Former Plainfield mayor blasts successor on social media use, village lawsuit

The former mayor of Plainfield came to a Village Board meeting this week to criticize his successor on various issues, including his use of social media and an ongoing lawsuit against his law office.

Michael Collins began his comments during Monday’s Committee of the Whole meeting by calling himself as “private citizen Collins,” a reference to what Mayor John Argoudelis called him when he spoke at a previous meeting.

Collins noted it had been over 200 days since Argoudelis took office. Argoudelis won the mayoral election over Margie Bonuchi, a Collins ally and former village trustee, last April.

“In that time, I haven’t seen or heard any actions of benefit to the village, only self-promotion,” he said, referring to Argoudelis’ use of social media.

Collins said Argoudelis and his administration have “shown no guidance to the trustees or the staff,” pointing to last week’s vote by some trustees to not adopt a 2021 tax levy.

Argoudelis did not respond to his predecessor’s comments Monday, but in a subsequent interview said it was Collins’ right as a member of the public to share his views at Village Board meetings. He said he used social media to not promote himself, but to promote the village, local businesses and events.

“I think it’s important in the 21st century to be using social media,” Argoudelis said, adding it’s “pretty mainstream in our times.”

Argoudelis added that at Monday’s board meeting a majority of board members voted to adopt a tax levy.

Collins also criticized Argoudelis for looking at his phone during public meetings when village officials are presenting information.

Argoudelis said as a practicing attorney and while serving only part-time as mayor, he sometimes needs to multitask and respond to his clients. He said the meetings in question were to educate the pubic and that he already knew the information that was presented.

Finally, Collins brought up the village’s ongoing lawsuit against Argoudelis’ law office over fines for what the village claims was his failure to keep his office up to code. The lawsuit originated in 2018 while Collins was still the mayor.

“Let us see how much longer this black cloud hangs over this Village Board and the mayor,” Collins said.

Argoudelis has maintained the lawsuit is a “vindictive” attempt to collect fines from him that could total less money than the village is spending on litigation.

“Why are we still messing around in court three years later and spending taxpayer dollars needlessly?” Argoudelis said.

Also this week, Plainfield’s new village administrator, Josh Blakemore, officially started the job.

Much work is ahead, including beginning an update to the village’s comprehensive plan. Multiple trustees also have called for a tightening of village spending to ensure a lowering of taxes on residents, especially after rising home prices will almost certainly lead to a rise in property tax bills.