Mount Prospect looking at ethics ordinance — trustee feels targeted

Mount Prospect is working on tightening up its ethics rules for village trustees. But one trustee, Augie Filippone, claims it unfairly targets him.

Trustees are expected to vote on the ordinance Sept. 3. It adjusts the village code to cover family relationships among trustees as well as ties with business clients.

Penalties for violations could range from a fine of up to $500 to expulsion from the board — the latter would occur by the ruling of an administrative law judge.

The rules would bar immediate family members, including spouses and domestic partners, of village trustees from serving on boards and commissions. In addition, the ordinance codifies rules prohibiting trustees from representing clients before the board.

Filippone would be directly affected by both provisions. His wife and law partner, Trisha Chokshi, chairs the village’s Finance Commission.

In the past, Filippone, an attorney, has refrained from voting in matters involving his clients.

But in one instance, when the board considered a zoning petition, he informed Mayor Paul Hoefert he had a professional conflict and left the board dais. Moments later, he and Chokshi were at the podium before the board serving as the petitioner’s attorneys.

“It feels like this board is trying to cloud the true intentions behind this ordinance, and it’s just making it more unethical than ethical,” Filippone said. “They are trying to use the process, I think, in a targeting fashion.”

“I have to evaluate my legal options,” he added.

Hoefert said the ordinance is not targeting Filippone. He said the rules could apply to any board member in their professional capacity, including a former board member who was an engineer and a current board member who is a real estate agent.

“This is broad-based,” he said.

Hoefert noted Filippone has been silent during the board’s public discussions of the ethics ordinance. The ordinance had its first reading at last week’s village board meeting.