The Village recently posted audio recordings from the June 27th meeting of the Village Board of Trustees. To access the menu of audio recordings edited by agenda topic, click here.
One resident made public comments, and though he did not identify himself, we’re told it was A. Robert Abboud, father of the former president. His prepared remarks can be heard here.
The regular meeting began with the financial reports for approval, and we would be remiss if we didn’t recognize the thoroughness and professionalism of the new village treasurer, Peggy Hirsch. She has presented financial reports she generated from her work at every trustee meeting since her appointment was approved, and is there to answer any immediate questions from the trustees.
The recording of the finance reports and approvals can be heard here.
The Roads and Bridges report and discussion which followed clearly displayed some frustration on the part of some board members, particularly when it came to further delays on the Cuba Road Bridge reconstruction project. The questioning regarding the ongoing delays in the bridge completion was impeded by the fact that Dan Strahan of Gewalt Hamilton was not present at the meeting. Nonetheless, Bob Kosin, village administrator, should have been prepared to address the issues raised, but the recordings bear witness to the fact he could not, or would not.
First, it was reported the Cuba Road Bridge project could be shut down completely by IDOT on June 30th due to their 80% funding of the project, as a result of the then pending budget impasse in Springfield. We did not previously report this possibility due to the political theatre that Springfield has become, and we trust that Trustee Cecola is already fielding calls from residents upset with prolonged delays.
Trustee Konicek pointed out that the original forecasted completion date provided last year by Gewalt Hamilton was May 13th of this year, so the possible IDOT construction shutdown should have been moot. When she questioned who arrived at that forecasted completion date, and why proper oversight of the project was not provided (presumably by Gewalt Hamilton), Bob Kosin stated that, “The oversight (of the project) has never been surrendered to the Village of Barrington Hills, but it’s always been managed by IDOT. Day one, IDOT directed every step of this process. ”
Konicek then asked Kosin, “Then why are we paying Gewalt Hamilton, with all due respect?” Kosin’s answer to this perfectly valid question made little sense to us and can best be told by listening to the recording, but if, in fact, IDOT was in complete charge of the project, we have to wonder where we would stand today if Trustee Cecola didn’t meet with ComEd months ago to expedite the movement of misplaced utilities at the work site?
The recording of the full Cuba Road Bridge discussion can be heard here.
During the Building and Zoning report, it was revealed that the Zoning Board of Appeals members were given “confusing” and erroneous instructions, by counsel and the village administrator, regarding what their duties were as it related to commercial horse boarding codes at their June meeting.
In fact, the Board of Trustees did not instruct the Zoning Board to review the current boarding codes as they were incorrectly advised, but instead they were to address a petition for amendment to those codes submitted in May by a resident. The Village Board itself makes no schedule for hearing of such petitions by the ZBA.
Mary Dickson, the attorney assigned to the Zoning Board, later, after executive session, apologized for the miscommunication to the ZBA. Mr. Kosin, however, chose so sit in silence, as usual.
The Zoning Board report and discussion can be heard here, and according to the Village calendar, the Zoning Board will be holding a hearing on the text amendment petition on July 18th.
The next scheduled meeting of the Board of Trustees is on July 21st.
Did you mean to type JULY 18th instead of June 18th?
Yes we did, and the correction has been made. Thank you very much for pointing this out!
A HEARTFELT FATHER WHOSE SON INEXPLICABLY REMAINS MUM
Robt. Abboud Sr. says “landowners in VBH should be able to use their land anyway they choose”. Does this mean I can put an apartment or sky scaper on my property or perhaps a pig, sheep or horse rendering plant. Perhaps a shopping center or large scale DUDE RANCH where I board horses for a fee and engage in livery service. YEE HA, how about a strip joint, open bar, sports stadium or music venue. Topless cowgirls with high boots and sharp spurs riding bare back on horses serving adult beverages to paying guests. YEE HA! That’s what I want as a landowner . . . PLEASE MARTY CAN I DO THIS, ABBOUD SR. SAID A VBH LANDOWNER SHOULD BE ABLE TO USE THIER LAND ANYWAY THEY CHOOSE!
I wonder in 2006 or thereafter if Abboud Sr. had this same discussion with his son, the former VBH Prevaricator in Chief. I do not recall Abboud Sr. ever making this public proclamation when his son, Abboud Jr. was leading the charge in court to close down “commercial horse boarding operations” at Oakwood Farm. Perhaps someone can locate that tape of Abboud Sr.’s outrage at Abboud Jr.’s attempt to infringe upon LeCompte’s individual property rights. YEE HA!
Please keep in mind that it was [former] VBH President, Abboud Jr. and his majority “Save 5 Acres” VBH BOT cronies through expenditure of tax funds in excess of $162,000.00 in legal fees to village attorney Burke-Warren who initiated suit against Oakwood Farm’s horse boarding operations succeeding in shutting down Oakwood Farm at both the trial and appellate court level; well that is until Abboud Jr. (dressing himself up as Don Schuman) decided to create and issue the “Schuman Letter” in Feb. 2011 (magically making Oakwood Farm Home Occupation Complaint) 34 days after a $15,000.00 campaign donation from Oakwood Farm to Abboud Jr.’s “Save 5 Acres” political team of Messer, Meroni and Selman. YEE HA!
When the Schuman letter legally failed in the Second Appellate Court decision involving Oakwood Farm then came the all out assault by the Freeman led ZBA Board and Majority Save 5 Acres BOT to pass “Anderson II Horse Boarding Amendment” with that unique 7 year retroactivity provision. During the last ZBA meeting when LeCompte said in 2011 everything stopped regarding horse boarding, he was correct, but he failed to say why. This is because LeCompte had the Schuman Letter in his back pocket, (a get out of jail free card of sorts) and it was only when the Appellate Court eschewed the Schuman Letter as a “gimmick” by VBH government in its second decision did legislating horse boarding then become a priority again with Freeman ZBA and Save 5 Acres Majority VBH BOT. The result, through smoke, mirrors and deception, emerged Anderson II, a zoning Frankenstien, a first of its kind.
