Niles Ethics Board examines village employees’ service on outside committees

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Updated: February 27, 2012 8:33AM

A new provision in the employee manual aimed at avoiding potential conflicts of interest regarding village employees who serve as officers or board members for other organizations is being discussed by the Niles Board of Ethics.

Members on Jan. 17 continued a discussion from last month’s Ethics Board meeting regarding Police Cmdr. Joe Penze’s being appointed second vice president of the Niles Chamber of Commerce.

Village Trustee Louella Preston approached the Board of Ethics at its December board meeting to share her concerns regarding a possible conflict of interest, as Penze would be in line to become president of the Niles Chamber of Commerce in two years. Preston attended the Jan. 17 meeting, emphasizing that her concern was specifically regarding employees serving on non-governmental organizations while “on the clock” at their village jobs.

Board members supported creating a provision in the employee manual that requires training for supervisors and employees to help avoid potential conflicts of interest in such situations. They feel it’s important for employees to receive training so they don’t unknowingly wind up in a situation that presents a possible conflict of interest.

At the Jan. 17 meeting, Village Manager George Van Geem and Niles Police Chief Dean Strzelecki both supported Penze’s appointment to the Chamber.

“I’ve always been a proponent of village employees being involved in the community as much as possible,” Van Geem said.

Van Geem said he supports police personnel being more accessible and involved in the community so residents know they need not be afraid of them.

Strzelecki said he served on the Niles Chamber board for seven years and would just recuse himself if there was a possible conflict of interest.

“There was never an issue,” Strzelecki said of his serving in both capacities.

Strzelecki said he spoke with Penze and told him that “his paycheck comes from the village and that’s where his allegiance should be.”

Ethics Board Chairman Jim Hynes said he felt job supervisors should be responsible for any issues related to taking too much time away from their jobs in order to serve on another board.

Hynes said he will work with Village Attorney Joseph Annunzio to draft language regarding the provision, to be reviewed at next month’s Ethics Board meeting.