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Residents press mayor over recreation-committee liaison change; mayor says appointments are his prerogative
Summary
During public comment residents asked why Councilman Greg Hoffman was removed as liaison to the recreation and cultural committee and urged reinstatement or formal listing; Mayor Meshagna said liaison appointments are the mayor's decision and promised to consider the concern.
At the Jan. 6 Park Ridge organizational meeting several residents used the public-privilege period to question and urge reconsideration of a change to the recreation-and-cultural-committee liaison.
A resident who gave her address (29 West Park Avenue) asked directly, “Did Mr. Hoffman ask to be removed as the liaison?” She said Hoffman had been an active liaison for years, that the change was the only liaison alteration from 2025 to 2026, and asked the council to reverse the decision or place Hoffman’s name on the committee roster. The resident did not state her name when speaking; later a speaker identified his wife as Maureen and said he came to support her remarks.
Why it matters: liaison assignments link council members to volunteer committees that run events and programs. Residents said the change could affect recruitment and the continuity of events such as the town picnic and youth activities.
Bob Howell of 29 West Park told the council he and others have depended on Greg Hoffman’s long-term involvement and urged the mayor to retain or accommodate Hoffman’s role. Michael Bridal and other commenters urged the council to recruit younger volunteers to sustain labor-intensive events and cited the physical demands of tasks such as lifting stages for the town picnic.
Mayor Meshagna responded that appointments of liaisons and committee members are a mayoral prerogative: “The mayor appoints all rec committee members, liaisons, assignments, and that was my choice,” he said, and added he did not want internal committee disputes aired publicly but would consider following up and try to recruit younger volunteers. He also emphasized that Hoffman can still participate in committee work so long as quorum rules are observed.
The council did not reverse any appointment during the meeting; the mayor said he would consider the matter and could return it to a future agenda if appropriate.
Next steps: The mayor said he would think about the request and discuss it with residents; the council did not take formal action at the meeting.
