MAYOR HARL HAS CHANGED THE MEETING TIME FOR THE MONDAY COUNCIL MEETING TO 6 pm.
MAYOR HARL WILL ANNOUNCE EXECUTIVE SESSIION AFTER OPENING MEETING.
Unexpected time change will make it difficult for aldermen with prior commitments to be there at that time. Isn't this the meeting at which the results of the Balestri investigation will be made public?
Friday, January 24, 2014
City Council Watchers and Participants in Peru Government Please Be Aware Mayor Harl Changed Time of Next Meeting
Looks like the mayor is trying to make it difficult for the public to attend Monday's big meeting. He moved the start time to 6:00 and will open the meeting and go into closed session. Everybody knows the meetings start at 7:30, so why all of the sudden, this meeting will start at 6:00?
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What is his reason for the early start and the immediate closed session? Is it another example of his "honest and transparent" policy? Are we, the citizens of Peru, going to be left in the dark again or will the aldermen step up to the plate and take control? I think citizens should demand answers.
People need to start calling city hall to verify this time change then it is not hearsay, it is the city giving you the corrected version. Let them know what you think.
Agenda never comes out until late on Friday.
Wasn't a proposal made some time ago to start the regular council meetings earlier? I believe at that time 7:00 was mentioned. I believe several aldermen (including Mr. Waldorf) stated that that time would be impossible for them. Are all the aldermen going to be able to make a 6:00 meeting?
Peru Council Meeting Notice:
City of Peru Regular City Council Meetings has been scheduled for 7:30 for many years; For the three years I've served as alderman the city has never changed times for a regular council meeting.
Monday, January 27th. Council Meeting will be changed from 7:30 to 6:00
This change comes from Mayor Harl.
I oppose this start time for a couple reasons..
1. It's not enough time to notify the public, who wish to attend.
2. I have prior commitments and can not make the 6:00 meeting.
My opposition, and request to Mayor Harl to keep on schedule with the 7:30 start time fell on deaf ears.
I'm in the process of checking to see if any state law supersedes local open meetings rules of order.
As of now Mondays meeting is scheduled for 6:00
For those who are interested with the findings of the payroll fraud investigation report please feel free to attend, as all meetings are open to the public.
Thank You!
Alderman Perez
That is how the Democrats operate.
Remember, issues can only be discussed in closed session. Official action on an issue has to be voted on in open session.
There is an article in the paper about potholes. It seems that they could not get ahold of anyone from the City of Peru to make a comment on the situation.
@2:42 I am from the City of Peru and what is the situation you would like a comment made upon.
If it is potholes, Peru as every other city in the area has them and they will filled as they have been every year since Peru has had streets. The potholes are the result of the weather which has been as nasty as it has been for years. The age of the roads are also hindering our annual pothole confrontation. Salt also is a hindrance to our roads but many say we have not used enough of it. Looking at my car I think we have used too much salt.
As for the size of the potholes I haven't had the time to measure how deep or amount of cubic feet per pothole and a average size overall but we do have some dandy potholes. Just remember to drive slow and buckle up you will be a lot safer. Now if you and car both fall in that is what we call a sinkhole. Now if you ever fall into a sinkhole you'll forget all about them little ol potholes but I'm going to save them for another day!
The calendar on the web site still states a 7:30 meeting.
It looks as though the agenda for Monday's meeting is going to be a last minute posting. It's already 4:25 and it's still not posted.
The point is not the potholes, we all know that is a fact of life around here. They happen and all we can do is deal with it. The point was that the other cities talked to the reporter about their program. The report did not talk about the City of Peru program. One can only guess that either the reporter chose not to talk to Peru (I don't think that is likely) or Peru would not talk to the reporter or the reporter could not find anyone from Peru to talk to.
Maybe since Peru has put millions into road repairs in recent years and has the least amount of potholes in the area they did not really need to talk to anyone in Peru. You know I think I am speculating just like the rest of you. My bad! I think I will be a strong enough person to check it out and get the facts. Just did...the facts are is the paper did not ask Peru for comment on this story.
I have always wondered why the person or persons who received the extra money were not put on leave until it was all figured out. If the findings are that someone received extra money then they should lose their job that second no questions asked and there should be charges filed on that person. It is stealing, which is a felony, right?
