Argument between board members leads to Tinley Park trustee’s ouster from meeting

TINLEY PARK, Ill. — An argument during the board comments portion of the Village of Tinley Park Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, May 17, led to the removal of one of the board members from the room.

Mayor Michael Glotz asked for a motion to remove Trustee Diane Galante from the meeting, and the trustees voted 4-1 in favor of removing Galante. She cast the lone dissenting ballot, and Trustee William Brady was absent.

The argument stemmed from comments Glotz made to the board members stating that Galante — with whom he has been engaged in a feud for more than a year — had filed a “false” police report against him accusing him of harassing her at the April 5 board meeting.

Glotz said the police report, which was filed on April 7, claimed he “got in [Galante’s] space and intimidated her by quietly speaking discourteous comment to her.” He said he also was accused of blocking her from the door.

“I couldn’t block the door if I wanted to,” Glotz said. “[Trustee] Bill Brady’s chair was in the way, and Kristin Thirion was standing right there at the door. I was standing by [Trustee] Dennis Mahoney, and I was actually there throwing out garbage long before Trustee Galante arrived. It’s just crazy.”

Glotz said the report also claims that Galante had her hand on the door to exit the chamber and go into the hallway but was stopped by Glotz.

“Again, that is just not true,” he said.

He also said he is accused of telling Galante she was “an embarrassment to this town” and “an idiot.” Glotz claims he never said that, but that he did say she was “rude and embarrassing with what you’re doing.”

He also said the police report states that Galante accused Glotz of going after her family.

“I really can honestly care less what you are doing — however, please consider to make restitution with Village Coin for the money that you do owe,” he said, alluding to an incident that occurred in May 2020 involving Galante’s son.

Glotz also said that following the filing of the complaint, the Tinley Park Police Department was contacted by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office on April 21 informing the police that it would not be following up on the complaint as it did not rise to the level of criminal prosecution.

“Diane, you have absolutely no remorse for what you are doing or any of the lies that you spew up on this dais,” Glotz said. “Please stop your games, and let’s work together — or just resign, so we can get back to business.”

After Glotz spoke, Galante gave her version of the events.

“I have a right to file a police report if I am fearful,” she said. “I went to the police department out of fear. I feared myself that day as you whispered in my ear, and that’s why I went there.

“How dare you. How dare the police department say they are going to sue me or whatever [they] are claiming — that I have no right to my feelings or fear.

“I wasn’t going to let you belittle me and do what you do and walk out that door, like you were going to make me feel bad quietly. I wanted everybody to understand what you did to me at that door that day. That’s why I did it.

“I have a right as a person to have fear, and I have a right to file a police report out of fear. And I’ll do it every time if I am fearful. I will do it every time. For the police department to be telling us not to do that is concerning.”

She ended her comments by stating she would not be intimidated by Glotz.

However, Trustee Colleen Sullivan disputed Galante’s story.

“I was right here when that happened [on April 5],” Sullivan said. “You love to play the victim, is what you’re doing. You’re just lying.”

Sullivan’s comments sparked a back and forth between her and Galante, with Galante shouting back, “You can’t tell me that I was lying, when I know what the truth is.”

Glotz asked Galante to stop interrupting Sullivan several times, but the argument continued between her and Sullivan for several more seconds at which point Glotz asked the Village Board members to vote to expel her from the meeting.

Richard Free Press has put in Freedom of Information Act requests for both the security camera footage from the April 5 meeting and the police report filed on April 7.