Niles has approved a new ethics ordinance that requires top officials to disclose real estate holdings and rank-and-file employees to reveal other jobs they have.
The ethics code is a response to the arrest and subsequent imprisonment of former mayor Nick Blase on charges that he strong-armed local business to buy overpriced insurance then collected nearly $500,000 in kickbacks. Blase was mayor for nearly 50 years before he resigned and pleaded guilty.
Buzz Hill, an attorney for the village, said that requiring employees to disclose other jobs and village bosses to disclose property holdings and business interests are unique and “tough” requirements he has not seen in other municipalities.
Property disclosures apply to holdings within village limits.
The ethics code bans political activities on village time and includes a gift ban. Only food and drink gifts worth less than $25 are allowed.
Trustees Chris Hanusiak and Joe LoVerde said no gifts should be allowed, even food and drink valued at less than $25.
The ethics code also states that when conflicts of interest do exist, an individual trustee must sometimes do more than just excuse him or herself from votes relating to that conflict.
If the conflict of interest is serious enough, such as an elected official having an interest in a village contract, the official must either resign or the village action cannot proceed.
One resident questioned whether elected trustees will have too much control over disciplinary actions taken by the ethics board since the board is made up of three trustees.
Trustee James Hynes pointed out that employees are still protected by their union collective bargaining agreements, which remain the controlling authority for such matters.
The ethics code was approved last month without amendments following more than two years of work by various committees, volunteers and employees investigating the wake of the Blase scandal.
LoVerde said he hoped the code will improve the image of Niles government.
“Working together we can and will restore trust in Niles for a better Niles the citizens deserve,” he said.
The ethics code also calls for ethics training, an ethics hotline and an ethics compliance officer.
Mayor Bob Callero said the gift ban and the $25 food exception, and any other suggested changes, will be reviewed in the future.
The code defines specific political activities not allowed for employees on village time, including soliciting contributions, organizing rallies, assisting at the polls on election day, preparing petitions, distributing campaign materials or soliciting votes for candidates.
