Buffalo Grove trustee complains village rules not being followed

Buffalo Grove Trustee Lisa Stone is no stranger to controversy.

While Stone's customary questioning of village practices has irked fellow board members, in one instance her complaints could result in a rules change at village hall.

Stone recently raised concerns with the manager's office that the village has been inconsistent in applying its own policy for the use of the Rotary Village Green.

The policy says groups that want to use the park facility for an event must get a permit and insurance.

Stone's grievance stems from the way that policy was upheld last summer for a Stevenson High School student fundraising event, when the rules were ignored for a May rally by a group of residents trying to oust Stone through a recall vote in November.

Stone said the student group, which wanted to raise awareness about the plight of children in developing countries, was discouraged by the $250 cost to get a certificate of insurance for the event and ultimately went elsewhere.

The recall group on the other hand didn't file any paperwork for its rally, she said.

"Positively, it was preferential treatment," Stone said. "What's so upsetting is that this is a political group. I find it to be highly inappropriate."

One of residents leading the recall effort against Stone is Adam Moodhe, a Buffalo Grove Days commissioner whose wife is a village employee.

Moodhe said someone at village hall said the rally would be OK, but no one granted the group a favor and it was residents' right to peacefully assemble in the village green.

"It falls under the First Amendment, freedom of assembly, freedom of speech," Moodhe said. "If it was going to be something that was a real large group of people for a whole day that would be different. But you are talking about a group of people that assembled and probably were there for less than an hour."

Moodhe said about 50 people gathered at the rally and later dispersed to get signatures for a petition to get the recall referendum on the Nov. 2 ballot.

The recall rally is far from the only one that has proceeded without a permit.

Acting Village Manager Ghida Neukirch said the last record of a permit issued for the use of the Rotary Village Green dates back to 2007. In looking into the matter, she said it's apparent the policy has not been implemented uniformly over the years and is due for an overhaul.

But she said she doesn't believe the recall rally met the criteria of an event that requires a permit.

"It's public property," Neukirch said. "If you want to use the green space for just a gathering, a nonexclusive use of the park, then you are welcome to use it."

By contrast, the Stevenson student group's fundraiser would have involved having on-site food service and required exclusive use of the park, she said.

Stone said she has no problem with the current rules requiring permits and insurance, but wants them applied equally for everyone.

"The importance is that if someone were to get hurt, it's the village's liability," Stone said.

Neukirch said, though, that officials are considering the impact of eliminating the certificate of insurance requirement for event sponsors.

"We certainly don't want to charge any group for raising for a charitable cause," she said.

The revised policy and facility rental application form will go to the village board for review on Aug. 9.