The FBI investigation indicated that the payroll overpayment action by Mayor Harl was wrong and he should not have done it, they will not press criminal charges. To this action the Mayor responded at the Council Meeting that he and his attorney are considering filing charges of slander and defamation of character....no names mentioned. Evidently he repeated this twice.
The council is now considering rewriting the public comment ordinance and Alderman Waldorf reminds us that "no questions allowed".
I understand that the council meetings are beginning to look more and more like a circus and perhaps they are doing this for the few remaining hardy souls who dare to enter their chambers in hopes of discouraging them also.
I was not in attendance.
I will add more as I acquire more information.
80 comments:
Communist Peru...I didn't think it was appropriate Waldorf called out a citizen that wrote an open forum...inappropriate from an elected official he should publically apologize...I see why we need a lobbyist to kiss butt and apologize to other elected officials like rezin and Adam
This city has become a communist joke...wait for the ordinance to have 5k races...
Good luck with the defamation suit
, You did something wrong. You should not have done it. It needed investigation.
You are not John Q Public. You like the spotlight when back slapping and politicking. You get the hard stuff too.
Not Communism.... Fascism.
“At this time my attorney and I are investigating action to be taken against the accusations; defamatory and slanderous in nature.”
First off Boss, how can you take an action against an accusation? The action you could have taken and choose not to would have been not to falsify the payroll. Do you mean you will be taking actions against the accuser(s)? If so, good luck with that. You are a public official open to a greater degree of scrutiny. Even you admit that what you did was wrong and did not follow the spirit of the law. Many people wanted you to be prosecuted, but it appears that this will not happen. Rest assured though, this little thing will come up time and time again. You will fit right in with the Chicago Democrats when you decide it is time to move on and try to join your mentors in Springfield.
Hmmmmm. I wonder if Floyd is in the Barbers' Union.
Mayor Harl has embarrassed Peru so many times, moron the letter says you were wrong. Just because you didn't gain anything from this you won't be in jail. Who you gonna sue the FBI for investigating you, good luck with that case.
If the next person doesn't run against Harl and use this they are making a mistake
6:48 no,no,no he won't be getting the FBI, its those who slandered him to the FBI and on this format.
A defamatory statement must be false otherwise it's not considered damaging.
"The FBI investigation indicated that the payroll overpayment action by Mayor Harl was wrong and he should not have done it."
Case closed.
As the Mayor huddles considering slander, other attorneys meet over coffee to consider using the finding as support for filing a civil suit against him for damages related to the overpayment on behalf of the citizens and all the other workers.
The Mayor truly needs to check himself before he wrecks himself. Criminal is harder to prove than civil liability. I doubt the FBI viewed the Mayor as in innocent victim in this. Even the judge did not when he investigated.
5:27 I wonder who came up with the statement Harl read. He's not capable of putting big words like that into a proper sentence. There is no way he can sue Perez because Perez didn't say anything that wasn't the truth.
Anon 10:06, I 'm sure a bunch of attorney's sit around and discuss going after Harl, for what gain? I think you watch to much TV.
10:06 ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT YOUR FATE? Civil suit? Nice try. Mayor Harl has a few on the run.
10:06 AM, I think you are correct in your opinion that a Civil Action is definately an avenue that could be pursued if some brave sole(s) wanted to undertake the effort and the cost for an attorney. The ordinance was clearly violated and everyone who has looked at the details, with the exception of the city council, have all agreed there was "wrongdoing" by Harl. A Civil Lawsuit would utilize the FBI report and the mayor's own admission against him to seek full monetary restitution to Peru taxpayers of the money that was "wrongly" authorized by Harl. I don't see any way Harl could defend against a Civil Action. A citizen or group of citizens might even be entitled to recover court costs and attorney's fees to be paid by the "wrongdoer", aka Harl. If a Civil Action was successful, pressure could become intense for Harl to resign.
C'mon folks, let's do this. Any attorneys out there? Please advise!
There are very few civil lawsuits regarding slander that amount to anything, due to the fact that most of the time a portion of the suit is true. And very few people will file a suit for slander because they know what's being said is true. People tend to use an intimidation tactic by saying they're going to sue. Very funny. Think, how many times have you heard of a civil lawsuit regarding slander? I actually spoke with a well know Attorney regarding this and he/she laughed. Most attorney's won't even take a case.
