A fowl finds things afoul....

Chicken Little (c) The Walt Disney Company

Not too long ago, I came across my old friend and former trustee candidate and village manager 
applicant, Chicken Little.

He seemed unusually flustered, a state I generally seem him around holiday times when a lot of folks are making chicken soup, which I guess, can be expected.

But he seemed rattled as if something had gone afoul, or in this case, afowl.

“I came as quick as I could,” he said, adding that “when I read about what was going on in the village, I had a sense the sky was falling.”

Not again, I asked.

“But wait, first it was landfills, then hail, locusts, murrain, boils and now, can it be, drinking water?”

Relax, I said, this is just another chapter in the village’s history, and besides, the issues with hail, locusts, murrain, boils have all been resolved.

“Are you sure?” he clucked.  “I understand there’s the Coalition of Repetitive and Annoying Persons that is trying to rewrite history about the village’s water,” he said.  “What’s up with that?

Nothing.  Same water we’ve had for nearly 30 years.

“Oh,” he said. “But what about the revised agenda, and permission forms?  No doubt the village is trying to keep residents from being heard?”

Not really, I explained.  The only difference is that resident’s questions about non-agenda items comes later in the meeting and you need to preregister.

The request to speak form

“Wow,” he clucked, “another first for the village of big bison.”  Again, not really.  Many governing agencies ask residents to pre-register so they know in advance who is speaking and on what topic.

"There must be a catch,” C.L. said.  “I bet the Board is taking away First Amendment rights by speaking time down to 30 seconds.”

Wrong again Perdue boy.

The village’s 10-minute limit, which is inordinately long, will remain in place.  Besides, the First Amendment gives residents the right to speak.  There is nothing in the First Amendment that tells governments how to run a meeting.

“So, as they say around the old coop, what the cluck?”

Good question. I told C.L. that it just seems that, as they may say around the coop, that some folks just don’t have a leg to stand on and it doesn’t take much to get their giblets rattled.

“Do you mind,” he said. “Leave the chicken humor to me.  But I need to know, what prompted some folks to be disruptive, rude and accusatory?”

Beats me, I said.  Maybe they’ve been cooped up too long.

“Well,” he said, “on that note, they can always do what we do when things get a bit crazy.”

And that is?

“Flee the coop.”

You say your mother loves you?

There's an old saying in Chicago journalism -- You say your mother loves you...check it out.

Quite simply -- make sure you have your i's dotted and your t's crossed.  In other words, check it out.

This is probably why Village Board President Jeff Braiman took the seemingly bold and unprecedented step at the April 16 Board meeting to set the record straight from comments made by you-know-who at the April 2nd Board meeting.

Never mind the way in which this former -- recalled -- trustee made her remarks, It seems as though things had not been checked out and Braiman wanted to clear the air.  Some folks think Braiman should have ignored the misinformation that former trustee Lisa Stone presented at the April 2 meeting.

However, if she “wanted the community to know” her information, it only made sense that Braiman use the same forum to clarify the information, or misinformation, that Stone presented.

Specifically, Braiman clarified the following:

Item 1:  The village had lost passwords.  Braiman clarified that this was “simply not true” And that no passwords were involved.   He did explain that in 2011 the videographer posted all videos.  Unfortunately, he passed away and at first there was some difficulty getting some material.  But – and here’s the key – all of the DVDs are available.  In fact, they are available back to 2005.  Braiman noted that Stone knows this adding that it is his understanding that she has DVDs from all of the meetings she attended (and then some) while she was a trustee.

For the record, anyone can get a copy of a DVD from a Village Board meeting.  If you do not want a DVD, videos of the Board meetings are available at vbg.org.  No password required.

Item 2:  800 Krause Drive – Stone contends that this is in the village and it’s a bogus address.  Really now?  Braiman pointed out that it an address “owned, operated, controlled and maintained by Lake County – no time has village of BG every had any control of facility.  It has a Buffalo Grove  address for postal and emergency purposes.  Just like unincorporated Lake County.   I and others told her if she has issues – take it up with county.”

It’s interesting how Stone hides the fact that she and her family lived in unincorporated Vernon Township and had a Deerfield address, yet they did not live in Deerfield.  It’s the same situation.  We’re not talking rocket science here. But wait, we are talking Lisa Stone.

Item 3:  Water quality – “our water is safe. Meets EPA stands – in fact exceeds them.  We get Lake (Michigan) water, not ground water. We have wells – in case of failure of water transmission system.  Lake County also tests water.  It meets or exceeds EPA standards.

Stone said at the April 2 meeting that she spends 16 hours a day researching her information.  She may need to double check her sources.  Nearly 30 years ago the village of Buffalo Grove, and other nearby municipalities formed the Northwest Water Commission, which developed and implemented a plan for the transmission of Lake Michigan water.  Unincorporated Lake County was not part of this.  This is why the village (ZIP code 60089) has Lake Michigan water and the folks in the unincorporated areas of Lake County are on well water, which comes from deep water aquifers.

I want to say our water is superior, but that may confuse the mouth-that-roared into thinking we get Lake Superior water, with which she would no doubt find a problem.  In her case, I think the best water should come from Lake Erie.

