In a story titled "How’s Your Town Doing," the Wall Street Journal says home values "keep climbing across the U.S.," but reporter June Fletcher wrote, "our biggest surprises were how many hot markets seem to be cooling off." A third of the 500 communities surveyed saw less of an increase in home values this year than last. While Evanston (with a median home price of $465,000) recorded an increase in home values of more than 14% over the past year, and Hinsdale (mean value $656,000) exceeded 10 percent, Glenview (with a median home value of $420,000) was listed as "losing steam." Home values were up from 2002 by just 8.2 percent, and the increase in Northbrook’s home property values was also lower – just 6.1 percent.

The top 10 West Coast communities, all in California, saw an increase of more than 20% from last year, while the 10 Rocky Mountain communities listed (all in Arizona and Colorado) were below 6 percent. Seven of 10 Midwest communities were said to be "running out of steam," while only one community in the Northeast and no communities in California earned that designation.

John Crawford, running for re-election to the Glenview Village Board, submitted nominating petitions at the same time as his opponents on the Citizens United ticket. He expected the village to hold a lottery in deciding which name would appear first on the April ballot. The top spot can mean an additional 5 percent of the vote because people unfamiliar with the candidates will sometimes choose the first name they see.

Instead, after consulting with Village Attorney Jeff Randall, Village Manager Paul McCarthy announced that no lottery was needed. According to Illinois’ 2003 Local Election Officials Handbook, candidates from established parties should be listed first, followed by candidates from new parties and then by political independents. Lotteries are only held if there are petitions from two or more established parties or from two or more new parties.

That put Crawford last on the local ballot, and he was not pleased. An attorney by trade, Crawford thought a provision of the election law involving lotteries suggested the handbook was wrong, and he thought Glenview should challenge it. Recognizing, however, that a decision might not be reached until after the election, Glenview’s senior trustee decided not to pursue the matter. "The election is only seven weeks away," Crawford told the Glenview Announcements. "I prefer to spend time campaigning."

At Tuesday’s board meeting, however, his political opponents used the incident to launch a brutal attack. During the president’s report, Larry Carlson mentioned a "flurry of memos and legal opinions going back and forth on the issue of a ballot position for the up-coming election. Trustee Crawford, are you satisfied on that now?" he asked.

"Yes, I am," said Crawford.

That should have been the end of it, but having set the stage for a political attack, Carlson – who campaigned on a platform of restoring civility to local government – stepped back so his political pal Jeff Lerner could take a swing.

"I guess I was hoping I could avoid this, but I think it would be remiss to allow it to go by without a comment," he said. "What concerns me is that we have received probably 40 or 50 pages of memorandums, legal opinions, faxes requiring us to take an inordinate amount of time to address a problem that is not within the purview of this board. The reason we got into this situation is because, and I don’t mean to single out Trustee Crawford, but he chose to disagree with the village attorney’s legal opinion by rendering his own legal opinion. For whatever value it’s worth, there are five lawyers who sit on this board. Some of us practice on a daily basis. Some of us have never practiced, but it is not our purview to render legal opinions which now cause the citizens of this village to incur what I’m going to presume will be large but reasonable attorney’s fees for a personal problem."

Lerner then launched into an explanation of the controversy, and when Crawford tried to put a stop to the diatribe, Lerner shot back: "I’m entitled to my opinion. I’ve spent the last two weeks wasting my time reading opinions that are not only legally inaccurate, but not something that can be dealt with by this board."

Trustee Mike Guinane then tried to stop the rush of hot air, but Lerner continued. "No," he said. "I’m not finished."

Carlson, who may have been enjoying the attack, added: "Hang on a second, Mike."

"I would like to make it clear that Trustee Crawford is not the village attorney," said Lerner. "We should not have to abide by any legal opinion he renders. For whatever it’s worth, and if you want a gratuitous opinion, I think clearly the village attorney is correct in his analysis, and Trustee Crawford isn’t. I just want to say that when there is an issue that is personal, it should not take the time of this board or the efforts of this staff or the funds of this village. I apologize if everybody thinks I have wasted their time, but I have spent the last few weeks acting as an attorney, reading legal opinions, giving case citations, going through the election code to confirm what I already knew, and that is that we have an excellent village attorney, and we should follow his opinion."

Crawford said he had also spent a good deal of time researching the matter and did not think it appropriate that the village manager and village attorney were making decisions that should have been made by the board. "I will feel free at all times to express my legal opinion, regardless of what the village attorney says, and if the other members on the board simply want to accept the village attorney’s opinion as law, they’re entitled to do that, but I’m not going to do it. I’m an attorney, and I’m entitled to my opinion of what the law says."