11:09 YOU ARE WRONG! HARL'S INTIMIDATION TACTICS ARE NOT SCARING ANYBODY, JUST MAKING HIM LOOK LIKE THE BULLY HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN.
Personally I tend to think and can speak for myself in what I state in a personal conversation and what I comment on is true and I would always be able to show verification of such. Intimidation and bullying tactics don't fly with me or in my circle of friends. More and more stuff comes out of the closet if one pushes issues. Who can forget how certain people were treated during public comment at council meetings? That's would be a winning strategy right there.
12:28 have you ever had to defend a lawsuit? apparently not.
1:24 Your ammunition is low and your trying very hard to reach out for any negatives. Who was treated badly? More stuff out of the closet? It looks like the closet is empty.
he may just want to try and attack the anonymous bloggers. The issue there is that it is extremely difficult, since even tracking IP addresses cannot prove that the individual submitted their statement, with forwarders, and even multiple individuals with access to computers. But they can count on people to not know that, intimidate and attempt to find out things by scaring folks.
The backfire of such attacks on free speech is the willing assistance of bigger organizations to fight it. to have someone to defend. Most cant match the citys resources, or Harls. Bt there are groups who can, and they need an attack by the Mayor. There is no tangible damage to the Mayor from blogs. Winning elections, and no one on a blog accused him of anything he was not found to have done. Now if people made false statement to the FBI that is another issue.
For that matter false statements to the
Juducial Inquiry Board, or to the IRS, and of course in the blog above to the FBI. Documention is key in the discovery process of any investigation.
I never had to defend a lawsuit personally, but on a couple occasions in the last 30 years I have been a witness in court proceedings regarding a lawsuit. Very attuned to the proceedings, but no, I don't have a law degree. Also, through the years I have been a juror 3 times for a jury trial, and once on a grand jury 20 years ago. Paper documention goes a long way in a trial.
Would like to give a shout out to the newspaper for doing an article on the FBI investigation as to the payroll scandal. Now, the people themselves can read about it, as the paper stated " Harl had a mistaken view of his powers within ordinances and authorized the pay without council or committee approval, ......" Is this the type of mayor Peru wants? Shouldn't a mayor follow proper procedures? Just my opinion.
I don't really think Alderman Perez fell for any of mayor Harls threats. I laughed reading the news paper today. Is Harl serious in thinking slander? He's clueless! It's not slander if its true. If it came out Harl never authorized anyone to cheat time sheets with overtime hours and Harl had no say or clue that practice was occurring then ok watch out Perez. But that's not the situation. If the pig wears lipstick it's still a pig. If Harl cheated the system then he's a cheater, I do remember months ago the paper saying Balestri and states atty said Harl did wrong and Harl knew he did wrong so what's his problem. The FBI and BAlestri never said Harl was innocent now did they? Imagine how many slander suits Qunnochio and OBama would have going for everytime someone called them a liar or thief or crook? Haha Harl should crawl back into his sink hole and chill out.
3:40 I don't think HARL is talking about Perez. He has other targets.
2:16 You got it right when you mentioned false statements and false information to the FBI. That's the ticket. The suit will publish names of those involved.
Could I file a lawsuit if someone said i cheated on my wife and I didn't? Could I file a lawsuit if someone said I was intoxicated and walking downtown peru and I wasn't? The questions could on and on. Can't get juice from a lemon when it's already been squeezed. A lawyer might take a case for the billable hours working on such a case or just for the satisfaction of filing a lawsuit for their client, but the outcome would be interesting. Lawsuits bring out a lot more then what intended to be brought out. One witness might bring out many more witnesses, and things get hairy. The old saying, let sleeping dogs lye.
4:01` And those would be?
Off topic , does they city of Peru have authorized and approved photographer for the fire department? Is our fire department allow accident scene photos to be placed on social media? Where is the professionalism in our city or is just a big circus? Chief king and the mayor owe a public apology for allowing this to happen.
4:39 The answer is yes and yes. You don't need witnesses, this isn't Perry Mason. Its billable hours and how much money you have to defend is the juice from the lemon. They should of let sleeping dogs lye after the review fro the Judge and State's Attorney office.
