Politics & Government
Someone on Council Leaked 'Sensitive' Document, Mayor Charges
Joliet Mayor Tom Giarrante has asked the state's attorney to investigate how an Evergreen Terrace lawsuit document ended up in the hands of the opposing side.
Joliet Mayor Tom Giarrante has asked the Will County state's attorney to investigate how a "highly sensitive document" about the Evergreen Terrace lawsuit ended up in the hands of the opposing side's lawyers.
The document was given to the Joliet City Council by city attorney Jeff Plyman in a closed session, and the mayor alleges the breach was made by a council member.
"This shameful act is an unprecedented betrayal to the residents of Joliet, who in good faith elected us to represent them and their interests on the council," Giarrante said in a statement released Wednesday.
The document was an overview of a proposed settlement between the city and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD was a co-defendant in the Evergreen Terrace suit, and dropped out of the case when the council approved the settlement in November.
The lawsuit, which has been in court for nearly a decade, is a condemnation case in which the city is seeking permission to purchase the troubled apartment complex through eminent domain. Evergreen Terrace has been a source of a great deal of crime, and city officials want to purchase it from its owners in order to reduce density and put in tougher restrictions for those who live there.
The document in question was given to council members in August, and the allegation is someone on the council leaked it to the lawyers representing Evergreen Terrace in the lawsuit.
"At the very least, this action was highly unethical," Giarrante said in his statement. "At its worst, someone may have violated the law."
"This shameful act is an unprecedented betrayal to the residents of Joliet, who in good faith elected us to represent them and their interests on the council," Giarrante said in a statement released Wednesday.
The document was an overview of a proposed settlement between the city and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD was a co-defendant in the Evergreen Terrace suit, and dropped out of the case when the council approved the settlement in November.
The lawsuit, which has been in court for nearly a decade, is a condemnation case in which the city is seeking permission to purchase the troubled apartment complex through eminent domain. Evergreen Terrace has been a source of a great deal of crime, and city officials want to purchase it from its owners in order to reduce density and put in tougher restrictions for those who live there.
The document in question was given to council members in August, and the allegation is someone on the council leaked it to the lawyers representing Evergreen Terrace in the lawsuit.
"At the very least, this action was highly unethical," Giarrante said in his statement. "At its worst, someone may have violated the law."
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