Clarendon Hills discussion of home rule gets heated

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Updated: March 29, 2012 4:07PM

The Clarendon Hills Village Board meeting became a bit heated Feb. 21 after a representative from a group against the home rule said the board is “twisting itself into a pretzel in its eagerness to get home-rule power.”

Eric Stach of Citizens for Clarendon Hills, read the statement in response to a referendum on the March 20 ballot seeking to grant the village home-rule status.

The group states it is seeking tax accountability, preventing government over reach, reining in government, preventing abuse of government and coming up with progressive solutions. The group favors lower taxes, fewer regulations and smarter growth, it says.

Trustee Ed Reid took exception the opposition.

“I feel I’m being vilified and attacked,” Reid said, noting he has received complaints from parents of 15-year-olds who have received e-mails from Citizens for Clarendon Hills, stating their case against the home-rule referendum. Reid also questioned Stach about whether he was open-minded about a home-rule referendum as a member of the Clarendon Hills Home Rule Research Committee.

That group recommended the Village Board seek home-rule authority, although Stach did not personally support the idea.

The board approved an ordinance Tuesday requiring referendums prior to any future property tax increases above the state tax cap. But Stach said the board has yet to make a coherent, non-shifting argument as to why it seeks home-rule authority in the first place, and without a case for home rule, there is no need for the ordinance adopted by the board.

Changes in ways the board had previously discussed possibly using home-rule authority, such as instituting a $10,000 demolition tax and a 22 percent increase in village property tax were mentioned in the statement.

The statement also noted the ordinance adopted Tuesday fails because it can be repealed at any time, doesn’t address possible sales tax increases or current controls on village debt and bond issuance that can be incurred without a referendum.

“Why is the board twisting itself into a pretzel in its eagerness to get home-rule power?” Stach asked while reading the statement.

Village President Tom Karaba made no comment about the discussion between Reid and Stach. However, Karaba said he has been pleased with the interest he has seen from many village residents about the home-rule issue.

“Even if this doesn’t pass, this discussion has opened up a lot of eyes, and I think we’ll have more discussion and involvement because of it,” he said.