The fat lady is on her way to the stage, looking good and getting ready to sing. From verse to verse and ward to ward she has been granted songbooks of material. Material and a voice entertaining enough that all will be attentive and enlightened. What ward she first sings her political ode about will be interesting to many voters. Somehow I am sure that the 5th rider to the 3rd wards, alderman dave, will be a true TEST by way of the peoples election. This decision and many others plus recent confrontations are often the wrong path chosen by a incumbent. This is only a stage introduction and will prove that its not over until the fat lady stops singing and escorts incumbents who represent themselves rather than those they represent off the stage of representation.
4:39 let sleeping dogs lye? Not anymore, the sleeping dogs will be put to the task for the lies.
Hey 10:06 Did you just drop an NWA (or Ice cube?) rap lyric. That made my day!
It's evident. Waldorf is a yes man...mike can you please explain...Waldorf has no idea what he is doing and his snide remarks about public comment show he is not the peoples alderman he is about himself and his political position in the city...Didn't he want public works super to report to him...why should he be involved in day to day business...he has to go!
The solution to our most of Peru's problems lies within the Illinois Municipal Code.
1:41 explain that he wanted public works super to report to him?? Is he not a barber? Has he experience other then cutting hair? Curious.
More calculated attacks on Peru's officials. Review the council video and you will see that the meeting was not as you have commented 1:41. Nobody was called out and nobody was ever denied the ability to speak at the council meetings. Go to the committee meetings and ask the questions, I have always got answers. Ask your alderman, and let us know who wouldn't answer your question?
3:50 your wrong I heard on video...Waldorf saying "that's public comment, not public question and answer"
Why would Waldorf say that, I know he isn't fast on his feet or he needs mike perry to answer for him but really you can't answer a simple question sometimes
the trouble is, most of them lie through omission. You have to be smart enough to ask an exact question.
Before the scandal, Boss Harl would have told you nobody got a raise during the wage freeze.
Fact: Alderman Waldorf has more than once made the comment that "no questions can be asked". Fact: He has denied them even at his committee meetings. Fact: People have indeed been denied the ability to speak at council meetings (i.e. lady who wanted to speak regarding her company bidding on the waste water treatment contract).
After Claudia spoke at the last council meeting, they had a question and answer session. I guess it depends on who you are!
Fact: Waldorf in untrustworthy and slow to learn.
6:26 your facts are wrong.
Your comment about a random vendor and the ability to advertise their products at any meeting? Should the city meetings be a place to solicit products, services? I don't know if this happens. I would hate to go to one of these meetings and listen to 10 companies advertising insurance, water testing, street signs. Don't they have committee meetings? Meetings with the Public works director? Most elected groups have no idea on what product works best. Why have solicitation at meetings?
10:03 My facts are not wrong. It was not a vendor who wanted to sell a product. It was a company rep who wanted the ability to bid on a job that should have gone out for bid. Yes there are committee meetings and questions are not allowed in one of them.
10:03 who is the public works director?
Wouldn't noonan be consider promoting her pizza joint/vendor? Regarding concerts. Pizza is sold at event.
10:03 am, public comment is public comment. Anybody is supposed to be able to get up and say what they want. There are no parameters on the subject matter. Right now parameters are being put into an ordinance on length of comment and whether a person can return to the podium with another public comment if they've already made one public comment, but freedom of speech allows any subject to be brought up. Do you suggest we stifle public comment and freedom of speech?
I think the point is they don't want to turn it in to Q&A period. I can understand that. But whatever happened to Boss Harl's promised "town hall" meetings that where supposed to be precisely that - a time and place for people to ask questions and have an active dialog with the government? That was one of his original promises.
They should have to answer every question. And every vendor or company should be able to make presentations. So what if the meetings are 4-5 hours a night. They are paid well to listen and respond. Maybe a few days a week with office hours.
