The District 220 Board of Education meets this evening at 6:00 PM at the District Administration Center, 515 W. Main Street. A copy of the agenda can be viewed here.
The meeting will be livestreamed on the district YouTube channel.
Archive for January, 2022
Our predominantly pusillanimous Village Board (Part 3)
Posted in 2019 Elections, Big Red, Building Department, Conflict of interest, Deception, Ethics, OP/Ed, Plan Commission, Politics, Village Board, Village Clerk, Village Code, Village Government, Village President, Zoning Board on January 31, 2022| 2 Comments »
Friday we published a letter written by Deputy Clerk and Plan Commission Vice Chair Robin VanCastle (seen here), as submitted to our Board of Trustees (BOT) communicating her concerns over a conflict of interest at our Village Hall. That conflict was corrected months later, but now our series takes a sad turn.
Trustee Debra Buettner passed away unexpectedly on November 11th, 2021, after a rare reaction to chemotherapy ended her life prematurely. A week later, Village President Pro-Tem, Colleen Konicek Hannigan, sent the following memo to the BOT before they met for their November regular meeting:
“To: Brian Cecola
Cc: Anna Paul, Nikki Panos
From: Colleen Konicek
Date: Thu, Nov 18, 2021 at 8:29 AM
Re: Trustee Buettner
#####
Brian – As Jim stated in his letter (seen here), Deb and I had many conversations over the last several months regarding her need to step down from the BOT and her desire to play a role in finding/vetting a person who she felt exemplified her efforts and dedication to the Village. We discussed several people and the reasons she felt each would or would not best be able to carry on her mission to provide government services in a fair, courteous, and fiscally responsible manner, to be a steward of the land and open spaces, and to protect our zoning laws. Each time, one person rose to the top.
Deb asked that I keep her health condition confidential, which I, of course, honored. Her intent was to meet with you the week before our last meeting to discuss her need to step down and to request that you nominate, and the BOT accept her recommendation of Robin VanCastle to fill her remaining term. Unfortunately, Deb was hospitalized and unable to follow through with that intent prior to passing.
Deb felt Robin would exemplify her position on the Board and would provide a high level of commitment to the Village, which she has already demonstrated. Deb was impressed by Robin’s background in finance as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Itasca Bank & Trust Co. She also valued Robin’s volunteer experience and can-do attitude. Deb, as liaison to the Plan Commission, saw Robin’s work firsthand, and was impressed by her dedication to redrafting of the Village’s Comprehensive Plan, and believed Robin had a solid understanding of what makes Barrington Hills so special and how to keep it that way. Deb also thought it important to have a capable female fill the seat.
As you know, Robin has been involved in Village government since 2015, serving on the Heritage & Environs Committee and Plan Commission, as well as being our long-standing Deputy Clerk. She is a CPA with a strong background in finance and is currently on the Board of Directors for Itasca Bank, so she also has a background in working collaboratively at the board level. These were all considerations of Deb’s in determining Robin was the ideal candidate for the seat.
I wanted to go on record with my many conversations with Deb, my endorsement of her recommendation, and my hope that we honor her by seriously considering this appointment. I will very much miss Deb’s presence on our Board. She provided considered guidance and a unique perspective. She felt that Robin would do the same.
Please feel free to reach out with any questions about my discussions with Deb.
I would appreciate this email being disseminated to the rest of the Board members.
Thank you,
#####
Colleen Konicek Hannigan
Trustee, Village of Barrington Hills”
A copy of her memo can be viewed here.
Trustee Buettner served on the Zoning Board of Appeals for four years before being elected to the BOT in 2019. Considering she had more experience than most on the BOT, she had every right to share her succession preferences.
However, the current Village President, Brian Cecola, decides who to nominate to the BOT (once he obtains the now obligatory approval of the former Village Permit Coordinator, of course).
The question is, who on the BOT considered Trustee Buettner’s recommendation? It turns out, with the exception of Pro-Tem Konicek, none we can find. Not a single one, and we’ll attempt to determine why in our upcoming installments.
Related: “Our predominantly pusillanimous Village Board (Part 1),” “Our predominantly pusillanimous Village Board (Part 2)”
District 300 Board of Education special meeting tonight
Posted in 300, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts on January 30, 2022| Leave a Comment »
District 300 is holding a special Board of Trustees meeting tonight at 6:00 PM at 2550 Harnish Drive in Algonquin. The purpose of the meeting is not clearly stated; however, one can assume it involves mask optional plans for students based on the agenda, including:
- Public Participation: Members of the public, especially residents of District 300, are welcome to contribute during public participation.
- Closed Session
- Resolution regarding local control to mitigate COVID-19
A copy of the agenda can be viewed here. District 300’s YouTube site can be found here.
Longtime Arlington Park Race Track owner Dick Duchossois dies at 100
Posted in The Greatest Generation on January 28, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Richard “Dick” Duchossois, October 7, 1921 – January 28, 2022
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. — The longtime owner of Arlington Park Race Track, Dick Duchossois has died at the age of 100.
While he was best known for his race track, he was also a World War II veteran, philanthropist and businessman who was born in Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood.
