“As government expands, liberty contracts.” – Ronald Reagan
Since 2005, when Bob Abboud first took office, residents’ rights to use and enjoy their properties have diminished with each zoning ordinance that our village government has enacted. President Abboud often refers to the “Barrington Hills brand,” but it seems he’s shaping the brand as he sees it through more and more restrictive laws.
Many of these ordinances might seem unimportant or even well-intentioned. But when we examine them as a whole, we begin to see how they specifically direct and limit the way we live our lives. For example, as of 2005, residents who wish to ride horses on Village trails must purchase a $10.00 license each year and display a tag issued in return for the fee (just the same as Village stickers for vehicles, except the trail tag requirement was never enforced). And, in the past, private landowners voluntarily offered the use of equestrian trails on their land, but now trails are designated in new subdivisions wherever the Equestrian Commission desires, it seems.
To address the influx of competitive bike clubs into Barrington Hills, an ordinance, enforced by a new police bicycle patrol unit, was enacted. But it means that now even residents and their children can no longer ride their bicycles side-by-side using Village roads. The burning of yard waste, which has been done for decades with a simple restriction of size, materials and hours of lawful conduct, is now illegal if any resulting soot is carried by unpredictable winds to adjoining properties.
In order to preserve old growth trees, the Village passed a Heritage Tree Ordinance, which now requires consultation with a landscape professional and a Permit for removal of certain species of trees on private property depending on size and condition. To regulate target shooting, the Village now restricts the discharge of any “missiles” from air guns, bows or similar devices on private property, to the point of including something as harmless as a dart.
Lastly, there was the proposed “Exterior Lighting Ordinance” that was eventually approved in 2011 in an impotent form after outcry by residents in opposition. Existing construction was spared, but the ordinance will restrict (and potentially diminish) new construction for years to come.
Now, Abboud has re-energized the relatively inactive Legal Committee. On the Committee’s agenda, apparently, is consideration of future ordinances that may restrict how much water residents can use; require private contractors to be licensed by the Village in order to work on our properties (making them more costly); and establish standards for home maintenance. Discussion of mandatory annual septic inspections have already taken place. And, don’t forget, our Village now has “whiz bang” optics (see Abboud to Barrington Hills residents: Keep your mouths shut and your window blinds open at all times!)) that can apparently assist in inspecting for code violations within our homes, so residents should hide their dartboards from view.
This raises an obvious question: with our limited Village staff and no real department for Code Enforcement, who will be performing all the necessary inspections and how will these Ordinances be enforced?
The Observer does not question the need for thoughtful, sound laws. But many recent ordinances, proposed or enacted, fly in the face of the freedom and privacy that brought many residents to Barrington Hills in the first place. If President Abboud considers “branding” to be behavioral control ordinances, then he must believe he’s on the right track. We hope most others will agree that it’s the wrong one.
– The Observer
I would be very interested in learning more about the ‘whiz bang optic’ device purchased with taxpayer monies. Who paid for it, how much, what department of our village utilizes this device and under what parameters are they obligated to follow……………..if this is a BHPD purchase (which I think it was) then our illustrious Chief needs to provide all of us some much needed information about its usage. More importantly isn’t the purpose of our police department to serve and protect – how does spying fit into this picture? Again – there exists a much too cozy relationship between law enforcement and the agenda of Abboud.
Caution BHPD – you are being watched.
The Abboud master plan seems to be: (1) directing major issues to the “Legal Committee”, where the Abboud appointees will rubber stamp his directives; (2) centralize the power in the presidency where he/Abboud can play favorites with contractors, wreak havoc on “enemies of the State”; (3) selectively determine who are violators and determine penalties, e.g. LeCompte; (4) get into private property rights relating to water usage, septic systems, property maintenance. Likely, he’ll engage his “special counsel” at our cost, to “research”; (5) and give BACOG Director J. Agnoletti, some “busy work” to justify the agency’s existence. (You’ll notice certain overstudied water issues were on the agenda of the Legal Committee)
In Barrington Hills, you have more rights if you’re a horse than a homeowner;
….gotta go now and put on the feedbag.
To be fair to our police officers, we do have a few outstanding men on this force. They seem to have a common denominator. They all come from large municipal departments.
When my car had a major malfunction officer McKinney came to my rescue and helped me to get on my way. He got my brand new Mercedes started when the Mercedes road team couldn’t..
The ones that seem officious are the ones that cane that came from small (Mayberry type) towns. They lack the experience and the heart and believe that police work is about traffic citations and not helping people. God bless our cops!.
@19…Paul
Of course we have some wonderful patrolpersons and my message was not meant to include all rank and file. The problem comes from the top brass – the ones with rank whose paychecks are dependent upon following the wishes of Abboud. They give the orders and the patrolmen/women folIow or risk losing their jobs. No union = no protection for them. I will state emphatically that no one sold the ‘whiz bang optic’ to any entity other than law enforcement – which by the way does not include code enforcement. You do not have to come from a large municipality to be uncorruptable – however I will concede that officers trained at these larger cities/towns are proud, willing and qualified to perform real police work and are not afraid to raise concerns as to the legitimacy of any direct order. There are measures in place to prevent abuses and ways to report them – this aspect being non-existent in this village. Our present chief and his followers are just an arm of Abboud – an insult to real law enforcement. All police academies have stringent rules and are pretty consistent everywhere regarding training and all officers must attend and pass – it is the local atmosphere that trips things up and that atmosphere is much too cozy here.
Just a suggestion Paul – I’d be careful to name officers and their good deeds. Unwittingly you may make Officer McKinney’s life here a living hell – retaliation is Abbouds middle name. I’ll be the first to publicly state this – perhaps we need to protect one another…………….