LF_111419

LakeForestLeaderDaily.com NEWS
the lake forest leader | November 14, 2019 | 3
Lake Forest City Council
Posted to LakeForestLeaderDaily.com 9 days ago
Pandaleon reads prepared
statement on Kiely indictment
Todd Marver
Freelance Reporter
Following the indictment
of former Lake Forest
city manager Bob Kiely
on a charge of official misconduct,
Mayor George
Pandaleon responded during
the regular Lake Forest
City Council meeting on
Monday, Nov. 4.
In his statement, Pandaleon
said the City will not
talk about particulars of
the case.
“Because this is an ongoing
matter that was initiated
by the Lake County
State’s Attorney’s Office
and out of deference to
the proceeding and all the
parties involved, the City
will refrain from commenting
on the specifics
of the case,” he said.
Pandaleon added that
the City is not currently
involved in the process
with the indictment that
was filed with the County
Circuit Court.
“It is important that our
community understands
that the City did not seek
this action by the Lake
County State’s Attorney’s
Office and we don’t know
what caused it to be initiated
at this time,” he said.
“We are not a party to the
proceeding, but we will
cooperate if asked with
all parties as this matter
moves toward resolution.”
Pandaleon was complimentary
of Kiely’s service
to the community. Kiely
served as city manager for
nearly three decades until
his retirement in January.
“This body along with
many in our community
and beyond is well-aware
of the contributions that
Mr. Kiely has made to
our community over his
lengthy career,” he said.
“His record is well known
by most of us in this room
tonight. He always served
with one goal in mind: doing
right by Lake Forest
and all of its residents.”
Pandaleon also said he
is pleased with the way
the City has handled the
current situation.
“I’m very proud of our
team from council members
to staff who have
remained focused on the
job at hand and have conducted
themselves professionally
and capably as we
would all expect,” he said.
“The issues surrounding
this matter which we have
been dealing with for several
years have been both
challenging and very disruptive
to our community.”
As reported by The
Leader on Oct. 25, Kiely
has been indicted on a
charge of official misconduct.
According to
the indictment filed with
the Lake County Circuit
Court, Kiely “engaged
in a lobbying contract
in excess of the $20,000
purchasing authority set
forth in Section 38.31 of
the Lake Forest City Code
without the approval of
the City Council” between
Jan. 1, 2016 and March 1,
2017.
In other council action at
the Nov. 4 meeting, aldermen
approved a non-binding
estimate of the 2019.
This was approved to meet
a statutory requirement under
the Truth in Taxation
Act that the council approve
an estimate at least
20 days prior to approving
the tax levy ordinance.
The current 2019
tax levy estimate is
$33,783,111. That represents
a 4.59 percent increase
over last year’s extension.
A public hearing
is only required if the estimate
is at least a 5 percent
increase over last year’s
extension. Since it is less
than a 5 percent increase
at 4.59 percent, the hearing
is not required. This
was first discussed at the
Finance Committee meeting
on Oct. 21. The next
discussion regarding the
levy is scheduled for the
Nov. 12 Finance Committee
budget workshop.
The levy ordinance will
be considered by the City
Council on Nov. 18 for
first reading and again on
Dec. 2 for adoption.
The council also tabled
approval of the deed of
gift of the original 1857
map of the City of Lake
Forest to the Newberry
Library in Chicago until
its Nov. 18 meeting, allowing
staff to research
the feasibility of the Dunn
Museum of Lake County
in Libertyville.
“If by chance they have
the same facilities and if
by chance it provides access
in the same safe environment,
I think it warrants
discussion then,”
Alderman Ara Goshgarian
said. “We don’t know that
the Lake County facility
is indeed not an option,
although I would suspect
that Newberry is the best
place.”
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