Recordings from the regular monthly Village Board meeting are available for review. A link to the menu of subject areas covered can be accessed here.
The four-hour meeting began with eleven public comments from residents and guests.
The fourth person to speak, who is a member of the Board of Health, had some choice words for the trustee liaison to that board, as well as comments regarding the conflict of interest on the part of some on the Village Board when it came to their refusal to recuse themselves from voting on the Anderson amendment and about voting irregularities in the 2013 election when former residents voted in Barrington Hills. Those comments can be found here.
A few other speakers also shared concerns over conflicts of members of both boards, as well as a variety of other topics. As always we encourage readers to listen to recordings of all who came to participate.
Notable items discussed and approved by the board after comment include:
- Discussion of financial opportunities presented by current low interest rates to finance escalating long-term pension obligations compared to a higher rate of return on pension investments resulting in a decreased future costs to taxpayers
- Denial of yet another month’s payment to Patrick Bond, temporary Special Counsel, led by Trustees Harrington and Messer, despite Bond providing significant legal advice throughout the meeting (specifically as it relates to the three horse boarding amendments voted down by the Zoning Board)
- Roads & Bridges meetings will now be held monthly and be open to the public with agendas posted in advance of the meetings
- A vote to submit an application for membership to QuadCom for enhanced 911 services based on a feasibility study and public meetings prior to a Village Board decision to migrate 911 services to keep pace with future increases manpower, technology needs and associated costs, while retaining staff at Village Hall for non-emergency calls was tabled. President McLaughlin and others trustees felt that more resident involvement and communication needed to take place before a final decision is made by the board. That discussion can be heard here for those unfamiliar with this subject.
- An amended special use permit for a polo field and indoor arena located at 170 Old Sutton Rd was unanimously approved, after Board discussion which followed the recusal and exit from the MacArthur Room of Trustee Messer, whose firm represented the applicant
- Discussion and vote, per Village Code, had to occur for closure on the Drury, Hammond and Elders (sic) horse boarding text amendment proposals dismissed by the Zoning Board, and we recommend readers listen to this recording segment beginning here
- Further explanation of what CMAP is attempting to do with regard to regional transportation was provided by Bob Kosin during the Plan Commission report and can be heard here, and
- A two to five partisan vote not to appoint Bond Dickson as permanent counsel to the Village Board as can be heard here
Many other topics were discussed during the meeting, and we recommend readers consult the original agenda for guidance on where to find those discussions in the recordings.
Why are we tolerating government officials who make statements of fact that are lies? Michael Harrington complains that he can’t engage with public comment – he can and should. Abboud and Kosin changed the public comment process to disallow comments directed at an individual. There is NO law preventing this dialogue. Our government officials are hiding behind bad comment public rules and NOT accountable when they are not telling the truth.
Michael Harrington too freely makes statements that are not true with no fear of reprisal. He misrepresented the Health Committee in the commercial horse boarding discussion. Why do we allow our little Village to be represented by officials that do not represent the requirements of truth and sound ethics without calling them out?
Listen to speaker 4’s comments (link in 3rd paragraph above) and attend the next meeting to ask Trustee Harrington why he misrepresented to the public in the commercial horse boarding discussion.
Memo to the Trustees that continue to refuse payment for competent legal counsel again:
The April election to replace your continued stranglehold on BH cannot come quickly enough for many in this community. The “service” you have brought to BH during your volunteer tenure as an elected official is almost over. Unfortunately, it will take a while to clean up all the harm that you have done.
Refusing to pay legal counsel is childish and it is an embarrassment to the residents of this community.
When I listened to the zoning recording regarding the three disposed boarding proposals I was floored. Bond has more clear communication to the board on municipal law related to our codes than any attorney we’ve heard in the MacArthur room for decades. It is despicable for him to not be paid for a much higher quality of guidance compared to the firm that resigned who used to stumble and bend words.
