Story posted Friday, February 5, 2010
Niles Ethics Board Meeting Set For Saturday
An emergency meeting of the Niles Board of Ethics was hastily scheduled for tomorrow morning, Saturday, Feb. 6, at 8:30 a.m. to discuss “current events” just before a scheduled board of trustees workshop on new Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Illinois Open Meetings Act (IOMA) regulations.
In the aftermath of former Niles Mayor Nicholas Blase’s sentencing on federal corruption charges on Friday, Jan. 29 to one year and one day in prison, the village was rocked by shocking new revelations from federal prosecutors.
New revelations also became public this week that former Niles police officer William Christie allegedly took $1,700 from the room of a recently deceased man who died in the Leaning Tower YMCA on Touhy Avenue.
Christie quit the force last November after 25-years on the job on the day of a police and fire pension board meeting set to consider terminating his employment for the misconduct complaint.
This week the Cook County State’s Attorney charged Christie with felony theft and official misconduct stemming from an internal Niles police investigation.
Village Attorney Joe Annunzio began an internal village investigation last week into the possible involvement of Niles employees in the police department or building permit process having participated in Blase’s criminal enterprise.
Lawyers for the United States Attorney filed a federal sentencing recommendation in Blase’s corruption case indicating Niles village employees may have participated in Blase’s scheme to pressure business owners to take out insurance policies with Ralph Weiner and Associates insurance company.
Blase pled guilty to charges relating to the scheme in October 2008 shortly after retiring after 47 years as Niles mayor.
Saturday's meetings will take place in the Village of Niles Council Chambers, 1000 Civic Center Drive.
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