Flower Hill trustees reject insurance plan

Village of Flower Hill trustees last night rejected a move to allow the mayor and board to buy health, life and long-term care insurance through the village.

Seven residents spoke against the measure, which would cost an estimated $120,000 a year. They called it an unnecessary expense the village could ill afford. Others said voters, not the board, should make the decision on their compensation.

"This gives fuel to the fire that local government exists to take care of government officials and not the community," said resident Greg Bellon.

The board would have paid the same rates as village employees for insurance and would have been eligible as long as they held their seats. The vote was three in favor and two opposed, with two abstaining.

Flower Hill Mayor Charles W. Weiss, who voted for the measure, was not happy with the results. "I've really never been as disappointed in my board and in the residents of this village as I am tonight," he said.

Trustees also voted 6-1 to allow dogs off-leash between 6:30 and 9:30 a.m. They also voted to postpone a hearing on a no-parking zone along the north side of Oaktree Lane to study the proposal further.