Guest Essay
Submitted by: "Disappointed"
PRPD Board President Dick Barton as Mr. Haney - Green Acres
Over the course of the past several weeks new Park Ridge Park District (PRPD) board president Dick Barton has been busy using his new position to inform the public that he intends to focus on the "environment" during the term of his presidency.
He has touted the PRPD's Environmental Task Force, a 9-person volunteer body that Barton helped form in 2007 and that includes Barton's son, Alex, among its members. And in a letter to the editor in the May 1, 2008 issue of the Herald-Advocate praising a successful Electronics Recycling Day even on April 19, he high-lighted Green Transportation Solutions (GTS) as "a Park Ridge-based consulting firm specializing in environmental issues."
Screen shot Herald-Advocate Letter to the Editor
Click picture for larger view
What Mr. Barton failed to mention is that he and his son, Alex, run GTS as part of their Park Ridge-based consulting business, Barton & Barton, Ltd. -http://www.greentransportationsolutions.com. We like the environment and believe that "going green" is laudable and politically correct, but there's something just a little too convenient about the new PRPD board president's "mission" being the environment when he just happens to own a business that specializes in helping its clients "go green."
Screen shot Barton & Barton/GTS Client List
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Several questions come to mind. Does the PRPD have a conflict of interest policy regulating related party transactions? Does the partnering of the PRPD with a business which is owned by an elected official on the PRPD Board comply with that policy? Has any PRPD money been paid to GTS for its consulting – because the Barton & Barton website identifies the "Park Ridge Park District" as one of its "clients"? And isn't there a conflict of interest when an elected official uses his public position to promote his personal business?
But most importantly, we have to question why it is that Mr. Barton never disclosed that GTS is a division of Barton & Barton, Ltd. to the taxpaying and voting public. It sure conveys the impression that Barton was trying to conceal that fact.
According to the PRPD's 2006 audited financial statement, 44.7% of revenue is collected from property taxes; another 48.5% of revenue is collected from program fees. All of that is our money which Mr. Barton and the other PRPD commissioners are obligated to use solely for the benefit of the residents of the Park District.
It is not clear if any taxpayer money actually has been paid by the PRPD to GTS, but it is clear that GTS may have benefited in other ways by partnering with the PRPD, such as through free publicity and easier contacts with other governmental agencies that are likely to open the door for GTS to gain profitable work.
We thought that such lapses in judgment, questionable ethics, and self-promotion were confined to some of the elected officials at 505 Butler Place, but apparently we were wrong. Mr. Barton, remember that as a Park District Commissioner – and now the Park Board president – your first duty is to the Park District and its residents, not to your own pocketbook. That is what we demand, and that is what we deserve.
May 12, 2008
The Park District's Own Mr. Haney!
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13 comments:
Wow. This looks to be some brazen conduct by the Park Board President.
I wish to express my appreciation to the essay writer and PRU for bringing this to the public's attention.
To paraphrase the late, great Richard J. Daley, what's the world coming to if a guy can't help his kid out?
Providing "help" is one thing, but spoon-feeding is another thing, and it looks like the entire town has been enlisted through Mr. Barton's elected position to "help" Mr. Barton's "kid", along with himself. Maybe everyone is fine with that, but I don't think it is the right thing to do, or at least Mr. Barton should have been more upfront about what he's been doing.
Another in the continuing capers of "Cones Barton"! People, people, come on. Is this surprising to anyone? Birds of a feather!
My hat is off to the anonymous guest essayist as well, even if he or she is "disappointed". Now that we all know what's been going on, what will the Park Board do about this? Come on Commissioners, get your oars in the water!
I see that you held back on my first comment - its getting close to commie land here. What's next ? Knock on our doors and hold head count ?
Anon@8:21,
Did we miss posting a comment? Sometimes Blogger's comment notification doesn't work like it it supposed to. Sometimes the comments stick together in the email notification we get.
Our apologies.
The description of the Green Acres character says "Mr. Haney is the sweaty, conniving, opportunistic embodiment of capitalism in bucolic Hooterville. Cracked of voice and ethics, Haney never misses an opportunity to make a buck or exploit a relationship. A true huckster, he always has a trick up his sleeve or some snake oil to sell you."
I don't know about the sweaty part, but everything else applies to Dick Barton!
If the characterization of Dick Barton as Mr. Haney is accurate, then why is he the President of the Park District board? I think the board and Mr. Barton have some explaining to do.
Not only is Barton involved with the Park Ridge Park District and Chamber, he is paid somewhere around 3600 per month to promote the township. His son Alex was also working on getting information for the Deep Green project in Des Plaines. Seems like Barton has his hand in everyones pocket
He may have his hands in lots of peoples pockets-but I want him out of mine. He has no business being on the PRPD board and deciding how millions of our tax dollars and program fees should be spent. It is time for Pres. Barton to come clean on all his connections so the park board has the information necessary to force his resignation. His lack of ethics is truly disappointing.
Whattaya mean I need to disclose stuff? I wasn't hiding anything, its just that nobody asked!
Now was that Dick Barton talking about all his double dipping or Alderman Allegretti talking about his pre-appointment campaign contributions to Howard?
Birds of a feather if you ask me
All these unethical politician birds should flock together somewhere else!
Hooterville! Is Barton a member of the country club too?
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