So, Abboud Sr. not to be crass, but Constitution my A**, how about speaking about upholding the “rule of law” in VBH, and recognition of your son’s systematic abuse of it! How much of this B.S. by commercial equestrian fringe do the rest of us have to swollow? . . . And how long will the ill-informed drones continue to clap when they hear this type of made-up crap?
No Abboud, Sr., a village’s comprehensive plan is not a Constitution; not even close. For the Constitution speaks of rights between the U.S. Federal Government and rights reserved to individual States. It defines “Federalism” and separation of powers drawing lines between two government entities (Federal and State), creates the newly formed U.S. Federal Government consisting of 3 branches of government with remaining powers left to individual states, called the residuary clause. Those who clapped after his comment simply put their igorance on display for all to see. YIKES, and your vote equals mine. . .
A comprehensive plan is not even a bill of rights speaking to individual liberties. A comprehenisve plan is a creature of state law and for Illinoisians it is found in the Illinois Municipal Code which court decisions often equate a comprehenisve plan to a municipalities’ “mission state”, a “philosophy” providing a rational for zoning (not disconnection as espoused by Abboud Jr) should elected officials choose; but is not a requirement. A comprehensive plan is a vehicle for municipalities to use in defense against claims of “spot zoning” by zone busting attorneys.
There are plenty of Illinois court decisions which speak of a comprehensive plan as a “mission statement” BUT NEVER A CONSTITUTION! Then again, to his credit, Abboud Sr. did confess he was speaking form the “heart” and not from the “head”. But hey, facts be damned it sounds good!
There is no legal obligation by a municipality to zone features of its comprehensive plan. With this said, as an individual who was on the plan commission (appointed by Abboud Jr.) which drafted VBH Comprehenisve Plan, nowhere will you find wording relating to “boarding for a fee”, “business” or “landowners can do what they want” in residential zone areas”. For that would be absurd and undermine the very purpose of the comprehensive plan and VBH Residential Zoning Code.
The concept of “Big Business” do what you want is contary to VBH compreheneive plan, zoning code and its history. The do what you want concept was introduced last year through the “cowboy codification” of Anderson II Horse Boarding Amendment which repealed the Home Occupation Ordinance relating to horse boarding naming this big business activity “agriculture”; you know like growing corn.
I just wonder why Abboud Jr. who spent so much of taxpayer money to fight against “commerical horse boarding” is not publicly speaking against the passage of Anderson II destoying Abboud Jr’s vision for VBH, steeped in its traditions and history. I would hate to think Abboud Jr. is a hypocrite too. . . You don’t think Abboud Jr. would betray his longstanding beliefs to be politically relevant again by supporting large scale horse boarding, would he? Will Abboud Jr. correct Abboud Sr.’s heart felt comments with the cold hard facts? Will Abboud Jr. do this publicly or privately?
I believe Abboud Sr, when he said he was speaking from the heart, because what he said was not based on “reason”, “facts”, “rule of law” or “history” but spun from his own emotional wish calling for his single “big business” vision for VBH. The truth is, our prior comprehensive plan referred to VBH as a “semi-rural residential community” putting equestrian activities on equal footing with hiking, cross country skiing and personal enjoyment of open spaces. It is only the recent comprensive plan which elevated “equestrianism as a hobby” above all other activities which I now regret given the abusive manner in which big business profiteers are misusing this language to distort the record in order to carry out their selfish agenda.
I believe serious consideration should be given to restoring our comprensive plan to its founding by removing the special status given to equestrian hobbies in the present comprehensive plan. Big business driven equestrians simply cannot be trusted to “play fair” putting opportunity for personal financial gain above the health and welfare of adjacent landowners and community at large.
Since its founding, VBH has been a haven for its residents who purchased homes and pay high real estate taxes, not big boarding profiteers who pay very little in real estate taxes by declaring property agriculture and gaining revenues from nonresidents who pay to board here. If residents want facts, these are the facts, if residents want emotion, listen to the likes Abboud Sr. The reality, based upon historicle comments from Abboud Jr., Abboud Sr. could not even get his own son, Abboud Jr. to accept the manure he spread at the last BOT meeting.
No RJ Davis I will not quit blogg’n as you directed me to do at Penny Road Pub after last ZBA meeting. You know, when you and former VBH Prevaricator in Chief together sitting in a booth behind me took that photograph of ZBA Chairman Wolfgram, former ZBA Chairman Knight and myself and filed it with VBH Clerk with your cryptic comment of a “meeting”.
No I will not be intimidated by relatively new comers like you or surrender my First Amendment Right to challenge my government. I was silent too long towing the company line while Abboud Jr. and Save 5 Acres political machine worked to destroy VBH. I will continue to be vocal bringing facts to VBH residents every time I believe distortions are made in support of an alternative business agenda designed to trick the many and enrich a few at the expense of all of us.
Wow – guess I better start showing up at Penny Road Pub after village meetings……….what kind of an a$$hat takes photos of others socializing and calls it a meeting?
Many thanks go to Colleen Konicek-Hannigan for asking questions SO MANY RESIDENTS want answers to!!! It is extremely frustrating to listen to the incessant sidestepping of Strahan and particularly Kosin and we deserve accountability from two well compensated employees we’re supposed to trust with our tax dollars.
Keep it up, Colleen!!!
RA I and RA II have much in common but neither can claim a HALO!