I was with the forces that took the Baghdad airport in April 2003. Shooting Park Road in Peru is in worse shape than the main runway after the missile attack.
Ald. Perez, If it is at all possible for you to make an early meeting (if it's true) I would appreciate it. You are needed for people to know what is going on.
Lunch at liberty this week. Large table of some very respected lifelong Peruvians. Lot of discussion. The consensus of everyone there except 2 people is that this blog is destroying peru and is a bunch of very misguided people with agendas. I was an advocate of this blog until I really listened to these people. I agree and will no longer support your agenda. Instead of being so blinded step up or shut up. I am done with this negativity.
Shooting park road is being redone this year completely. So you only have a few more months to bitch mr. Navy seal.lol
6:11 PM
Being a lifelong Peruvian is one of my qualifications to write this blog and that is why I do continue with it because I am watching the decline that is not due to my writing or most of the people expressing themselves. If your companions are very involved and attend meetings and attend committee meetings and involve themselves with others who see the lack of integrity, I would be surprised. I don't pull things out of the air, I foia real information before I write about anything. If it is an opinion posting than that is my opinion just like you just expressed yours. Believe me the blog is simply opening the window for others to look into the decisions that ultimately will affect you and your friends.
Lois I think I like most people think you started with the best of intentions. I consider myself a friend. With all due respect you might want to step back and look at all the unfounded allegations against some very good people. You are responsible for that and 100 truths can never justify even one false statement. Shame on the people who are using you to hurt other folks.
Harl is totally out of control
6:52 PM
As in life somethings are not perfect and sometimes you and I have said things or related something to someone and later we find out it is not absolutely true. Somehow a few departments within this city have generated some intense dislike of them and I think most people will know what I mean. But within those departments are people who are causing this to happen and the person who can take control does not. So in between are the bloggers those who post and those who don't. I do not know specifics but I do know generalities and know that behind the nastiness posted is also truth. That is why the blogs are allowed because I am patiently waiting for this to be cleaned up for the betterment of Peru. Unfortuantely this is not a city of perfect people but they all live here. If you are my friend, then you should be reaching out to me privately and let me know the issue you have and I will tell you what I know.
My friend you are in denial. Please talk with Alex and ask him to be honest with you. He is a honest man and won't be afraid to tell you
This is a very important time in the history of the city and it is certainly not the time to bring what is past history. We are dealing with improper use of taxpayer dollars and that should be your real concern. If you are only worried about what others think of this city, then there is no point in continuing to make things better. All that has been brought forward by me and others, by the news media or some of aldermen that is meaningless because if you want to live in a city where those things can happen and you don't want to hear about them because they offend you or it does not affect you, then this city will continue to have the kind of government we have and nothing will change. You can continue to look at main street of town and reminisce that Peru used to be more than it is now. The blog did not cause this to happen it just recorded it and what people thought about it as it happened.
6;11 You couldn't come up with a better topic for your luncheon than the blog? And you are so easily swayed in your opinion of it?
I was thinking same thing. If Lois's blog can generate a luncheon topic between Peru's wealthiest blah blah blah then the blog is making more impact than I thought. If someone always reads the blog then listens to a table of whoever's knock the blog and that persuades that person to no longer read the blog, then what a small minded individual. Glad that person isn't a city official because we can tell who's side he'd be on. The YES your honor anything you say your honor side.
6:11, wonder what your opinion would be if many of the bloggers were at a table in deep discussion. I know 100% that you would be shocked at who the people would be at that table. I would be one of them and I'm related to a person who is an employee of the city. Enough said. I laugh to myself, when out and about when I see certain people and know they are crocked, and I do know the truth. 6:11, wouldn't surprise me if the club was meeting. This forum is the best thing that has happened to peru.
6:11- thanks for the info. Another secret meeting. How great that is. I think you are the one who is full of bologna.
Who is Alex that we are supposed to listen to because he is an honest man?
8:55 PM
Haven't a clue
An Alex donated to Harls campaign blog I believe. Last name starts with a B. Check campaign donations and you will see. Don't know if that's the person referencing too.
There is an Alex that lives in a house right by the pickleball court on 28th street park.
Channel 2 news, peru illinois mentioned Maude Powell just now!
This is 9;45, should read campaign fund, not campaign blog.
The Alex referred to is in the clear.
