Business owners coming to financial aid of two Glen Ellyn leaders

Some Glen Ellyn business owners are raising money to help pay legal fees for two top village administrators facing misconduct allegations.

Village leaders on Monday are expected to demote police Chief Phil Norton to sergeant and to discipline Planning and Development Director Staci Hulseberg. Both have been under scrutiny for several months.

On Friday, several business owners started a fund to offset the legal expenses Norton and Hulseberg already have incurred.

"We don't believe this should have ever made it to our board room, let alone have legal fees piling up," said Kathryn Hudson, owner of Kinckers of Glen Ellyn. "It's just another way to support them."

Residents and businesses can contribute to the fund.

"There are many businesses in town that feel, especially in this economy, we can't afford to lose either Staci or Phil," Hudson said. "They've just accomplished so many great things on behalf of the businesses in downtown."

More than 300 people have signed petitions and dozens have spoken against a possible demotion at village board meetings in November.

Meanwhile, Trustee Pete Ladesic has hired his own legal counsel. He said he wants a second opinion before the village board takes any action.

"As every day goes by, I get more and more frustrated with this," he said.

Since August, village officials have been meeting in executive session to discuss whether to discipline Norton and Hulseberg, but leaders have remained tight-lipped about the allegations.

Norton has been with the police department for more than two decades; he became chief in 2001.

Hulseberg became Glen Ellyn's planning and development director in 2004. Before that, she held similar positions in Woodridge, Hanover Park and Highland Park.