Bob Abboud shakes hands as John Rosene (center), Barrington Hills Polo Club President, looks on.
In Barrington Hills, it seems that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Shortly after the April elections, the Daily Herald published a story about the desire of the newly elected “Save 5 Acres” candidates to begin a political “healing” process. Trustees Selman, Messer and Meroni were eager to begin a new era of cooperation, and the article stated, “Messer, too, hopes governing Barrington Hills won’t be as rabidly divisive as in the recent past. That will require an effort by both sides”
An obvious way for the Board of Trustees to demonstrate their apparent new spirit of reconciliation and cooperation would be through balanced appointments to Village committees and commissions. A number of residents who were not supporters of the newly installed trustees have expressed sincere interests in serving and had submitted their resumes for review. However, they were summarily ignored.
During the August 22, 2011 board meeting, Bob Abboud, supported by the unanimous backing of his compatriots, decided to ignore many residents’ desire to serve, and filled an important vacancy on the Zoning Board of Appeals with a prominent member of the Riding Club of Barrington Hills, Clark Benkendorf. Abboud specifically cited Benkendorf’s background and knowledge as an equestrian as primary reasons for his appointment. Apparently only equestrians (roughly just 15% of the Village population), are “knowledgeable” in Abboud’s opinion given his appointments in recent years.
It would be understandable if equestrians were underrepresented in our Village’s government. However, with Abboud’s latest appointment, 5 out of 7 members of the ZBA, and 6 of 7 members of the Village Board are active Riding Club members. And let’s not forget that we also have an Equestrian Commission (made up solely of RCBH members), created by Abboud when he took office in 2005, to advise the Board(s) on any equestrian zoning regulations when it comes to boarding horses.
The timing and choice of Abboud’s recent appointment is particularly significant as ZBA public hearings will start soon to discuss significant amendments to the Village Code which would legalize large scale commercial horse boarding on virtually any R-1 zoned property regardless of size.
For those residents not familiar with the continuing process that has occurred, the Equestrian Commission recommended their desires to the Zoning Board, who in turn will provide their recommendation to the Village Board. Public comment has been, and will be, considered by all three, but, in the end, it will be elected or Abboud-appointed Riding Club members who will decide the fate of all residential property use allowed in our Village.
This is begs the question, is Abboud’s Board of reliable cohorts really interested in healing the political chasm they deepened in the last election campaigning? Or are they only concerned with further stacking Village committees with their special interest campaign donors who would benefit financially at the expense of quiet neighborhoods from the unregulated commercial boarding of horses? The answer seems obvious.
– The Observer
Related articles: http://barringtonhillsobserver.com/2011/08/30/flip-flop-what-changed-your-minds-trustees-messer-meroni-and-selman/
http://barringtonhillsobserver.com/2011/08/24/what-changed-your-mind-president-abboud/
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