Boards & Commissions Supporting Documents - 02/22/2011 - Board of Trustees (2)PTEM 10.11
OF . .
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AGENDA ITEM
Regular Board of Trustees Meeting
of
February 22, 2011
SUBJECT: Better Government Association Recommendations
FROM: David Niemeyer, Village Manager
BUDGET SOURCE/BUDGET IMPACT:
RECOMMENDED MOTION: Motion to have the Village Board direct the Village Manager
to develop a procedure that would allow two Trustees to place an item on the agenda and require
staff to disclose in writing to the Village Board the involvement of any elected official in the
review or recommendation of any Village contract and the nature of the involvement.
Background/Historv:
The Village has received feedback from the Better Government Association with
recommendations they encourage Village officials to adopt. Those recommendations are as
follows:
• Institute rules that ban elected officials and those pursuing elected office in Oak Brook
from accepting or soliciting campaign contributions from businesses and individuals
regulated by Village government, including bars and restaurants.
• Immediately initiate an independent inquiry that explores how a $10,000 campaign
donation from Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse to Village President John Craig originated and
whether Craig has ever solicited or accepted free food or drink from restaurants and bars
in Oak Brook.
• Separate liquor license duties from the Village President's job. Replace the post with a
panel of appointees, or transfer responsibilities to an existing committee.
• Immediately initiate an independent inquiry that explores whether Village code is being
violated due to the exclusion of the Village Clerk from the liquor license process.
• Immediately initiate an independent inquiry that explores whether elected or appointed
Village Officials steered or tried to steer municipal contracts to friends or political
supporters. As part of this inquiry, all department heads should be interviewed.
• Adhere to the protocols of the ManagerNillage President system of government that calls
for the President to help set policy but empowers the Village Manager to oversee
operations. The Village President should not be directing heads of departments - including
and especially the Police Chief -on a regular basis, and getting involved in day -to -day
decision making.
• Consider adopting a resolution that encourages Village employees to speak out without
fear of reprisal when they encounter suspected corruption, waste or inefficiency in Oak
Brook's municipal government.
• Institute a procedure that allows elected officials other than the Village President to place
items on the Village Board agenda.
Several of these items will require Board direction and discussion. I have spoken with President
Craig about a few of these items and we would recommend the following:
• A procedure should be instituted that allows two Trustees to place items on the Board
agenda.
• A procedure should be instituted that requires staff to disclose in writing to the Village
Board the involvement of any elected official in the review or recommendation of any
Village contract and the nature of the involvement.
A couple of other items of note:
• Liquor license duties are outlined by state law. State law says that the Village President is
the Liquor Commissioner.
• One of the recommendations is to approve a resolution encouraging employees to speak
out without fear of reprisal when they encounter suspected corruption, waste, or
inefficiency in Oak Brook's municipal government. The Board could approve this and/or
the Manager's office can simply put out a memo to all employees that speaks to this issue
and encourages employees to contact the Manager's office in regards to organizational
corruption, waste or inefficiency.
Recommendation:
That the Village Board direct the Village Manager to develop a procedure that would allow two
Trustees to place an item on the agenda and require staff to disclose in writing to the Village
Board the involvement of any elected official in the review or recommendation of any Village
contract and the nature of the involvement.