Board of Aldermen 5-26-2020 Page 15
Alderman O’Brien
No there’s other people that who do have some affiliation with other people that are employed by the City,
but the thing is | thought | could (inaudible) | cannot vote on it, and | recuse myself of a vote, but | can
definitely sponsor something. | was under that impression or can you explain to me the difference between
sponsorship and actually voting in favor of something?
Attorney Bolton
| think, Alderman O’Brien, if you have a conflict, you ought to recuse yourself from any involvement in the
measure including sponsorship and including voting and advocating for.
Alderman O’Brien
Well. let us the record clear so that my constituents who have duly elected me completely understand what
the problem is. My son works for the Fire Department. He is over the age of 18, he is emancipated, he
does not live with me. And as we all know in some families, some people get along, some people don’t But
in this case, my son has no financial (inaudible) until when | die and | hope he doesn’t kill me, but the thing
is | think this is taking great affect to my constituents who do support me and expect me to do the right thing
and harboring my ability my ability to vote and speak for my constituents with this. | think it is unduly,
particularly with other members with some ties to different functions. | could see it, | always recuse myself,
my wife who was a para who worked for the School Department as much as the former President of our
Board, Brian McCarthy. Both of us recused ourselves, because it was a financial impact. But having one’s
son just as a job, there’s no financial ties and | think the flavor of that Ordinance that keeps me from doing
this | am notin favor. So under protest, | will take the advice of counsel and | will recuse myself with deep
regret and apologies to my constituents, thank you.
A viva voce roll call was taken which resulted as follows:
Yea: Alderman Klee, Alderwoman Kelly, Alderman Dowd,
Alderman Caron, Alderman Clemons, Alderman Lopez, Alderman Tencza,
Alderwoman Lu, Alderman Jette, Alderman Schmidt,
Alderman Cleaver, Alderwoman Harriott-Gathright, Alderman Wilshire 13
Nay: 0
Ms. Lovering
You have 13 yeas and one abstention (Alderman O’Brien).
MOTION CARRIED
NEW BUSINESS — ORDINANCES
There being no objection, President Wilshire suspended the rules to allow for the first reading of an
Ordinance received after the agenda was prepared.
O-20-019
Endorser: Alderwoman-at-Large Lori Wilshire
RELATIVE TO PERMITS FOR FIREWORKS DISPLAYS
Given its first reading
MOTION BY ALDERMAN O’BRIEN TO SUSPEND THE RULES FOR A SECOND READING OF O-20-019
ROLL CALL
