The September Village Board meeting will continue this evening beginning at 6:30 PM at Village Hall. A copy of the updated agenda can be downloaded here, or viewed via the Village Google calendar here.
Agenda items without an “X” preceding it will be discussed at tonight’s meeting. Those with an “X” were covered at last Monday’s meeting which had to adjourn due to time limitations on the room at Countryside School.
VERY IMPORTANT that residents be aware of the context of the proceedings referenced in the September, 2011 Flashback posted by the Observer. This issue should not be closed.
First, Village attorney James Kelly quotes “the village president has power to appoint council for the village.” Mr. Kelly is correct. Yet, Trustees Messer and Harrington are leading a loud charge to take that authority away from Marty McLaughlin. They wanted to keep Burke Warren (the firm $7.3 million richer from the Village). Having an unbiased and experienced attorney like Bond Dickson will support President McLaughlin’s goal to reform our broken Village government.
Second, the findings of Mr. Kelly in the allegations made by the past ZBA chairperson of tampering by Mr. Abboud and Mr. Messer in two matters are a blatant conflict of interest. President Abboud appointed Kelly as the “independent” investigator over the objections of the public. Kelly and his firm had been paid over $500,000 at the time of the appointment and were in the process of being paid for other work by the Village, hired by Abboud. Despite being promised by Abboud in public forum, Mr. Kelly did not interview or investigate any of the claims made by those involved in the allegations. His “independent” findings are suspect and both of these matters have serious consequences.
In light of the recent actions by Trustee Messer and the ZBA to rush a Commercial Boarding Text Amendment and create a retroactive solution for Oakwood Farms, this issue should be re-opened. Any resident who served on any public or private board knows the seriousness of the ZBA Chair’s allegations and the smell of potential cover-up.
EVERYONE – read and reread the above post.
President McLaughlin’s appointment of Mr. Bond as temporary counsel for village attorney is the first, but my no means the last phase of a total and necessary reformation within our governmental process. The second overhaul would be the election of “fresh faced” trustees candidates, who would advocate for all not a select monopoly!
The investigation should absolutely be reopened and a new set of eyes brought in to review and examine the case. Why isn’t this happening, the violations were several years ago? An independent investigator should be brought forward to reexamine these appointments and determine the extent of violations, the violators fined, etc.. By not reopening the case, we are essentially giving credence to illegal activities, and further casting a large black cloud over our governmental affairs.
With an important election in April, the question remains, the public should rise up and ask when these wrongs will be righted? And how will justice be adjudicated? If not, then it sends the message that this behavior is acceptable, and that favoritism and political gamesmanship is alive and well.
500k to have Bobby’s special “friend” investigate him? Does not pass the smell test!
This is where the investigation should start7.
One of the allegations investigated by James Kelly involved tampering by Abboud and Messer in the Oakwood Farms issue. Following are random events contributing to question the outcome of that “independent” investigation:
Village approves building permits for Oakwood Farms
Oakwood builds commercial buildings beyond limitations of permits
Oakwood increases commercial operations
Village rules Oakwood Farms in violation of Home Occupation after adjoining neighbors object
Village spends $200,000 in legal fees to Burke Warren fighting Oakwood
LeCompte donates to campaigns of Messer, Meroni, Selman (Abboud’s Save 5 Acre slate)
Donations illegally reported according to State of Illinois
Village and ZBA develop text amendment to promote commercial horse boarding, 2010/11 public hearings, Village majority loudly objects
Village reverses position to make Oakwood legal under HOO (all under the direction of the suspicious “Schuman Letter”)
Lower Courts approve Oakwood as HOO
Village and ZBA stop all consideration of text amendment (2011), unnecessary because Village has “no problems with horse boarding,” Abboud (Oakwood OK because of Schuman letter)
After election lost, Abboud makes nominations to ZBA in violation of Open Meetings Act
Appellate Court rules that Oakwood violates HOO (2013)
Messer issues (2013) request of ZBA to investigate and define a new Text Amendment
Messer, Freeman and LeCompte work together to define a new commercial text amendment
Public Hearing reflects divided Village with majority against the Amendments proposed by LeCompte and Elder
A resident’s attorney formally requests removal of two ZBA members for conflicts of interests
Illinois Supreme Court denies hearing Appellate Court ruling that Oakwood Farms is not HOO
Member Anderson amends LeCompte proposal making Oakwood legal for commercial boarding with no restrictions under Agriculture.
Recommendation by 4-3 ZBA vote approves up to 15 horses on a 5 acre property. Freeman casts deciding vote to recommend
ZBA advances recommendation, ignoring Village counsel that it may violate legal process.
Messer, Harrington, Meroni, Selman and Gohl fight McLaughlin to hire new law firm for Village.
Text Amendment for horse boarding back to ZBA for consideration while. Messer and Harrington propose limits to McLaughlin’s legal rights to appoint counsel
There are many reasons to be concerned with Village governance. Anyone else believe that some Village Trustees and ZBA members could benefit from a College Ethics course revisit?