Now attorney Randall took his turn at bat. "I was hoping that I wouldn’t have to say anything, but I find myself in the middle of this. With all due respect, the village board has no authority to call the shots with regard to election issues which are totally within the purview of the village clerk. The village clerk in this matter happens to be Paul McCarthy who wears two hats as the village manager and village clerk. It is the village clerk’s obligation to certify the placement of candidates on the ballot. Mr. McCarthy did that, following the state’s Local Elections Handbook. I rendered my opinion at the request of the village clerk."

His voice rising, Randall said Crawford was the only one to complain. "Unless other members of the board have any other problems or issues with regard to the decision, I suggest that the board move on with its meeting this evening."

Determined to have the last word, Lerner added: "Because one member of this board has what I deem a personal problem in respect to an up-coming election does not mean the other members of this board are going to have to spend two weeks of time and taxpayers money to resolve an issue that we have no control over in a legal sense, and that was my point – which apparently came out clearly to Trus – to attorney Randall."

Lerner and others on the board have frequently referred to the lawyer as "Trustee Randall," perhaps because he often acts like an elected official, offering his opinions and suggestions at will. Lerner might have faced teasing for his slip at such a critical moment, but Trustee Mary Beth Denefe decided to cast a stone.

"I concur with everything that Trustee Lerner has said tonight," she told the board, adding that any attempt by the village to challenge a state rule would be highly inappropriate.

Guinane tried again to end the bloodshed. "Can we move forward with the agenda tonight?" he asked.

Carlson refused. "I would like to make one thing clear to anybody who’s watching and following this issue. The village board, the village attorney, the village clerk do not set the rules. This is done by the state board of elections. They say how we conduct the election. That’s what we do."

Editor’s note: While the state sets policy governing elections, a local board may challenge those rules if it feels that penalizing independent candidates is unfair. Unfortunately, Carlson and his gang know nothing about independence. Their campaigns were bankrolled by the moneyed interests of Glenview -- the people they serve. In the last election, we called Carlson’s group the UGs – an acronym for their party name – Unite Glenview. Perhaps they should be called the THUGS since they seem determined to punish any independent political thought or action. Their bully-like conduct will not discourage Crawford, a man of courage and integrity, but it has deterred many qualified people who might otherwise be serving the village. Donna Pappo and Rachel Cook, two intelligent women who had hoped to make Glenview a better place, leave Village Hall embittered by their experience there. Gail Anderson, who was attacked by Carlson’s gang during the last election, retires from the library board next month. By all accounts she did a terrific job, but she is apparently fed up with the THUGs at Village Hall. Two others who ran against the THUGS have been ignored by Carlson. Grant Ireland would have been a great addition to the Plan Commission, having thoroughly researched many issues surrounding development in Glenview. Instead, Carlson appointed businessman Steve Bucklin, who had given $1,250 to the UG campaign. Tom Cernek, a respected lawyer with strong experience in dispute mediation, could have been placed on the police and fire board, but Carlson let him languish. Is it any wonder the best and the brightest people in Glenview want nothing to do with local politics?

In public hearings on possible regulation of neon signs, a spokesman for the citizens’ group Scenic Glenview showed a dozen pictures of the most dramatic signs in town, including those that frame entire windows and flash in a cycle. Gary Bruckner described the virtual tour of Glenview after dark as a "rogue’s gallery of bad taste," and compared it to e-mailed ads or "spam." He attacked signs that cast a colored glow on residential areas and shine all night, then singled out several businesses, including the psychic reader on Waukegan Road, The Cat’s Meow gift shop and the Glenview Camera Shop across from Our Lady of Perpetual Help on Glenview Road. "OLPH does not look good in blue," he said.

Also on Bruckner’s list – a nail shop in the Olympia Shopping Center. Not only is its window framed in green neon, but its ceiling is bordered in blue. "There’s nothing subtle here. It’s a circus atmosphere that cheapens everything around it including our public library across the street," he argued.

Cardinal Liquors was noted for 12 neon beer signs in its windows, and Bruckner criticized the Glenview House for detracting from its historic beauty with an electric montage of 29 beer brands. The entire shopping strip on the northwest corner of Lake and Waukegan was also criticized. "Cicero we are not!" said Bruckner.

The commissioners expressed some fundamental agreement with Bruckner, but many were reluctant to regulate. Architect Peter Brinckerhoff warned that "legislation cannot guarantee good design." Former appearance commissioner Steve Bucklin thought signs should get some degree of scrutiny, and he was prepared to limit the hours when neon could be on, but he feared going further. "A lot of these are small businesses. They don’t have the advertising budgets for TV, radio or newspaper ads. We’re not in the best of economic times. Maybe this is not the right time to go all out."

