Heights Mayor to Present Anti-Nepotism Ordinance to City Council
Gonzalez says the ordinance is meant to give everyone a "fair chance."
A new ordinance may address the concerns of some Chicago Heights residents and Patch readers if approved Feb. 15.
Tuesday Mayor David Gonzalez announced an "anti-nepotism" ordinance aimed at prohibiting the City from employing relatives of elected city officials, appointed paid city officers and city department heads.
In a memorandum to the Chicago Heights City Council, Gonzalez explained the purpose behind the ordinance.
“The most important task before us as elected officials is to earn and maintain the trust and confidence of our residents in city government," Gonzalez said. "We can best begin this process by ensuring that everyone gets a fair chance when seeking employment with the City. An honest and transparent hiring process goes a long way in achieving that goal."
Last year Patch readers expressed concerns about dual position holding and nepotism they felt was going on in several government bodies in the Chicago Heights area.
"Employment with the City should not be perceived as something that is limited to the few," Gonzalez added. "I promise that this administration will change the status quo whenever and wherever it’s needed to move our City forward.”
The Anti-Nepotism Ordinance will become effective immediately upon its adoption if approved by the City Council Feb. 15.
Tom
6:30 am on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
In all fairness, I must compliment the mayor for this ordinance is long overdue. For so many years it has been a case of who you knew or were related to.( I hope Winston doesn't go into coronary arrest when he reads this.
Wendell Mosby
6:57 am on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Its commendable and a very bold step for the Mayor.
Peggy Barber
7:05 am on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Peggy
I think it is wonderful, thank you. In all fairness, there are people that have the skills to do job but never got hire. Now that this ordinance will be in place they have a chance to display their skills and talents.
Tom
7:42 am on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
BTW Winston, I know what a stickler you are for spelling and punctuation so I must apologize for forgetting the Close parentheses.
Edward Husker
8:38 am on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
ReallY? Please, give me a break. The current administration is just as guilty of nepotism as all the other other administrations that preceeded them. They just want to make it look like they are doing something to stop it, if they really want to hire a relative or friend to some type of city or township job, they are going to do it, regardless of this ordinance.
Mike Schreiber
9:28 am on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
This is a step in the right direction. However we need serious fiscal reform. We can't continue to pay real estate taxes at this level. The index is growing totally out of control.
Winston Wolf
9:50 am on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
This is great. The mayor is a breath of fresh air, and a true reformer!
Edward Husker
9:55 am on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Not buying it, there is plenty of nepotism going on right now in the city. Why did it take this long to present an ordinance? You know why, because they waited a year to hire all thier relatives and friends and know their jobs are secure and in place for them.
Honest1
8:07 pm on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Of course he's coming up with this ordinance now. How many more new, made-up positions can a city have? Does anyone want to count the number of friends and relatives of our mayor who have already been hired this past year? Also, will this ordinance pertain to school district hirings as well? Did School District #170 really need Frank Perez's wife to be quietly hired as an assistant business manager? Didn't they also have a head of maintenance without needing to hire Rich Amadio, too? A school board member being hired at Bloom doesn't look good, either. Don't even think of telling us that the city and its school districts aren't in bed together, Winston! Where can we find the salaries of maintenance and district office personnel working in school districts? You can find teachers' salaries on line. Don't tell me you need to request an FOIA for the other salaries!
Jason Amos
11:32 am on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Just another way to try to silence all the negatives this administration has done,can't silence everyone.
Denice
2:49 pm on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
I'm just curious to see if the city council will approve this new ordinance.
Jason Amos
4:54 pm on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Why won't it if the Mayor puts it in the agenda the puppets vote yes. Except one person
Lucy
9:27 am on Thursday, February 9, 2012
Publicly posting all open jobs is the key and the first step that should be taken. There have been alot of shifts moving this person around to hire that person etc. Nepotism deals with the family "in" but does not deal with the back room arrangements which is what most people have been upset about this past year. Most people find jobs based on who they know. The frustrating thing with the government is that people shouldn't be able to keep their jobs because of who they know - once they are given a job opportunity - they should be required to do their job.
carl
2:20 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha please make it stop hahahahahahahahahahaha it hurts, it really does hahahahahahahahahahaha hohohohohohohohohohoh jajajajajajajaja my goodness please, please make it stop. Gonzalez putting forth this is hysterical. One thing for sure, DG has a great sense of humor hahahahahaha
deanita munoz
3:43 pm on Saturday, February 18, 2012
its about time! i wont beleave it,tell i see it!good luck David!