By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
The Waterford Village Board is once again up to full capacity with a resident agreeing to fill a spot on the seven-member elected body as a sitting member left in protest.
James Schneider was officially sworn in as a trustee of the board Aug. 10. Late last month, Schneider emerged as the prospect board members wanted to see fill the seat that was vacated in late June by former Trustee Stephen Denman.
Schneider edged out a small handful of other residents interested in pursuing the board vacancy. He was interviewed by the six seated members in mid-July.
During his brief introduction to the board, Schneider attempted to link his professional experience to his philosophy of public service.
“If you don’t provide service and value, you’re going to lose people pretty quickly,” said Schneider, whose professional stints have including teaching and consulting.
While Schneider is new to the board, he is not a novice to the inner workings of village operations. Prior to his appointment, he served on the Finance Committee — a role he will continue as trustee.
“I’m a guy that’s data driven,” Schneider said. “I like to dig into financial stuff.”
Denman cited frustration with the board’s spending decisions as the reason he resigned.
He was one of two board members who vocally criticized the board’s majority decision to switch public safety providers in 2016 from the Racine County Sheriff’s Department to Town of Waterford’s police force.
“In the past year, I have struggled with some of the financial decisions coming from this board,” Denman wrote in his resignation letter. “I wish that I could make sense of it, but as much as I try, I cannot.”
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