Wood Dale mayor narrowly avoids council reprimand

Wood Dale Mayor Kenneth Johnson narrowly avoided being censured by his own city council for falling more than $9,000 behind in his monthly payments for health insurance offered through the city.

Aldermen Nunzio Pulice, Eugene Wesley and John Kadala voted Wednesday to issue the formal reprimand, which would have had no direct impact on Johnson's role as mayor. But the move fell short when aldermen Roy Wesley, Sam Lewitan and Daniel Shawke voted against the measure during a special council meeting.

"We have to be ethical," said Pulice, who motioned for censure after aldermen learned of the delinquent payments this week. "This makes us look like we're all in on something. The people need to know what's happening."

Johnson admitted Thursday to falling behind on his payments, which are now about $700 a month, dating back to at least 2007. Health insurance is offered to all Wood Dale elected officials who can opt to purchase it or not. Johnson said he chose the insurance plan because it is his best option as a self-employed, private real estate attorney.

"I got behind on the monthly payments, but did have the ability to make a large lump-sum future payment as a result of a case I won in January," Johnson said. "It's been difficult in the industry with no closings going on, no income coming in. So the only way I could maintain (insurance) was to wait for this future settlement to come through."

Johnson said he made arrangements with city staff to have village funds cover his insurance premiums until he could reimburse the cost. He said the arrangement was in play for several years; he began struggling to make payments when the recession hit.

"I had an investment property where people got laid off and weren't making their payments, so that meant I couldn't make mine," Johnson said.

Currently, Johnson's balance is paid-off.

Pulice said it's unfair to treat the mayor differently than other residents. Alderman Eugene Wesley refused to comment on his vote to reprimand Johnson and Kadala could not be reached by phone Thursday.

"We tell residents they need to make a payment or their water gets shut off, and we make them pay late penalties," Pulice said.

He added that he hopes to push a future ordinance that would prohibit city staff members from making financial arrangements with elected officials.

Alderman Roy Wesley said he thinks City Manager F. Wallace Douthwaite is partially to blame for enabling Johnson by not canceling his insurance, which is one reason he voted against the censure. Douthwaite could not be reached for comment Thursday.

"I blame Johnson but I also blame staff that didn't bring it to the aldermen's attention and for not canceling his insurance," said Roy Wesley. "I get calls all the time from residents who say they can't afford their water bills. Everyone falls on tough times, so you work with them and I would fight for any resident having trouble. People forget Johnson has been in this town since he was a kid, and I don't think he's skipping out."

With Johnson's mayoral seat coming up for election next spring, he said he still plans to run for office.

"I have 35 years of service to the community and hopefully this won't be that big of a blemish," he said.