On the other hand when I listen to Mike Harrington whining about his objections to paying rightfully due bills for legal services from Bond all I can hear is this insipid voice…
Richard, you raise the issue of “veracity” among BOTmembers, which is laughable given VBH BOT members spent @$182,000 of taxpayer funds in legal fees to B-W to shut down Oakwood Farm boarding operations which it successfully did at both the trial and Appellate Court level, only to abandon the Appellate Court’s decision through issuanace of the Illegal Schuman [Abboud] Letter which occurred 34 days after a secret campaign donation of $15,000.00 [see, IL Election Board Decision] from Oakwood Farm to “Save 5 Acre” candidates Messer, Meroni and Selman, $5,000.00 each.
It was is only when resident Michael Hannigan and I were challening BOT on possible “pay to play” criminal conduct did Trustee, Gohl at the direction of former Pres. Abboud prepare and vote on current “BOT rules on public comment” which were intended to stop Q&A between residents and BOT members because Abbout and BOT members Messer, Meroni and Selman were “boxing” themselves in a corner.
Trustee, Harrington now complains rules instituted by BOT on public comment are “unfair” but certainly Harrington did not share these concerns when VBH residents were being barred from questioning BOT members about “wasteful spending” and potential illegal conduct arising from Save 5 Acre campaign donations and the Schuman Letter..
It’s funny, in the eyes of Trustee, Harrington, it is only “unfair” when BOT members are barred from asking questions of the “public speaker” but not vice versa. Trustee, Harrington, why have you remained silent on the issue of possible “pay to play” by BOT members, Messer, Meroni and Selman? Why were you in such a rush to pass Anderson II? Would Ralph Lauren approve of your way of doing VBH business?
Why have Messer, Meroni and Selman remained “mum” on the allegations of “quid pro quo” except to “cackle” like teenage age school girls when called out by public speaker on their obvious material conflict of interest when Messer, Meroni and Selman not only decided to participate in but vote on the Anderson II horse boarding amendment to VBH zoning code?
Messer making passing remarks about court decisions where municipalities have enacted ordinances which altered the outcome of pending litigation is a “Red Harrington” because none of the cases cited by Messer dealt with conflicted BOT like VBH where 3 BOT members who cast a vote on the subject legislation stood to personally benefit.
Attorney Pappas is correct, Bruce Rauner accepted Millions in campaign donations, but with Gov. Rauner, as far as I am aware, there are no allegations of a “quid pro quo” in return for any donation Rauner received.
Rather than worry about public comment at the next VBH Board meeting, Harrington should review VBH E&O insurance policy and explain to VBH residents “what” and “who ” will be covered when the anticipated RICO lawsuit is launched and how much in dollars of insurance coverage does VBH have?
That’s a question I would like answered, Trustee Harrington.
Since 2011 none of the sitting Trustees thought it odd that the firm of Burke/Warren retained by former President Abboud was an issue. However, ever since President McLaughlin’s election this shameless BOT has continued to refuse to pay the legal fees for Mr. Bond’s time as temporary counsel. However, every single time the BOT was asked to approve the legal expenses for the ZBA there was never one opposition given whatsoever to approve their bills. Seems obvious to me that this decision by the BOT members of Selman, Meroni, Messer and Harrington is personal and nothing more.
Burke Warren billed this village for millions of dollars over years and years, and as soon as President Mclaughlin attempted to stop it in it’s tracks… the board derided him and criticized the process of selecting a new temporary counsel.
Without a hesitation, he did right thing to ask for their resignation. A move of a real leader, who wants to reform our old ways of doing business.
Residents have suffered under this liberal spending spree far too long This BOT is handicapping our village business by simply withholding their votes so that even the Quadcom transfer/ and application process couldn’t even be initiated for January’s submission!! It too was voted down, because a another feasibility study needs to be created. Why? Where do they find the money for these “useless studies”. Get on with the people’s business!
What is the Quadcom transfer?
Yes, the withholding of Bond’s payment for services rendered is a shameful and self fulfilling act. Mr. Peepers and Fritz won’t be able to pull that when they are all alone on the board. But for now it’s an embarrassment. Hey Abboud puppets: pay the man. It’s T-3 months and 1 week and counting…….