Yes. The Harl Campaigne Blog is no longer on-line. Thanks for the Change.
Here's food for thought: If Monday's meeting starts at 6:00 and goes right into "closed session" how long will citizens have to wait for the "open session" to begin? If closed session only last 1/2 hour will the open session begin immediately after or will citizens have to wait till 7:30? Why would the mayor want a closed session to start 1 1/2 hours before the start time of a regular meeting? Is he hoping people will not want to sit and wait and will therefore not show up?
Apparently, creating the additional impression of impropriety is the chance Harl is willing to take in order to reduce the attendance at Monday's meeting(s). The public in general will not be informed of the change in start time. That is obviously Harl's intention. There is no reason the closed session should not start at 7:30 immediately after coming to order.
Attention Peru residents:
The fix is in and if you attend the farce scheduled for Monday you will be absolutely stunned at how quickly "The Boys" put this "inconvenient little scandal" in their Rear-View Mirror.
Don't blink folks or you will miss it for sure.
After seeing the agenda for Monday, it has become clear to me how they will put this scandal out of its misery.
The judges report will be Non-committal and essentially indifferent to making a ruling on any actual illegalities on the part of anybody. That is the key that releases Harl from any wrong-doing. They will vote to send the Judges interpretation to the LaSalle County States Attorney as the agenda indicates. That means Brian Towne will take one look at the Judges' wishy-washy report and promptly determine that this report has come to his office to die a very quick and painful death. Towne will say the judge has already conducted the "investigation" and failed to make any recommendation for prosecution. Therefore, there is no need to proceed from the State Attorney's point of view.
Towne will be off the hook and he will breath a sigh of relief not having to pursue charges against a fellow Democrat. Judge Balestri is off the hook because he's a private citizen and not responsible to anybody except his own ethical standards and (convictions), pun intended. The Peru aldermen are off the hook because after all, they did their due diligence (covered their asses) and engaged the good judge to look into the matter in the first place, right?
But, most importantly for our cozy little circle of corruption in Peru, Harl will be off the hook because the "investigation" has taken its course and we will be told, Justice has been served.
If that's their idea of justice, the city of Peru is even more screwed up than I thought.
When you run out of "officials" in the chain of command to seek justice from you know it's time to give it up. I can't take it anymore, I quit!
So the great revelation to materialize as a result of the "Judge Report" has been reveled on Monday's meeting agenda under New Business.
Our hard-working and diligent alder-persons are going to reveal to the those of us they see as the great Peru "un-washed", that they will now "Discuss and motion to seek third party Internal Controls Examiner". Oh, what a relief for us. So apparently that was the cause of those pesky payroll irregularities. Those darned old Internal Controls. I should have known the payroll scandal was simply the result of a lack of Internal Controls. Once that Third Party Internal Control Examiner comes on duty, we are good as gold. How much gold does it cost these days for an Internal controls Examiner? No matter, we've got a lot of money to pay consultants to govern our city.
Nevermind that our first party Internal Controls,(our Elected Officials), not only failed us, but actually contributed to the lack thereof. Mayor, Treasurer, Clerk, Aldermen. All failed to provide "Internal Controls".
Hell, as long as we're hiring out duties oue elected officia;ls are failing to provide, I suggest we advertise for a Third Party Ethics Examiner. Then we can advertise for a Third Party Integrity Examiner, then an Honesty Examiner, etc, etc.
What a damn disgrace!
Lois, have you ever figured out who Alex is? 7:37 If Lois doesn't know who your talking about how is she supposed to listen to them?
Within the Jan 27th agenda is a section labeled REPORTS which states:
Motion to receive and place on file the Investigative Report as presented by retired Judge William Balestri and forward to LaSalle County States Attorney for review and recommendation.
There is also a section labeled
NEW BUSINESS WHICH states:
Motion to forward Payroll Investigation Report to Illinois State Police District 5 for review and recommendation.
Wouldn't normal protocol be county and than to state? Why both at the same time and what if they come up with conflicting opinions and recommendations?
The Litmus Test is so simple. If the act has to be hidden from the general public it is wrong, and all who knowingly allow this act without questioning proper, responsible parties are involved
and wrong.
What is the Oath that each public official has to take upon accepting office? What transpires if this oath is broken? Are there any other Ethical Codes of Conduct a city official must take or be made aware of?
