Audio recordings from the July 21st meeting of the Board of Trustees were recently posted to the Village website for review. To access the main menu of recordings edited by agenda topic, click here.
The meeting began with awards presentations to members of the Barrington Hills Police Department for their length of service to our community. JoAnne Gumprecht was recognized for 20 years of service, Alice Runvik for 25 years, and Dominic Caputo for 30 years. Their awards are pictured below, and the recording of the presentations can be heard here.
Five residents made remarks during public comment, three of which pertained to a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals. One person spoke about Barrington Hills Farm, and the last person referenced what we assume is a suggestion for the renaming of the Cuba Road Bridge.
The forty-five minute Finance report included the approval of the 2015 fiscal year audit. A summary of the results will likely be communicated in the next newsletter, however it’s worth noting the Village general fund increased eight percent in 2015 primarily due to decreased expenses, even with one-time charges associated with migrating the Village 911 service to QuadCom.
During the Roads & Bridges report, Village Engineer Dan Strahan reported that the latest forecast for reopening the Cuba Road Bridge is August 13th. We didn’t notice anyone working at the job site yesterday morning, but we’ll be guardedly optimistic that the bridge will be opening sometime soon.
The Plan Commission will be voting on a final draft of the amended Tree Preservation Ordinance on August 9th. The agenda packet for this special meeting has been released and can be viewed here.
The Administration report included a recommendation from the Heritage & Environs Committee for updates to the overall décor of Village Hall, which has not been touched in decades, including painting, updating the public restrooms to adhere to ADA requirements and replacing worn carpeting and the quarry tile in the front entrance.
Since the total estimated amounts for all that needs to be done is substantial, the board was asked to prioritize what should be done first and come up with a capital expenditure amount for this year not to be exceeded to allow work to begin. After nearly twenty minutes of discussion, the matter was tabled to the August meeting.
Regarding the village hall updates – perhaps completion in stages is an option. The entry and BOT meeting room and bathrooms first? May I suggest a furniture rearrangement for the room used for our board meetings? How about the trustee tables lined along the long wall which would make room for additional resident seating – seems many are tripping over each other too often. An accident waiting to happen. And please include technical upgrades – a microphone for all as well as cameras for live streaming our meetings. After all it is our residents building so to speak and should reflect and consider the residents safety and welfare.
Congratulations and thank you to JoAnne, Alice and Dominic for a combined 75 years of service to the residents of Barrington Hills! Get well soon, Dominic!
Agree with Martha’s comments above. Village Hall looks like the Bradys and the Partridge Family still hang out there. And while we’re at it, let’s move the garage recycling cans out from the lobby. They make a HORRIBLE first impression when you enter.
Oh, and there’s another relic that needs to be cleared out of the ol’ VBH, and his initials are BK.
Martha,
If you visit our restrooms, or the Village Hall at any point during the year you will notice how absolutely embarrassing it is. None of the toliets, sinks are motion-activated, however every TjMaxx and Marshalls is way ahead, and has upgraded plumbing. Isn’t it time our village had an obligation to our taxpayers and residents to upgrade these after all these years?
As to the room rearrangement and technical upgrades, all are good ideas; however the budget allows for only so much in terms of improvements. Let the Board know of your ideas and concerns.
Here’s a question the last village recordings were hardly audible, I mean I had to strain to hear public comment and the meetings. Do you know that our village is billed to have these recordings specifically segmented for the purpose of accessing meeting information according to topics? I think for $2600 we should expect more!
I have many wonderful ideas and suggestions, however I am loathed to work in a committee. Seems the recipe of too many cooks in the kitchen never really works. Input is fine. Infighting a no no. Would much rather present to board for vote.
Until then – Martha don’t play.
The last person during the public comment session was me – again it’s almost unforgivable that the technology to hear someone clearly is not available at these meetings. But to my point – I was questioning why – when the village asks for suggestions – one takes the time to respond and there is no answer nor acknowledgement forthcoming. I submitted extensive material back in April in response to a Roads and Bridges memo that stated suggestions for the naming of Cuba Bridge would be forwarded to the BOT and voted upon. I responded and supplied the BOT in an email my documentation in a timely fashion. I attended the BOT meeting whereas the naming of the Cuba Bridge was on the agenda. I recorded this meeting and this portion of the agenda was never talked about nor voted on – just skimmed over. This month I see reference to Veterans Crossing as the new name. Although I fully recognize the service and sacrifice of all veterans (as my husband was a decorated USMC vet) my complaint arises from the fact that no discussion nor vote was ever recorded. And most of all the fact that my email was totally ignored. McLaughlin responded a mere day before the BOT meeting when I questioned all trustees, etc in an additional email about how this came about. I have never received an answer – even though McLaughlin states Kosin will supply one asap at this meeting.
Gee I may not be the smartest person in the world but isn’t this a violation of the Open Meetings Act?
Could the audio be purposely garbled for some reason?
Reminds me of a quote by Friedrich W. Nietzsche — ‘Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster…
About what Walt?