City of Chicago Board of Ethics met March 21.
Here is the agenda as provided by the Board:
I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approval of the open session minutes of the Board’s regularly-scheduled meeting of February 15, 2017 and of its special meeting of February 24, 2017 were deferred until later in the meeting.
II. CHAIR’S REPORT
None
III. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
None
IV. OLD BUSINESS
1. Case No. 17005.LOB, Lobbying The Board deferred discussion of this matter until executive session.
V. NEW BUSINESS
None
Open Session Minutes Special Meeting March 21, 2017
VI. PRIOR BOARD MEETING’S EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES
The Board discussed the executive session minutes of the Board’s regularly-scheduled meeting of February 15, 2017 and of its special meeting of February 24, 2017 in executive session.
VII. CASEWORK
A. ADVISORY OPINIONS
2. Case No. 17014.A, Gifts
The Board will review the previously issued advisory opinion in executive session.
B. SUMMARY OF FORMAL ADVISORY OPINIONS ISSUED BY STAFF BASED ON CLEAR
BOARD PRECEDENT
3. Case No. 17013.Q, Non-profit Board Service
The Board will attend to staff’s presentation on this matter in executive session.
C. LOBBYING
4. Case Nos. 17011.01.LOB et seq., Lobbying
The Chair announced that the Board will not be able to consider various lobbying matters presented by staff in executive session due to a lack of a quorum on these matters (Chair William F. Conlon and Zaid Abdul-Aleem would be required to recuse; and Frances R. Grossman and Dr. Daisy S. Lezama, absent).
D. REFERRED COMPLAINT REPORT
4. Case No. 17012.C, Statement of Financial Interests
The Board will attend to staff’s presentation on this matter in executive session. At 11:24 a.m., the Board VOTED 5-0 (Frances R. Grossman and Dr. Daisy S. Lezama, absent) to adjourn into Executive Session under: (i) 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity. However, a meeting to consider an increase in compensation to a specific employee of a public body that is subject to the Local Government Wage Increase Transparency Act may not be closed and shall be open to the public and posted and held in accordance with this Act; (ii) 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(4) to hear and discuss evidence or testimony in closed hearing as specifically authorized pursuant to Governmental Ethics Ordinance Sections 2-156-385 and - 392, and the Board’s Rules and Regulations, 4., as amended, effective January 5, 2017, presented to a quasi- Open Session Minutes Special Meeting March 21, 2017 adjudicative body, as defined in the Illinois Open Meetings Act, provided that the body prepares and makes available for public inspection a written decision setting forth its determinative reasoning; and (iii) 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21) to discuss minutes of meetings lawfully closed under this Act, whether for purposes of approval by the body of the minutes or semi-annual review of the minutes as mandated by Section 2.06. The Board then excused its guests until the open session reconvened. Member Frances R. Grossman joined the meeting by telephone at approximately 11:48 a.m. Member Stephen W. Beard left the meeting at approximately 11:40 a.m. At 11:52 a.m., the Board VOTED 5-0 (Stephen W. Beard and Dr. Daisy S. Lezama, absent) to reconvene into open session.
The Board invited its guests to join the open session of the meeting.
VIII. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The Board VOTED 5-0 (Stephen W. Beard and Dr. Daisy S. Lezama, absent) to approve the open and executive session minutes of the Board’s regularly-scheduled meeting of February 15, 2017 and of its special meeting of February 24, 2017.
I. MATTERS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD IN EXECUTIVE SESSION
II. CASEWORK
A. ADVISORY OPINION
1. Case No. 17014.A, Gifts
The Board VOTED 5-0 (Stephen W. Beard and Dr. Daisy S. Lezama, absent) to approve the previously issued advisory opinion determining that an invitation to the Chicago White Sox home opener made to various City employees and elected officials constituted a prohibited gift and must be declined. The offer included two (2) complimentary tickets and a cocktail reception, and was worth more than $50 per recipient.
B. SUMMARY OF FORMAL ADVISORY OPINIONS ISSUED BY STAFF BASED ON CLEAR BOARD PRECEDENT
2. Case No. 17013.Q, Non-profit Board Service
Staff reported advice to a City elected official (an alderman) that the Governmental Ethics Ordinance would not restrict him from becoming a member of a local non- Open Session Minutes profit organization’s Board, but that he would be subject to certain restrictions were he to do so.
The Board listened to staff’s presentation on this matter.
C. REFERRED COMPLAINT REPORT
4. Case No. 17012.C, Statement of Financial Interests Staff reported that on February 15, 2017, the Executive Director received an email alleging that a City employee filed misleading information on the 2011 and 2012 Statement of Financial Interests forms. Staff referred the matter to the Office of the Inspector General, pursuant to §2-156-380(a) of the Governmental Ethics Ordinance, for any action that office deems appropriate. At 11:56 p.m., the Board VOTED 5-0 (Stephen W. Beard and Dr. Daisy S. Lezama, absent) to adjourn the meeting.
bd-minutes-3-21-17-os-for 4-19-17-special - final
I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approval of the open session minutes of the Board’s regularly-scheduled meeting of February 15, 2017 and of its special meeting of February 24, 2017 were deferred until later in the meeting.
