Elmhurst Official Rebuked Over Side Business

ELMHURST, IL – A top Elmhurst official was reprimanded last month for working on his side business while he was on duty.

Last week, Paul Burris, the city's utility operations manager, retired after having given notice in late April.

Through a public records request, Patch obtained documents related to the city's investigation of Burris.

In February, the city started looking into Burris, who makes more than $160,000 a year, after Patch started asking questions about whether his side business, OTM Environmental, interfered with his city duties.

In response to a Patch request for comment at the time, the city said it was reviewing Burris' situation.

On May 15, Public Works Director Stan Balicki issued a written reprimand to Burris.

In his letter, Balicki said Burris brought to Balicki's attention on Feb. 1 that a reporter sought information about Burris' secondary employment. Balicki said he and others met with Burris several times after Feb. 1 to ask questions and gather more information.

Balicki said Burris violated the policy barring city employees from engaging in outside employment that interferes with their city work.

According to the letter, Burris said he worked on his side business on weekends, lunches, breaks and evenings of regular business days.

But the city arrived at a different conclusion.

"The City's investigation found numerous instances of emails, phone calls, virtual meetings and onsite meetings conducted during regular Elmhurst business hours without using paid time off," Balicki said.

Patch's investigation found hundreds of emails during Elmhurst business hours that Burris sent on behalf of OTM Environmental. It also learned that Burris used a piece of city equipment for one of his clients; that was not mentioned in his reprimand.

Going forward, the city prohibited Burris from performing any work for his other employment during his regular hours of 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on days he was scheduled to work, Balicki said. Failure to follow the rule would lead to more discipline, possibly being fired, Balicki said.

"You exercised poor judgment by conducting your secondary employment during City of Elmhurst regular business hours, regardless of your exempt status," Balicki said. "This conduct will not be tolerated as it discredits the City's admirable reputation and is not in the best interest of the city."

On April 29, while the investigation continued, Burris informed Balicki in writing that he was retiring, effective June 3. He said he recently had more time to reflect on his personal life.

"Working for the City of Elmhurst the last 8 years have been some of the most productive years of my career," Burris said. "I truly gave my heart to the city and I have enjoyed my time in Elmhurst."

Burris, who started with Elmhurst eight years ago, apparently had the confidence of his superiors. In 2016, Burris was hired at a salary of $120,000. His ending pay was $162,822, a 35 percent increase in eight years.

In his last few years, Burris took time off with a mix of vacation, sick leave and personal days.

In 2023, Burris took the equivalent of five weeks of the various forms of leave. In 2021 and 2022, his time off amounted to about 6½ weeks each year.

Last month, his position was advertised at a range of $108,548 to $162,822.

In February, Burris told Patch that he received no overtime or compensatory time off when he exceeded 40 hours a week.

"There are times that I come in early, stay late, take longer lunch breaks and take personal time off, all while assuming the duties of the position I hold with the City of Elmhurst are Priority one and are completed in a timely and efficient and effective manner," Burris said.

He said he was allowed half-hour unpaid breaks, which he sometimes broke into smaller parts. He said he had "the right to work or talk to anyone I please at these times."

Burris did not return a message for comment.