September 16, 2008

If The Shirt Fits! Council Recap!


Attorney Terry Ekl -- Ekl Williams

Once again, we thank PRU readers for their patience.

As most of you know, last night the City Council had two meetings scheduled: A 6:30pm workshop, and a 7:30pm regular council meeting. The purpose of the workshop was for council members to be able to ask attorney Terry Ekl, of Ekl Williams infamy, questions about his investigative procedures and notes, and his final work product -- the police department audit.pdf.

After Mr. Ekl arrived nearly an hour late, Mayor Howard opened the council workshop with a statement saying that everyone had read and analyzed the report and that it is...wait for it...wait...time to move forward!

Alderman Don Bach (3rd Ward) then began by asking Mr. Ekl about travel charges for which he billed the City of Park Ridge. Before Mr. Ekl could answer the question, Mayor Howard intervened to suggest the question was not appropriate for the workshop.

Alderman Frank Wsol (7th Ward) was next and greeted Mr. Ekl and jokingly remarked, "I hope you aren't billing us for this time." to which Mr. Ekl is said to have tersely replied, "I am." Alderman Wsol then responded with, "Then you can stay as long as we need you to answer questions." Mr. Ekl responded by saying he would stay as long as he is asked appropriate questions in the interests of the city. Which leads the PRU Crew to wonder who exactly gets to determine the "interests of the city", the members of our City Council or Mr. Ekl?

Then the exchange between Ald. Wsol and Mr. Ekl got really really interesting. Ald. Wsol asked Mr. Ekl why he (Ekl) had named several officers in his report but had not named any elected officials? Mr. Ekl's answer to that question was, "What are you asking? Where in the report are you referring to? It is not in the city's interest to assess any blame." Ald. Wsol responded that he was not asking Ekl to assess blame, and he repeated his question. Mr. Ekl again asked Ald. Wsol "which part of the report" he was referring to. Alderman Wsol stated that throughout the report several city employees were named and that what he was asking Mr. Ekl is not to change his report, but to simply explain why he had done the report in this way, and then Ald. Wsol again repeated his question. Mr. Ekl then informed Ald. Wsol that he was "not articulating his question -- he was not asking intelligent questions -- he is pandering to his constituents."

At that point, we are told Ald. Wsol kept his seat and did not get up and slug Ekl in the nose. We are also told that the other Aldermen, and particularly Ald. Bach, did not have anything close to a positive reaction to this exchange. We're also told some members of the audience were betting on whose face was redder -- Ald. Bach or Ald. Dave Schmidt (1st Ward). And during this exchange between Ald. Wsol and Mr. Ekl, Mayor Howard remained silent.

Here the PRU Crew would like to interject a note for the benefit of Mr. Terry Ekl and any other interested parties; We think Mayor Howard and most of the Park Ridge City Council are often assholes. But make no mistake about it, they are our assholes. We hope that's understood.

Alderman Wsol then went on to ask Mr. Ekl several questions about several sections of the audit Mr. Ekl had prepared. Our sources tell us that each response from Mr. Ekl was as vague and evasive as his previous responses, but without as much piss and vinegar.

Alderman Robert Ryan (5th Ward) then interrupted the questioning to ask Mayor Howard what the "pro-cess" is for having Aldermen ask questions; apparently because the previous half hour had not illuminated the "pro-cess" for Ald. Ryan.

Then Alderman Rich DiPietro (2nd Ward) cited the municipal code stating the schedule and times for which the council is to hold their regular meetings. Ald. DiPietro used that citation as a lead in to motion to continue the question and answer jousting between Aldermen and Mr. Ekl to October 6th at 6:30pm. The motion was seconded by Ald. Bach, and passed unanimously.

After a break, Mayor Howard then began the regular City Council meeting.

Former 2nd Ward Alderman John Benka was reappointed to the Library Board and had several gushy statements of praise for the work of the board, the services at the Park Ridge Library, and particularly board president, Shlomo Crandus.

After proclaiming
October Toastmasters Month.pdf, Mayor Howard offered some gracious remarks about city staff and aldermen regarding their efforts during the past weekend's deluge, noting that the city did a "great job" of communicating with residents. The PRU Crew applauds the city's better than the past efforts at utilizing its web site and the reverse 911 system, but we aren't too sure the delayed and somewhat confusing calls received by residents would fall into the "great" communication category. However, our appreciation of the people who make up the network of our city employees remains unchanged.

Under the City Manager's report on the agenda, Library board president Shlomo Crandus wowed everyone with a power point presentation about the results of the June phone survey the library conducted.

