Leaking Info to Newspaper Generates Hot Conversation at Forest Park Meeting

Monday's Forest Park commissioners’ meeting briefly became a battleground over leaking sensitive, closed-door information to a reporter.

Commissioner Rory Hoskins recently disclosed to a reporter for the Forest Park Review information about a proposal from another commission to give a 20 percent pay increase to Village Administrator Tim Gillian.

For several minutes, Commissioner Mark Hosty, who made the proposal, and Mayor Anthony Calderone, chided Hoskins for disclosing that sensitive information.

The words reprimand and censure came up at least once during the discussion, conducted in open session before commissioners went behind closed doors to talk about negotiations with the firefighters.

Hosty said the discussion was a jumping off point for talk about a raise for Gillian, who he praised for doing a great job. Leaking that sensitive information put Gillian in a bad light, Hosty said.

"The story was inaccurate. There’s a reason why [closed-door sessions] are closed door," Hosty said. “When you drag an employee through the mud it’s wrong. There’s an agreement that every other village has, that these kinds of conversations are private until we’re ready to put them before the public."

Hoskins took exception to Hosty’s comments that Gillian was doing a fabulous job.

"He was prepared to take money from the village," Hoskins said. "I don’t think I acted adversely. While some have one opinion, some people in town have another."

Commissioner Tom Mannix noted he would be interested in reprimanding the commissioner for his action.

"That's not the time to run to the media and have this played out in the newspaper," he said. "It’s the principle of the thing that’s upsetting. He violated the sanctity of the [closed door] session. I was disappointed that he felt a need to go to the paper. I’m disappointed what the paper did and ran with the story."

Village Attorney Michael Durkin said the commissioners could not vote on a reprimand because it was not on the agenda, but each had the right to speak publicly in an open session as to what they feel would be appropriate.

There is no indication when, or if, a motion of censure or reprimand will come before commissioners.

Gillian's compensation increase came up as part of a discussion about wages for personnel who are not covered by a village bargaining agreement, Village President Anthony Calderone said.

The question of Gillian's salary increase arose during a closed door session on Dec. 17. Gillian was excused from the meeting, Mayor Anthony Calderone said. He added that he asked commissioners what they thought, and the idea of a $20,000 increase was floated by Hosty, Calderone said.

Calderone said Hoskins did not engage in any real conversation during the session and remained quiet. He noted that was what deliberations during executive session were for.

He called Hoskins' actions and that of the Forest Park Review irresponsible.

"Nothing was decided that night, unless I missed something," he said. "An elected official took it upon himself to divulge conversations and a reporter wrote a story that got taken out of context. Our administrator did not get any kind of increase. It was a classic example where a comment made by one person was leaked to the press and they saw it as a juicy story."

There might not be provisions for reprimand, Calderone said. But he said it was a matter of doing the right thing.

Commissioner Chris Harris said there was nothing to prevent commissioners from talking about anything in closed session. He felt the story was fairly reported.

To hear the entire discussion and all the proceedings of Monday night's meeting, click here.