‘Yeah, I gave him the finger’: Campton Hills trustee in hot water again over zoning flap - Daily Herald

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Campton Hills has cited one of its village trustees, alleging she is operating a massage therapy service as a home-based business in violation of the town’s zoning code.

Issued by Building and Zoning Officer James Brown on Jan. 24, the citation sets the case of Trustee Janet Burson for a Feb. 18 adjudication hearing. If she fails to attend, Burson risks a maximum of $750 per day fine for the violation, according to the citation.

Burson, who was recently censured by her board colleagues for other issues — dismissed the citation’s validity. She said she previously operated a clinic in Oak Park, and continues to see clients, but not in her home.

However, Village Administrator Mark Rooney said former trustee Darlene Bakk presented evidence at a board meeting in November that Burson has a website where customers can sign up for an appointment at her home.

Village trustees initially indicated they would add massage therapy to a list of special uses allowed under the zoning code, but reversed course in December.

After that meeting, Rooney said he warned Burson to change the text on her website so people could not sign up for an appointment at her house.

“She told me, ‘You can’t prove I’m doing it and I’m not changing a … thing,’ and gave me the middle finger in my face not once but twice,” Rooney added. “And the second time, she almost clipped my face.”

Burson did not deny Rooney’s claim.

“Yeah, I gave him the finger,” Burson said. “I was really angry. He was pushing me on the issue.”

Burson said the website’s appointment function has not worked since the pandemic.

“I do not deny I was uncouth. The ask was inappropriate,” Burson said. “They had no business asking me to do anything with it.”