Board of Ethics

“Where People Count” 1000 Civic Center Drive, Niles, Illinois 60714 Telephone (847) 588-8000 ● Fax (847) 588-8051 ● TDD (847) 588-8059 Mayor Robert M. Callero Trustees Chris Hanusiak MINUTES James T. Hynes BOARD OF ETHICS Joe LoVerde Village Hall, Council Chambers Louella B. Preston Andrew Przybylo April 29, 2010 – 6:00 p.m. Alan Weel The Board of Ethics meeting was held on Thursday, April 29, 2010, at the Village Village Manager George R. Van Geem Hall. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chairman LoVerde. Village Clerk Present: Also Present: Marlene J. Victorine Chairman Trustee Joe LoVerde Citizens Compliance Plan Comm. Trustee Louella Preston (CCPC) Attorney Joseph Annunzio Attorney Mike Siegel Absent: Michael Fries Approval of Minutes Attorney Siegel made a motion, seconded by Trustee Preston, to approve the minutes of the February 16, 2010, meeting; on voice vote all concurred. Trustee Preston suggested that the questions and answers be attached to the minutes. Review of Sections 1 and 2 of the Proposed Draft Ethics Code Chairman LoVerde stated that the Board of Ethics will review the Code of Ethics for a final time before sending it to an outside attorney that specializes in Ethics, for review of 1) its legality and 2) its enforcement before it’s sent to the Village Board. The current document before the Board of Ethics is a compiled version which includes all questions and answers from the CCPC. A suggestion was made to review this document section by section. Discussion led by Attorney Siegel regarding paragraph 5 in section 1 which deals with disclosure conclude by returning to this issue once a discussion is made in Section 3. Attorney Annunzio stated that it would easier to have a discussion in Section 3 and so on to help in defining the purpose in Section 1. Discussion led to amend number 7 under Section 1, by replacing the word citizens with others. Under Section 2, the Board of Ethics definition has been amended as follows: replace citizen with the word resident and define what constitutes a resident; one member will be replaced with two members shall be residents as well as the Village Attorney will be stricken. Discussion continued on the definition of the CCPC which was www.vniles.com  Board of Ethics Meeting, April 29, 2010 determined that citizen of the CCPC will be stricken and the beginning of this definition will be replaced with Section 2-430(a) of the Niles Code of Ordinances. An uncompensated volunteer under the definition of employee has been stricken. Trustee Preston recommended that under the definition Political Activity, Section 2 of the Lobbyist Act should be referenced with the proper State statute. The following issues remain unresolved and require further discussion:  Section 1-(5) will be amended following the review of Section 3.  Section 2-(10) gift definition must be reviewed upon completion of Section 5 Gift Ban. Suggestion was made to keep the definition as broad as possible.  Section 2-(14) must be revisited again following review of Section 5 Gift Ban. Discussion continued on the remainder of Section 2, which will remain unchanged. Chairman LoVerde suggested that Attorney Annunzio bring the Ethics Committee up to date on the pending investigation. Attorney Annunzio concluded that it is ongoing and no timeframe can be established. A member of the CCPC would like to see this done correctly, no matter how much time it takes. The next meeting will take place within two weeks, date and time will be announced shortly. Executive Session Motion made by Trustee Preston to move into executive session at 7:36 p.m., to discuss three complaints received and the pending investigation, seconded by Attorney Siegel; on voice vote all concurred. Motion to adjourn was made by Trustee Preston, seconded by Attorney Annunzio, all concurred and the meeting adjourned at 8:22 p.m. Kathy M. Thake Board of Ethics Secretary 2