Next up, were some zoning changes for Fifth Third Bank, and a variance for some hapless resident with a garage that was originally built .88 feet from the rear lot line of his property.

Alderman DiPietro offered an amendment to the zoning change for Fifth Third Bank to include cost-sharing between Fifth Third and the city for alley paving at 10 N. Cumberland, with the city's share to be $20,000. Mr. Dan Shapiro, representing the bank, agreed that the bank would pay. Mr. Shapiro also asked that the council wave a second reading of their ordinance approval for this, but the council declined to do that.

The zoning variance was for a resident who is looking to replace a dilapidated garage with a new garage to be built in the exact same location it has always occupied. Sounds easy, right? Wrong. Ald. Ryan was "surprised that we are doing this" and wanted to know if this kind of variance is "normal". Ms. Carrie Davis, acting Director of Community Development, replied that the Zoning Board of Appeals had found this to be a valid hardship. The resident did finally get what he was looking for, with the exception of having also asked the council to wave a second reading of the ordinance approving the variance.

We're not sure, but maybe sloshing through flood water is exactly what some of our aldermen needed! Seems to have rinsed some of the cobwebs out of their heads!

The next item of business was to approve a warrant payable to Ekl Williams in the amount of $52,381.25. And it was Ald. Don Bach who led the charge against paying the bill at this time to Ekl Williams. As a grim faced Ald. Bach phrased it, "not one more dime."

Of course there's a pooper at every party, and Alderman Jim Allegretti offered "a different perspective", noting that he is not unhappy with the audit and believes Ekl should be paid now.

Alderman Wsol offered an amendment to the motion to approve payment by including the condition that payment would be made "provided the City Manager receive all background information supporting the submitted report."

The Council then debated the merits and demerits of the amendment at some length, with Mayor Howard asking if the background information would be subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Substitute City Attorney, Kathy Henn, responded that "maybe parts" of the information could be subject to FOIA. Ald. Wsol then asked if, according to the FOIA law, names could be redacted from the materials. Ms. Henn replied that names could be redacted, but the content could not.

Alderman Schmidt stated that he thought the Ekl report was "flimsy" -- he had asked for the background information and wants to see it for himself. Ald. Schmidt offered that he agreed 100% with Ald. Bach and that Mr. Ekl should be reminded of "who works for who."

Alderman Bach then reiterated his disappointment with the report and noted that Ekl was an hour late in showing up to the council. Ald. Bach also strongly challenged Ekl's accusation that Ald. Wsol is pandering to constituents, saying he believes council members are responding to constituent's concerns. His final comment likened the Ekl report to "Swiss cheese".

Mayor Howard attempted to defend the late arrival of Mr. Ekl by noting that Ekl did, in fact, call the City Manager to say he would be arriving late. Sources tell us Mr. Ekl was coaching a kids football game. We're guessing Mr. Ekl's team lost, which may explain his surly behavior toward the City Council.

Mayor Howard, Aldermen Allegretti and Ryan all tried to persuade their council peers that the Ekl bill should be paid now, with Ald. Ryan noting that he "understands people have mouths to feed and he hates to delay professional service fees."

