I-ro-ny: incongruity between a situation developed in a drama and the accompanying words or actions that is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play—called also dramatic irony, tragic irony.
The characters in the ongoing drama of the Barrington Hills Board of Trustees treated us (or should we say, exposed us) to another episode at the last board meeting that occurred on August 27, 2012. The entire event is audio recorded for posterity in the Village audio files of the meeting, available here. We may not have the visuals of reality television, but we certainly have the drama.
The board passed a series of new rules restricting public comment at the August meeting. As we have previously written in these pages, President Abboud and his followers already relegated public comment to a few minutes at the end of village board meetings, often to the wee hours of the night when few citizens can endure. Obviously these are tactics designed to deter and derail public disapproval and scrutiny of board activity.
But that was not enough for our administration. At the August meeting, on top of the existing restrictions on the time and duration of public comment, the board passed a number of rules to restrict the content and manner of public statements. For example, under the new rules, public comments “shall not impugn motives; be contentious, slanderous or boisterous.” These hopelessly vague and subjective standards are then to be judged by President Abboud: “Any person called out of order by the President shall immediately stop speaking and shall abide by the President’s direction.”
We do not dispute the need for civil discourse and decorum at public meetings. But in the hands of our local Caesar, we fear these rules will serve only to stifle further public participation in local government.
Now for the ironic part: At the same meeting where the board passed new rules for public comment, Trustee Joseph Messer launched a tirade against an effort by Trustee Gianopulos to clarify the interpretation of the controversial Home Occupation Ordinance. Among other things, Trustee Messer accused his fellow trustee of “screw[ing] around with petty politics.” Messer ranted that Trustee Gianopulos ought to “get off [his] butt and propose some text” and that comments Gianopulos previously submitted to the ZBA were “useless.” He then characterized Trustee Gianopulos as a “Johnny-Come-Lately” whose observations on the issue were hard to consider.
Doesn’t that sound like conduct that impugns motives, and is slanderous, contentious and boisterous? Wouldn’t Trustee Messer’s statements violate the very same rules for public comment passed by the board that same night? Of course the answer to both questions is a categorical yes. But the contradiction seemed to escape Trustee Joe Messer, who went on and on insulting his board colleague for proposing an official clarification of the hotly contested Home Occupation Ordinance. Trustee Messer was out of order and out of line.
Board meetings provide drama in our sleepy village. We believe, however, that it is time to change the channel–before drama gives way to tragedy for our Village.
– The Observer
What is going on here?
Who does Abboud think he is?
It’s not who he thinks he is but rather what we know he is………….
What are those two bozos posing for? Giving,each other an award? and for what? Joe the phony, snide, whining, and condescending, as usual. and Bob the nuclear scientist. Together they couldn’t come close to Skip Gianapoulos’ character and intelligence. Time to hit the road, Joe. and take the little dictator with you. You’ve taken the Village to a new low.
“Dissent is the highest form of patriotism.”
― Thomas Jefferson
“If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.”
― George Washington
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
― Theodore Roosevelt
“If you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed.”
― Adolf Hitler
“It is not truth that matters, but victory.”
― Adolf Hitler
“Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it.”
― Adolf Hitler
“How fortunate for governments that the people they administer don’t think”
― Adolf Hitler
FASCISM: a political philosophy, movement, or regime that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader
The public should be aware that Abboud and Messer have silenced us. Some of the comments at the public meetings are intense and heated, but the root causes should be understood. Abboud and Messer have acted with favoritism in behalf of special interests that gave contributions to Save 5 Acres, interpreted home occupation in favor of these same people, lied to the community, potentially acted illegally with the “Schumann letter,” used Village funds supporting a Variance request for a special interest friend and paid for an “official” cover-up by attorney Kelly. Except for Skip G., the rest of the BOT and Burke Warren are compliant in their silence and watching Abboud and Messer ram rod their agenda – they too will potentially be exposed for criminal cover-up and professional malpractice.
Chief Murphy has a first hand seat and is not investigating these actions. They are as illegal as any home invader stealing our property, but this time it’s our Village President stealing our money forcing some of our neighbors to litigate and expose Abboud’s piracy in order to protect our property. Chief, are you one of the mob leading the Village and looking the other way too to save your job from Abboud’s shameful bully tactics?