The Peru City Council is clearly opposed to conducting open and transparent meetings. They are extremely opposed to allowing interaction between themselves and the citizens of Peru at open meetings. Crafting ordinances specifically designed to prohibit citizens from seeking accountability from their elected officials by simply asking questions speaks volumes about the type of elected officials Peru has. For alderman Waldorf to chirp up and remind the city attorney to be sure to include a "No Questions" clause in a Public Comment Ordinance is nothing short of disgraceful. Any alderman who favors a "No Questions" clause in that ordinance should be ashamed of themselves. What have any of them accomplished in office that would make them believe they are above the citizens of Peru and above accountability in open meeting.
“The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws.” – Ayn Rand
The third ward residents need to get to the polls in the spring if they are that unhappy with their alderman. That will be the only way to correct what is wrong with his not representing his constituents. Come on third ward, the time for picking up petitions is rapidly approaching. Someone pick up the ball and run with it. Please!
Orginally, in Mayor Bakers reign every other meeting was a informal meeting in which the public could express themselves to the council. The meetings were held on Wednesday evenings.
Under Mayor Harl a motion was passed to make all meetings formal with a public comment. Public comment was a give and take response from all in attendance at the start and end of the meeting. Later public comment was requested on a 3x5 index card limited to 3 minutes and the question and answer phase was eliminated unless you were looked upon favorably. Many have been informed that this is public comment not a question and answer session.
What is the ultimate proposal: that the only and last official representatipn of the citizen will be every 4th year in the ballot box? This not why democracy was founded nor its intention. Why are most suggestions taking a step towards ancient and midevil history, a age where the peasant had no voice in his government at all? Is this what is referred to as TRANSPARENCY?
Anon 12:11 The answer is to not reelect any city administrator and councilmen until we get what we want. If you are in favor of keeping the one or two you have a comfort zone with I do not see any harm but the huge majority must get the boot. This group is not representing you and me nor are they making a effort to. Almost all of them are for taking care of and representing themselves. When a alderman in a council meeting proclaims that "NO ONE UP HERE IS ON THE TAKE" he opens suspicions rather than closing them.
Hey anon 12:11
who do you want...do you have the candidates ready to go? This bashing and bringing problems to the table is nuts.....bring some good ideas to the group...no one takes anything here seriously as you lack any form of credibility...if it doesn't work for you then it must be wrong is the incorrect way...
I was told from a reliable source that the Mayor Scott Harl was playing golf today and participating in what is locally called Mario's Golf Outing and if I remember correctly this is usually considered a political fund raiser. If incorrect please let us know. Do you suppose these funds will go toward keeping his aldermanic support on the council and toward defeating those he does not like one bit? Golf is getting a bad name in Peru.
Better yet, who was in attendance at this golf outing? How many city employees golfed? With the possibility of being on the clock, or did they take a vacation day/personal day. Curious? If there was indeed a golf outing.
7:51 - they probably called in sick. I hear the sick time policy is quite liberal in Peru. It is used like extra vacation.
Everyone should take a look at the last D-2 Disclosure report that Boss Harl filed. He has over $32,000 in cash to fund himself and his chosen candidates.
The contribution list is a who's who of city contractors, vendors, and unions. Lois - you should list the entire contribution list for the quarter ending 6/30/2014.
Lois, your are totally wrong about Mario's playday, that was strictly an appreciation outing celebrating his 15th anniversary . Before you link everything to a political fundraiser please get solid facts, again it was his 15 th anniversary in business and was a wonderful outing period.
Do you really have to check Mayor Harl's whereabouts? If he plays golf who cares? If he moves funds to candidates, that's his choice. Who would he like to move out? And who would he like to move in?
And who wants his endorsement?
Peru voters decide who to vote for by the number of yard signs. Jo Stalin could be elected alderman in Peru if there where enough yard signs.
www.elections.state.il.us/CampaignDisclosure I do see donations from people who have reaped major benefits with the city by a donation given. It's all making sense to me. Possible Lois can post. Individual Contributions
So from what I can see the mayor of Peru used campaign funds to pay his legal defense...is that even legal?
On Harl's list of donations received, I can see why Schweickert and TEST and Chamlin's stay in control in Peru - because they buy the mayor's support thru campaign donations. This should be illegal. Also noticed that if it wasn't for the unions, Harl wouldn't have many people donating to him.
