It's the same old routine...

I have never met Lynne Schneider.

But when I do, I’m buying her a beer or two because she deserves them.

Why?

Schneider is Executive Director of the Buffalo Grove Chamber of Commerce, the same Chamber of Commerce that was honored at the April 2 Village Board meeting.

Board President Jeff Braiman presented a plaque to Chamber President Scott Fishkin and Executive Director Schneider in honor of the Chamber’s 40th anniversary.

Routine, right?

You would think so. All that was left was for Schneider to make a few comments to thank the Board and community for its support.

Routine, right?

But let’s set the way-back machine, Sherman and return to the Stone Age – Stone, as in Lisa Stone.

Stone attended the meeting and wanted to address the board, which if you pay attention to the meeting and follow protocol, would be routine, right?

But we’re talking Lisa Stone here, the same Lisa Stone who, as a Village Board member, ignored protocol and considerations of her fellow board members and residents for the simple purpose of showcasing.

Things haven’t changed.

While the Board was honoring the Chamber, and Schneider was getting ready to speak, Stone interrupted telling Braiman that it was public comments. Stone claimed that when Braiman called for public comments she “walked right in.” Braiman, not hearing any request from any public comments, opted to continue the meeting.

Routine, right?

But we’re talking Lisa Stone here. She contends that recent surgery made it difficult for her voice to carry and Braiman apparently did not hear her. Braiman told her that the Board was in the middle of another agenda item, but would give Stone time to address the Board. No problem, right?

But we’re talking Lisa Stone here. Despite Braiman’s offer and willingness to let Stone speak, she continued to interrupt. “If you don’t let me speak, I will and you can actually have the police take me out.” Despite Braiman’s best efforts to be polite, Stone continued for more than five minutes and when Braiman once again asked Stone to sit down she said it was “a gross violation of human rights in this community.” She continued with a variety of diatribes and again told Braiman that if he wanted to have the police take her out of the room, it would be fine with her.

It was theater of the absurd at its best. Stone showed little respect for anyone else, but her own agenda which seems to be little more than calling attention to herself with little regard for anyone else.

Stone’s intent on being a public nuisance at the Board’s expense is no surprise

What is a surprise, to put it mildly, is that she did it at the expense of residents and business leaders in the village.

Remember Lynne Schneider? She was about to speak when Stone decided her personal crusade was more important. If you watch the video you can’t help but admire Schneider for politely waiting for Stone to finish.

Which is more than Stone did.

Once the mouth that roared yielded the podium to Schneider, rather than be polite and sit down, Stone stayed behind Schneider in plain view of the camera while Schneider said, at one point moving seemingly directly behind Schneider while she spoke and then hanging a map on the wall directly behind Schneider while she spoke.

It’s too bad Stone was so wrapped up in herself because she probably did not hear Schneider’s remarks, which were gracious in thanking the community for its support and explained that the Chamber is “here to help the residents and here to help the businesses and here to help make the village one of the better places in the suburban area.”

A tale of two cities. Schneider was gracious, patient and community oriented. Stone, on the other hand was just the opposite.

Even while Deputy Village Manager Ghida Neukirch gave a presentation during a public hearing about the Municipal Electric Aggregation program, Stone sashayed behind Neukirch so the cameras would not miss her. Again, Stone apparently felt the need to be front and center with little regard to the subject at hand, which impacts every resident in the village.

Stone continues to be about herself and only herself. So what else is new?

Her ensuing comments were a repeat of her days on the Village Board – acrid, rambling with no specific call to action.

Seeing no reasonable end in sight, Braiman called for a recess, after which the Board reconvened and finished the meeting.

Her rant at the April 2 meeting drew more than 900 views of the meeting’s video -- so Stone got the attention she wanted to make it “her night”.

Which is too bad. The night actually belonged to Lynn Schneider and the Chamber of Commerce which were cited for helping strengthen the community

But that’s not where the help is needed.