The Village of Baxter Estates used to cover some of the legal fees for those going through the process of submitting an application to the Board of Appeals. But that practice ended after the Board of Trustees voted to amend the village code during Thursday’s meeting.
In the past, the village used to pay for the first two hours of attorney fees, which came out of Baxter Estate’s general fund. Applicants were responsible for any costs beyond those two hours. But with the passage of Bill #3 of 2018, the applicant will be required to pay all legal costs related to the application.
This will apply to legal fees for applications to the Board of Appeals, which includes variances, conditional use permits, and special use permits, among others.
After passing the amendment, the meeting was generally upbeat as the village had a couple of reasons to celebrate.
At the beginning of the meeting, mayoral appointment Steve Maun was sworn in as a member of the Village Landmarks Preservation Commission.
“We thank him so much for willingly agreeing to serve on this board,” said Mayor Nora Haagenson.
The board approved a resolution to make the final payment of bond principal and interest for the village hall, which means Baxter Estates now paid off the building that they had purchased five years ago this month, on July 30, 2013.
The village will hold a potluck on Oct. 11 to celebrate the village’s ownership of the building.
A resolution was also approved to accept a grant that would be used to rehabilitate and/or replace portions of certain village retaining walls and to rehabilitate the Village Hall parking lot.
Reach reporter Luke Torrance by email at ltorrance@theislandnow.com, by phone at 516-307-1045, ext. 214, or follow him on Twitter @LukeATorrance.
