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Village board appoints Ilona House to Metropolis Performing Arts Center board amid resident concerns over workplace allegations
Summary
The Arlington Heights Village Board on Feb. 18 confirmed Ilona House as a village appointee to the Metropolis Performing Arts Center (MPAC) board for a three‑year term after a resident raised concerns about long‑running allegations of harassment and two pending lawsuits at MPAC.
Arlington Heights — The Village Board on Feb. 18 approved the appointment of Ilona House to the Metropolis Performing Arts Center board of directors for a term ending Feb. 18, 2028, after a resident asked the board to explain oversight and potential village liability related to allegations of long‑running misconduct at MPAC.
Trustee Lebeds moved to concur in the mayor’s appointment; Trustee Baldino seconded, and the board approved the appointment by voice vote.
During citizens’ comments, a resident who identified themself as Mr. Moons urged the board to address ‘‘publicly available accounts of discrimination, harassment, abuse, and unsafe work conditions’’ at the Metropolis Performing Arts Center. He said the allegations dated back to about 2015, continued through at least 2021, and that there are ‘‘two existing lawsuits today by an ex‑employee as plaintiff and the MPAC as defendant.’’ He asked whether the Village could be liable beyond its annual subsidy and what oversight was in place to protect employees and visiting performers.
President Hayes responded by expressing confidence in the new leadership at MPAC, including the new board president Jill Geimer and the village appointees, and said he expected the center to continue as a ‘‘successful concern’’ for the community. Ilona (Ilona/Alona in the record) House briefly addressed the board, saying she looked forward to serving and ‘‘keeping Metropolis up to the standards and building it up even higher if we can.’’
The resident’s public comment referenced that the Village provides an annual subsidy to MPAC (the resident cited $300,000); the board did not vote to increase or reduce that subsidy at the Feb. 18 meeting. No formal findings about MPAC’s internal conduct were made at the meeting, and Mayor Hayes and other board members limited their remarks to support for the new board and confidence in oversight by the incoming members.
Ending — next steps: The appointment is effective immediately and the new board membership will participate in MPAC oversight and programming. The resident’s comments requested that the Village publicly clarify oversight and potential liability; the Village did not announce further action at the Feb. 18 meeting but the question may be the subject of future inquiries or requests for staff follow‑up.
