At Monday night’s Zoning Board meeting, John Rosene, President of the BH Polo Club and SOS Party committeeman, requested an early renewal, with additional terms, of the five-year special use permit allowing his club to conduct the Kalaway Cup (now the LeCompte Kalaway Cup). One of the additional terms he requested was perpetuity of the new special use permit. The current permit runs until December.
Following his prepared presentation, Rosene was asked how much insurance his club carries for the event (which can draw up to 2,000 spectators), and if the Village was named as insured under that policy. Considering that taxpayers are still paying off a loan in incurred by the Village resulting from an unrelated accident years ago involving one of our police officers, this is a legitimate question that needed to be answered.
Rosene either could not, or would not answer the question with any certainty. Since this is an important piece of information for the Zoning Board to consider before voting, members David Stieper and Dan Wolfgram voted to postpone action on Rosene’s application.
There was also discussion of the length of the permit, with the Polo Club originally requesting it be issued in perpetuity, rather than the current five period – which would essentially negate the Village’s ability to review the event’s impact on the neighborhood.
Not surprisingly, in another block vote we’ve come to expect from the ZBA, members Clark Benkendorf, Kurt Anderson and chair Judy Freeman voted against postponement. (It should be noted that Karen Rosene, ZBA member and wife of the Polo President, had recused herself from the vote, and member Chambers was absent from the meeting.)
Soon after, Freeman called for a vote, and the three members who voted against postponement voted in favor of special use permit issuance, and two members who wanted clarification on insurance and other matters voted against. Freeman seemingly believed the motion had passed, but a majority of the total Zoning Board membership (4 of 7 members), not that of the quorum present, is required to approve such measures.
Now the SOS Party spin-doctors are busy spreading a vicious smear campaign against two members of the Zoning Board claiming they are pawns of President McLaughlin “killed” the Kalaway Cup. They also malign the One Barrington Hills candidates (who all also happen to be Riding Club members or staunch supporters), insinuating that they will act to destroy the equestrian community if they are elected.
Nothing could be further from the truth. The Village Board meets on March 30th, and a vote of five Board members can override the Zoning Board vote. It just so happens we have five elected officials who vote in blocks, so in less than two weeks, Mr. Rosene will provide them with the insurance information, and SOS candidates Patty Meroni and Karen Selman will then proclaim they saved the polo event as they ride off on their unicorns.
Our most recent editorial was titled “Loud noises won’t silence the facts” for good reason. SOS’ attempt to create a crisis out of nothing simply reinforces their low esteem for the intelligence of residents and furthers their mission to obfuscate facts from voters in order to get elected.
– The Observer