2 Investigators: City Of Harvey Sued Over Tax Levy Vote
(CBS) -- The City of Harvey's municipal government is in turmoil.
A boycott by Aldermen has brought council meetings to a halt. And Friday, a lawsuit was filed charging that the mayor illegally rammed through a $15 million property tax levy without the required quorum present.
Video obtained by the CBS 2 Investigators shows the April 25, 2016 meeting when it happened. During that meeting, four of Harvey's six alderman exited the room, apparently leaving Harvey without a quorum, which is the required number of aldermen needed to hold a public meeting and vote on city business.
That didn't stop Mayor Eric Kellogg from taking action. Video shows him calling a vote on the tax levy, which the four aldermen opposed because of concerns about a lack of financial transparency.
However, official Harvey documents say the tax levy was adopted legally and that two of the four aldermen – Joe Whittington and Shirley Drewenski – were present during the roll call but didn't vote.
"I wasn't even in the council chambers at that time," Drewenski says.
That isn't true, says Sean Howard, a Harvey spokesman.
"They were in the room when their names were called," Howard says. "It's done. It's over. The levy has been passed."
Now, attorney Patrick Walsh has filed a lawsuit to block the levy.
"We allege that the mayor brought this ordinance to a vote purposely when the opponents of the ordinance were out of the room," Walsh explains. "We expect and hope that the court will find that this tax levy was null and void."
That could leave Harvey in the lurch. Its major expenses include $14.6 million in unpaid water bills, $3.2 million in pension obligations and $2.6 million for police and fire protection.
Walsh says he wants a Cook County judge to send the tax levy issue back to the city council.
"I would hope that the levy is voted on and passed," he adds. "But things have to be done according to the law."
Another smaller, but intriguing, debt involves the recent settlement of a lawsuit filed by a former employee who had been romantically involved with Mayor Kellogg.
In court filings, Sandra Alvarado claimed that after she and the mayor called it quits, he and his top aides harassed her and made threats. One even vowed to "F—her up."
Last month, without admitting any guilt, the city settled the case for $230,000.
Zekman tried to ask the mayor about Alvarado's claims but he declined, saying he had to prepare for a council meeting. That meeting was cut short because the four aldermen were outside the building boycotting.
"Even though it's been disruptive, we will continue to move our city forward," Kellogg said as he ended the council session minutes after it started.
The boycotting aldermen say they are protesting the mayor's refusal to work with them or turn over financial records they have requested.
"His budget is not transparent," says Ald. Joseph Whittington. "It's not clear what he is going to do with the money."