Des Plaines alderman questions mayor's appointees
Des Plaines aldermen are delaying their confirmation vote on four of Mayor Matt Bogusz's appointments to city panels at least another three weeks.
Fourth Ward Alderman Dick Sayad, one of Bogusz's harshest critics, asked the vote be delayed until the city council reconvenes in the new year, and once city attorneys examine the validity of information Sayad says he was provided about one of Bogusz's appointees.
"To have an individual, a volunteer, sit at any table that represents the city of Des Plaines and to make a decision, and if he or she is not following the rules themselves, I don't see how they can do that," Sayad said at Monday's council meeting.
Sayad referenced a story that arose last month about two Naperville City Council members who have owed debts on their utility bills during the time they've been in office.
During the meeting, and in an interview on Tuesday, Sayad declined to identify the appointee in question or the specific accusation.
A subsequent check of Cook County property tax records posted online found one of Bogusz's appointees, William Epcke, has yet to pay property taxes that were due in March and August of this year. Epcke, who is seeking appointment to the consumer protection commission, didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment.
Bogusz is also seeking to appoint Earl Wilson and Obaidur Rahman to the library board and G. Thomas Green to the zoning board of appeals.
During council meetings on Dec. 1 and Dec. 15, Sayad asked Bogusz if he properly vetted the four appointees.
"I asked you before, and you didn't give me an answer, that all your four choices that you have here, that you checked them out and these people are in good standing?" Sayad said to Bogusz Monday. "We know these are people that are not getting paid. They're all doing it as volunteers. But I think we ought to look beyond that. We have people's names that you're putting on that are going to make rules and decisions."
Bogusz said his appointees are "qualified for the positions they seek."
A list of 14 reappointments to city panels, from the plan commission to the youth commission, sailed through the city council Monday on the consent agenda.
Bogusz isn't re-appointing Mike Lake to the consumer protection commission, Bob Porada to the zoning board of appeals, and Dion Kendrick and Gene Fregetto to the library board. Lake and Porada have been vocal critics of Bogusz, while Kendrick and Fregetto have questioned library spending policies.
Bogusz said it wasn't politics - but rather concerns over productivity or professionalism - that led to his decisions. Earlier this month, he asked aldermen who had specific questions about his appointments to talk with him privately, but said he didn't want to do so publicly out of respect for the individuals since they are volunteers.
On Monday, Bogusz said only 6th Ward Alderman Mark Walsten took him up on that offer.
After the council returned from a 45-minute closed session to discuss the issue further Monday, aldermen voted 7-1 to delay consideration of the four appointments until Jan. 5. Seventh Ward Alderman Don Smith voted "no."
A majority vote of the council is required to approve mayoral appointments, though the mayor may break a tie, according to Peter Friedman, the city's general counsel.