A citizen’s attempt to give city employees the opportunity to blow the whistle on crime and corruption was put on hold recently when the City Council tabled a proposed resolution.
Resident Lynn Hilger said the resolution would give the city provisions similar to those of the state’s Whistleblower Reward and Protection Act. The proposed resolution would cover employee protections for providing information on wrongdoing, as well as penalties for malfeasance on the part of Oak Forest employees and those doing business with the city.
“This proposal is not intended to cast aspersion on any one person, department or contractor,” Hilger told the aldermen. “In fact, there are provisions in this law to protect individuals from being falsely accused in bad faith.”
Ald. Belinda Olszewski said the proposal would reinforce the city’s ethics ordinance, which outlines procedures for whistleblowers.
But aldermen split 3-3 last week on whether the proposal required further review. Mayor Patrick Gordon broke the tie, sending the measure to the Legislative Committee for review. A committee meeting date was not set.
Gordon said the council only received the materials with four days for review. He believes aldermen need more time to study the measure and to ear from City Atty. Mednard Narko. “This is a motion to table, not to defeat it,” Gordon said.