End of an Era

saw an end of an era Tuesday as Village President Tony Lapcinski and Trustee Steve Berger served on their last village board meeting.

“This was never about me,” Lapcinski said. “I only had one vote. This is all about the people.”

Lapcinski and Berger didn’t seek re-election in the April 5 spring election and will now step away from the board after serving four years each. Lapcinski will be replaced by village President-Elect Greg Goetz and Berger will be replaced by Trustee-Elect Jim Batzko.

Goetz and Batzko will officially take their new positions Monday.

During their farewell addresses to their fellow board members, both Lapcinski and Berger said village staff helped move the board forward by providing solid guidance to a “green” board when they were first elected. Since taking his place on the board, Lapcinski said he has worked with 11 different trustees.

By putting leaders on the right path, they said Sussex has seen many successes in the past four years and overcome many obstacles.

“It’s not easy being a trustee,” Berger said. “But to all the citizens out there I suggest maybe you start coming to the meetings.”

Five years ago, Lapcinski said he and Berger began to talk about changes needed in the community, which spiraled into a meeting with more residents about change, which eventually led to their election to the board.

“Some people have asked me ‘did you have fun,’” Lapcinski said. “Well I had a blast.”

Lapcinski said since taking over as president Sussex has become much more business friendly and attracted new companies into the village, which filled vacant industrial properties and spurred new development.

He said he was also proud of the cooperation between Sussex, Merton and Town of Lisbon to create the new shared .

Lapcinski said he was concerned about comments made by leaders in other communities saying the village was difficult to work with, which he refuted by saying the community has remained a good neighbor.

“You have all shown myself and each other a lot of respect and you were always open to suggestions,” he said.