Barrington Hills Village Board
I have been a Barrington Hills Village Trustee for twelve years. I have Chaired Building and Grounds, Roads & Bridges and Public Safety.
A) Preserving 5 - Acres, which is paramount in maintaining open space and minimizing housing density. B) Preserving Village Boarders from erosion; which keeps our Zoning laws stronger and helps with better relationships with surrounding Governments. C) Financial management is most important today because of less and less moneys coming into our coffers.
Yes, I would support freezing our taxing levies. In the past four years we have not raised our tax levy; this is why we still have AAA rating.
The building Permit Requirements. People are building out buildings and additions to close to lot lines without them. This causes soil, engineering, electrical and septic plains to go unviewed.
Boards willingness to keep the Village under budget during the last four years.
I have lived in this community for sixty years and grew up knowing most of our founding fathers. Because of this I feel a greater understanding of what those men intended this Equine Community to look like and I will not let all their work go for not. This is why I am running; to Preserve the Past and Protect the Future of Barrington Hills.
I have practiced law as a litigator for over 20 years. During that time I have argued before tribunals of both judge and jury. I have fostered relationships with clients wherein I am called on to be an effective legal advisor and strategy builder with an ability to manage teams, meet objectives, and take risks into account. The majority of lawsuits are resolved outside of the courtroom and trial. As such, I have learned to take all sides into consideration in an effort to reach a resolution that considers all parties. These negotiating and mediating skills have taught me to be an effective listener and problem solver, and to do so diplomatically. My litigation background has also taught me to be an effective advocate of a position and how not to back down when the situation does not call for compromise. Most importantly, I have learned how to distinguish between the two.
#1 We must to return to the community we all once knew - As a person who moved to Barrington Hills in 1969, I feel that we need to come together again as residents and neighbors. We cannot continue to be divided over purely political issues ostensibly created by politicians in our Village seeking to gain, or maintain a power-hold. Each and every resident of our Village is entitled to a government that treats our citizens with respect and deals with each citizen’s concerns with an even-handed approach, that conducts its meetings efficiently with an eye toward serving the people it represents.
#2 Fiscal Responsibility - There are generations of families that live in Barrington Hills who desire to continue that tradition. However, the current generations are finding it more difficult to afford living in this Village. Larger scale estates which have been passed from generation to generation that offer significant opportunities to conserve the open space we pride our Village on are in jeopardy.
As a Village, we need to trim or eliminate costs wherever possible without jeopardizing essential services. Maintaining our local tax levy at the same level for 4 years is just not enough in these economic times. Property values have decreased and taxes must decrease commensurate with those decreases in value.
#3 Transparency & Communication - We need to strive to better inform our residents of what is actually happening in our Village government through providing everyone an open and unintimidating forum to ask Village Board members questions or provide opinions without suffering through 4 to 6 hour long Village Board meetings before being given our 3 minute maximum timeframe to address the Board.
Keeping the levy flat is not enough. The budget, particularly legal expenses can and should be reduced resulting in lowering the levy.
This Board voted to restrict public comment and to move public comment to the end of their meetings. This Board often starts the public session of its meetings late and seldom finishes in less than 3 hours when the current President is in attendance. As such, the citizens of this community are forced to wait until 10:00 p.m., and usually much later, to have their concerns heard by the Board. And, their time to address the Board is limited to 3 minutes. The citizens of this community are the reason the Board serves. Their concerns should be first and foremost in the Board’s agenda.
The recording and posting of board meeting audio recordings was a very important step in allowing citizens of this community an insight into what transpires in village government. That being said, listening to the recordings is tedious given the length of the meetings. A further step should be made to stream and archive video recordings of meetings for residents to watch real-time or at their convenience as other villages do.
I have a passion for Barrington Hills, its unique character and the people who live here. The distinctiveness of our community, such as 5-acre zoning, sets our Village apart and we must retain this value as others around us gradually sprawl toward our borders. I have spoken on many occasions to friends and neighbors about their concerns for our Village and their desire to see us return to an environment that fosters positive relationships as opposed to one that actively pits neighbor against neighbor. I believe I can be a conduit to help heal past wounds, as well as avoid the pitfalls that brought us to this place.
