Elmhurst aldermen will have to wait two more weeks to hear a on whether the City Council can restrict officials to one elected position at a time.
Jack Siegel, a veteran municipal attorney hired by the city to investigate the issue, will provide an opinion for the Elmhurst Finance, Council Affairs and Administrative Services Committee before its next meeting June 25, City Manager Jim Grabowski told the committee Monday.
But that's not stopping one committee member from taking the next step.
"We want to keep this process moving forward," said 7th Ward Alderman Mark Mulliner, .
Mulliner presented a draft ordinance to the committee that states the City Council will utilize its home-rule power to prohibit Elmhurst public officials from serving in more than one elected position at a time. The ordinance would pave the way for a November referendum asking citizens of Elmhurst whether they think elected officials should be limited to one office.
A portion of the draft ordinance reads: "It is hereby declared and decreed to be the policy and law of the city of Elmhurst that Elmhurst public officials may not serve or continue to serve in their capacity as an Elmhurst public official if he or she is elected to and sworn in to any other city, county, or state office in a consolidated or general election."
The issue has been the topic of debate among officials and residents ever since Elmhurst Mayor Pete DiCianni he wants to retain his position as mayor if elected to the DuPage County Board in November. DiCianni won the Primary for DuPage County District 2 in March, along with Elaine Zannis and Sean Noonan.
DiCianni has not changed his position, even though DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin in January issued a legal opinion stating the two offices are incompatible. The matter reached the state legislature earlier this year when Sen. Don Harmon (D-39th, Oak Park) introduced an amendment that would have allowed dual elected duty.
The question for the city's attorney is: Can aldermen change city code to limit elected officials to one office at a time even if legislation is passed that says otherwise?
"When other motions are being made at the state level, we need to make sure under our home rule ability (we can) say we don't accept this even if the state legislature pushes this down our throats," Mulliner said. "We want to make sure we know what our options are."
Several residents in attendance at Monday's committee meeting wondered why it is taking so long to get a legal opinion.
"I am in full agreement and support of what Alderman Mulliner has done on our behalf as citizens of Elmhurst, the state of Illinois, the county of DuPage and the United States of America," Darlene Heslop said of the draft ordinance. "This goes a long way to push this process further. I don't understand why it's going to take six weeks to get a legal opinion, but that's the wheels of government."
If the issue must be pushed to the next committee meeting, then at that time the committee should be prepared to act on it, she said.
"Anybody I talk to is very interested in this and … wants this taken care of," she said.
, who also has been very outspoken against dual elected duty, said he was pleased that the process is moving forward, but the window to get the issue on the November ballot is closing quickly.
"Some of us are sensitive to the timeline," he said. "Especially for something this important. We're not talking about a stop sign or a sidewalk. It's about a fundamental change in government."
Fourth Ward Alderman Kevin York said the process takes time, and they are within a reasonable time frame to bring the issue for a vote.
"It takes time to vet potential attorneys, so there was some time involved there," he said referring to the time between deciding to hire an outside attorney and actually hiring one.
Fifth Ward Alderman Scott Levin said Siegel is "the dean" of city attorneys.
"We didn't want the perception of impropriety," Levin said. "The person selected is independent, he doesn't represent any other towns our city attorney (Don Storino) is representing. He's been practicing law for about 60 years.
"It's going to be a very important opinion to us. (We know) it's important not to delay. We're sensitive to the timing."
Aldermen told Grabowski they would like Siegel to attend the next Finance Committee meeting, and Mulliner plans to have him take a look at the draft ordinance and recommend any changes.
"We want to at least have something in place so we can move this forward," he said.
Levin said the ordinance is a "starting point."
"I want to see the legal opinion," he said. "We can jump into it with all eight of our feet at the next meeting."
Every few months there is a new revelation about some agency affiliated with DuPage County that is doing a less than stellar job. There is the Water Commision, the Housing Commision, the Technology Park and the latest is the Election Commision. In every case there has been a lack of oversight by those who were suppose to be providing the oversight. We don't need the most ambitious individuals but we need individuals that are willing to take the time to do the boring stuff of actually reading the material in the packets of information they are given and then taking the time to ask questions. The need to "read the bill" isn't just a national issue or democrat vs. republican issue but unfortunately something that is lacking with our elected officials right here in DuPage County. One of the reasons there are currently so many problems coming to light with agencies associated with the county is because unlike city issues citizens tend not follow what is happening on the county level. It isn't just about road salt.
DiCianni claims to have saved the Elmhurst Hospital and its job base. A high level board member (neighbor) has told me in no uncertain terms, DiCainni had abolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the hospital replacement. All that work and planning was completed under the Marcucci administration. DiCianni has not taken the lead nor the initiative on anything meaningful to date. His M.O. is to "latch on" for opportunistic reasons or political gain at others expense. $1 million for ECAF? ECAF was started I believe from the Klosterman family. Autism bill? Was way advanced in Springfield many many times before DiCianni even knwe Autism existed. Thers so much more...
