Resident accuses administration of pushing cannabis sales; President DeSimone denies board backed it

During public comment at the March 25 Bensenville Village Board meeting, resident James Nylander said he was speaking for himself and accused members of the administration of privately pushing to allow cannabis sales in the village and of causing him financial harm. Nylander identified himself as a long-term volunteer with the Bensenville Police Department and said he was labeled in prior meetings as "pastor Nylander," which he said mischaracterized his purpose at the mic. "President DeSimone, you recently referred to people who are addressing things with you as your opponents... Frank, I'm not your opponent," Nylander said, later adding that "you absolutely wanted it, as did the village manager who told me directly that he wanted it." He also raised concerns about changes to stipends for elected positions and the village manager's compensation, saying the manager "made about 302,000 with compensation."

In his presidential remarks later in the meeting, President Frank DeSimone denied that the board ever intended to approve the sale of cannabis. "This board was never going to approve the sale of cannabis," he said, adding that when the issue was discussed he was still a police officer and could not constitutionally vote on it. He characterized social-media commentary about the issue as misinformation and criticized personal attacks directed at his family. "There will be continued use of any tactic to advance their crazy conspiracy theories and misguided beliefs," he said, and invited residents to call or visit his office to discuss concerns.

The transcript records the allegations by Nylander and DeSimone’s denial and response; the transcript does not include direct corroboration of Nylander’s claim that the village manager privately advocated for cannabis sales, nor does it include a detailed accounting of the village manager’s compensation beyond Nylander’s statement.