The Public Policy Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Thursday, June 3, 2004, at 9:00a.m. at the Legislative Center’s Liberty Room. Chairman Ruth Anne Tobias called the meeting to order. Members present were Mr. Osborne, Mr. Sands and Ms. LaVigne.  Those absent were Ms. Vary and Mr. Wiegand.   There was a quorum present.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

Moved by Ms. LaVigne, seconded by Mr. Osborne, and it was carried unanimously to approve the minutes from May 2004.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Moved by Mr. Sands, seconded by Mr. Osborne, and it was carried unanimously to approve the agenda as presented.

REVIEW OF THE ETHICS ORDINANCE

Chairman Tobias said that Mr. Bockman, DeKalb County Administrator, distributed a sample of the ethics ordinance prior to the meeting.  She then introduced Mr. Matekaitis, DeKalb County State’s Attorney, to help the committee review the proposed ordinance.   He said that the Act states that we can’t do anything political on compensated time, vacation time, pho’s, lunch hours, because you are still an employee of the county during these times.  You cannot use county resources either, copy machines, faxes, telephones, etc.  The best advice that he could give people is, just don’t do it on county property or during county time.  He did, however, state that the Circuit Clerk and himself are excluded from this Act.

Mr. Matekaitis said, for example, an elected department head is going to have a fundraiser at the end of the week and had a number of how many people were going to be able to attend the event; they forgot to make the call to the caterers to confirm the number; they go to work and make the call to the caterer; according to the Ordinance they cannot do that.  You cannot use county resources to solicit or raise money.  He mentioned that the language does say that it had to be intentional and he would need to investigate whether or not it was.

The committee discussed the issue of the jail referendum and whether or not that is an issue.  Mr. Matekaitis said that if you look at page 4 of the model ordinance, item #7, it states, “soliciting votes on behalf of a candidate for elective offices or a political organization or for or against any referendum question or helping in an effort to get voters to the polls” would appear that this would be prohibited and item #12 also speaks to “any referendum question.” 

The committee also discussed what if an elected department head went to a Kiwanis’ meeting, and was asked to speak on his office, what could he/she speak on?  No fundraising, campaigning issues, but the Sheriff could speak on the space problem at the jail, that’s fine.  Mr. Matekaitis said that the Sheriff could write a letter to the editor on behalf of the endorsement for, let’s say, the State’s Attorney.  He signs the letter as Roger Scott, DeKalb, Illinois.  That would be okay for him to do, said Mr. Matekaitis.    Ms. LaVigne said that as a member of the Kiwanis she knows that it is not allowed for anyone to speak about anything political at their meetings.

Mr. Matekaitis also said that you couldn’t wear campaign buttons on county property anymore or ask for someone to sign their petitions on county property, etc. 

Mr. Bockman asked, “what about the people that we appoint to the boards and committees each month, do we need to notify them about this if we adopt the ordinance?”  He feels that if the County Board adopts this ordinance then the County would have a duty to notify them, since we did appoint them.

Another issue was whether or not a county employee is driving their county owned vehicle to their campaign officer’s home.  They can’t do that, it is prohibited under the Ordinance, said Mr. Matekaitis, and common sense would tell you that it’s not a good idea.

Ms. LaVigne asked Mr. Matekaitis if there is a fine?  Mr. Matekaitis said yes, jail time, it is a Class A Misdemeanor.  Under the Gift Ban Act it is a $1,000 fine, but in this case, it is jail time.

After further discussion, Mr. Matekaitis said that he would draw up a guide to handout to the county board members, elected officials, and county employees, about frequently asked questions and answers regarding the ordinance.

The committee then discussed who the county would want to appoint as the Ethics Advisor? The committee suggested that Mr. Matekaitis would be the Ethics Advisor for DeKalb County and/or his designee.  Mr. Matekaitis asked who would investigate the violations?  The committee asked him who now investigates the violations that he receives?  Mr. Matekaitis said that the law enforcement agency where the complaint came from, like Genoa, Shabbona, DeKalb, Sycamore, or the Sheriff’s Department, etc.  He said that the complaint needs to be in writing and it needs to be signed and notarized.

Moved by Mr. Sands, seconded by Mr. Osborne, and it was carried unanimously to recommend the approval of the proposed Ethics Ordinance and the creation of an Ethics Advisor who would be the State’s Attorney or his designated assistant within his office, and to forward this recommendation to the full board for approval. 

FILMING AT THE COURTHOUSE

Chairman Tobias briefly reviewed for the committee the current policy for the courthouse, which stated that there is no filming inside or outside of the courthouse.  She invited Mr. Ken Campbell, DeKalb County Facilities Manager, to review his experience with filming companies.

Mr. Campbell said that in the early 1990’s he worked for a large real estate management firm that owned a condo that he lived in.  They also had made agreements with various filming companies to allow various film shoots in there.  While he lived there, there were a number of film shoots there.  He found the film companies and crews very good to work with, and if they broke something, they would replace it.  Personally, as a resident of Sycamore, he would like to see filming of the courthouse and there is money that comes into the community when they are filming. 

Mr. Campbell said that he also needed to caution the committee that when the film crew starts to film, it is like a freight train that can’t stop.  If they were shooting a movie at the courthouse, he would not be surprised to see 75 people running around.  He suggested drafting a really restrictive contract that would need to be drawn up for the film companies to sign.

Mr. Sands said that he would encourage having one or two of Mr. Campbell’s personnel present during the filming.  Would that be possible?  Mr. Campbell said yes, that they like overtime.

Ms. LaVigne, said that she doesn’t want people in the courthouse filming and will be against this issue.

The committee agreed to discuss this issue again at their August meeting since their July meeting is canceled.

LEGISLATIVE AGENDA LETTER TO DEPARTMENT HEADS

Chairman Tobias said that Ms. Supple, DeKalb County Board Coordinator, would be sending out the notification letters again in July to all County Department Heads and County Board members. 

ADJOURNMENT

Moved by Ms. LaVigne seconded by Mr. Sands, and it was carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting.

Respectively submitted,

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Chairman Ruth Anne Tobias

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Mary C. Supple, Secretary