Consultant releases Board evaluation

( c) 2010

After months of study and evaluation, representatives from the L Frank Baum Institute for Municipal Government which evaluates municipal employees and government officials, is scheduled to present its report at an upcoming Village Board meeting.

I was able to contact Seymour (Sy) Copaff to discuss the upcoming report.

Copaff told me that he looks for cognitive, emotional, and tenacity levels demonstrated through public dealings. "Quite simply," Copaff says, "we're looking to see if officials have a brain, heart and courage. That is the premise behind Mr. Baum's philosophy."

It's a tall order, to be sure, but Copaff is pleased with the work of his staff.

Breaking down the degrees of functionality, Copaff found that everyone on the Board has a brain. "They seem to use them most of the time. We were especially pleased that, for the most part, neurological functions were logical and goal driven. We call this the Scarecrow Analysis." Our concern is that there was some brain wavelength that was not coherent and often limited to three-letter obstacles or repetition.

Looking at the Social-emotional model used by educators, Copaff found that most of the officials had hearts. "They had to be in the right place," Copaff said, "because why else would they run for a Village Board spot?" He did express concern that the hearts were not all beating at a regular pace. "Some it seemed lack the function to pump properly, which results in an anomaly that chills the blood to the point where it's like ice water. He pointed out that the end result affects the neurological function. "People with the problem are often heartless and lack effective demonstration of cognitive skills.

We call this the Tin man syndrome.
The third domain on the guidesheet is courage. "People think they have courage because they can wave a flag and storm the bastille," Copaff said. "In reality, however, they get courage mixed up with stupidity and arrogance." He pointed out that like the Tin Man Syndrome, this can have an effect on how a person not only presents themselves, but is seen in the public eye. The L Frank Baum Institute calls this aspect the Cowardly Lion Syndrome. "Some people think we use "lion" in place of lying, but our founder, Mr. Baum, maintained that there was no connection. Of course, that was years ago before there was a Buffalo Grove, let alone a Buffalo Grove Village Board. It is rare , but Copaff says there are cases where the Baum Institute has found all three traits in a municipal official. "Generally we find the cause is one that coincides with a need for power, attention and control."

Does this happen often? "I can't recall a time when it did, but research has shown that the is a serious problem that can dramatically impact the cohesiveness of a governing body."

Copaff says that because of the combination of all three symptoms, the Institute calls this the "Elphaba Syndrome." Copaff says people are upset and often offended by individuals who suffer from this and often wish they would simply melt away. "Yes, Mr. Baum was very found of that form of liquidation."

Does Mr. Copaff see any of that on the Buffalo Grove Village Board?

He only smiled.

A lesson from Atticus....

( c) 2010

I teach high school English and Journalism.

Big deal, I know.

But among the books in our curriculum is Harper Lee's "To Kill A Mockingbird."

It takes place in Maycomb, Alabama.

How I wish Atticus Finch could move to Buffalo Grove.

Perhaps the most famous quote in the book is when Atticus talks with young Scout about understanding people.

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."


Great advice.

There are those who should heed this advice -- maybe some newcomers to the Village Board.

You know the kind -- the one's who arrive with their own agenda and no homework to back it up.

The one's who want to throw daggers because they think they are right and know everything.

If only they took time to step back and climb into someone's skin and walk around in it.

There's a lot to be said for respect. A lot.

My students come from all over the world -- literally -- China, Korea, Mexico, Viet Nam, Poland, Bosnia, Pakistan, Iraq -- the list goes on.

They are all different religions and sexual orientations.

While I try to impart a love of literature, the fundamentals of grammar and writing on my students, I also demand respect in the class room.

They know that if they have a comment about someone's race, religion, sexual orientation, native culture -- they keep it to themselves. Period.

And while freshmen will be freshmen, they have mastered it. In fact, taking time to understand someone often leads to wonderful insights via classroom discussions or papers.

They take time to consider things from another point of view and walk around in someone else's skin.

