Tonight’s Special Village Board meeting ePacket agenda updated
October 21, 2014 by Barrington Hills Observer
Our Village Hall staff have recently updated the ePacket agenda for this evening’s special Village Board meeting to include the three law firms allowed to present their capabilities for consideration by the board for Village attorneys going forward. The firms chosen were base on input from trustees based on a majority vote.
Those firms are:
A copy of the packet can be viewed here. The board meeting begins at 6:30 PM at Village Hall.
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Posted in BH Polo Club, Commercial Horse Boarding, Conflict of interest, ePacket Agendas, Ethics, FOIA, FRVPC, Horse Boarding, Land Use, Legal Expenses, Longmeadow Parkway, OMA, Politics, Riding Club of Barrington Hills, Road construction, Save 5 Acres, Topics Of Interest, Village Board, Village Government, Western Bypass | 3 Comments
Some interesting information elicited from the various law firms which were interviewed by the VBH BOT last night. For instance, the Zukowski, Flood law firm acknowledged they represent the Village of Bull Valley who requires “special use” for any horse boarding operation. Yet this same law firm provided an opinion to the RCBH less than 6 months ago concluding for the residents of VBH tucking commercial horse boarding under the VBH Code’s “Agriculture” definition was the best choice. Really!
(As an aside, the majority of the ZBA through motion by [ZBAmember] Anderson concluded by 4-3 margin on Monday that for VBH “special use” in the context of commercial horse boarding would be against the “public interest”. It would be interesting for someone to conduct a study why the interest of the public in “Bull Valley” differs so much from the public interest in “VBH”. Are we that different of a people or place? Are the homes and residential zoned areas in Bull Valley worthy of greater government protection than the homes and residential zoned areas in Barrington Hills?
The answer to these questions is “yes” if you ask Anderson, Freeman, Beckendorf and Rosene manifested through their vote to discard both “special use” applications on grounds of not serving the “public interest” of VBH residents. No facts, no explanation, no study, no rational or legal basis, just throw something out like “not in the public interest” as if this meets the legally required “finding of fact” in order to expedite the single objective of Chairman Freeman of making sure a single parcel of land in VBH is legalized in quick fashion with Anderson willing cast in the role of the foil.)
I wish the BOT would have asked Zukowski representatives why is “special use” good for Bull Valley and a “definitional approach” to the subject of commercial boarding appropriate for VBH. I find this curious to say the least. In addition to having represented the RCBH, the Zukowski law firm represents the Village of Algonquin and therefore by admission would not be able to negotiate any intergovernmental agreements between our two Villages including the one soon to be (hopefully) renewed. Even BOT member Joseph Messer would concede as a lawyer, a law firm, no matter how qualified, cannot serve two masters.
All of the law firms interviewed confirmed Bond Dickson was not in conflict of interest if selected by President McLaughlin as Village Counsel. The fact that Bond Dickson is currently receiving payment as VBH temporary counsel does not put them at odds with permanant appointment to the VBH counsel position. This was the specious claim raised by BOT members Gohl, Messer. Meroni, Selman and Harrington trying to rid the Village of “very highly qualified” Bond Dickson. Unfortunately, the very law firms they selected to be interviewed did not accept their novel approach to the issue of “conflicts”.
Attorney Jim Kelly confirmed through his prior VBH “independent counsel report” (cited by President McLaughlin) when BOT (Messer, Meroni, Selman and Gohl) hired Abboud’s [independent] counsel] to investigate the removal of attorney Joseph Von Meir that the VBH President has the absolute authority to remove Village counsel and appoint separate Village counsel of his or her choosing. This was the issue when Abboud unilaterally removed VBH zoning attorney Joseph Von Meir simply for giving an honest legal opinion at the request of then ZBA Chairman Jonathan Knight which to say it politely failed to serve Abboud’s personal political agenda at time.
Attorney James Kelly also stated he really enjoyed working with former VBH President Robt. Abboud. [This statement alone is a basis for disqualification] Mr. Kelly focused heavily on his background in commercial, corporate and foreclosure litigation experience, none of which has any application to the job of Village attorney. Nonetheless, I am intrigued by the prospect of having a Village attorney who not only gets paid with our tax money but can foreclose on our homes if our mortgage and real estate taxes are not paid. This may be too close to home!
Mr. Kelly also acknowledge his law firm was paid more than $600,000 in legal fees by Abboud which included losing on the Duda II disconnection suit. The attorneys from Ancel Glink and Zukowski said the Duda disconnection suit was indefensible and they would not have recommended taxpayer monies or Village resources be used in this fashion.
While all of the law firms interviewed have municipal law experience with the hands down experience, expertise and reputation going to Ancel Glink; none of these law firms expounded upon having experience in the areas of RICO claims and political and municipal government corruption matters. The Bond/Dickson lawfirm brings this expertise to VBH along along with a dearth of municipal and zoning experience.
Based upon this added expertise, this VBH taxpayer’s choice goes to Bond Dickson with Ancel Glink being a good second choice should Bond Dickson decline to serve or President McLaughlin decide on going a different direction.
What sayeth you.
David Stieper
appreciate your above review David !
Typo alert on my preceding comment in the second to last paragraph in haste I mistakenly used the word “dearth” when in fact I meant to say “wealth” of experience when comes to Bond-Dickson.
This is what happens when you are going too fast; let this be an admonition to those on the various VBH Boards who are in a hurry to get commercial horse boarding legislation passed.
In addition to sloppy or bad law, the law we must all be concerned about is the law of unintended consequences!