Three residents made public comments at the beginning of the meeting. The comments ranged from a complaint regarding an abandoned home at Braeburn and Spring Creek Roads (heard here), to the Village Tree Ordinance (heard here), and the upcoming hearing on the environmental study of the Longmeadow Parkway project (heard here).
Alice Runvik was then presented an award for 25 years of service to the Barrington Hills Police Department, and the presentation can be heard here. Alice was unable to attend the previous month’s meeting when awards were presented, and we congratulate her on her milestone of service to our community.
Unfortunately, after this high note of recognition and applause, Trustee Mike Harrington found it necessary to interrupt the proceedings with a point of order regarding the evening’s agenda. It seems he and Trustee Gohl (or more likely their handlers outside of the boardroom) had requested the agenda to include, “a discussion and vote on whether we should have a public hearing to consider removing Jan Goss from the ZBA.” He cited a petition including only 102 signatures as the basis for their request.
In the thirteen-minute discussion that ensued, Harrington’s best efforts to create more of the political theater residents are weary of fell flat.
President McLaughlin had asked Gohl (who made the first request) if he had contacted the chairman of the Zoning Board to discuss the matter, and Gohl had not. McLaughlin explained that it is the Zoning Board chairman’s position to bring forth any issues, and since neither Gohl nor Harrington had afforded the chair the courtesy of input, rather than usurp the chair’s authority, McLaughlin decided not to place the matter on the agenda.
Attorney Patrick Bond then explained it is within the president’s authority to set the agendas of the Board of Trustee meetings per our Village Code, but he also told Harrington he could make a motion to discuss, but not vote on, the matter if he wished. Harrington declined take advantage of this opportunity for discussion (since Gohl was absent from yet another meeting), instead choosing to protest and waste taxpayer’s money by demanding a written opinion from Bond.
What was not discussed is the fact that Village employee personnel matters are never discussed in public session. They are always conducted in executive session. Yet Harrington and Gohl did not want to afford a private citizen the same courtesy, clearly looking to grill a volunteer resident in their proposed public forum. We find this disgraceful and ill-considered — no matter whose idea it was.
The recording of this discussion can be heard here, and for the record, we’re told Mr. Goss was in attendance at the meeting. It’s unknown if any political “handlers” made an appearance, however, but we doubt it.
When the business before the board resumed, the meeting became more productive.
The Village Treasurer reported during the finance report that expenditures are below budget. She also reported that building permit revenue is “way up” from last year, perhaps indicating the slow housing economy that has dogged Barrington Hills is finally showing some promise.
On the downside, however, she stated Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) expenses are “way over” budget for this year, to the tune of 140%, including $23,000 for the prior month alone in legal fees.
When asked for some explanation during the review of the bills for the expense increase, Patrick Bond reported, “We have received a number of FOIA’s and voluminous requests from Barrington Hills Farm, ah, J.R. Davis was the requestor (see “Barrington Hills Farm”) and also from, ah, Dr. LeCompte (Oakwood Farm).” That recording can be heard here.
Later in the meeting, the board approved amended and restated code related to the Tree Preservation Ordinance as proposed by the Plan Commission after nearly a year’s worth of work by that body. The new code has not yet been posted to the Village website, but those interested can check back at a later date by accessing this link.
During the Administration report, trustees were informed that the necessary updates to Village Hall, such as paint, carpeting and bringing bathrooms up to ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards is estimated to cost approximately $68,000. After some discussion, the board voted to begin “refreshing” the interior of Village Hall.
The next meeting of the Village Board is scheduled for September 26th.
Editor’s Note: This review of these recordings marks the 2,000th article published in the Barrington Hills Observer. We would like to express our thanks to our readers for their continued support, and look forward to providing timely news services to the residents of Barrington Hills in the future.