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Villa Park board approves 12‑month agreement with Mallon Associates to pursue retail redevelopment
Summary
The Village of Villa Park approved a 12‑month consulting agreement with Mallon Associates to pursue redevelopment of retail and commercial properties. The contract, budgeted at $7,000 per month, drew questions from residents and trustees about cost and oversight before passing on a roll-call vote.
The Village of Villa Park Board of Trustees voted to enter a 12‑month agreement with Mallon Associates Inc. to assist with redevelopment of strategic retail and commercial properties in the village.
The resolution authorizing the agreement passed on a roll‑call vote after a presentation from Michael Mallon, president of Mallon Associates, and a period of trustee and public questioning. The consultant’s scope, the company said, would include market outreach to retailers and preparation of an action plan for identified catalyst sites.
Mallon told the board he tracks prospective retailers across Chicagoland and aims to use his contacts to bring restaurants and retailers to towns. “I’m a problem solver,” he said during the presentation, and explained the fee structure that underpins the proposal: a baseline of about 20 hours of work per month at $350 an hour, which the proposal translates to about $7,000 per month.
Trustees and a public commenter sought clarity on who would pay for the work and how the village would monitor outcomes. Manager Rivas said the village could fund the consultant from an existing vacant staff line or through TIF professional services if the work directly supports projects in a TIF district. Trustee Constatos asked Mallon to clarify out‑of‑pocket expenses (mileage, printing and similar items) and any additional fees; Mallon said such charges would be minimal and reviewed with staff in advance.
Resident Cheryl Tucker, speaking during public comment, expressed concern about the cost and whether the consultant’s client list was appropriate for Villa Park’s scale. Tucker asked who would verify the vendor’s billed hours if additional work beyond the 20 hours per month were required. Mallon and staff replied that the agreement anticipates staff oversight and that extra work would be discussed and authorized before billing.
Manager Rivas recommended approval; Mallon responded to trustee questions about his prior work in suburbs including Glenview and Lombard and emphasized that he would personally serve as the village’s advisor rather than delegating the work. Trustees asked for and received a commitment that staff would monitor deliverables.
The board approved the resolution to contract with Mallon Associates for the 12‑month term. The motion was seconded and carried by unanimous roll‑call vote.