People in this community are struggling. The Village Board has a responsibility to its constituents to continually review the budget and to cut unnecessary spending. There are areas of the budget, such as legal fees, that can be trimmed without jeopardizing our unique character. Further, I believe in limited government, rather than seeking to institute ordinances and regulations, such as requiring contractors who may work on your home to be licensed and approved by the Village, that needlessly restrict the people who live here. As I stated before, I grew up in this Village. My heartfelt desire in running is to see this Village return to a place where the common civility between neighbors that I experienced growing up here, and was the principal reason my husband and I returned, is restored.
I lived near the MacArthur Farm during the battle with an out of state developer over the disconnection and threatened dense development of this property. I know what is like to own a home that is directly threatened by aggressive developers and I know how important it is to have the support of your local government and your neighbors when you are doing battle with a resourceful developer. This experience provided me with a greater appreciation of the uniqueness of our village and how easily that uniqueness can be compromised by developers seeking to exploit our open space.
Second, I have extensive financial background, including 28 years of professional financial management experience, and a MBA degree in finance. I am keenly interested in making sure the village manages its finances prudently and I believe my finance background and experience will be valuable to the village in this regard. I also have experience with pension plans, which can be helpful in the oversight of the village’s pension plans.
Finally, I have served on the Planning Commission, which has provided me with experience relative to the Comprehensive Plan, development issues and familiarity with the village’s administrative staff and operations.
Priority 1: Preservation of open space and the rural and equine character of the Village of Barrington Hills, consistent with the village’s comprehensive plan. Critical to accomplishing this objective is the protection and preservation of the village’s five acre zoning.
Priority 2: Fiscal responsibility – Assuring that the village continues to live within its financial means and that the village’s finances remain fiscally sound.
Priority 3: Improving communication with Village residents so that residents have a clear and accurate understanding of how the village is being managed. My observation is that there is a great deal of misunderstanding and myth regarding how the village is being run. The best solution is to get the facts out to the public so that they can be fully and accurately informed.
Generally I believe our taxes are too high and would prefer to see lower taxes at all levels of government. With that said, our village government provides essential services that people depend upon, such as police protection and road maintenance. As an elected official it will be my responsibility to make sure the village provides these essential services, at the desired level of quality, as efficiently as possible. This means constantly looking for ways to save money through greater efficiency and adopting appropriate technologies that allow the village to do more with less.
Promising to freeze the tax levy until housing prices rebound is a worthwhile aspiration, and I certainly recognize the political appeal of this approach, but I believe it would be irresponsible and disingenuous to provide residents with an open ended promise to do so. This is because we do not know when property values will recover and to what degree. In the meantime, normal inflation and unforeseen events may increase operating costs. My approach is to always respect that the tax revenue comes from hard working residents and my responsibility as a trustee is to help manage the village’s financial affairs in the most responsible manner possible.
A prior administration failed to put in place a sufficient Comprehensive Plan document. The absence of such a plan ultimately created a legal opening for an out-of-state developer to disconnect the McArthur Farm property from the Village of Barrington Hills. This large property now has a greater potential of being densely developed in a way that is inconsistent with the open space and rural character of Barrington Hills. Fortunately, the current administration has been much more attuned to doing the things that are necessary to protect our borders and the open space and rural character of our village. One of the primary reasons I am seeking election is to make sure that we continue to be diligent in protecting our open space and the rural and equine character of our village and that we remain proactive in our approach.
Maintaining the existing tax levy and balancing the budget at a time when revenues were down while at the same time providing excellent police protection and continuing to manage our roads program.
1) I will work diligently to protect our open space and the rural and equine characteristics of our village. This is what makes our village unique, supports our property values and is the reason people choose to live here versus the many other choices in the Chicago area.
2) My extensive financial experience will be helpful to assuring that the village practices sound fiscal management.
2) I will take a fair and reasoned approach to village government and do my very best to use good judgment and creative problem solving to manage the village affairs. I also hope to utilize my relationship management and communication skills, as well as an approach based upon mutual respect, to help reduce the political tension that has been prevalent in the village in recent years.