A Barrington Hills BOT meeting is like watching that old show, The Beverly Hill Billies. An afternoon nap is needed to stay awake long enough to hear Jed dictate to the speaking audience what they could or couldn’t say. Is this America or what? I am sure Skip Gianopulos is counting the days until the April election to escape from The Cuckoo’s Nest. Sadly, he is the only member who has the interest of the entire community at heart and not just a fringe group looking for pay back favors. Hang in there Skip.
The ability of our residents to question the likes of Trustee Messer at the August Board meeting got Messer to admit that his testimony under oath before the Illinois election board (right before issuance of the Schuman Letter) wherein Messer testfied that none of the large scale commercial horse boarding facilities meet the criteria of the Home Occupation Ordinance (“HOO”) is inopposite to the present statements by Trustee Messer (now after the Shuman letter) that all horse boarding facilities, including Oakwood Farm, meet the standards of the HOO.
Abboud cannot afford this sloppiness of the likes of Messer given the allegations of “pay to play” surrounding Oakwood Farm. Abboud must tightly control public speech at Board meetings and keep his gang quiet knowing these conversations are being taped and can be used as evidence in court.
The question is, will you the public allow this?
Now that residents are pretty much muzzled at Board meetings, why doesn’t Bob move public comment back to the beginning of the agenda? People should have the opportunity to speak their piece on matters coming up for a vote later in the evening, shouldn’t they?
I think the public comment rules are appropriate. Some of the comments were out of control personal attacks against board members or other village members and not true village business. Who wants to hear all that crap? If people don’t like the current board they have an opportunity to vote them out, but the trash throwing campaign tactics don’t belong in public comment during a village meeting.
@resident3743
Anything that involves the village and it’s residents IS village business including the actions of the bot and village employees and BA. And how else should these entities be held accountable – the election process every 2 or 4 years? Instead of turning a deaf ear try to open your eyes to the corruption and favoritism of the present administration. Or are you one of the chosen ones?
N and N, I don’t even know any of the board members personally, but it is exactly that kind of sniping and personal attacks that ought to be banned from village meetings. You don’t even know me and you’re slinging insults at me. I believe that is inappropriate and unprofessional. It’s a shame that some people require rules for public comment. It would be much more productive to raise constructive comments and suggestions rather than insults.
Resident3743
Really – I was slinging insults by insisting on accountability by our administration? Sniping – personal attacks – try being a resident facing the continued rath of Abboud and his board. Open your eyes. That’s my suggestion and a very constructive one. How’s that for productivity?
I have to say I was floored by the comments made by other Village Board members during the Administration session of the meeting discussing Public Comment, hot on the heels of Mr. Messer’s treatment of Mr. Gianopulous during the Building & Zoning portion of the meeting. Where was the Trustees’ concern for civil discourse when one their very rank was publicly attacking another in their rank? Is this one of those “Do as I say, not as I do” forums? Indeed, if we take a page from Mr. Messer’s book we would all be acting the stereotypical schoolyard bully. I have seen these bully tactics of Mr. Messer directed against upstanding members of our community, as well. Call me naive, but I am still so very shocked at the lack of response by the other Village Board members to Mr. Messer’s actions that evening and how none of them came to the defense of Mr. Gianopulous. He maligned not just Mr. Gianopulous, but a very large percentage of this community that has legitimate concerns over the direction of this Board. As much as I want to be an active member of this community and to participate in Village government, it’s becoming very difficult to stomach these meetings.
Colleen, thanks for your comments. It’s unfortunate that more residents have not witnessed first hand the favoritism and bullying of our Village government. Messer’s comments caught on audio are just the tip of the iceberg to the abuse that residents have taken from Abboud and Messer who are bullying their way to govern in favor of special interests. Retribution is to be expected if you go against these two – no excuse, but maybe that’s why people are afraid to stand up.
We need a strong independent investigation of our Village corruption by a government agency at a Federal or State level. If they look deeply and talk to residents abused, there are possibly areas of illegal cover up that they all fear will be exposed – hence the silence by the majority of the BOT standing by. They too may find themselves guilty of illegal activity, including potential ethics violations by the Village counsel.