It's a good lesson for high school freshmen.

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."

It is an even better lesson for some freshmen Village Board members in Buffalo Grove.

The question is not how, but why?

( c) 2010

Perhaps the most telling statement that has appeared in media reports about the unexpected resignation of Village Manager Bill Brimm comes from the lead in Steve Zalusky's article in the Feb. 24 Daily Herald.

How do you replace 32 years of experience? The question is why do you replace 32 years of experience?

The answer is simple. The Village Board tried to maintain its professional mode of operation when dealing with Lisa Stone. Granted the exchanges may have been acrimonious, but the other trustees and village staff, handled things with a sense of decorum and professionalism. They seemed tolerant, more at some times than other, to deal with her "learning curve" and her arrogance, disrespect, and self-centered rhetoric.

While they board tried, Lisa Stone did not, has not and probably will not.

That's why you need to replace 32 years. Sure, Bill Brimm is not pointing the finger at Stone, he has too much class and dignity to do that.

Stone does not.

It's a sad day for the village when you walk into the municipal offices of another community -- not even adjacent to Buffalo Grove, and the village officials there are shaking their heads.

One told me flat out that Bill Brimm is an outstanding professional. He paused and shook his head and said -- and to think you have three more years.

That's the image of Buffalo Grove these days. Fortunately, unlike Ms. Stone, most people who deal with the village are aware of its excellent reputation as a well-run community.

Bill Brimm did not create it -- he preserved it as a community of integrity and lately, fiscal responsibility.

But Lisa Stone doesn't see that.

No, Lisa doesn't. She's too busy campaigning for the next election at taxpayer's expense. How?

While she rants about what the village needs, she trips over her own arrogance.

Let's see -- maybe we could save money here, or there, she says.

But wait, it's OK for her to tie up village staff with long-winded phone calls, voluminous e-mails and late-night rants -- that doesn't cost anything because, after all, it's for Lisa.

Greed and arrogance.

I'm sure Ms. Stone is really proud of herself because she thinks she forced Bill Brimm out.

What an accomplishment.

Yes, Ms. Stone is full of accomplishments -- let's see what are they? Bringing fame to the village? Like the captain of the Exxon Valdez.

Ms. Stone needs to explain herself. Why, Lisa, do you vote against the minutes every meeting?

Probably because Village Clerk Jan Sirabian doesn't bold face her name and make her look like the queen she thinks she is. What does Sirabian know -- she's only been doing the minutes since 1979. But wait, she does not do what little Lisa wants Lisa will have a tantrum.

What Stone needs to do is learn more about principles and operation of village government. She also needs to learn to think -- and think for herself. All you have to do is watch a vote -- Everyone seems well prepared. Stoney? She needs an explanation as to what she's voting on. Watch the video of the Feb. 22 meeting -- after weeks of hearings about eSkape, Stone wasn't clear.

It's interesting, however, to see that when a vote comes up about operational matters, Lisa Stone has nothing to say. Afterall, there's no glory there.

I hope Lisa was paying attention when Beverly Sussman announced the free health clinic this Saturday.

Maybe Stoney will attend.

Maybe she'll be surprised to learn that she may have some medical issues.

No heart and no spine, let alone some questionable neurological functions.

After thoughts while waiting for after shocks

* I didn't think snowplows were that noisy.

* OTB now means One Turning Boulder

* The quake proved that there are some loose stones in the village.

* If it had happened during a Village Board meeting, would anyone have noticed?

* Will the Board now require eSkape to be earthquake resistant?

* I'll volunteer to be on the Earthquake Preparedness Commission.

* Someone will blame the village.

* Did Comcast carry it live? It probably would have been more interesting than a Village Board meeting, let alone a School Board meeting.

* If only Village Board meetings were as short.

* If there was damage to Arlington Heights Road, it will be fixed next year as part of the world's longest resurfacing project.

* Will the Stevenson Statesman be allowed to cover the quake?

More to come..stay tuned...