Former Homewood Director To Come Back After Hot Mic Disaster

HOMEWOOD, IL — In an email newsletter from Mayor Rich Hofeld on Friday, the mayor announced that Angela Mesaros, the Economic and Community Development Director who resigned in March, will be taking the position back on Monday. Her resignation came after a hot mic on a Zoom broadcast captured her using derogatory language to describe members of the public who attended Planning and Zoning Commission meetings to determine the fate of the former Calumet Country Club.

In the recorded Zoom broadcast, just before the meeting was called to order, Mesaros can be heard apparently referring to protesters — mainly members of the South Suburbs for Greenspace Over Concrete (SSGOC) who attended the previous meeting — as "a**holes," joking about fighting with or shooting audience members, and adding that she is "very good at inciting violence in other people."

Hofeld said that commission members have "fervently and frequently" expressed that they want to see the reinstatement of Angela Mesaros.

"Committee members close to the situation cited the unfair and unreasonable pressure inflicted on Ms. Mesaros prior to her brusque remarks recorded without her permission between meetings, leading to her resignation, not a decision shared by the commission members," Hofeld said. "Village Manager Jim Marino investigated the incident and determined that village policies were violated that warranted Ms. Mesaros’ resignation. However, while I was aware of the harassment she was enduring at the hands of those in opposition to a due process the village afforded a developer, it was only through further investigation did I grasp the level of hatred directed at one of our most esteemed employees."

Hofeld went on to say that a member of the audience "hurled insults" at Mesaros, adding that "No person should be subjected to such abuse."

"The unauthorized tape recklessly gathered and distributed caused Ms. Mesaros to issue an apology and resign. I commend her for putting the village ahead of herself," Hofeld said. "While I can never condone her comments in any context, I am also not in a position to 'cast the first stone' because who hasn’t uttered regrettable remarks. I shudder to think how my words might be construed if replayed out of context."

The mayor said that the "collective alarm" of commission members required swift action.

"I adamantly directed our village manager to reinstate Ms. Mesaros to her rightful position as economic and community development director for the Village of Homewood, after serving her 30-day suspension for violating village personnel policies. Ms. Mesaros will return to the office on April 19, 2021," Hofeld said, ending his statement.

In early March, Mesaros issued an apology, saying she takes full responsibility and is "deeply ashamed" of the comments she made.

"I have said words that were thoughtless and unkind towards members of this community. My actions showed disrespect for our residents whose voices need to be heard. My job is to help this community," Mesaros said in the March apology. "I understand that I have let down our residents as well as our leaders. Any reference to violence or the use of a gun is never appropriate, and it does not reflect my love for this community I call home."

Related:

Homewood Residents Want Director To Resign After Hot Mic Swearing | Homewood, IL Patch

Homewood Director Apologizes After Hot Mic Swearing | Homewood, IL Patch

Homewood Residents Want Director To Resign After Hot Mic Swearing | Homewood, IL Patch