II. CHAIR’S REPORT
None
III. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
None
IV. OLD BUSINESS
1. Case No. 17005.LOB, Lobbying
The Board deferred discussion of this matter until executive session.
V. NEW BUSINESS
None
Open Session Minutes
Special Meeting
March 21, 2017
Page 2
VI. PRIOR BOARD MEETING’S EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES
The Board discussed the executive session minutes of the Board’s regularly-scheduled meeting of February 15, 2017 and of its special meeting of February 24, 2017 in executive session.
VII. CASEWORK
A. ADVISORY OPINIONS
2. Case No. 17014.A, Gifts
The Board will review the previously issued advisory opinion in executive session.
B. SUMMARY OF FORMAL ADVISORY OPINIONS ISSUED BY STAFF BASED ON CLEAR BOARD PRECEDENT
3. Case No. 17013.Q, Non-profit Board Service
The Board will attend to staff’s presentation on this matter in executive session.
C. LOBBYING
4. Case Nos. 17011.01.LOB et seq., Lobbying
The Chair announced that the Board will not be able to consider various lobbying matters presented by staff in executive session due to a lack of a quorum on these matters (Chair William F. Conlon and Zaid Abdul-Aleem would be required to recuse; and Frances R. Grossman and Dr. Daisy S. Lezama, absent).
D. REFERRED COMPLAINT REPORT
4. Case No. 17012.C, Statement of Financial Interests The Board will attend to staff’s presentation on this matter in executive session. At 11:24 a.m., the Board VOTED 5-0 (Frances R. Grossman and Dr. Daisy S. Lezama, absent) to adjourn into Executive Session under: (i) 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity. However, a meeting to consider an increase in compensation to a specific employee of a public body that is subject to the Local Government Wage Increase Transparency Act may not be closed and shall be open to the public and posted and held in accordance with this Act; (ii) 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(4) to hear and discuss evidence or testimony in closed hearing as specifically authorized pursuant to Governmental Ethics Ordinance Sections 2-156-385 and - 392, and the Board’s Rules and Regulations, 4., as amended, effective January 5, 2017, presented to a quasi- adjudicative body, as defined in the Illinois Open Meetings Act, provided that the body prepares and makes available for public inspection a written decision setting forth its determinative reasoning; and (iii) 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21) to discuss minutes of meetings lawfully closed under this Act, whether for purposes of approval by the body of the minutes or semi-annual review of the minutes as mandated by Section 2.06. The Board then excused its guests until the open session reconvened. Member Frances R. Grossman joined the meeting by telephone at approximately 11:48 a.m. Member Stephen W. Beard left the meeting at approximately 11:40 a.m.
At 11:52 a.m., the Board VOTED 5-0 (Stephen W. Beard and Dr. Daisy S. Lezama, absent) to reconvene into open session.
The Board invited its guests to join the open session of the meeting.
VIII. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The Board VOTED 5-0 (Stephen W. Beard and Dr. Daisy S. Lezama, absent) to approve the open and executive session minutes of the Board’s regularly-scheduled meeting of February 15, 2017 and of its special meeting of February 24, 2017.
I. MATTERS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD IN EXECUTIVE SESSION
II. CASEWORK
A. ADVISORY OPINION
1. Case No. 17014.A, Gifts
The Board VOTED 5-0 (Stephen W. Beard and Dr. Daisy S. Lezama, absent) to approve the previously issued advisory opinion determining that an invitation to the Chicago White Sox home opener made to various City employees and elected officials constituted a prohibited gift and must be declined. The offer included two (2) complimentary tickets and a cocktail reception, and was worth more than $50 per recipient.
B. SUMMARY OF FORMAL ADVISORY OPINIONS ISSUED BY STAFF BASED ON CLEAR
BOARD PRECEDENT
2. Case No. 17013.Q, Non-profit Board Service
Staff reported advice to a City elected official (an alderman) that the Governmental Ethics Ordinance would not restrict him from becoming a member of a local non- profit organization’s Board, but that he would be subject to certain restrictions were he to do so.
The Board listened to staff’s presentation on this matter.
C. REFERRED COMPLAINT REPORT
4. Case No. 17012.C, Statement of Financial Interests
Staff reported that on February 15, 2017, the Executive Director received an email alleging that a City employee filed misleading information on the 2011 and 2012 Statement of Financial Interests forms. Staff referred the matter to the Office of the Inspector General, pursuant to §2-156-380(a) of the Governmental Ethics Ordinance, for any action that office deems appropriate. At 11:56 p.m., the Board VOTED 5-0 (Stephen W. Beard and Dr. Daisy S. Lezama, absent) to adjourn the meeting.
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