Naperville council moves toward censure of colleague

Days after departing Naperville City Manager Peter Burchard sent out a letter outlining a series of allegations of impropriety by Councilman Richard Furstenau, the council approved drafting a resolution of censure against their embattled colleague.

They will vote on the resolution at the council's Dec. 18 meeting.

Mayor George Pradel made the motion at Tuesday's meeting to draft the resolution, and five of the eight councilmen concurred with the move.

The councilmen who sided with Pradel's motion were James Boyajian, Kenn Miller, John Rosanova, Darlene Senger and Grant Wehrli. Bob Fieseler, Doug Krause and Furstenau voted against the proposal.

Burchard's letter was sent out Friday and accused Furstenau of a history of threats and intimidation of city staff.

"Peter's letter is a courageous effort to highlight conduct that needs to be made public," Pradel said. "We need to let the community and staff know we support the staff."

Burchard's criticism of Furstenau came weeks after his abrupt resignation, which was preceded by Furstenau's federal civil rights lawsuit against the city and three police officials, stemming from his arrest and acquittal on misdemeanor battery charges against a Naperville police officer.

The ability to censure a councilman was only approved in September. Furstenau threatened to sue the city in August, but didn't file the suit until October. Councilmen had previously said they wouldn't seek a resolution of censure for fear it would give Furstenau more ammunition in his lawsuit.

"This has nothing to do with the lawsuit, it has to do with his actions," Pradel said.

If passed, the censure has little impact.

Pradel called it a "slap on the hand," but an attempt to bring Furstenau "back into the fold."

Krause argued against the censure because it lacks "teeth."

"What is going to be changed?" Krause asked. "It will do nothing, this brings disgrace to this council."

The council also at Tuesday's meeting approved a measure to add $400,000 to the city budget to cover the expected cost of fighting Furstenau's lawsuit. While initially participating in discussion about the measure, Furstenau eventually recused himself and did not vote on the increase.