Hoffman Estates trustees close to going live on TV

Come April, members of the Hoffman Estates village board better prepare for their close-up. That's when board meetings are finally going to be shown on the village's public access cable television channel.

Now that the meetings will be televised, the board next week will discuss ways it could streamline the meetings and make them more efficient. This would make meetings translate better on television. Trustee Cary Collins asked if that could make meetings shorter.

"That will be up to you guys," Village Manger James Norris told the village board with a smile.

Norris said steps could be taken to prevent viewers from being confused, such as better distinguishing if the board was reviewing an ordinance on a first or second reading.

Some board members have been apprehensive about putting the meetings on television.

Mayor William McLeod has said televising the meetings has been long a goal of his, allowing residents a chance to watch council proceedings from the comfort of their homes.

The installation of cameras is one of the last steps in the village hall remodeling project. This week's meeting was the last in the "old" board room. Crews will now tear the room up and meetings will shift to the village hall's newly-remodeled multipurpose room down the hall. Deputy Village Manager Dan O'Malley said he's targeting work to be finished before the April 20 meeting, when trustees could move back to the chambers.