Elmhurst-Area Agency Wins Ethics Battle — For Now

ELMHURST, IL — The Elmhurst-area agency accused of an ethics violation prevailed in its first battle. But it may not be over.

In an opinion issued Thursday, the ethics committee for Addison Township said it has no authority to hear a complaint filed against Bensenville Fire District No. 1, which serves unincorporated residents between Elmhurst and Bensenville.

The township appoints the fire district's trustees.

The "paper" fire district provides no actual fire service. Its only function is to send annual checks to two nearby fire agencies.

In a complaint last month, resident Jim Brill alleged the township distributed a flyer last fall advertising a fundraiser for state Rep. Deanne Mazzochi, an Elmhurst Republican. The flyer includes the township's stamp.

Two weeks ago, the ethics committee convened, with a stenographer on hand. But the meeting ended when the district's attorney, Pat Bond, presented a letter arguing the township had no authority in the matter. He walked out.

In response to a Patch inquiry, Brill said he would file the same complaint with the district itself.

"Very interested to see how that will go," Brill said in an email.

Under Illinois law, every local government entity must have an ethics code, which Brill said he doubts the fire district has. Last week, Patch filed a public records request for the district's code. Patch is due a response by Tuesday.

The flyer in question contended Mazzochi was working with the district to fight legislation that would dissolve the entity and put the area under the jurisdiction of Bensenville Fire District No. 2. It is one of the two agencies that gets Fire District No. 1's yearly checks.

Under state law, public bodies are barred from using their resources to help political campaigns.

Earlier this month, District No. 1's president, Paul Guerino, said he did not authorize the flyer.

Paul DeMichele, the fire district's controller, has not returned messages for comment. DeMichele, who is in charge of the district's paperwork, may have access to the stamp in question.

Lately, the fire district has been mired in controversy. It has yet to explain why it gave a $50-a-month travel payment to one of its three board members for years.

Last year, it mailed a fake "official ballot" on whether to dissolve the district, giving residents only one side of the issue.

Recently, Patch reported that the district spends about $30,000 annually — or 12 percent of its budget — on overhead. All this is related to the sole job of sending $200,000 in checks to agencies that actually provide fire service.