Barrington Hills moves to fill village attorney vacancy

The Barrington Hills village board approved a plan Monday night to find a new village attorney to replace its counsel of more than 30 years, which resigned at the request of the village president last month.

The law firm of Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella resigned days before the Aug. 26 board meeting at the request of Village President Martin McLaughlin, who cited the Illinois attorney general office's finding that the village violated the Open Meetings Act in April 2013 under the firm's watch. The plan to replace the longtime attorney is taken word for word from the village code. McLaughlin will choose from a shortlist of three applicants determined by the board. The board will then vote to approve or reject McLaughlin's pick.

An alternate plan that would have given final selection to the board was briefly discussed, but it was not pursued after McLaughlin pointed out that it would have gone against the village code.

In August, several village trustees engaged in heated debate with McLaughlin over his ability to appoint a new village attorney.

There was little sign of resistance Monday night.

Trustee Michael Harrington initially proposed a variation to the selection plan that would have given the board the right to refuse McLaughlin's pick and ask to have another without restarting the process. When that idea failed to gain traction, Harrington dropped it in favor of getting the process started.

"We met on September 4 and we're still trying to get this thing out," Harrington said. "I'd rather do it sooner than later to recapture some momentum on this."

Patrick Bond, of Bond Dickson and Associates, has been serving as temporary village attorney.

Bond said after the meeting that his firm, which also serves as village attorney for West Chicago, Wood Dale and Bensenville, would be interested applying for the position.

The board will present the final selection for village attorney at the Oct. 27 board meeting.