Romeoville passes some major ethics reforms
Thursday, Jun 28, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Village of Romeoville passed some major ethics reforms the other day that the state and other towns ought to consider…
The ordinance outlines that any family member of a full-time elected official is ineligible for initial hire or appointment to any full-time employment position with the village.
In addition, to avoid any conflicts of interest, vendors, contractors, and bidders must disclose to the village any interests that anyone associated with them might have in the government of the village such as employment or service on a commission. For contracts more than $100,000, these groups must report all individuals who hold more than one percent ownership and is related to an elected official or employee, if the contractor or vendor employs any elected official or village employee, or if they have any compensated independent contracting or consulting relationship with any elected official or employee within the preceding two years.
In terms of compensation, it clarifies that the village president (mayor) elected in 2013 will be calculated and paid in accordance within the provisions of this ordinance and also prohibits elected officials from receiving compensation from employment, consulting or independent contracting relationships with any city or village contiguous to the village of Romeoville.
Discuss.
- 3rd Generation Chicago Native - Thursday, Jun 28, 12 @ 11:16 am:
This certainly is MAJOR. Wow. Maybe there will be more towns to follow, maybe way down the line….Chicago?
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jun 28, 12 @ 11:23 am:
Sure would take some of the incentive of being a local elected official.
- Anyone Remember? - Thursday, Jun 28, 12 @ 11:43 am:
3rd Generation Chicago Native
=== This certainly is MAJOR. Wow. Maybe there will be more towns to follow, maybe way down the line …. Chicago? ===
LOTS of such problems all over Illinois. In fact, per capita, I’d say Sangamon County (which is 1/25th the size) is worse than Cook County. For example, is there anyone from Cook County that was Bill Cellini X 25 ??
- Chicago Cynic - Thursday, Jun 28, 12 @ 11:44 am:
Paging Joe Berrios…
- Curious One - Thursday, Jun 28, 12 @ 1:42 pm:
Why are we so tolerant of the use of local government for personal enrichment? Illinois is not unique, but why have some parts of the country accepted this sort of behaviour, while in other states it might not send you to jail, but it would result in certain defeat at the next election?
I don’t think that people in other states are inherently more ethical or honest, so what is it about history or structure that makes Romeoville’s ordinance noteworthy?
- Mike Huntoon - Friday, Jun 29, 12 @ 7:57 am:
Far too many elected officials employ far too many relatives. I’d love to see this enacted from the top down!