Last week, I went to the Board Meeting for the Village of Campton Hills (VofCH). The VofCH declared the dissolution petition containing 2100 signatures -determined to be valid by the Kane County Electoral Board this past December - to be VOID. Patsy Smith briefly feigned concern about providing some sort of explanation to the audience as to how this decision was reached. Attorney Braithwaite, in a side comment to President Smith, indicated that no explanation was necessary.The Board, none of whom dared to make eye contact with the mostly anti-Village audience, unanimously approved the decision. So much for open government and self determination!
Campton Hills officials took steps Tuesday to prevent the village clerk from certifying the petition Unfortunately, for the taxpayers of VofCH, the action, approved unanimously, came in the form of a resolution authorizing village attorneys to take "any and all appropriate legal steps" should Village Clerk Carolyn Higgins disobey their advice and certify the petition for referendum. So they're saying that even though the Kane County Electoral Board said that the petition is legit....VofCH says not! Give me a break.
Village attorney Bill Braithwaite said Higgins attempted unsuccessfully to finalize the question recently for inclusion on the November ballot, despite being advised against it. Higgins, who just took office this month, has since refused to commit to following the legal advice, which could be detrimental to the village, Braithwaite said. "If she does (certify the petition), we may have to take action before the next board meeting," he said, declining to elaborate on the action. "It's not appropriate." It's not appropriate for her to do what the taxpayers want and what the Kane County Electoral Board has certified? OK....I get it...NOT!
Glad to see that we live in such a free state, where the will of the people can be expressed and honored. Can't wait to see what else they have up there sleeve.