I also noticed $600 donation 7-6-2012 an individual contribution to Scott Harl Campaign for Mayor from Jeff King , Occupation Fire Chief, Employer-City of Peru. at the time of the donation wasn't he a part-time fire chief, and paid per call fireman? . Isn't this who Harl appointed Full-time fire chief, building inspector, code enforcer, etc... and other job titles November 2013 for $84,000 per year plus a benefit package? The disclosure if campaign donatuons sure do tell a story.
From what I've heard, many of those donations are for Harl's golf outing. I know some people would collect the $100 fee in cash from everybody and make a check from their personal account. It's quite possible that donation from King was his golfing fee along with 5 other people. I'm not sure but isn't July when the Mayor's golf outing occurs?
If that would be the case, 12:22 each person should be listed. From what I just looked at under the website it shows a single name with a single donation. Also the other people who donated could say the same in which this person and that person gave such and such amount of money. Read 10:02's blog and connect the dots. Just my opinion.
Anon 1:38, no it means Jeff King sent the money in for the golf outing, it doesn't have to have everyone's name on it if he is the person putting a 4 - some together, this is common practice and you would know this if you play in enough of these.
If Alderman Waldorf was for the people of this city he would hold his committee meetings after working hours....but he wants to work quietly as he can so know one knows he has no clue what he is doing
Heard today another major company leaving Peru? Say it isn't so mr economic development person...jobs are going to be lost again
When was the last time that any of the Peru Political Front have visited local employers to ask how things are going, ask coporate personnel if the city is fulfilling all of their needs and if there is anything the city could do for them? The Director of Community Development and the Mayor should be as concerned with retaining jobs already here as well as deloping new ones.
Mr. R. Vickrey isw supposeodly goin to a convention at a huge expense account paid for by city taxpayers. What is the purpose of this trip, what is making this convention so important and what is the predicted cost?
9:43PM
This is the expo link with information.
http://www.icsc.org/events-and-programs/details/chicago-deal-making2
8:16 P.M. What major company or business are you referring to.
Anon 9;43 PM The issues you have stated are outstanding and should be discussed publically by the stewarts of city funding. How long has Mr. Vickery held this position, what has he produced at what expenses. These questions should be analyzed of all positions that have a specific goal of promoting business in Peru.
Also is this convention necessary , it seems to be directed towards retail real estate developers of which he is not and has no experience. He accepted this position with the agrrement that his only compensation would be a expense account. Who has the responsibility of overseeing this account besides Mr. Vickery. he was also supposed to be equipped to perform the tasks required of the position and now it appears that these funds are being utilized to furtheer his own self promotion and education.Peru does not need another downtown nor another shopping center. What it needs is a updating of the two. Doesn't this person know that a personal visit to local business owners and the management of and business owners of the Peru Mall would be inexpensive and much more productive dollar for dollar than a expense paid personel networking campaign to Chicago at this time. If his aim is further development to the North and thus creating vacant business buildings behind he is the wrong man for the job. Maybe he should make a analyzation of is Peru at the areas population saturated business wise and has reached its capacity.These questions are to be answered here at home not in Chicago, Illinois.
As for out of town contacts Peru has a professional lobbyist as Mayor Harl said who is only a phone call away and that this is nice. If these two positions are overlapping and duplicating responsibilities a choice has to be made and it should not be simply to continue running up the tab..........$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Nice comment 9:11, well thought out.
9:11 a.m. I agree. Peru is getting saturated auto parts dealers.
9:11 Do you think a lobbyist is involved in recruiting business in the city? The lobbyist is looking for those sweetheart government funding deals, not retail business. Do you think the city should have someone looking to reach out for more retail shopping?
And donut shops
Anon 2:37 PM I think it is time to analyize how much business Peru can support. There is a saturation point and it would be best to know if it has been reached or how close we are to it. This point will flucuate with economic upturns and downturns but it is best to realize what it is at the present. A good developer would have a proper mix of deveopment to assure continued success.
If the lobbyist has been hired to obtain sweetheart government funding deals forget it the government is broke and appears to be increasing its problems.
If we don't have good paying jobs, who is going to stay here or move to peru? Look at all the rental properties, what does that tell you? I think people would be shocked as to how many people in peru are on public assistance of some sort. It's true!
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