havn's ability to do his job as a trustee. The letter, delivered to Village Hall on Friday, calls for Havn's resignation, and says if he refuses to do so, the Village Board should remove "him from office over this breach of ethics."

While Havn told Patch his personal life has nothing to do with village business, several trustees said the board is expected to investigate the complaint.

"We can't afford to not take these allegations seriously — even if they were submitted anonymously," Trustee John Hewitt said.

Village President Jim Majdoch, who hadn't seen the letter as of Friday night, said the fact that it's an unsigned complaint gives him pause. Still, he said, the matter will be discussed at the board level.

"This will be discussed," he said. "This is nothing illegal, but everyone is looking at everything in this village, which makes this maybe bigger than it needs to be."

Hewitt said it was particularly important that officials take the matter seriously, especially after the black eye the village got last year concerning allegations against former Administrator Mike Andreasen. Trustees fired Andreasen in May 2011 and settled lawsuits earlier this year with two employees who felt village leaders — including trustees — didn't adequately address their complaints that Andreasen created a hostile workplace and sexually harassed them.

"We can't afford to not take these allegations seriously — even if they were submitted anonymously."

Havn, who hadn't seen the letter as of Friday, he said the accusations have nothing to do with his work for the village.

"I have lots of friends and what I do with them does not involve Mount Pleasant," he said. "This is my personal life and has nothing to do with the village.

"People dig up all kinds of information if they want, but, you know, it doesn't involve Mount Pleasant or my work as a trustee," he added. "The letter isn't signed, so it's really just like those blogs where they make accusations but don't use their real names."

The conclusion of the letter says the writer tried to reach Village Hall about this matter, but never received a call back. The author said the letter was anonymous because of fears of  "some sort of retaliation if I would sign my name."

Copies of the letter were sent to all trustees, Village Clerk Veronica Rudychev and Interim Village Administrator Ron Meyer. Meyer called trustees to inform them the letter had been received and what it contained.