Speaking for the chamber of commerce, Dean Poulos argued against time limits on neon signs. "Are you going to tell Grandpa’s that they have to close their lights down at night even though their business stays open until 1 or 2?" he asked. Noting that only 8 percent of chamber members have neon signs, he then made the case for minimal regulation, proposing a ban on lights that flash or blink and banning signs that are repetitious or non-informational. Poulos said that would eliminate the "carnival atmosphere" described by Scenic Glenview.

While the idea sounded simple, members of the commission were not sure how it would work. Joseph DiMattina wondered, for example, if signs saying "psychic reader" and "ESP/Tarot Cards" were repetitious. Poulos didn’t know. Jim Patterson wondered if multiple brands would be repetitive. Again, Poulos couldn’t say. Another member of the panel wondered what to do about existing businesses and their signs. Poulos thought they should be allowed to keep their neon for at least five years to amortize costs.

As the commission debated what to do, Patterson resurrected an old argument. Claiming the chamber of commerce had been "very successful" in policing certain shops, he thought "maybe there’s a way to get the chamber on board to address some of this and then see what happens."

"We’ve been down that road before," replied DiMattina. "We’ve asked the chamber to self-regulate. If it was successful, we wouldn’t be here tonight. We need to put something down in writing."

Commissioner Gary Wendt and Development Director Mary Bak thought perhaps, by law, interior neon signs should be included with exterior signs that require a permit and approval by the appearance commission.

Bucklin stressed that the commission should have very specific criteria for regulating business owners and returned to the Poulos proposition: no flashing lights, no non-informational signs and nothing repetitive. Chairman Silver agreed and proposed that staff draft an ordinance along those lines for consideration at the next meeting, February 25.

Anticipating a long discussion of neon, the planning department said discussion of special environmental protections for the river, Techny Basin and West Fork Preserve would be moved to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 11 in the board room at Village Hall. Glenview’s green contingent – local scientists and environmentalists – are expected to argue for greater protections than proposed by the Environmental Review Commission – an appointed board that includes a civil engineer and an attorney who admits his concern for the rights of developers.

The homeowner had not complained. He did not even show up for the plan commission meeting, but when Commissioner Jim Patterson – a candidate for the village board – noticed that construction was planned at 924 Glenwood he raised an objection. The builder would have to abide by Glenview’s tree ordinance, replacing any high-quality species that had to be taken down.

"In that part of town, there’s a tremendous number of trees," said Patterson. "It almost seems an unfair burden for this particular buyer when you look at how many trees there are on that lot. I’m curious whether that’s fair. It just seems unreasonable. If I was the homeowner there, I wouldn’t want to be in that position."

Development Director Bak said the commission could take no action unless the property owner appealed for a pass and proved a hardship. In general, she explained, everyone is required to comply with local ordinances.

"I would think that anyone in that neighborhood would want to keep with the rest of the neighborhood. It’s not a Mr. T situation," said Patterson, referring to the infamous case of a flamboyant actor who, struggling with allergies, decided to cut down all of the mature trees on his Lake Forest lot.

Noting that the owner in this case had not even filed a building plan, Bak explained that Glenview’s tree ordinance works to protect the community from people like Mr. T.

As the village continues to debate a long-time requirement that people building on half-acre lots provide on-site stormwater detention, Plan Commissioner Gary Wendt wondered what to do about one such property on Countryside. An application submitted by staff listed no such requirement. "Are we not requiring storm detention?" he asked Development Director Bak.

"Pending the final resolution of the discussion by the village board next week, it’s my guess, based on last week’s board meeting, that there won’t be any requirement for detention on single-family lots," she replied.

"Is the half-acre rule enforced until that’s official?" asked Wendt.

"Technically it is," said Bak, "but I’m not sure it will be applied. I think the board will reach back to homes in the pipeline that are on single-family and not apply the requirement."

Wendt said other cases that had come before the commission recently had been required to plan for detention.

"We’re definitely in transition," said Bak.

Editor’s note: Should local government be conducted based on what the director of development thinks the board might do at its next meeting? We suspect that kind of loosey goosey government could create legal problems down the pike. 

After doing an about-face on a plan to impose fees on anyone building in a neighborhood lacking stormwater detention, the village board voted to ease a requirement that developers or homeowners building on half-acre lots provide detention. Instead, at the suggestion of Trustee Donna Pappo, Glenview will only impose that rule on properties of one acre or more.

While the change seems likely to please developers, it leaves Glenview with no new way to generate money for flood control around town.

For years Glenview’s public golf course has been forced to shut down because some greens were flooded. Now, the park district board is considering one possible solution – creating a water trap that would make golfing a bigger challenge while making stormwater a smaller problem. Executive Director Tom Richardson stressed that the idea is preliminary, especially since the district has no money to build a lake in the vicinity of the 13^th, 14^th and 17^th holes. "Engineering alone would cost tens of thousands of dollars," he said.