Duchossois was a member of the “greatest generation” – and like so many of his era, it was war that shaped his life.
He was only 20 years old at military school when he got the call.
Duchossois would go on to lead a unit that was told they would be part of the first wave at Normandy.
“We were lined-up for what we thought was D-Day when we found we weren’t in on the initial invasion, our guys were disturbed. Our guys wanted to be there at first crack,” Duchossois said in a 2019 interview.
Lieutenant Duchossois led his troops onto Utah Beach days after the initial attack. At one point he was shot and feared dead.
He recovered and went back to the front, leading his company through the Battle of Bulge at other assaults.
“I had a job to do. I did the best I could. My men were well training. I brought most of them home. A lot didn’t get killed. Training, discipline, pride, it saved a lot of people,” Duchossois said.
More here.
Our predominantly pusillanimous Village Board (Part 2)
Posted in Building Department, Conflict of interest, Ethics, FOIA, OMA, OP/Ed, Plan Commission, Politics, The New Normal, Village Board, Village Clerk, Village Engineer, Village Government, Village President on January 28, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Monday we posted a letter written by former Village President Martin McLaughlin to members of our Board of Trustees (BOT) advising them of a conflict of interest at Village Hall (a copy can be found here). Less than two months later, a resident sent a similar letter to the BOT, which she also read in public at the June 28th, 2021, BOT meeting.
Robin VanCastle, who is Deputy Village Clerk of our Village and Vice Chair of the Plan Commission, wrote the following:
“Board of Trustees of Barrington Hills###
I am concerned with the conflict of interest in the building permit coordinator, Stephanie Cecola, being the wife of the Village President, Brian Cecola. It is completely inappropriate for an elected official to supervise and sign the paycheck of a family member. This is a question of ethics, not legality. It is not just about impropriety; it is about the appearance of impropriety.
I volunteer as the Deputy Village Clerk and serve as a member of the Plan Commission. I do this because I love the Village and I do this for free. I am surprised that the building permit coordinator did not step down from her position after her husband was elected as Village President. If the residents of the Village knew about this conflict, I believe they would not approve. I support the hiring of a new building permit coordinator that is not related to any of the Trustees.
I have filed a FOIA request for any documentation pertaining to questions of conflicts of interest between elected officials and their spouses.
I plan to attend the Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, June 28th to emphasize my commitment to this issue.
Sincerely,
#####
Robin VanCastle”
A copy of her letter can be seen here. Her comments to the BOT can be heard at the at the 00:40 minute mark of the recording here.
Once again, no comments were made in public by our BOT in any record we’ve found. None! Months would pass before corrective measures were taken.
It should be noted that Ms. VanCastle wasn’t backstopping McLaughlin’s private position with the BOT. His letter was only made public this past Monday, eight months after it was written. She chose to convey her feelings shared by most in our Village at the time in a very public way, and she has our utmost respect for that.
If readers are sensing déjà vu about now, it’s due to the fact that we posted her comments in July (see “Agreed”). We chose to remind readers now since it’s critical to reaching the conclusions we have when our series continues next week.
Related: “Our predominantly pusillanimous Village Board (Part 1)”
Nicor says customers will see lower gas bills in February
Posted in Politics, Unions on January 27, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Nicor Gas said it is working to lower its monthly gas costs for a new rate taking effect February 1st.
Nicor said Thursday it has filed with the Illinois Commerce Commission to lower the monthly cost to 55 cents, a 20% reduction since December.
Currently, natural gas costs are reflecting the impact of supply shortages and higher demand in winter 2021. Nicor said the supply and demand of natural gas, along with dropping temperatures and inflation, have affected the price of gas worldwide.
“Nicor Gas customers expect and deserve natural gas service that’s clean, safe and reliable every day, including during winter weather and the cold temperatures that we are currently experiencing,” said John O. Hudson III, president and CEO of Nicor Gas.
Related: “Gas bills will increase 48%? Suburban households could be facing a tough winter”
Caring in action: Therapy miniature horses, dogs bring the love through Barrington program
Posted in Fundraisers, JourneyCare Foundation, Organizations, SOUL Harbour Ranch on January 27, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Lunar gets a pat during a visit to JourneyCare in Barrington. The SOUL Harbour Ranch Animal Therapy Program has 10 miniature horses, eight registered therapy dogs, and even a therapy cat that visits in a stroller. (Courtesy of SOUL Harbour Ranch)
These days, it’s not so unusual to see therapy dogs roam hospital hallways or visiting nursing home rooms.
What may be a little more unusual is seeing sneaker-wearing miniature horses waiting their turn to offer up a little nuzzle.
The SOUL Harbour Ranch Therapy Program in Barrington brings miniature horses — as well as its trained dogs — to spread a little love to the elderly, people who are sick or those who just need a little comfort.
Jodie Diegel and her husband, Jerry, owners of SOUL Harbour Ranch, have grown the program to 50 volunteers with various therapy animals. Their hope is to continue to expand their offerings to keep spreading the joy these loving animals bring.
Jodie discusses the programs they offer and how you can join their team or offer other assistance.
