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Resident raises construction-quality and conflict-of-interest concerns about developer
Summary
At the IDA public hearing, resident Jeff Betts criticized the developer's workmanship on recent private homes, said homeowners reported unresponsiveness, and reported learning of familial ties between the IDA CEO and the project's company president, urging the board to review ethics and consider recusals.
Jeff Betts, speaking during the public hearing, described construction problems he said he observed in homes the developer built and urged the board to examine the developer's conduct and potential governance issues.
"But if that's the quality of the work that is going on in private homes, no wonder that this development switched from private homes to apartments," Betts said, describing rotted siding and missing flashing in houses he inspected. He told the board he had learned "for the 1st time that the CEO of the IDA and the president of Luizi are brother and sister," and he urged review of the village code of ethics and consideration of recusals during negotiations.
Betts repeatedly said he was speaking in a personal capacity and that he supported the project overall because the community needs housing, but he asked the IDA members to consider whether staff or board members with family ties to the developer should be excluded from negotiations or decision-making.
The board did not pause or amend its schedule in response to the comments and later moved forward with ratifying a cost-benefit contract and the final approving resolution.
