North Cook News

At the April 17 Arlington Heights Board of Trustees meeting, community members honored outgoing trustees Mary Beth Canty and John Scaletta. Mayor Thomas Hayes called the two departing trustees up to the podium to recognize them for their efforts.

Canty served as a trustee for four years, and is leaving to assume the position of Illinois state representative in Springfield. Hayes thanked her for bringing diversity of thought and awareness to the board and the city, and her dedication to the health and safety of their community above all else. Canty was a member of the League of Women Voters, The Bridging the Black White Divide Education Task Force, and the District 25 Parent-Teacher Association during her time in the village.

"So I am looking out at my daughter who was here when I was sworn in in 2019, and she's a little bit older now and a little bit wiser. And my husband and so many of you that have helped me learn and grow and become the leader that I think I am becoming today," Canty said. "I am so appreciative of everything that you've done, the advice that you've given, the time that you've taken to answer questions, to throw out suggestions, it's incredibly meaningful and I hope that those things do not stop just because I am no longer on this board. I might be able to do something else down in Springfield, [...] I can help in a lot of other ways and I look forward to being able to do that. So thank you for letting me have the privilege and the honor of serving my community in this way. And thank you for supporting me as I move forward."

Hayes said he and Canty shared an interest in the welfare of the village.

"Mary Beth and I, you know, she said other people have said that we don't always agree. But as I was running the other morning, I was thinking over the course of four years of votes, we've actually voted the same way well over 90% of the time," Hayes said. "That's because we really have the same philosophy in terms of the health, safety and welfare of this village looking out for the people that we represent."

Hayes read proclamations on behalf of both trustees, honoring Scaletta for his 16 years of service on the board and his overall service to the village for more than two decades. Hayes credited him as an example of what an ideal trustee should be, always bringing questions and perspectives to all board discussions to ensure the protection and welfare of the community, his commitment to the economic prosperity of the village, and his knowledgeable insights on all things business and finance. 

"John has done it the right way. He has been the example, the model of a dedicated public servant. He's probably the hardest working village board member that I've known in my 32 years," Hayes said. "The village board always comes prepared, always has a lot of questions, a lot of tough questions, and they're great. We need that. We need it because it shows that we're dedicated to analyzing the issue thoroughly and carefully and making sure that we take serious our obligations in providing for the health, safety and welfare of this community."

"My campaign platforms always included thinking positively and acting responsibly," Scaletta said. "Many residents have reached out since I announced I would not seek reelection with heartwarming comments, and I truly appreciate that. I'm honored to have served the citizens and businesses of Arlington Heights. I am grateful for the trust afforded to me to make decisions on their behalf. In 16 years, I have had the honor of serving with 17 different trustees and two mayors. While we don't always agree, I respect each one of them. I'm proud of my service and the accomplishments we have achieved together as a board, a village and a community."

Board members followed up by sharing their own memories and lessons from the two trustees, which they promised would be sorely missed.