http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2009/10/26/93657407/index.xml
By ELENA GRIMM - egrimm@daily-chronicle.com
DeKALB – City council members will continue to be allowed to do business with the city, but there will likely be greater awareness when that happens.
During their regular Committee of the Whole meeting Monday night, aldermen made several suggestions about the type and amount of disclosure they think is needed. But overall sentiment was that having business-savvy elected officials do business with the government they serve is not a concern if the process is legal and saves money.
“I don’t think we would be doing ourselves a service to the community to say to council people, ‘You can’t do business with the city,’” 6th Ward Alderman Dave Baker said.
“We’ve had several business people in this community who have served on this council in the past and continue to serve on this council that have provided some valuable input,” 7th Ward Alderman Brent Keller said.
The discussion derived from one alderman’s work on public projects in 2008. Third Ward Alderman Victor Wogen won six out of eight contracts with the city of DeKalb because he provided the lowest quote for the maintenance jobs.
The six projects that the now-defunct Masonry Works LLC won totaled $52,880, though each individual project cost less than $20,000. Expenditures less than $20,000 don’t require authorization by the city council but can be approved by the city manager, according to state and city law.
When he learned of the connection Wogen had to these downtown repairs, Mayor Kris Povlsen called for more transparency and asked that the council revise its financial policy to either limit or prohibit an alderman doing business with the city.
He said Monday that any amount of work that a city council member is party to – regardless of cost or accordance to state law – should be disclosed to the city council beforehand.
Fourth Ward Alderman Brendon Gallagher suggested that aldermen submit an annual disclosure statement that would list all business information for that person.
Other suggestions involved tweaking financial and purchasing policies for better clarification.
After the discussion, several residents complained of mistrust and mismanagement.
“Why is it a matter of how much money we save rather than how we do business?” asked John Duerk, a political science graduate student. “Even if it’s not illegal, it certainly is an exercise in poor judgment.”
Kay Shelton said she was concerned with what she said was an investigation by the Illinois Department of Labor on Wogsn’s Masonry Works. She said residents she has spoken with are “disgusted,” but not surprised by the activity between an alderman and the city.
But aldermen supported how the rules are generally written, with room for improvement.
“Should there be certain prohibitions? Perhaps. I’m not aware on my time on the council of any inappropriate behavior in any sort of way,” 1st Ward Alderman Bertrand Simpson said. “I’m quite happy with the way the rules are currently.”
What’s next?
Revisions to the purchasing policy and financial administration policy, including disclosure requirements, will be presented to the DeKalb City Council at a future meeting.
Copyright © 2009 Daily Chronicle. All rights reserved.
By ELENA GRIMM - egrimm@daily-chronicle.com
DeKALB – City council members will continue to be allowed to do business with the city, but there will likely be greater awareness when that happens.
During their regular Committee of the Whole meeting Monday night, aldermen made several suggestions about the type and amount of disclosure they think is needed. But overall sentiment was that having business-savvy elected officials do business with the government they serve is not a concern if the process is legal and saves money.
“I don’t think we would be doing ourselves a service to the community to say to council people, ‘You can’t do business with the city,’” 6th Ward Alderman Dave Baker said.
“We’ve had several business people in this community who have served on this council in the past and continue to serve on this council that have provided some valuable input,” 7th Ward Alderman Brent Keller said.
The discussion derived from one alderman’s work on public projects in 2008. Third Ward Alderman Victor Wogen won six out of eight contracts with the city of DeKalb because he provided the lowest quote for the maintenance jobs.
The six projects that the now-defunct Masonry Works LLC won totaled $52,880, though each individual project cost less than $20,000. Expenditures less than $20,000 don’t require authorization by the city council but can be approved by the city manager, according to state and city law.
When he learned of the connection Wogen had to these downtown repairs, Mayor Kris Povlsen called for more transparency and asked that the council revise its financial policy to either limit or prohibit an alderman doing business with the city.
He said Monday that any amount of work that a city council member is party to – regardless of cost or accordance to state law – should be disclosed to the city council beforehand.
Fourth Ward Alderman Brendon Gallagher suggested that aldermen submit an annual disclosure statement that would list all business information for that person.
Other suggestions involved tweaking financial and purchasing policies for better clarification.
After the discussion, several residents complained of mistrust and mismanagement.
“Why is it a matter of how much money we save rather than how we do business?” asked John Duerk, a political science graduate student. “Even if it’s not illegal, it certainly is an exercise in poor judgment.”
Kay Shelton said she was concerned with what she said was an investigation by the Illinois Department of Labor on Wogsn’s Masonry Works. She said residents she has spoken with are “disgusted,” but not surprised by the activity between an alderman and the city.
But aldermen supported how the rules are generally written, with room for improvement.
“Should there be certain prohibitions? Perhaps. I’m not aware on my time on the council of any inappropriate behavior in any sort of way,” 1st Ward Alderman Bertrand Simpson said. “I’m quite happy with the way the rules are currently.”
What’s next?
Revisions to the purchasing policy and financial administration policy, including disclosure requirements, will be presented to the DeKalb City Council at a future meeting.
Copyright © 2009 Daily Chronicle. All rights reserved.
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