Batavia Alderman Vasilion resigns

Batavia 5th Ward Alderman Steve Vasilion announced Friday afternoon he is resigning.

He has opened an architectural firm, and work he does for local clients could conflict with his role as an alderman, he said. State law prohibits elected officials from voting on matters in which they have a direct financial stake.

Vasilion owned a firm from 1990 to 2013, but for the past two years has worked for another firm in which he has no ownership interest. When matters concerning Batavia Enterprises Inc., one of his clients, came before the council, he recused himself from discussions and votes, oftentimes leaving the room. He said he always made it clear, when dealing with city workers on behalf of its clients, that he was speaking as an architect, not an alderman.

BEI will continue to be one of his clients, and Vasilion said he also is doing work for the owners of the Campana Building. "Those are significant local clients," he said.

Vasilion was sad about resigning. "This is really hard," he said.

He sent his letter of resignation to Mayor Jeff Schielke Friday, and it will be voted on by the city council Jan. 19.

In 2013 Vasilion defeated Eldon Frydendall, who had been alderman for 32 years.

Vasilion cites improving communication with residents as one of the highlights of his tenure, as well as the vote to ask the Illinois attorney general to investigate the city's contracts for obtaining electricity from the Prairie State Energy Campus.

As for regrets, it will be that he won't be a part of discussions about replacing several administrators, and restructuring the staff. City Administrator Bill McGrath is retiring in mid-2016, and the city is looking for an assistant public works director/city engineer, a human resources director, and an electrical superintendent.

"I learned that city government moves slowly and there is a good reason for that," he said, as it prevents one person from jamming changes through quickly. Framing discussions and reaching consensus took "a lot more time than I ever would have expected."