Conflicts of interest on Albion?

On July 27, during the continuation of the Plan Commission Public Hearing on the zoning variances requested for the proposed Albion development at Lake and Forest, John Lynch, as executive director, gave the full support of the project on behalf of the Oak Park Economic Development Corporation (OPEDC). Mr. Lynch declared, “There won’t be an eight-story building,” that it will either be the 18-story building proposed by Albion or “the status quo” with what now exists at 1000 Lake Street.

It’s interesting that OPEDC is saying if the variances are not granted to the Albion, there will be nothing done there. This leaves the question: What will OPEDC do to earn the multi-year $700,000 grant from the village and get another developer for the site if Albion walks away?

More interesting, though, is the possible conflict of interest posed to the village president, Trustee Dan Moroney, as well as the village manager, and the endorsement of Albion’s request for variances by the OPEDC. Clearly, this is a violation of the village’s code of ethics.

The code of ethics includes Section 2-25-9: Conflicts of Interest and Standards of Conduct. Paragraph D (2) states, “Interest in Contract, Legislative or Administrative Action, Transaction, Zoning Decision, Permit or Licensing Decision, or Other Matter:  No elected or appointed officer or employee having the power or duty to perform an official act or action, related to a contract, legislative or administrative action, transaction, zoning decision, permit or licensing decision … (2) Have an interest in any business entity representing, advising or appearing on behalf of, whether paid or unpaid, any person involved in such contract, legislative or administrative action, transaction, zoning decision, permit or licensing decision, or other matter. …”

As members of the board of directors of the “entity” that is the OPEDC, the mayor, trustee, and village manager have been among those “appearing on behalf of” Albion and the company’s application for the zoning variations requested for the 18-story building at Lake and Forest.

This is clearly a violation of the village of Oak Park Municipal Code of Ethics Ordinance, Section 2-25-9.

Chris Donovan is a resident of Oak Park.