Buffalo Grove recall debate kept out of executive session

Buffalo Grove Trustee Lisa Stone has frequently criticized fellow board members for playing fast and loose with the Illinois Open Meetings Act when considering off-track betting.

But that didn't stop Stone from suggesting the village board retire to the backroom on Monday during a discussion of a recall ordinance written by Trustee Jeffrey Berman.

At one point, she said, "Perhaps we should have, like, an executive session to talk about what we would do with this ordinance - the different ideas that we all have to bring to the table."

This didn't sit well with Berman, who said, "We can't go into executive session to discuss and debate matters of ordinances. That's what the village board meetings are for," reminding her that she had been "screaming behind the scenes about people collaborating behind the scenes."

Stone also differed with members of the board on the fine points of the ordinance, which, she says targets her, although she supports it in principle.

Among her suggestions was, in the interest of objectivity, having an ethics panel, rather than an electoral board composed of the village president, the senior trustee and the village clerk, examine recall petitions.

Trustee Jeffrey Braiman, however, pointed out that the electoral board is set up by state statute for every election.

Stone also suggested the village emulate the Arlington Heights recall ordinance by publishing the reasons for the recall ordinance and a response by the object of the recall.

But Village President Elliott Hartstein, with the support of Village Attorney William Raysa, said the village cannot use public funds to publish pro and con statements.

While Berman insisted the ordinance was not aimed at a particular trustee, in introducing the ordinance he could not resist comparing a quote of Stone's about the will of the people to several uttered by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Berman said history is filled with examples of those who have clung tenaciously to the trappings of power while thwarting the will of the people they have sworn to represent.

He also quoted another Illinois governor, Patrick Quinn, in arguing for the ordinance, saying if a private employee is doing a bad job, "The employer doesn't have to wait four years to let him go."

For her part, Stone said she believes in good government and has worked with the Better Government Association.

She added, "It is clear why this is being proposed now. But believe me. This may very well be used against any one of us in the future, lest you think this will only apply to me."