Tensions escalate on Buffalo Grove board amid bill dispute
Tensions on the already contentious Buffalo Grove Village Board further escalated this week as trustees engaged in heated debate over how to pay a $23,500 bill to a law firm specializing in bond issues.
The village board approved the payment to bond counsel Chapman & Cutler, part of fees associated with a recent bond issue, along with a host of other bills bundled together in what it calls its "warrant."
But Trustee Lisa Stone claimed the payment was not properly authorized, arguing municipal ordinance and state statute requires the board to give separate approval to bills exceeding $15,000. In fact, Stone said, the board also should have given separate approval to a $23,500 payment to Village Attorney William Raysa, as well as other payments going back several years.
"We were writing checks without getting board approval," Stone said.
Trustee Jeffrey Braiman, however, said the board had in essence given separate approval when it passed the ordinance to sell bonds. He nonetheless seconded Stone's motion to discuss the matter at the board's next meeting, since, he said, trustees have nothing to hide.
"Give us the information so we can address it as well as you can. I don't think you understand the process, necessarily," he added.
The $23,500 bill first came up Monday as trustees approved minutes of their previous meeting. Stone objected that the minutes did not reflect the reason Trustee Jeffrey Berman abstained from voting on the warrant that included a Chapman & Cutler bill. She wanted the minutes to reflect that his wife is employed by the law firm, although she did not work on anything specifically connected with Buffalo Grove.
Trustee DeAnn Glover said Berman was told by the village attorney he did not have to disclose it.
"There is nothing surreptitious going on," Glover said. "His wife doesn't own any part of Chapman & Cutler. She gains no revenue from this."
Later, Berman said he decided several years ago he would recuse himself from discussions involving fees paid to Chapman & Cutler, although legally he can participate.
"I choose to take a higher road than the law requires," Berman said.
Stone brought it up again at the end of the village board meeting Monday when, under recently passed rules, trustees get five minutes to introduce new business. She took 10 minutes before Village President Elliott Hartstein cut her off.
"If you really cut me off, just note the community is watching this," Stone said.
During Stone's subsequent monologue, Hartstein raised his voice and threatened to declare her out of order. Stone told Hartstein to stop hollering. Finally, Hartstein declared her out of order.