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Residents raise broadband costs and FOIA redactions; village staff outline advocacy, vendor contact and follow-up
Summary
Two residents used public comment to press the village on high residential internet costs and on Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) redactions. Staff described ongoing utility advocacy and reported that the village attorney later provided unredacted records to the requester after Attorney General engagement.
Amy Johnson, a Roselle resident, told trustees she pays about $120 per month for internet-only service from Comcast while a friend in a neighboring village pays roughly $35 for comparable service. Johnson said she has tried other providers (AT&T, Verizon) but that those services are not available at her address and that Comcast negotiators told her to talk to the village. Assistant Village Administrator Brian Jonas said the village can act as an advocate (not a regulator) to contact utility companies on residents’ behalf and escalate requests, and added that Lumos Fiber has submitted plans to bury fiber in the area and may provide new competition if it goes forward.
Ryan Cofalo, a longtime resident and business owner, addressed a FOIA request he filed in November 2024 for disciplinary records related to a former fire-department employee. Cofalo said the clerk’s office produced heavily redacted records initially. After trying to address the matter with the deputy village clerk, he said he followed staff advice and contacted the Illinois Attorney General’s office. Cofalo told the board that the village attorney, Michael Castello Jr., then contacted him, asked him to email a request for the unredacted records, and subsequently provided the originally requested unredacted documents; Cofalo said the documents described two minor disciplinary incidents and that he thanked village staff for resolving the matter but urged additional FOIA training to avoid future errors.
Village staff acknowledged both concerns and encouraged residents to give contact information to staff so the village can escalate utility-access issues. The Village Attorney and administrator were credited by Cofalo for ultimately providing records; trustees and staff said they will consider additional FOIA training for officials who handle requests.
Ending
Staff said the village can serve as a utility advocate and will follow up on Lumos Fiber interest; the village attorney provided unredacted records to the FOIA requester after Attorney General involvement and staff will consider additional FOIA training for records officers.
