Unusually Low Turnout At Elmhurst Council Meeting

Elmhurst IL

06 January, 2022

7:33 AM

Description

ELMHURST, IL — Just half of Elmhurst's 14 aldermen showed up in person at Monday's City Council meeting. Five of the members — Jennifer Veremis, Jacob Hill, Noel Talluto, Brian Cahill and Michael Honquest — were absent. No reason was given for the abnormally low attendance. Another two aldermen — Marti Deuter and Mike Brennan — connected to the meeting remotely. Alderman James Nudera was sitting in a largely vacant area of the council's dais. "You're a little lonely there, Mr. Nudera," Mayor Scott Levin joked. The meeting was unusually short, just 14 minutes. It would have been only nine minutes if an unincorporated Elmhurst resident hadn't spoken during public input about legislation on his fire protection district. The council's last meeting of 2021 took only 12 minutes, the shortest of the year. The items on Monday's meeting agenda involved little controversy. And the council held no closed session — the intrigue of which may have attracted more aldermen. While council meetings have been quiet lately, that may change in the coming months. The council is expected to consider easing the city's ban on tents for growing food during the winter — a controversial topic over the years. Also, a council committee is reviewing a proposal for a 200-unit apartment complex downtown. Neighbors have expressed concerns.