Malanta for the Board!

The late Will Rogers once said that "all I know is what I read in the newspapers." That said and done (thanks, Will) I attended the July 6 Village Board meeting to find out what is going on, especially given the recent discussions regarding OTB and the arrival on the scene of new Board member Lisa Stone.

I left the Board meeting feeling sorry for Village Staff and for several members of the Board.

I also left feeling embarrassed to be a resident of Buffalo Grove.

Over the course of 30-plus years as a journalist and educator, I have had the opportunity to practice and teach the craft of journalism -- yes, it really is a craft. I have covered high school sports, national health care issues and local governments. Local as in Buffalo Grove.

I covered the village of Buffalo Grove in the early 1980s when, quite honestly, there was not much in the village. Nonetheless, the issues confronting the board were undaunting -- annexation of large plats (the Fiore property for you old times), development of a lake water transmission system and a constant barrage of developers wanting to build in the new growth area of Chicago.

The one thing that struck me was the professionalism of the young village's staff -- from the Village Manager's office to the police department. They were not perfect, however. Nothing is. But they held fast in their demands on developers and the village remains an icon of impeccable zoning, appearance and professionalism.

The management of the village is one of the reasons we moved here.

Recently, however, a new knight has appeared on the scene carrying with it, not shining armour, but a tarnished saber sharpened with innuendos and accusations about village board members and the village staff.

The issues that motivated our Lady Gwenevere seem to be Off Track Betting and the quality of Comcast and/or ATT's service. As noted, my curiosity spurred me to attend Monday's Board meeting.

It's sad.

Trustee reports are meant to be just that -- reports. Not an opportunity to polish the soap box and launch acrimonious verbal assault on your colleagues and staff. Our fair maiden may have had a point or two, but it was lost in her delivery.

For anyone seeking, and subsequently obtaining, public office, it is imperative to follow the Boy Scout crede and "Be Prepared." It's clear our Lady Blue has not done this. Most of what she ranted about is covered in the Illinois Open Meetings Act, the Illinois Municipal Code and the Freedom of Information Act. Access to all three is readily available, as my students are taught.

I found it interesting that after she left her stand she said nothing -- absolutely nothing -- for the rest of the meeting. There were resolutions and ordinances --- but nothing from Lady Gwenevere.

Her interest in serving the village is admirable. However, the constant barrage of criticism at everyone, including the media, is unwarranted. I found it interesting that one of backer wrote to the Countryside saying the village board was an "old boy" network.

Really?

Do your homework, please. As mentioned, the village had a plateful in the 1980s. There were no smoke-filled rooms, no cash being passed and no old boy networks.

A leading contributor to the foundation of the Village of Buffalo Grove was Verna Clayton a tireless, hard working village board president who directed the board and village staff in the development of Buffalo Grove.

So when people like to rally around the flag pole and laud Ms. Stone for breaking the old boys network, they need to lower the flag and go do their homework. Nothing is perfect, that is for sure, but when something needs adjusting, it is best to use a screw driver as opposed to just swinging a hammer.

This is what Verna Clayton did.

To paraphrase the late Lloyd Bentsen, Ms. Stone, I knew Verna Clayton...and you're no Verna Clayton.


Other notes:

Village Board President Elliot Hartstein tried a couple of jokes the other night. Don't look for him at Zanies anytime soon.


Since 1977? Kudos for Village Attorney Bill Raysa for his tenure. It started April 17, 1977.


Citizen Fire Department training -- cool, very cool -- especially for the kids involved. Some of them probably weigh less than the hoses. But it's great to see them involved in the village. Maybe they'll run for the Board sometime. But let's not go there. Not now any way.

More to come later....

Good Day.