June 2 will bring a major golf tournament to The Glen Club. The week-long LaSalle Bank Open. will put 156 players in competition for half a million dollars in prizes, and the top 20 players will be allowed to play in the 2004 PGA Tour. Among those expected: Gary Hallberg, Chip Beck, Casey Martin, David Ogrin, Scott Simpson and Steve Pate.

The event will be cablecast on the Golf Channel and may also get some coverage from NBC. Anticipating positive publicity, the park district is thinking of allowing free use of its executive course (the National 9's next door) by the PGA for a Pro-Am event on June 4, for junior golf and professional warm-ups.

After 19 years of service, parks’ Commissioner Tom Pontarelli bid the board farewell Thursday, saying he will be on vacation for the final meeting of his term next month. President Judy Beck thanked Pontarelli for his leadership and expertise. Noting that Pontarelli is an avid golfer and that fellow board member and golf fan Steve Schulte is also stepping down, Commissioner Doug Kaiser promised to uphold the flag. "I will do my best to waste a half hour at every board meeting talking about golf," he said.

Henking and Lyon schools were among 16 awarded blue ribbons in the state’s "No Child Left Behind" program. The honor was based on student test scores and school performance over the past three years. District 34 was the only one in Illinois to have more than one school named. Westbrook received the award in 1988 and 1997. Springman was recognized in 1987. Winners go on to compete nationally.

In other school news:

– Parents of District 34 kids starting school this fall are invited to attend Kindergarten Round-up March 6. To register and find out what time your school is hosting the event call Henking (998-5035), Lyon (998-5045) or Westbrook (998-5055).

– After 15 months, the district has reached agreement with its teachers’ union on a contract. The four-year pact provides an average annual raise of 4.5 percent and allows teachers to retire after 15 years. The agreement also means higher payments from teachers for health insurance – a change that will save the district $210,000. Glenview teachers earn $32,861-$68,125 depending on their level of experience and education.

– Amateur detectives are invited to meet Tribune crime reporter John O’Brien at 7 p.m. Tuesday, February 25 at Glenview’s public library. He will speak about his new book: Getting Away with Murder. It chronicles 57 unsolved murders, including that of Glenview heiress Helen Brach. To sign up, call 729-7500, extension 112.

– The Glenview Symphony Orchestra will perform at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, March 9 in the Christian Heritage Academy auditorium, 315 Waukegan Road, Northfield. Anatol Lysenka will conduct music of Suppe, Castelnuovo-Teseco, Svetlanov and Shostakovich. Guest artists will include Steve Edwards and Philip Simmons, duo-guitarists and Lyudmilla Lakisova, piano. Tickets are $18 – $12 for students and seniors. For more information, call 920-9569.

Les Willerth is disappointed with the way the Glenview Naval Air Station was redeveloped: "Whose bright idea was it to turn NAS Glenview into the monstrosity it's becoming? Glenview leaders, you had the chance. How often does this amount of free space in such a strategic area become available in a lifetime _- to use the land to dramatically enhance community livability? Instead, you decided to sell out to developers and let greed be your guide. The Glen means more people, more traffic, more strip malls, more congestion, more pollution. That's progress? Glenview is my home town, but you won't see me much anymore. Heck, with all the traffic you won't see me at all."

Rick Nasello remarks on Village President Carlson’s letter in this month’s newsletter: "In his letter to residents, Carlson makes a point of addressing something that has been going on for a long time – a division that prevails between residents of The Glen and the rest of the village. I am glad that he took the time to say a few words about this, and I hope everyone in town will realize how stupid this whole thing is. I moved here 10 years ago to get away from a city neighborhood that had changed and made it almost impossible for my children to safely walk to school. Glenview seemed a good choice, but I was surprised by the social and economic prejudices we found here – prejudices which now surface in The Glen versus Glenview feud. Once it’s built, I hope the bad feelings will die down."

MJ Ghiselli writes to tell us about free money: "AT&T and the State Farm Companies Foundation have joined Youth Service America to encourage participants in National Youth Services Day on April 11-13. They'll give 75 grants of $500 to individuals aged 5-25 and to youth organizations to lead service projects. In addition, 50 grants of $1,500 are available for teachers to conduct service-learning projects. Visit www.ysa.org/nysd to learn more or to download applications, due February 28."

YOUR TURN: Write to glenviewwatch@aol.com or 3537 Maple Leaf Drive, Glenview, IL 60025. If you haven’t already done so, please consider making a contribution to support The Watch. Non-deductible checks should be payable to Glenview Watch. Thanks for your support and for reading. Dean Schott and Sandy Hausman, Co-Editors.

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