11:21 welcome to my world
Will how the aldermen vote on the improper payroll disbursement to an employee or employees have any affect on how you vote in March for the referendum to reduce the number of aldermen elected to serve on the city council?
give less more power kind of backwards
9:39 Lois...No brainer.
"He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures."
"He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance."
"For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent."
United States Declaration of Independence.
Alderman Perez, Please go to this meeting! We need to know and are entitled to know the truth.
Hope the whoe city shows up better be honest reporting also if not then what a joke
Harl must have cut another "Deal with the Devil". The weather for tomorrow's council meeting will keep attendance down to a minimal.
They really should postpone the meeting, but Harl will want to take advantage of the white out conditions to hide his shame.
The saddest part of this whole scandal is the fact that the general public doesn't even know it exists because we have no legitimate journalists reporting on it. This is a great example of how the press can hold govenment accountable if they choose to. Sadly, the News Tribune has no interest in demonstrating journalistic ethics or its responsibility to its subscribers.
I would like to see this payroll issue go to a court of law where Mr. Mikos would have to get on the stand and tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about how he discovered falsified time sheets, how it was handled when it was brought to the mayor for questioning, why Harl and Bleck and the employee getting the extra overtime let this continue for years, and how the mayor treated him in the aftermath.
I'd also like to hear why he said the missing dump truck was "misplaced". He is so honest, he wasn't going to lie and say that truck was stolen when he knew it was not.
11:42 AM
Mikos was like a breath of fresh air in Peru where the air at city hall is sometimes actually putrid with all the
lies (yes lies) that have been told and the recriminations toward some people and the favoritism toward others and if you have read the blog for any length of time, you will know what I am talking about.
If this investigation falls to the wayside, it will be more of the same. Elections that promised an honest and transparent government will have been nothing more than election year politics.
Why stand for them to throw this to the side?!?!? They do NOT have the power... WE DO! Should this fall to the side, as expected, there are things we CAN do and MUST do. The News Trib doesn't want to report it, so be it. Let our voices be heard through other means. Picketing is always an attention grabber. I think many of these Council members run businesses of their own... what says we can not picket at their places of business as long as we are on public property? Hurt their personal pocketbooks and their attention will be had. I will be paying very close attention to who says what and hold that against them should they turn a blind eye to this. I will be in contact with this message board shortly after Monday's meeting to organize something. It's time for the people to take a stand against this administration. To those Alderman that do read this blog or friends of Alderman please pass this message, You may be protected in this small community with your connections, but you are not protected from outsiders coming into this community that you hold no relationship with. Well traveled people have connections and I ask all of you to dig deep into your connections outside of the area to make sure this criminal act does not go unpunished. I happen to be a well traveled individual that has had talks with various departments and authorities that have taken interest into what the outcome will be Monday.
Lois (9:39PM) This is a very good question and how one answers will be according to how long and deep their interest is in Peru politics and their total understanding of recent past actions of Mayor Harl and the City Council.
Personally my answer is NO. How the aldermen vote on any upcoming city council motion will not affect my vote in March.
I am basing my vote that having 2@large aldermen and 1 aldermen/ward will be a much needed advancement in Peru government and broader representation. I am voting for a idea, not a person.
The way to get the whole truth and nothing but the truth is to go to court, subpoenas, depositions. True non falsified paper work also tells the truth.And have the truth drawn out with questioning. People who don't tell the truth trip over their statements in which can be shown in a court of law that they are lying. Which doesn't look good for the dishonest person.
“One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we’ve been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. We’re no longer interested in finding out the truth. The bamboozle has captured us. It’s simply too painful to acknowledge, even to ourselves, that we’ve been taken. Once you give a charlatan power over you, you almost never get it back.”
Carl Sagan
“Corrupt politicians make the other ten percent look bad.”
Henry Kissinger
“He did not care for the lying at first. He hated it. Then later he had come to like it. It was part of being an insider...” -
Ernest Hemingway, For Whom the Bell Tolls
That Carl Sagan quote really describes Peru. It has been steeped in corruption so long that people who point out things or stand up to the rich names are considered rude and negative.
People wink and nod like cattle around here, sit and take it, and these guys push the limits all the time because nobody cares.
It is so much like Cicero it is not even funny.
Even Cicero's mayor eventually went to prison.
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