1979-06-11 - Village Board Committee of the Whole - Minutes `1
SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE OF THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES
OF THE VILLAGE OF BUFFALO GROVE, ILLINOIS, HELD MONDAY, JUNE 11 , 1979, AT
THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING, 50 RAUPP BOULEVARD, BUFFALO GROVE, ILLINOIS.
President Clayton called the meeting to order at 9:45 P.M. Present were:
President Clayton; Trustees Marienthal , Stone, O'Reilly, Hartstein, Kavitt,
and Gerschefske. Also present were: William Balling, Village Manager;
William Raysa, Village Attorney; William Sommer, Assistant Village Manager;
William Brimm, Finance Director; and Gregory Boysen, Village Engineer.
INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE - Review and Consideration of VAGA Policy
At the VAGA meeting on May 24, 1979, VAGA representatives proposed a possible
moratorium on land use or annexation. Trustee Kavitt said that there should
be a review of the Village's VAGA policy this evening. The areas which should
be discussed are:
1 . The role of VAGA on formalized plan reviews.
2. The long term role of VAGA in relation to how it can benefit the
Village and the County.
3. Land use moratorium.
Trustee Kavitt fells it is important to discuss these items and formulate
a Board position which the committee can then report to VAGA.
Trustee Hartstein said that the Board should also take a position on the
Intergovernmental Agreement that was proposed at the VAGA meeting.
Trustee Kavitt referred to Resolution #78-17 which basically gives, the
Village intent regarding VAGA.
1st Paragraph: . . . ."to develop policy and action recommendations for possible
implementation by member local governments,"
3rd Paragraph: "WHEREAS, this voluntary organization would be a vehicle for
closer cooperation and not a new layer of governments nor a super government;
and WHEREAS, our goal is to retain and strengthen the local rule while
combining our total resources for regional challenges beyond our individual
capabilities."
Trustee Kavitt feels these concepts should be a guide to Board discussion
of Village policy regarding VAGA.
Trustee Hartstein feels it is important to maintain good relationships with
neighboring communities, and keep channels of communication open. Resolution
• #78-17 stressed retaining and strengthening local rule, not creating a new
layer of governments.
Trustee Kavitt would be against structured committees under the auspices of
VAGA, since all hearings are open to the public, and either VAGA or neighbor-
ing communities would be able to attend these meetings and voice their
opinions at that time.
President Clayton stated that it should be noted that the Village of Buffalo
Grove has demonstrated in the past that we have dealt with adjacent communities
in our plan review process on an informal basis, and that many of their ideas
were incorporated into our plans.
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
JUNE 11 , 1979
PAGE TWO
Trustee Hartstein feels we should continue to act as we have in the past, which
is to give and receive input from VAGA communities on an informal basis.
Trustee Kavitt feels that we would not be acting in the best interests of the
Village by entering into this type of formal agreement.
Trustee Stone feels that it is important that we participate in VAGA, and he
welcomes their input, but he does not believe we can allow VAGA to make policy
decisions for Buffalo Grove.
Trustee Kavitt asked for suggestions regarding the long term role of the Village
and VAGA, and how VAGA can be used for the furtherance of the area, and what
areas that VAGA should concentrate on.
Trustee Hartstein feels that one of the major areas of cooperation ties into
transportation. He feels that VAGA can be an important advocate with the
county in stimulating possible necessary activity from the county in terms of
assistance in the development of an improved road network in Vernon Township.
Mr. Hartstein said the same would be true in terms of working with the Forest
Preserve in preserving open space.
Trustee Marienthal stated that another area of cooperation would be sewer and
water.
Trustee Kavitt does not feel that the Village should support a land use moratorium.
He feels we would be giving up some of our autonomy if we did, and he also feels
that the citizens did not elect representatives of other Villages to run Buffalo
Grove. Mr. Kavitt also said that Buffalo Grove has a very good planning depart-
ment, and an excellent staff and he sees no reason why we should not utilize
them. Trustee Hartstein agrees 100% with Mr. Kavitt.
Trustee Stone feels that the Board has to make decisions , and he does not feel
that we can allow anyone else to make them for us. The Village should welcome
the input of other Villages, but the decisions must be made in Buffalo Grove.
Regarding the Intergovernmental Agreement put together by the Village of River-
woods, Trustee Hartstein agrees with the concept of the agreement in keeping the
levels of communication open, but he disagrees with the specific requirements
which would be placed in this agreement. He does not think there is a need to
enter into this agreement. Trustee Kavitt concurs with Mr. Hartstein.
Trustee Marienthal is not opposed to the Intergovernmental Agreement, but feels
that certain specific items must be stricken from it. He said that we already
comply with most of the things in the agreement.
Trustee Kavitt stated that since that is the case, there is no need to enter
into a formal agreement, which could become cumbersome.
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COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
JUNE 1 1 , 1979
PAGE THREE
Trustee Hartstein said that his concern is that since we are complying with
these concepts already, the only thing that a formal agreement could do is to
potentially be a legal loophole to tie us up if some other Village did not agree
to what we were doing.
Trustee Gerschefske feels that this could involve more red tape which could
further delay planned projects.
Trustee Marienthal feels we can easily live with the agreement by having specific
items stricken from it.
Trustee Stone feels we should go back to VAGA and come up with an agreement that
is not quite as binding as this one.
Trustee O'Reilly feels that if we do not go along with some type of an agreement,
the spirit of cooperation might be lost.
Trustee Hartstein is bothered by entering into an agreement that is unnecessary;
however, if it is the will of the majority of the Board, he would not be against
entering into this agreement if it can be redrafted.
Mr. Raysa said that if this agreement is changed, there must be eight duplicate
copies so that each Village would have a copy of the same agreement.
Following further discussion, President Clayton said that her understanding of
the Board's wishes would be to put into an agreement the informal process which
the Village has followed in the past, thereby assuring that Buffalo Grove will
receive the same information which it has been giving out. The Board agreed
that this was what was desired, and Mr. Balling will draft such an agreement.
Regarding the Lake County Master Plan, Trustee Marienthal asked if the Village
plans to participate as has been done in the past.
President Clayton stated that we have been very successful in the past. The
Board concurred with this.
Trustee Kavitt will file a report of tonight 's meeting.
President Clayton adjourned the committee meeting at 10:30 P.M.
Janet Sirabian, Village Clerk