On November 2, 2012, The Observer published the results of the Barrington Hills 2012 Resident Survey. For those who might not have seen the opinions of over two hundred residents who participated, a copy can be downloaded here.
Residents from all four counties participated in proportions close to those of recent voter turnouts by county. With few exceptions, all indicated they had voted in prior Village elections, so clearly the survey respondents take interest in Village matters.
A strong majority appreciate living in Barrington Hills for the open spaces and privacy it affords. Most would recommend the Village to anyone considering moving here, for a variety of reasons, including police and fire protection, well maintained roads, or the ability to keep one’s own horses on private properties.
As matters turned to quality of Village communications, the typical survey answers were mixed. Responders noted issues over clarity of answers to resident’s questions regarding regulations and issues with Village staff or elected official’s openly welcoming resident’s questions, concerns or suggestions. Residents were also split when it came to whether our Comprehensive Plan should supersede resident opinion when matters pertaining to zoning code changes were being considered.
When specifically asked about our Village governance, survey responses reflected serious and deeply rooted problems. For example, most respondents answered that our Village leaders do not enforce codes fairly and swiftly when noncompliance occurs. Further, over half of those expressing opinions did not believe Village Trustees conduct themselves in an ethical or transparent fashion. Most responders also took issue with Village controlled taxation and expenditures.
Notwithstanding these clearly documented concerns voiced by residents, Bob Abboud declared his candidacy for a third term in office as village president in an article published in the Daily Herald on November 15, 2012. In the article, Abboud was quoted as follows regarding the upcoming April elections:
“It’s Barrington Hills, so there are no small issues. If you bring a knife to an intercontinental nuclear exchange, you’re fooling yourself. We’ll be prepared.”
Village President Bob Abboud
Instead of addressing the clear concerns expressed by residents, Abboud chose instead to use this media opportunity to go on what can only be described as an offensive against those who disagree with his heavy-handed style of governance. He refers to knives, nuclear exchanges and said, “We’ll be prepared,” for what he must clearly be sizing up as another bitter, community dividing political fight.
It is notable that in 2007, the year marking the 50th anniversary of Barrington Hills and just two years into Abboud’s first term, a group of residents performed a play recalling the formative years of our Village. The play was titled, “They always were laughing,” and photos from the event display smiling faces of the troupe who performed and the guests who were entertained.
One might ask why residents are not laughing today. We think the answer is all too clear, as evidenced by the response to the resident survey and Abboud’s own bellicose statements. As we have said before in these pages, we need leaders with strong moral character, fiscal discipline, and an openness to diversity of views—not more of the knife fights and nuclear entanglement that Abboud apparently prefers. It is time to restore peace to Barrington Hills. Abboud, sharpening his knives and fueling his missiles, is not the man to return Barrington Hills to the quiet and peace we need and deserve.
The Observer believes the time for change is overdue. We’ve expressed this in prior editorials such as “A profile of new leadership to restore integrity to Barrington Hills” and “Thanks for the reminder President Abboud – It is time for change” among others, and residents have reaffirmed this through their opinions in the Village survey.
Those who wish to restore some of the lost pleasures of living in Barrington Hills still have time to make a significant difference in our future governance. Perhaps then, and only then, residents will return to the laughing and smiling faces we had once upon a time.
– The Observer
