Alderman's brother accused of being AWOL from city job on New Year's Eve

The brother of Alderman Harry Osterman (48th Ward) has been slapped with a five-day suspension after being accused of being AWOL from his $51.10-an-hour job at Chicago's Department of Water Management on New Year's Eve, then filling out a fraudulent "edit sheet" to preserve his paycheck.

Hoisting engineer Matthew Osterman was supposed to report to the North District Yard to serve as an "extra" on a leak crew repairing water main breaks. But he never showed up for work that day, sources said.

When a supervisor called Matthew Osterman's home to ask where he was, the alderman's brother claimed he overslept. He did not hustle into work.

City employees are required to swipe in and out at the beginning and end of the work day. But Matthew Osterman subsequently filled out a so-called "edit sheet" claiming he had been at work Dec. 31.

Edit sheets are supposed to be approved by an employee's supervisor. They are supposed to be reserved for employees who misplace their badges or forget to sign in or out.

Osterman is accused of filling out a fraudulent edit sheet.

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