In a move to discourage corruption at City Hall, Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner (RPCV Solomon Islands) is proposing a whistleblower protection ordinance, one that a watchdog group says would be the most comprehensive in the state



Tom Weisner, elected mayor of Aurora, IL in 2005, served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Solomon Islands.

In a move to discourage corruption at City Hall, Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner (RPCV Solomon Islands) is proposing a whistleblower protection ordinance, one that a watchdog group says would be the most comprehensive in the state

Whistleblowers would be protected under Aurora plan

By Amy Fischer Roth
Special to the Tribune
Published June 16, 2005

In a move to discourage corruption at City Hall, Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner is proposing a whistleblower protection ordinance, one that a watchdog group says would be the most comprehensive in the state.

At a news conference Tuesday, Weisner said the ordinance is a "reaction" to bribery charges against a former Aurora alderman, but also is intended to be "proactive."

"We want to make sure nothing like that happens again," he said.

The former alderman, Jim Meisch, was accused in January 2004 of offering a $10,000 bribe to the city's public works director to gain approval for a dormant development project. Meisch pleaded guilty to wire fraud in May.

Weisner said he had considered the ordinance even before he was elected in April and it is unrelated to the post-election firing and subsequent rehiring of Public Works Director Bob Rieser, or the mayor's reorganization of city government in which several key city officials were let go.

The proposed ordinance was approved by the three-member Government Operations Committee this week and will be brought before the committee of the whole Tuesday.

It could be approved by the council as early as June 28, said mayoral assistant Gerald Galloway.

The ordinance, modeled after federal and state whistleblower protection laws, would prohibit the suspension, demotion or denial of promotion of any city employee who reports misconduct among his supervisors, other employees, aldermen or contractors.

"If someone is wrongfully discharged for trying to do the right thing, [that person] can sue to get his job back," said Jay Stewart, executive director of the Better Government Association, a watchdog group that works to make Illinois government more open and accountable to citizens.

"This ordinance, with two parts, puts Aurora at the forefront in the state when it comes to ethics," Stewart said. "When this ordinance passes, Aurora will have the most comprehensive whistleblower ordinance on the books in Illinois."

The ordinance also contains a provision that would give taxpayers the right to file lawsuits against contractors and public officials who defraud the government.

"Private citizens can bring these actions against the government," Stewart said, in effect, giving city officials another set of eyes and ears.

A citizen could report wrongdoing to the Illinois attorney general under the proposal, Stewart said.

Damage awards would cover the whistleblower's award, pay for damages suffered as a result of the fraud, and provide revenue for the city.

"I hope there is no need for the use of this," Weisner said. "But if it is needed, it's important that it's there.

"We're trying to be proactive, to create reassurance to the public that perhaps the previous [Meisch] case is not one of a multitude."

According to Stewart, local units of government that have passed whistleblower laws since June 1 include Country Club Hills, Des Plaines, Harwood Heights, Hazel Crest, Palos Heights, Palos Hills, Riverdale, Worth Township, York Township, Harper Community College, Naperville Community Unit School District 203, Orland Fire Protection District, Cook County, Cook County Forest Preserves, Community Colleges of the City of Chicago and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.

When this story was posted in June 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:



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The Peace Corps Library Peace Corps Online is proud to announce that the Peace Corps Library is now available online. With over 30,000 index entries in 500 categories, this is the largest collection of Peace Corps related stories in the world. From Acting to Zucchini, you can find hundreds of stories about what RPCVs with your same interests or from your Country of Service are doing today. If you have a web site, support the "Peace Corps Library" and link to it today.

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American Taboo: A Peace Corps Tragedy Returned Volunteers met with author Philip Weiss in Baltimore on June 18 to discuss the murder of Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner. Weiss was a member of a panel that included three psychiatrists and a criminal attorney. Meanwhile, the Seattle U.S. Attorney's office announced that Dennis Priven cannot be retried for the murder. "We do not believe this case can be prosecuted by anyone, not only us, but in any other jurisdiction in the United States." Read background on the case here.

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June 16, 2005: Special Events Philip Weiss, PCV murder writer, speaks in Baltimore June 18 "Rainforests and Refugees" showing in Portland, Maine until June 25 "Iowa in Ghana" on exhibit in Waterloo through June 30 NPCA to hold Virtual Leaders Forum on July 29 RPCV's "Taking the Early Bus" at Cal State until Aug 15 "Artists and Patrons in Traditional African Cultures" in NY thru Sept 30 RPCVs: Post your stories or press releases here for inclusion next week.

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June 14: Peace Corps suspends Haiti program After Uzbekistan, the Peace Corps has announced the suspension of a second program this month - this time in Haiti. Background: The suspension comes after a US Embassy warning, a request from Tom Lantos' office, and the program suspension last year. For the record: PCOL supports Peace Corps' decision to suspend the two programs and commends the agency for the efficient way PCVs were evacuated safely. Our only concern now is with the placement of evacuated PCVs and the support they receive after interrupted service.

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June 6: PC suspends Uzbekistan program Peace Corps has announced that it is suspending the Uzbekistan program after the visas of 52 Peace Corps volunteers who arrived in January were not renewed. The suspension comes after a State Department warning that terrorist groups may be planning attacks in Uzbekistan and after the killings in Andizhan earlier in May. Background: PCOL published a report on April 23 that Peace Corps volunteers who arrived in January were having visa difficulties and reported on safety and visa issues in Uzbekistan as they developed.

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June 6, 2005: This Week's Top Stories Kinky Friedman will "sign anything except bad legislation" 6 Jun Niels Marquardt Makes Chimpanzee Protection a Priority 6 Jun Laurence Leamer needs approval for "Today" appearance 6 Jun Desperate Housewives' Ricardo Chavira is son of RPCVs 6 Jun Anthony Sandberg runs Berkeley sailing school 5 Jun Amy Smith field-tests sugarcane charcoal 5 Jun Mary Johnson organizes workshop on genocide 3 Jun Jonathan Lash in 100 most Influential Business Leaders 3 Jun Hastert jump-starts Chris Shays' Campaign 3 Jun John Coyne says 41 RPCVs applied for scholarships 3 Jun James Rupert writes on bombing in Kandahar mosque 1 Jun John McCain says to expand opportunities for service 1 Jun Jay Rockefeller's relationships with Japanese go way back 1 Jun Anat Shenker met her husband during service in Honduras 31 May Ryan Clancy punished without hearing for visiting Iraq 30 May Melissa Mosvick remembered as a fallen American hero 29 May Kurt Carlson played basketball against Togo's national team 29 May Helen Thomas's favorite president remains JFK 24 May

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