CAMPTON HILLS – The picturesque village of Campton Hills, with its semi-rural atmosphere and sprawling lots, was incorporated in 2007 by voter referendum.

The action was not without controversy. Some opponents disconnected, while others staged another referendum to dissolve the village – an effort that was unsuccessful.

Now Campton Hills is in a new controversy – a deep division between a majority of trustees and Village President Patsy Smith.

Board meetings – with special meetings afterward – can go from about 6:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Trustees have been calling their own special meetings and now have their own legal counsel, in addition to the village attorney.

Meetings have been so fraught with contention that, at times, elected officials pass around a copy of “Robert’s Rules of Order” to allow the holder of it the right to speak uninterrupted.

The village’s voters face a primary election Feb. 24 and a slate of write-in candidates in the consolidated election April 7 that will spell change no matter which side wins.

But officials can agree on one thing: Incorporating as a village was the right thing to do. And despite the disagreements, Campton Hills will go on to accomplish good things for its residents.

“It’s a good village,” Trustee Harry Blecker said. “It does a lot of things right.”

In a statement, Smith said that by incorporating, the village of 20 square miles created an opportunity to plan its future.

Trustee James Kopec, an incorporator who is finishing his second term on the Village Board, said becoming a village was “absolutely necessary.” He is not seeking re-election.

“What we were facing at the time was control of the destiny of the area,” Kopec said. “Basically, 10 years or 20 years down the road, all the area [of the village] would be annexed to other municipalities that would not necessarily continue with the semi-rural community we wanted.”

That is where the agreement seems to end of late.

Blecker is running for village president Feb. 24 on the primary ballot. When his name advances to the consolidated election ballot, he will run against incumbent Smith, who has declared herself a write-in candidate. She is seeking a third term.

Considering how the sides are drawn, the race appears to be as much a municipal election as it is a referendum on Smith’s leadership.

“We have somebody who is running the village right now that just thinks her way is the only way,” Blecker said. “And there is not a lot of compromise. Patsy does not want to compromise. It’s her way or no way.”

Trustee Laura Andersen, who is seeking a second term, said village leadership has to change.

“Constructive leadership is a skill this president has not demonstrated,” Andersen said. “My opinion is not isolated. A majority of the board believes leadership changes need to happen.”

Smith calls the board’s divisiveness the result of a majority block of trustees. Those trustees are Al Lenkaitis, Susan George, Andersen and Blecker.

“Since the election of 2013, our board of trustees has become dysfunctional and political, with some trustees putting their own interests ahead of what is best for the village,” said Smith in the statement. “It is time for a change in trustees and time to get back to business.”

In the statement – which also announced her candidacy and the slate of write-ins – Smith noted that April 7 will be the eighth anniversary of the referendum that created the village.

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The recent divisions in Campton Hills have been going on for months.

The board majority does not put full faith in its longtime village attorney, William Braithwaite, saying he seems more like Smith’s attorney, so it hired its own counsel.

“In our opinion, Mr. Braithwaite is interpreting the municipal code and the laws to fit Patsy’s requirements, rather than protecting the village,” Blecker said. “We felt it necessary to hire an attorney that is going to protect the village.”

Smith disagreed, saying Braithwaite is the village’s attorney.

The board majority does not trust the minutes, either, blaming Smith for “editorializing” them, so a court reporter now provides transcripts for meetings.

Smith disputes that, as well.

“Go back and look at the transcript, and determine whether that’s an accurate statement or not,” Smith said.

Smith wants to replace Police Chief Daniel Hoffman, but the board majority has blocked her every attempt. She wants to remove Lenkaitis from the board, asserting he's moved out of the village, but the board majority has not allowed that, either.

Trustee Michael Millette compared the board’s dysfunction to a stage of adolescent development.

“I think we are transitioning from where we had to be to get started, and where we should be to go forward,” Millette said. “We got a [village] administrator, and that has been a long desired outcome for myself and other trustees. But the transition has not been smooth.”

Smith served not only as village president, but also as Campton Hills’ unpaid administrator for about seven years. Millette said it has been difficult for Smith to give the responsibility to Village Administrator Jennifer Johnsen, who has held the position for about a year.

At one point late last year, Smith put Johnsen on paid leave for an unstated reason, but trustees brought her back.

Neither Johnsen nor Hoffman would comment about the situation.

“We would not be where we are if Patsy was not the person she is,” Millette said. “But that is not sustainable. … The administrator and the village president – they both want the same thing – what is best for the village. But how are we going to get there? That is the trick.”

A longtime Smith ally, Millette said he considers himself not aligned exclusively with either side on the board.

“I think I’m the middle of what little middle there is,” Millette said. “One side is attacking it one way; the other side wants to attack in the other way. I’m holding the rudder steady.”

From his point of view, Kopec said the problems will pass.

“Big picture, long term – we’ll get over it,” Kopec said. “It’s going to be up to the newly elected board to resolve what is left of any disputes when they take office. I’m hoping before they take office, some of these things will have come to a head and be resolved amicably. Or if necessary, in court.”

Upcoming election info

The following are Campton Hills candidates on the Feb. 24 primary election ballot: Harry Blecker for village president; incumbent Trustees Laura Andersen and Susan George for trustee; and newcomer Michael O’Dwyer for trustee.

Two write-in candidates also have declared for the primary ballot: Steve Galloway for trustee and Nicholas Girka for clerk.

If Galloway gets 10 percent of the total votes cast for the lowest vote-earning trustee who is on the ballot, his name will be printed on the April 7 consolidated election ballot, said Suzanne Fahnestock, supervisor of elections for the Kane County Clerk’s Office. In order for Girka to have his name printed on the April 7 ballot, Fahnestock said he would need 18 votes – which is 1 percent of the 1,744 votes cast for village clerk in 2011.

Galloway is an ally of Village President Patsy Smith, and Girka is aligned with Blecker. If Blecker is not elected village president, he will remain on the board as a trustee.

Also for the April 7 election, Smith is a write-in candidate. Her slate of write-ins are Mike Turgeon and Don Sheluga for trustee, and Stephany Impson for clerk.

Early voting for the primary election continues through Feb. 21, either at the Kane County Clerk’s Office, 719 S. Batavia Ave., Building B, Geneva, or at the Campton Township Community Center, 5N082 Old LaFox Road, Campton Hills.

The day of the primary election, Campton Hills residents can vote at their regular polling place.