Village Board Passes Ethics Resolution and Ordinance

Trustees wasted little time passing both an ethics resolution and ethics ordinance for the Village of Glen Ellyn at a Monday night Village Board Meeting. After a quick review of changes made at the last board meeting on Feb. 14 and a few questions from the public, trustees quickly and unanimously approved an ethics resolution for Glen Ellyn.

Before moving on to approving the ethics ordinance, which actually puts in the legal teeth, village trustees took a few moments to say a few words about the time and discussion that went into the ordinance. Village President Mark Pfefferman read a letter from Trustee Phil Hartweg who could not attend the meeting, but nonetheless wanted to add his sentiments on what the ethics ordinance meant to him.

Trustee Michelle Thorsell, said she was especially proud that the board was able to pass the ordinance tonight, and said that is was a conclusion to something she had wanted for a long time. 

"The first time I asked, it was summer of 2007 shortly after I became a trustee," Thorsell said of the lengthy process. "We were looking for a village manager... as soon as he came through the door I brought it up. I guess it means more because it took 3 1/2 years." 

The ordinance passed 5-0 with Trustee Peter Ladesic voting present. When his turn came to speak about the ordinance, Ladesic told the board that although he felt that Glen Ellyn needed an ethics ordinance, he did not feel that the draft before the board was something he could vote for. 

"I dont know if I can support the ordinance as it is written," Ladesic told the board. "Up until this morning—actually last evening, I got a call at my house from one of our commissioners who knew I shared some of their concerns with the language in this ordinance."

Ladesic said that he did not feel Glen Ellyn had an ethics problem, even as he supported Glen Ellyn adopting a code of ethics.

"I think this is poorly crafted," Ladesic said and added that there were better examples of ethics ordinances the board could have modeled theirs after, calling the approved ordinance "overkill."

Overall, the board seemed happy to have finally passed the ordinance and the crowd celebrated the vote with a hearty round of applause. Several members of the board agreed that while the ordinance was not perfect, Thorsell included, they felt that it had to start somewhere.

"I'm glad we tackled it," Pfefferman said, adding he was sure the ordinance would evolve more over time.

The ordinance will go in effect within 90 days, or 30 days after an ethics officer is hired.  The ordinance will be re-evaluated in another eight months to ensure it does not become a hardship for village staff.