Tempers flared this week as Hoffman Estates Mayor William McLeod accused trustees of perpetuating an image of “procrastination” in the village.
The mayor was seeking support for his idea to create an Economic Development Commission. McLeod said a commission is needed to fill in the gaps where organizations such as the Hoffman Estates Chamber of Commerce are not responsible. The primary goal would be business retention.
“We need to have a group reaching out to our businesses,” Village Manager James Norris said.
However, with three trustees absent from Tuesday’s General Administration and Personnel Committee meeting, trustees were reluctant to move ahead. They also noted that a consultant has been hired to conduct a marketing study of what outside retailers and developers think of Hoffman Estates.
“There seems to be some underlying fear in creating this commission,” McLeod said.