But get ready for this one folks -- it was Alderman Tom Carey (6th Ward) who demonstrated the greatest clarity of thought and reality-based thinking by offering that it seemed best for the council to defer payment of the bill until Ekl returned on Oct. 6th to continue answering the council's questions about the audit; noting, in as diplomatically stated terms as he could muster, that Ekl may decide not to come back to answer council questions if he's already been paid.

~~~THUD~~~

Holy wow! You think????? Rock on solid, Alderman Carey!

And after some further discussion, and a motion to "substitute for the whole" Ald. Carey's recommendation, the council voted to defer payment of the Ekl Williams bill until Mr. Ekl returns to the City Council to answer questions about the audit.

Finally, the City Council voted to increase ambulance fees and approve the proposal from Disclosure Video Systems to install and upgrade security cameras at City Hall, the police department, and our two train stations.

Under "New Business", we are told council members babbled on about various subjects and that those interested in the process for licensing of temporary homeless shelters should watch the council schedule carefully for upcoming meetings.

Never a dull moment!

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

PRU---wonderful recap. Thank you!
Yes, Ekl needs to be reminded that we are the "customer." UGH.

Anonymous said...

I was at the meeting last night and I was shocked by how rude Mr. Elk was to the council. I can't believe the man would dare to bill the council for what he gave to them last night. His conduct was appalling.

Anonymous said...

The guy has a criminal record for domestic battery.

You thought you were hiring Mother Teresa?

ParkRidgeUnderground said...

We haven't checked into the claims about domestic battery regarding Ekl.

But no, nobody thought they were hiring Mother Teresa -- just a pal of Alderman Allegretti's.

Anonymous said...

The last person to dare to be that rude to the council - when the council was preparing to pay off that person with tax dollars - and the council was asking for information relevant to whether or not the $ should be paid - and under similarly suspect circumstances - was Bill Napleton!!!!!!!

See a pattern?

Anonymous said...

PRU--didn't Allegretti state when Ekl was hired that he hardly knew him, or something like that?
Now we are getting a different story?!!

Anonymous said...

Hey Mr. Ekl,

The residents are 99.99% sure that the meddling elected officials include ol' Howie. He meddles and muddles just about everything he can. (Nice he can smile on camera when PR homes are being flooded in the backgroud.)

You have no skin in this game, now spill it, collect your check, and go home.

ParkRidgeUnderground said...

anony-mouse --

Checked our notes, and here's how it goes:

At the April council meeting where Ekl was asked if he had any connections to any of the elected officials, Ekl replied that he did not, but that he had met Alderman Allegretti once 15 years ago. The way it was put to us was, does Allegretti strike you as being all that memorable? That if you met him once 15 years ago, you would really remember him? When pigs fly.

Then at the August council meeting, Alderman Allegretti was explaining that he didn't think a meeting with Ekl and the council was necessary to ask questions -- he's known Ekl for 20 years and if he had any questions he would just pick up the phone and call Ekl.

And we are told that Ekl and Allegretti were chumming it up at the meeting last night too, even after Ekl's behavior toward the council.

So we're going to go with our original source and our own suspicions on this one. At some level, Ekl and Allegretti are pals, notwithstanding Ekl's original declaration of having met Allegretti once 15 years ago.

The saddest part of all is that Ekl's denial of knowing Allegretti, beyond a one time meeting a number of years ago, coupled with Allegretti's original silence and subsequent bean spilling gives an already questionable report, characterized as "Swiss cheese/Flimsy/Fix-is-in", an added layer of bullshit to mistrust.

If Alderman Allegretti had been more forthcoming about the nature and extent of his relationship with Ekl, it would have seemed that his personal knowledge and experience of Ekl was a good reason for him to support the selection of Ekl for the audit. Who could reasonably argue against such open, honest, and personal vouching? But Allegretti didn't do that, and we sure do wonder why.

Anonymous said...

The phrase "honesty is the best policy" seems especially true for elected officials...

Too bad Jim Allegretti didn't learn that lesson the first time he hid his association with someone when being questioned by a city council...

PRU, are you sure you've cropped the correct face onto that t-shirt...? ;)

Anonymous said...

Good grief! Is there anything that Mayor Frimark and his Aldermen don't make a mess of? Seriously, anything?

Alderman Dave Schmidt, please run for Mayor. I am begging you. Please. I am getting out my checkbook. Just tell me where to send the check to. I can't take much more of this circus.

Anonymous said...

Anon at 7:15:

"I am getting out my checkbook. Just tell me where to send the check to."

Amen to that.

Anonymous said...

To continue to drag the good name of those municipal employees ( officers)
through the "mud" just for the sake of a report - when in fact they should have been named " officer A or B" is also asking for trouble.

Just what were they ( Ekl ) and his staff thinking!

YOU NEED TO BACK UP ANY STATEMENT MADE - ESPECIALLY ON PAPER.

If I was the officer named - I'd be dialing my atty - now.

Thank you.

ParkRidgeUnderground said...

To Anon@8:49 --

We would gladly post your comment, if we could verify the quotes in it. Can you provide a link for us to check out?

Anonymous said...

To anon September 17, 2008 8:40 AM:

Anybody who wants the taxpayers to pay their salary better be willing to let the taxpayers know exactly what kind of job he or she is doing.

