http://www.northernstar.info/article/8769/
DeKalb City Council discusses aldermen's city contract rights
By AMANDA PODGORNY
DeKalb City Council aldermen voiced their opinions on limiting aldermen’s ability to work on city contracts during Monday’s committee meeting.
This comes after DeKalb Mayor Kris Povlsen and City Manager Mark Biernacki received several questions regarding Third Ward Alderman Victor Wogen’s involvement in city contracts.
Wogen’s company, Masonry Works, LLC, held six contracts with the city during the summer of 2008 to do masonry work in the downtown area. Wogen’s company is not currently operating.
“There has been significant discussion about this throughout the city,” Biernacki said.
There is no ordinance banning aldermen from doing business with the city, as long as certain procedures and state statutory limitations are followed, City Attorney Norma Guess said in an Oct. 20 press release.
The state statute states that projects less than $20,000 can be administratively approved by the city manager without council action. If the project does happen to go to an alderman, no current local or state law states he must disclose his ownership in the company to the council or citizens of DeKalb.
None of Wogen’s projects were more than $20,000, and according to the press release, the total of the six separate projects was $52,880.
Biernacki suggested two options to the aldermen.
“We can out-right ban it or perhaps require there be more control, limitations and disclosure,” Biernacki said.
First Ward Alderman Bertrand Simpson does not believe there is a need for change in the city’s code.
“I myself am happy with the way things are,” Simpson said.
Sixth Ward Alderman Dave Baker stated that he has been the president of Copy Services, 1005 W. Lincoln Highway, for 31 years and said his experience as an entrepreneur has offered a unique point of view to the council.
“We want the diversity on the council,” Baker said. “I don’t think that we’d be doing a favor to the community by saying [aldermen can’t] do business with the city.”
Baker was weary of the timing of this proposed change and said it would only be fair to consider this change 180 days before the next local election so that this would only impact aldermen.
“[The council] shouldn’t try and change this mid-stream,” Baker said.
Fourth Ward Alderman Brendon Gallagher said aldermen holding contracts with the city can be a blurry issue.
“Can aldermen do business with the city?” Gallagher said. “You are walking a very fine line.”
Gallagher suggested aldermen be required to fill out annual disclosure that lists aldermen’s businesses and any other business-related information, to be filed around November or December.
Baker suggested a similar idea that would require the city to find out if an alderman or city official have a part in a company before “cutting a check.”
“The city would not cut a check without knowledge of a council member owning a company,” Baker said.
Biernacki will take the aldermen’s suggestions, and this issue will be brought back to the council at a later time.
DeKalb City Council discusses aldermen's city contract rights
By AMANDA PODGORNY
DeKalb City Council aldermen voiced their opinions on limiting aldermen’s ability to work on city contracts during Monday’s committee meeting.
This comes after DeKalb Mayor Kris Povlsen and City Manager Mark Biernacki received several questions regarding Third Ward Alderman Victor Wogen’s involvement in city contracts.
Wogen’s company, Masonry Works, LLC, held six contracts with the city during the summer of 2008 to do masonry work in the downtown area. Wogen’s company is not currently operating.
“There has been significant discussion about this throughout the city,” Biernacki said.
There is no ordinance banning aldermen from doing business with the city, as long as certain procedures and state statutory limitations are followed, City Attorney Norma Guess said in an Oct. 20 press release.
The state statute states that projects less than $20,000 can be administratively approved by the city manager without council action. If the project does happen to go to an alderman, no current local or state law states he must disclose his ownership in the company to the council or citizens of DeKalb.
None of Wogen’s projects were more than $20,000, and according to the press release, the total of the six separate projects was $52,880.
Biernacki suggested two options to the aldermen.
“We can out-right ban it or perhaps require there be more control, limitations and disclosure,” Biernacki said.
First Ward Alderman Bertrand Simpson does not believe there is a need for change in the city’s code.
“I myself am happy with the way things are,” Simpson said.
Sixth Ward Alderman Dave Baker stated that he has been the president of Copy Services, 1005 W. Lincoln Highway, for 31 years and said his experience as an entrepreneur has offered a unique point of view to the council.
“We want the diversity on the council,” Baker said. “I don’t think that we’d be doing a favor to the community by saying [aldermen can’t] do business with the city.”
Baker was weary of the timing of this proposed change and said it would only be fair to consider this change 180 days before the next local election so that this would only impact aldermen.
“[The council] shouldn’t try and change this mid-stream,” Baker said.
Fourth Ward Alderman Brendon Gallagher said aldermen holding contracts with the city can be a blurry issue.
“Can aldermen do business with the city?” Gallagher said. “You are walking a very fine line.”
Gallagher suggested aldermen be required to fill out annual disclosure that lists aldermen’s businesses and any other business-related information, to be filed around November or December.
Baker suggested a similar idea that would require the city to find out if an alderman or city official have a part in a company before “cutting a check.”
“The city would not cut a check without knowledge of a council member owning a company,” Baker said.
Biernacki will take the aldermen’s suggestions, and this issue will be brought back to the council at a later time.
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