My public service started in 1994 when I sought a position on the North Barrington Zoning Board of Appeals in response to local development decisions. After serving on the ZBA from 1994-2004, I was appointed as a trustee to the North Barrington Village Board from 2004 - 2005. At the end of my term, I moved to Barrington Hills where I have been serving on the Plan Commission since 2010.
The residents of Barrington Hills have made it clear that they value the open space, rural character and privacy that their village provides. Preserving these unique qualities by keeping the current zoning regulations in place is essential. Protecting our 5-acre zoning while avoiding any type of “feathering” on our boarders, is of utmost importance, and requires thoughtful and careful stewardship.
The village has not raised property taxes in the last four years. We must maintain the current tax levy along with the high level of services and protection that the village provides to its residents. It is important to note that on a dollar per acre basis, Barrington Hills has one of the lowest tax bases for municipal services in the area.
During the last four years of challenging economic times, the tax levy in Barrington Hills has not increased and village spending has been at a constant level. At the same time, the village has maintained a high level of services and protection to residents.
A past board decided to try to save money by carrying liability insurance that fell vastly short of the needs of our village. There was a claim placed against the village and because the insurance coverage was so insufficient it forced the village to take out a bond to pay for this claim. We still are paying for this very poor decision today as the village pays off this bond and the interest that goes along with it.
The current board has successfully maintained 5-acre zoning and a balanced budget without raising property taxes.
As village trustee, I will use my 13 years of experience in local municipal government to thoughtfully represent the concerns and opinions of residents when making decisions. I will protect our 5-acre zoning while avoiding any type of “feathering” on our boarders. I will act as a fiscal watchdog in protecting the taxpayers and how their money is spent. As a believer in transparency of government, I will support public hearings for any major change in regulation. I will work to continually improve communications with our residents, supporting town hall meetings between the board and residents to discuss current topics of interest.
As a practicing attorney for 20+ years in matters of professional liability, corporate law and real estate, including land use and zoning; I have a working knowledge and the professional experience to handle the complex needs of the Village. I served as a member of the Barrington Hills Plan Commission for 8 years, including as Chairman. While on the Plan Commission, I participated in the re-draft of the Village’s comprehensive plan. As a member of the plan commission, I became versed with the Village Code and came to respect the history of our unique Village. My government service provided me an understanding of how Barrington Hills’ government works and where it can be improved.
I have volunteered my time and experience to serve with several area groups, including the Cub Scouts, vestry member of St. Mark’s Church, Barrington Hills, and as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Barrington Area Conservation Trust (“BACT”). The BACT is a nonprofit organization working with Barrington municipalities and private land owners on preserving open spaces through conveyances, dedications and easements. Since my candidacy for Trustee in 2011, I have remained an active and vigilent supporter of various issues in Barrington Hills. As example, I was successful in my complaint filed with the Attorney General against the Village Board alleging violations of the Open meetings Act.
Reduce Village Spending: In these difficult economic times, we must find meaningful ways to decrease government size and spending by concentrating efforts only on necessary government. My primary objective as Trustee will be to work to dramatically reduce the Village’s spending. Instead of assuming costs as a baseline from year to year, Village departments and Trustee committees must question past practices and consider re-bidding outside services to different professionals and suppliers. Areas of improvement include legal spending and President travel and expenses.
Restore Honest Government: Increase transparency in Village government making sure there is strict adherence to the Illinois Sunshine laws. Public comment at Board meetings should come first on the agenda and current rules governing public comment should be rescinded. Information available on line should be increased to include vendor contracts, professional fee arrangements, itemized invoices, checks issued by the Village as well as legal pleadings involving the Village filed in court. I will recommend a Code of Ethics for elected and appointed officials.
Protect our Open Spaces: The unique character of our Village is in our open spaces and minimum 5 acre zoning. I will utilize my legal experience to protect this and represent the balance of all of our equestrian, residential, agriculture and parks interests.