Unless the disclosures violate the Illinois Personnel Records Act (and I don't think these do, but I don't pretend to be an expert on those laws), it's all fair game - just like it's fair game to put the names of the people they arrest in the paper before those people's guilt is determined.

The citizens should have known about the stuff that's been going on over at City Hall, including in the PRPD, a long time ago. Then maybe we wouldn't have had the problems and lawsuits we've had because of police misconduct.

Anonymous said...

PRU - I LOVE the line about the aldermen being assholes, but they are our assholes. Indeed they are! It almost sounds like you had a soft spot for them....if just for a moment. :)

Isn't it true when you pay someone to do a job, they should do it and if that involves going to a meeting and answering questions, then go to the meeting and answer the questions. It's called accountability.

Anonymous said...

Unless its proven in a court of law..its all hearsay.


Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Terry Ekl is a first class jerk! I read the audit and thought a sophmore in high school could write better and do a better investigation. Dragging names through the mud is not an investigation.

ParkRidgeUnderground said...

Anon@10:45 --

It's like this,

"He can't do that to our pledges! Only we can do that to our pledges!"

Otter and Boon, 'Animal House', 1978

Anonymous said...

Just a thought,
In the report Ekle related officals instructed the police to enforce the laws. I bet if we go and look at "Public Safety Committee" notes from meetings near the time the Zero Tolerance was talked about we would see those officals.

Ekle was not clear but it seems to me the Public Safety Committee suggested leves of enforcement on the same laws they created.

Anonymous said...

To 308pm,

We already know it was Allergetti and Bach that complained about how the police enforce the zerio tolerance. I don't think that is where this begins and ends though. I think there's more to it. The thing is though that at the meeting Ekl told the council that if they have concerns they shouldn't talk about them in public meetings. He said they should go to the city manager. I think this Ekl guy just doesn't get it.

Anonymous said...

Ekl "gets it" just fine. He got a nice paycheck for doing what he was told to do, and now he doesn't want anyone looking over his shoulder or second-guessing him. And neitehr do Frimark & Allegretti

Anonymous said...

Link for my comment.

http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:Zl_BvkSWO48J:www.seizeliberty.com/dumpjimryan/joebirkett/+terry+ekl+battery&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=us

Anonymous said...

HP

Hell even Ray Charles can see that the super mayor and a few cronies were on one side and the few opposing elected officials were on the other. I guess I would have kept an open mind to both sides until it sounded like the arrogance of Ekl and his “non responsive answers” to… excuse me but the folks who hired him… his clients, about the “white wash report” is almost on the grounds of terminating his sorry ass.
That’s right he is done, well give him the option of justifying what he did and how he did it and then pay him or take it to an unbiased venue.
Maybe then he can answer the questions and not have his highness run interference for Ekl, (that being da Mayor).
I have one question for Ekl, during this “investigation”, which elected officials were you in contact with and the context of said conversation??? This answer is worth a million. Could you repeat that under oath??

Anonymous said...

Hey I got it, tell Ekl that when he is ready to answer his clients questions, maybe then he can get a check... oh yeah, an if he refuses and threatens a suit, it would be all over...

Anonymous said...

If you check the City Council meeting minutes of 4/21/08, you'll see that the only alderman voting against Ekl getting the contract was...Dave Schmidt. Everybody else, including recent Ekl critics Bach and Wsol, jumped on the Ekl bandwagon.

And if you look at the votes during that meeting leading up to that final vote, you'll see that Bach and Allegretti voted (a) to give Ekl the power to grant immunity to witnesses he talked with, and (b) NOT TO RELEASE THE REPORT TO THE PUBLIC.

Those two continue to battle (with Ryan and Carey) for the dubious distinction of being Howard Frimark's "No. 1 Stooge," so all you Frimark fans are getting your money's worth.

Anonymous said...

The irony of it all....

The City Council uses taxpayer money to pay for an "investigation" of the "police department." Going in, certain conspiracy theorists believed horrible things were going on inside the PD.

Instead, the biggest thing to come out of the Ekl Report bounces back onto the City Council. The Mayor and his cronies are constantly trying to inject their politics into the PD.

Sounds like we need a new Chief from outside Park Ridge who can do the work of the police department and tell the politicians to go pound sand. But how do we get that when the politicians try to influence who the new Chief will be.

Anonymous said...

More often then not, city employees around the area when complaining about their employer (city govt) feel repercussions and discrimination which can't be proven as discrimination.
By requesting "all" investigative documents, we may be asking for those city employees who came foward with any information to withstnad uncertain discrimination.
I would hate to think that due to our witch hunt of "what city officals told the police what to do" would only end with an early exit of whistle blowers who were doing the right thing.

When we look back on other posts of the PRU, there are officers of our police department who are truly disapointed in the report, who want to do the right thing and who do a great so lets pay attention to what they are saying:

Dept morale is at an all time low but...
Caudill is gone,Swoboda needs to go and let the new City Manager take appropriate steps.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous at 12:41 pm,

As Alderman Wsol pointed out...and as city attorney Ms. Henn confirmed...names of those interviewed by Ekl can be redacted from the background material...

Try again...