The Illinois attorney general’s Public Access Bureau is reviewing a complaint that former Barrington Hills Village President Robert Abboud’s 35 proposed committee appointments made after he lost the April 9 election were not adequately identified on a meeting agenda.
As such, the review is looking into whether the action constitutes a violation of the Illinois Open Meetings Act, spokeswoman Natalie Bauer said. She would not speculate on the time frame of the review or what action would be appropriate if it determined a violation had occurred.
Abboud said he was following the advice of the village attorney that sufficient notice on the agenda did not necessarily have to include names.
Read more here.
Abboud’s about 12 years and millions of dollars too late to express concern about the “use of public money.” and, by the way, WHICH village attorney advised you? there were so many (attorneys)?
Abboud accusing someone about wasting taxpayers money?!!!!! Take a look at his record and remember the millions he has wasted in litigation (LeCompte, fignting police union, failure to give pay raises, Sears). He is the pot calling the kettle black. And as for following the advice of his attorney, remember the last lawyer that disagreed with his edicts? He was fired the next morning!!!!
Political? Enough! The election is over. OMA violations have occurred before. Mr. Reich and any other resident of the Village has the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General.Stacking the Commissions and Boards as a lame duck is an insult to the majority of the Village who elected the new Village President
Not once in the April 22 meeting did Abboud state why his actions on the appointments were for the good of the village. He only did it so he could keep some control over what DOESN’T get done.
I had very high hopes that our village could finally get back on track after the last election, but that apparently will not be the case for some time. Since Selman and the other Save 5 Acres trustees went along with his charade, we know what we need to do in the next election.
3 issues stand out with the appointments made by Abboud and “rubber stamped” by Selman, Messer, Meroni and Ramesh.
First, there may be violations of the Open Meetings Act on timing of notice, agenda detail, and illegal meetings in preparation. That’s under investigation by the Attorney General’s office. Records indicate that the first attempt to make these appointments on April 22 occurred April 11, two days AFTER the election.
Second, Abboud made untruthful claims at the April 22 meeting concerning the precedent for nominations. He claimed that prior President Kempe did the same thing. Kempe made 1 nomination from the period of January through April, 2005. In response to concerns expressed by Trustee Gianopulos, Abboud stated that “he allowed President Kempe to make appointments… ” (in audio of 4/22 meeting). Abboud spoke untruthfully. Reviewing the minutes of the April, 2005 meeting, Abboud was sworn in at that meeting, no appointments were made, and Abboud was given by Kempe the opportunity to make his own appointments. Abboud claimed that the practice of April nominations is normal. 4 total nominations were made the 3 previous years during April. Abboud made 35 at the April, 2013 meeting, 2 weeks prior to McLaughlin being sworn in. Other inconsistencies exist in the public record.
Finally, the question for all of us is the ethical context of how we want our Village managed. McLaughlin and Konicek Hannigan ran on a platform of restoring harmony and balance to the Village. Residents overwhelmingly voted for McLaughlin over Abboud and Konicek Hannigan won the majority Trustee votes. Yet, Abboud demonstrated his contempt for the Village voters and McLaughlin by making these unprecedented and unethical nominations.
Abboud has many times before demonstrated his inclination toward heavy handed, special interest politics. The ethical behavior of the remaining Trustees is most troubling. Selman, Meroni, Messer, Gohl and now Harrington show no independence, but continue to worship at the altar of their fallen cohort, Abboud. Why don’t these officials see their clear ethical conflicts? Knowing that Abboud mislead the Trustees at the April meeting about past practices, would these Trustees reconsider their votes, vacate the illegal committee nominations and allow McLaughlin and the current BOT to nominate a balanced and qualified group of committee members?
The election is over, but the return to balanced government has not. McLaughlin nominated Kelly Mazeski and David Stieper to committees, representing balance. Consider attending the July 22 Board meeting at Village Hall and express our support with a loud voice.