Letter: Document Leak a 'Slap in Face' to City Staff, Residents

Dear Editor;

I had to write after hearing the news on WJOL-AM of the possible Joliet City Council Executive Session leak of highly sensitive legal information to the owners of Evergreen Terrace. I was hesitant to publicly comment on the issue, but felt it was too important for the future of our community.  

The city has been in litigation involving Evergreen Terrace since 2005. Collectively, thousands of hours have been devoted by city staff over the last decade trying to make a positive change for Evergreen Terrace and its surrounding Joliet neighborhoods. The thought of an elected city official giving highly sensitive and private city information or documents to the owners of Evergreen Terrace is ALARMING!

Read: Someone on Council Leaked 'Sensitive' Document, Mayor Says

This is a very serious issue. If the city of Joliet were to lose the current litigation against the ownership of Evergreen Terrace, it would essentially millions of dollars of losses for our city. A public servant or official who puts our city at a disadvantage legally, and potentially damages the city efforts to win the pending cases is UNBELIEVABLE!  

All current and former members of the city council take an oath when installed to support and protect the interests of the city and its residents. In my opinion, if the current allegation is proven true, IT IS A TOTAL BETRAYAL OF THE SPIRIT OF THAT OATH!  

Over the last decade many city councils, city managers, city staff, neighborhood leaders and local business leaders have worked to make a positive change at Evergreen Terrace and its surrounding neighborhoods. This alleged leak of private legal information from a city council executive session to the owners of Evergreen Terrace, if true, is a SLAP IN THE FACE TO ALL THESE COMMUNITY LEADERS!  

Finally, when you are an elected or appointed official of the city of Joliet, your job and duty is to act in the best interest of its citizens. If the leak allegations of sensitive legal information by a city official or their surrogate to the owners of Evergreen Terrace is proven true, it will be obvious that the self interest of an individual is more important than potentially undermining the official policy of Joliet and its citizens. I hope this is not the case.  

Don Fisher
Former Councilman At-Large
City of Joliet