Q: What is the SOUL Harbour Ranch Animal Therapy Program? Give a brief overview of what the organization does.
A: The SOUL Harbour Ranch Animal Therapy Program is an all-volunteer 501(c)3 located in Barrington, home to founder and president Jodie Diegel and her husband, Jerry.
Read the rest of the Q&A in the Daily Herald here.
As bald eagles become more plentiful, the Fox River dam in Carpentersville is perfect viewing spot
Posted in Animal Welfare, Topics Of Interest on January 27, 2022| Leave a Comment »
A bald eagle uses a broken tree trunk as a perch one day last week as it scopes out the area near the Carpenter Dam on the Fox River in Carpentersville.
The skies above Carpenter Dam on the Fox River were filled with gulls, ducks, Canadian geese and a solitary heron. But that’s not what drew the group gathered by the water’s edge Saturday morning.
They were on the hunt for bald eagles, and they weren’t disappointed.
“The eagles must have gotten the memo,” quipped Steve Byers, chair of the Friends of Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge.
Every January, eagles follow Illinois waterways as they head south for warmer temperatures and the easier prey they can find along the way, especially around dams.
For the last six years, Byers’ group has joined with Friends of Moraine Hills State Park, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, McHenry County Audubon Society and McHenry County Conservation District for a program called “In Search of Eagles,” in which they help people spot the migrating birds at the Carpentersville, Algonquin and McHenry dams.
McHenry Audubon Society Vice President Lisa Maier said they had already spotted about 18 bald eagles by 9:30 a.m.
Read more here. The location of the Carpenter Dam can be found here.
End of an era: Mars Wrigley closing nearly century-old chocolate plant on Chicago’s West Side
Posted in Entertainment, Nostalgia, School Districts on January 26, 2022| Leave a Comment »
If you’re of a certain age, then chances are you might recognize this photo from when you toured the M&M Mars factory as Girl or Cub Scout, or you were lucky enough to have a teacher who took your class there on a field trip.
Mars Wrigley is closing a nearly century-old chocolate plant on Chicago’s West Side once hailed as the most beautiful candy factory in America.
Built in a Spanish-style architecture in 1928, the sprawling plant in the Galewood neighborhood bordering Oak Park employs about 280 workers and will be phased out over the next two years, the company said in a statement Tuesday.
What becomes of the employees and the unique factory — an intriguing part of Chicago’s rich candy history — remains to be seen.
“The company remains committed to the city of Chicago and intends to partner with the surrounding community on a future vision for the site,” a spokesperson for Mars Wrigley Confectionery said in an email. “As we continuously evaluate our footprint across North America, our Associates were informed of the decision to move the majority of operations to other facilities in the U.S. over the next two years.”
The U.S. headquarters for privately held Mars Wrigley moved to New Jersey in 2017, following Mars’ $23 billion acquisition of Chicago-based Wrigley in 2008. The Mars Wrigley global headquarters are located on Goose Island in Chicago.
Workers at the closing Chicago plant will be “encouraged to explore the opportunities to apply for open roles across our network, specifically in the Chicago area,” the Mars Wrigley spokesperson said.
Read more here.
Highgate Motors of Barrington Goes to the Dogs with PAWS Chicago and the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile
Posted in Animal Welfare, Entertainment, Fundraisers on January 26, 2022| Leave a Comment »
“This Saturday, January 29, 2022, Highgate Motors of Barrington will host a a Big Love Adoption Event at 1445 S. Barrington Road, Barrington, from noon to 3 PM. Also, in keeping with Great Dogs, the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile will be on-site, with free stickers and weiner whistles!
Highgate Motors is proud to bring this Big Love Adoption Event to Barrington. The event, coordinated with PAWS Chicago, features large-breed adult dogs who are looking for a forever home in the suburbs, where there is plenty of room to run and play.
The event is free to the public, so stop by Highgate Motors between noon and 3 PM next Saturday, January 29, for some doggone fun!
Highgate Motors of Barrington is an automotive specialty shop offering unsurpassed knowledge of European luxury vehicles in addition to presenting a unique curated collection of automobiles for sale.
PAWS Chicago is a 501(c)(3) organization, dedicated to the mission of building No-Kill communities, ending the overpopulation of homeless animals, and transforming animal welfare.”
Comments
joefargo3767 on Pritzker could unlock $1 billi… joan g Abboud on Appeals court says it will rev… M Crowe on Illinois bill would override l… joefargo3767 on Illinois bill would override l… Aravindh on Editorial: As AI turns classma… M Crowe on Wisconsin sheriff sues Skokie… D220 Insider on Wisconsin sheriff sues Skokie… Recently Viewed Posts
- Illinois bill would override local law to allow homeless living in all public parks
- Barrington Road widening project begins soon in South Barrington
- Allstate Property Could Be Annexed Back into South Barrington as part of a Major Redevelopment Effort
- District 300 teacher arrested for attacking 3 victims and responding police officer in Crystal Lake
- Appeals court says it will reverse convictions, orders two ‘ComEd Four’ defendants released from prison
Archives
Categories
Subscribe to The Observer
