Musical chairs at Hoffman Estates village hall

Cary Collins wasn't inside Hoffman Estates village hall Monday night when the board, as expected, approved the appointment of Plan Commission Chairman Gary Stanton to fill Collins' vacant trustee seat.

Instead Collins was at the police station representing the village during adjudication hearings. That's the responsibility of the village prosecutor, and now that position is vacant.

Village Prosecutor Dominick DiMaggio tendered his resignation effective Sunday, Village Attorney Arthur Janura said. But on Monday Collins was not named the village prosecutor, at least not yet.

“He's doing it on a substitute basis,” Janura said.

The village has retained Collins to fill in for DiMaggio while they sort out who will take the job permanently. The board was supposed to vote on the matter Monday, but instead Hoffman Estates Mayor William McLeod asked trustees to table the matter. McLeod said there was no particular issue he was waiting resolution on.

“No, I just wanted to talk to the board further,” McLeod said.

After the 63-year-old Collins resigned from his trustee seat last month, speculation was that he'd assume the prosecutor's post. DiMaggio accepted a trustee position in October in Hawthorn Woods. He then considered leaving his Hoffman Estates job to free up more time for his new post, something he ultimately did.

Collins, himself, said he'd accept the prosecutor's job if McLeod offered it to him.

After the meeting, McLeod said he hoped the board would make an appointment at next week's meeting.

The prosecutor represents the village at adjudication hearings, which convene twice a month on Mondays at the police station. That covers village tickets, including traffic citations.

Collins was involved this summer in a disagreement with Cheryl Axley, who presides over the hearings. Axley alleged Collins used his influence as a trustee to have tickets that were issued to a group of teens thrown out. Police cited the teens for a variety of offenses, including loitering, and the tickets were eventually heard and dismissed.

A report of the incident filed by former Police Chief Clinton Herdegen stated Collins pressured a police officer to throw the tickets out. Collins denied any wrongdoing.

DiMaggio earned $72,692 last year in salary as prosecutor, and Collins earned $5,900 as a trustee. Meanwhile, Stanton will fill the remainder of Collins' term, which ends April 30. He intends to run in the April election, and he'll have the support of McLeod.

A member of a variety of village committees, Stanton said he's excited about getting to better know how the village is run.

“It's one thing to be on the outside looking in,” Stanton said.

Stanton added he's not sure what will happen to his tenure as head of the plan commission. There's talk of combining that with the zoning board of appeals, which means there could be consolidation of positions.

“That's the mayor's decision,” Stanton said.