Village officials in south suburban Homewood are investigating after employees were reportedly overheard making violent threats and using profanity to describe opponents of a redevelopment project.
Homewood announced the investigation in a Facebook post.
"The Village of Homewood has learned that certain employees were speaking off the record before a recorded public meeting of the Planning & Zoning Commission Public Hearing was called to order. The Village is currently investigating this matter," the statement said.
The investigation follows comments that were made before a Zoom meeting on Thursday.
A proposal to redevelop the old Calumet Country Club site into a trucking hub has been met by vocal opposition to people nearby.
There have been several contentious public meetings, and the emotions apparently carried over to the comments before the hearing.
The person who recorded the comments told WBBM Newsradio that they logged into the Zoom meeting early using a publicly available link. This person started recording when the people on the meeting started talking about project opponents at previous meetings.
One person on the video was heard referring to opponents as "those a--holes in the audience."
The person using profanity was later identified by Village Manager Jim Marino as Angela Mesaros, the Director of Economic and Community Development.
She later said "good thing me and (name of employee) don't have guns," according to audio obtained by WBBM Newsradio. Another person said it is hard not to take opponents' comments personally.
Marino said he has spoken to Mesaros and others heard on the recording.
"They're very remorseful. They're very sorry that they said the comments. They know that they were inappropriate. I wish they didn't make those comments, because it doesn't reflect who they are," Marino said.
The redevelopment plan has brought out heated emotions, he said.
"The comments were very concerning and inappropriate and I'm taking a look into them. I know the person who made the comments said them under stress and frustration," Marino said.
Marino said disciplinary action is possible.
