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Residents criticize BZA meeting conduct after fence variance hearing
Summary
Residents Mitch and Emily Herman addressed the board to complain about the conduct and outcome of a prior hearing on a fence variance, saying the prior meeting became personal and lacked structure; the board responded that it would review and strive to do better.
At the end of the Oct. 12 meeting, residents Mitch and Emily Herman spoke during what was introduced as old business to complain about the handling of a prior fence-variance hearing. The Hermans said the earlier hearing became personal, lacked focus, and allowed speakers to make unverified claims.
Mitch Herman read a prepared statement that criticized the earlier proceeding as "unstructured" and said the meeting "lacked focus and deviated significantly from the primary topic," adding that neighbors made "fabrications and misrepresentations" that went unchecked. He said the family had documented community service and charitable work and should not be the subject of what he called personal attacks. The Hermans said they will comply with the board’s decision and indicated they will move forward with a permitted fence configuration.
Several board members acknowledged the prior hearing’s tone was regrettable. One board member said the board had tried to manage the earlier meeting and redirect speakers, and urged the Hermans to understand the board’s voluntary role. The Chair said: "As far as the board is concerned, we do our best," and added that, while the decision did not go the Hermans' way, the board’s volunteers perform important work.
The chair also reminded the Hermans that comments given at this meeting were not part of the record for any prior hearing and that, if the Hermans wished, they could pursue formal appeals through the procedural channels available under village rules.
No formal action was taken during the Oct. 12 meeting based on the Hermans’ comments; they were recorded as public comment/old business.
