Homewood trustees eye publicity expense
By Nikki Arseneau Correspondent June 15, 2012 5:12PM
Updated: July 19, 2012 6:10AM
Two Homewood village trustees want to take a closer look at how money is being spent to promote the village and its various events.
During last week’s village board meeting, Trustee Ray Robertson questioned why the village spent $1,000 on a publicist and $2,000 on a graphic artist when the village has a public relations and special events manager on staff.
“We need to have a discussion here,” Robertson said Tuesday.
Like Robertson, Trustee Tom Kataras questioned why the additional money was spent.
“The problem I have is if we are paying an individual … giving them an extra salary to do these things … then we’re outsourcing to somebody else. It’s not a wise use of taxpayer money,” Kataras said.
Mayor Rich Hofeld disagreed, adding the money was budgeted.
“There are different segments of marketing,” Hofeld said. “It’s money well spent. Believe me, our name is out there.”
Trustee Jay Heiferman said several people told him they heard about Homewood’s recent Downtown Art and Garden Street Fair through a television news story.
Acting village manager Jim Marino said the publicist has established contacts with television stations, newspapers and magazines.
“(The publicist) can go right to the source,” Marino said. “That’s much more than placing an ad in a magazine which is what we typically do.”