Item 4: Stone said that the “EPA looking into ‘situation’ Braiman noted that a letter was sent to Stone and copied to the village, which indicated that her concerns were unfounded

So there. No doubt she’ll disagree, but what else is new?

  

Stone continues to take her hysteria to the community in the same fashion that say, Sen. Joseph McCarthy did in the 1950s.  Preach mass panic and the public will follow.

It ain't happening.

What is happening is that Stone has not apparently gotten the message that her constant attacks, innuendos, false information have worn thin.

So too has her challenge to Braiman and the Board to have the police take her out the next time she interrupts a Village Board meeting.  That is what she wants.  See, if the police escort her out, it will be on video, which she’ll post on YouTube claiming harassment and a gross violation of human rights.

A couple things come in to play here:  First of all, you have to act human to have a violation of human rights.  Secondly, sushi-eating folks who live in the suburbs and drive costly SUVs are not being subjected to human rights violations.  Is Stone that short sided that she doesn’t remember whining about costs associated with the Village Green when some students sought permission to hold a program there for the Invisible Children campaign? This is a program that deals with genuine human rights violations, not whining in front of cameras.

But no, she wants her way, with her ‘facts’, on her terms, and if she does not get her way, why she’ll just continue throwing nasty, misdirected barbs at those who disagree with her. 

And if she does not get her way?

Then maybe she’ll have to remember what a famous poet may have said to his wife -- T.S. Mrs. Eliot.

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.

Dear kindly Sgt. Krupke....

A collection of highlights from the March police reports...

Hot copy?
Fire personnel reported that someone unknown spray painted the words “punk’s not dead” on the west wall of the station.

Flushed out
Resident called stating that his mother was locked in the bathroom and then he hung up the phone. Officers spoke with mom who stated that her son is intoxicated and left the house on foot. 

Good advice
Resident reported receiving threatening calls from a person she believes to be her brother in law. Officer spoke with the brother in law who denied making calls and he stated that the resident has been calling him. Both were advised not to communicate with each other. 

Guess they won't accept each other's coupons
Store owner reported receiving threatening phone calls from a competitor because the competitor claimed the store owner was taking business from him. Officer spoke with the competitor who stated that the store owner threatened him. He agreed not to have further contact with the store owner.

Try a key...
Resident reported a subject climbing into a neighboring house through a window. Officers located the subject who is employed by a Realtor. The house was recently foreclosed on and the subject was sent to assess the home. All was verified. 

Trash talking
Resident reported that a subject goes through her garbage every week and this makes her uncomfortable. The officer advised that there is no prohibition for anyone scrapping, and that she may want to consider placing her garbage out the morning of collection. 

Watch your password
Resident received an email from her friend stating that she is in Spain and was the victim of a crime. The friend stated that she needed money and would like it sent via Western Union. The resident called her friend who stated that she was at home in Arlington Heights. The resident has received no further communication.
 
So what happened, did he sell him a horse, but deliver a mule?

Resident stated that she met a neighbor in the hallway and he made a comment about an incident that occurred a year ago. The resident then called the neighbor a name and the neighbor retorted in kind. The resident stated that the neighbor became highly irate and began flailing his arms about, causing the resident to become frightened and believing that the neighbor may attack her. Officer asked both to leave each other alone, which they agreed to do. 

Hello, Federal?
Complainant stated that the post office employees refused to mail his package due to weight restrictions. He stated that the post office employee was rude to him and he wanted to speak with the Post Master. The supervisor gave the complainant the phone number for the Post Master and then asked the complainant to leave, which he did. 

So much for this family business
Complainant stated that he and his cousin are doing work at a hotel and when the complainant assigned the cousin a task, the cousin responded by challenging the complainant to a fight. The complainant drove the cousin home and advised him that he is fired. The cousin has called and sent numerous text messages. The complainant wants the incidents documented but does not want the police to contact the cousin.

Better safe than sorry
The complainant, who was there to install countertops, stated that he did not want to leave the house because the homeowner was not there. The complainant was concerned of being accused of theft. The house was secured by the officer and the complainant left.


Hoops, there it is
Resident reported that his neighbor’s son started playing basketball at 6:45 a.m. and he requested an officer speak with the neighbor. The neighbor told the officer that his son was not even out of bed at that time. The officer reminded the neighbor that 7a.m. is a reasonable time.


You're kidding, right?
A citizen reported that he found the front doors to the Village Hall open and no one there. Officers checked the Hall and found all to be in order. The front doors were secured by the officers and a Village Official secured a door on the west side of the building.

Guess he couldn't cell his homework
Mom reported that her son refused to go to school because she took his cell phone for not completing his homework. After a conversation, the boy got on the school bus sans the cell phone.


This one defies logic
Resident reported that her upstairs neighbor’s humidifier is making a lot of noise and that the dog upstairs urinates on the resident’s balcony. Officer attempted to contact the neighbor without success.


This guy will be the butt of a lot of jokes
Complainant reported a male subject that was undressing in the parking lot. Officers located the subject who stated that he had injured his buttocks while wrestling, and was placing napkins to that area to stop the bleeding. The paramedics checked the subject out and he was also advised to use a private location to tend to his wounds.