I support reducing the levy to reflect decreased property values. Barrington Hills’ property taxes have spiraled in recent years. Per Capita;($1,618), Barrington Hills is the highest taxed municipality of any suburb. Barrington Hills’ property taxes are more than 3 times South Barrington ($563 per resident). For 2013, Barrington Hills will collect $6.8 Million in property taxes. This is more than 2 1/2 times the $2.7 Million collected in 2001. This increase correlates with most real estate tax bills in Barrington Hills which have doubled during this same period. To put the Village’s spending in recent years in perspective, Long Grove, which is the same geographical size as Barrington Hills with 2,500 more residents, spends $5 Million less per year on Village government. The total annual budget for Long Grove is $2,383,000 compared to $8,281,305 for Barrington Hills. Last year, Barrington Hills spent $824,840 ($550 per household) for attorneys compared to $62,500 ($31.25 per household) in Long Grove. Barrington Hills’ expenditure on legal fees almost equals Elgin. While, the Village of Barrington Hills has been collecting record sums of property tax revenue, the Village’s police pension fund is underfunded by $6.8 Million.
With these high property taxes, no wonder why landowners situated on our borders (who legally qualify) are tempted and do disconnect from the Village.
The Village Board’s decision to approve a larger budget for 2013, without any serious dialogue among themselves or explanation to the public how they can justify increased expenditures in these most difficult economic times. Our Village Board in recent years has lost all objectivity, independence and desire to question the “status quo” of recent times of excessive budgeting and proliferate spending by Village government.
Further, the Board continues the negligent practice of routinely approving monthly government expenditures without discussion or even reviewing itemized billing statements relating to variable costs. In particular, the Board fails to adequately scrutinize itemized billing statements from attorneys and other hired professionals. The Village could hire 2-3 attorneys’\' full time and still not exhaust the amount of money they budget each year for legal fees. We must also investigate the underfunded police pension fund and understand the impact those decisions will have on our future.
Even though the disconnection, zoning and other major land use litigation are well behind the Village, incredibly, budgeted amounts and actual expenditure for attorneys has relatively stayed the same. In summary, the Board has not taken an agressive stance on spending and have appointed Trustees to committees with little to no experience to serve in financial management roles.
The Village’s on-going commitment of partnering with the Barrington Area Conservation Trust (“BACT”) and private landowners in the implementation of various roadside easements either recorded or in the process of being developed throughout the Village. By partnering with the BACT on this project, the Village is carrying out one of its primary functions of preserving open spaces into the future by protecting the natural beauty of our most scenic and potentially vulnerable country roadsides. By obtaining the legal status of “Heritage Corridor” for these Village roadsides, it will be more difficult for IDOT or other governmental bodies having jurisdiction to disrupt the natural scenic beauty of these corridors by means of road widening or other construction improvements.
While the BACT assumes the major role of negotiating these easements with landowners and making sure legal documents are properly prepared, recorded and maintained, these roadside easements cannot legally exist unless the Village signs on and assumes contingent responsibility for maintenance in the event the BACT fails in this duty or ceases to exist.
This is a rare example, but one which should definately be noted, of pre-emptive action taken by the Village Board in conjunction with the BACT of protecting the unique character of the Village before it is too late at minimal or no cost to tax payers.
The primary reason I am running for Village Trustee is to represent the entire Village as an independent representative free of team politics and special interest cronyism. As Trustee, I will coalesce with other Board Members only around ideas and actions which best serve the needs of all our unique community interests. In recent years, the monolithic make-up of the Board has lost all independence polarizing our once harmonious Village into a state of contention with neighbors fighting neighbors. Confidence by residents in our elected officials has been diminished or lost entirely. I will not favor certain groups or ignore local and state laws. My successful election will be the first step in returning harmony to Barrington Hills. I will be a faithful steward to our unique traditions and open spaces balancing the interests of equestrian, residential, agriculture and the parks community.
I will work hard to dramatically reduce spending. I recognize the severe downturn in the economy and the effect it has had on many families in our Village. It has been reported Village debt has increased to a record $3.5 million in 2012 and the Village’s Police Pension is underfunded by $6.3 million. Our Property taxes are the highest of any of the 83 suburbs in Northern Illinois paying for, in part, excessive spending by the Village expected this year to exceed $8 million. This must stop
