Darien Explains $444 Meal At Restaurant

DARIEN, IL – A $444 restaurant bill appeared on Darien's latest list of expenditures.

This wasn't the city paying for top officials to hobnob.

Rather, it was to honor public works employees, officials said.

At this week's City Council meeting, Alderman Joe Kenny pointed out the expenditure and noted it was for workers who took part in post-storm cleanup.

"They have been going above and beyond," Kenny said.

He said he wanted to bring it up in case residents had questions.

Dan Gombac, the city's top public works official, said crews went above and beyond, working 12- to 16-hour days.

"In this case, we had that microburst that came through town," Gombac said. "So (the meal) was just a recognition of their hard work in dragging branches from residents' private yards and just taking the initiative to help them out."

The meal was at Zazzo's Pizzeria, 7360 Route 83. The restaurant is in city limits, meaning the sales taxes go to Darien.