In no way should my comment construed to be anything other than a reply to Jim's question. If you want to criticize or endorse DiCianni, leave my name out of it.
You are absolutely correct, and that is why they don't want us to look at the man behind the curtain. Lisa Madigan, the Illinois Attorney General, was helping Senator Harmon craft the language for the HB 5078 amendments which failed. Many of our "World Class Cities" (Chicago, NY, California Cites, European Cities) have drown their regions and countries in debt and corruption. Detroit and Cleveland, once industrial powerhouses are now ghost towns. Milwaukee is teetering. I would suggest rather than emulate them, we set our own rules. The best governments are defined at the local level, taking into consideration the culture, values, and economy of the community. We should be thankful we are Home Rule.
I get both. But simply, if electoral representation is not allowed to overlap, which is the premise of our National and State structures, then contractual conflicts are eliminated along with it. The proponents of this Dual Elected Duty effort have used contractual conflicts of interest to cloud the water. Contracts.....Shmontracts. Dual Office holders will be able to consolidate campaign $$$$, political appointments, and other fruits that come with owning two trees. It's about power consolidation first and foremost. Perhaps Mr. Sylvestri is well meaning, and there are no contractual conflicts between Elmwood Park and Cook Co. That's beside the point. It is overlapping, conflicting representation of two different constituencies. It should have NEVER been softly written as a vague "exception" in 1995. Plus Elk Grove Village is not Home Rule, which left its residence with no recourse. Home Rule is our resource to utilize, and to help us lead by example. The effects have now bled into DuPage County and Elmhurst. Burr Ridge too. It'll move around and spread like political Alopecia; and eventually become the norm. The next generation won't even know what they are missing. In my opinion this should be locked up on a State Level too. Cook Co. structure and exceptions to very simple rules, should not be set a precedent for the entire State of Illinois.
Darlene does not get what she wants and stomps her feet, whaaaa, whaaa, whaaa. Prom king? I think I understand, someone got dumped at prom. Darlene, the skeletons you have in your closet are more scary then a pink elephant. And then we have little Tony. You help this guy, the stud on TV, and he becomes Brutus, ( Hey little Tony, Brutus is the guy that stabbed Cesare). Nothing to attack Mr. DiCianni so they create hatred for their cronies to run in the next elections. Mulliner? Ho my God this guy can't even walk and chew gum at the same time ask District 205. What a farce you people are, you make me sick with your hateful bull.
My interests are in preserving a system of government that has been in existence for a long time. I do not believe that four or five interested individuals in local and state government have the right to change this with out the consent of the people, defined in Article VII of the Illinois Constitution. My agenda is to get this accomplished. I have no skin in the game other than to try and protect for my son and daughter, what was protected me.
I will however offer this as to political gain vs. practical / pragmatic leadership: The guy that owned the Ford Dealership on Grand basically asked the city for financial help to remodel and stay afloat during the economic downtown. Mr. DiCianni's administration refused assistance. I think he need like half a million dollars. Now that land will have a Mariano's and we will put up $1.25 mil for a grocery store. Significantly more, and no more Ford Dealership. Was that a good trade? Protocols were broken in this deal, and it seems the Finance Committee was forced to take a back seat to promises already made. Ford is back selling tons of cars and trucks (the F150 is still the #1 selling truck in the Nation). I would have tried to preserve the automotive row that has always been a strong tax base for Elmhurst and really brought in outside residents a customers. I'm not sure a grocery store is going to do that. My understanding is we can not collect local sales tax on groceries, but could on cars and trucks. So what I saw was Mr. DiCianni hold a press conference announcing the Mariano's before Mariano's had ever put a proposal to the Finance Committee. That's backwards. Others can draw their own conclusions.
Me...over 6 feet tall, steel blue eyes, natural all white teeth, full head of hair, big bank account. Why is it all you Democrats can come up with is name calling filled with hatred? Why is it you can't disagree with someone's position and openly and honestly debate? You ought to look in the mirror to see who has the honey on the lips for DiCianni and strychnine in the heart for those that have an opposing opinion.
This is my name, are youuuuuuuuu real, not really if you catch my drift. Madam the problems are numerous for you, and I know you are still dealing with your skeletons, you have never placed them in a closet, sorry I meant in a wharehouse. Look at you past posting they are full of hatred and I believe I am not the only one that as said this to you. Ok I have given you to much time. Tony you are wearing boots? Is it that deep where you walk, that makes sense Brutus. The voters have spoken in the primary. But nooooo the sore loosers are still crying. Bill angel is not real, I think it must be the other side of Mrs. you know who? yes you all have guessed right, its heslop. You all have a nice day now, NOT!
Please don't lump all Democrats in the same pile as JC. Tony- you're still taller than me!