Two leaders of Illinois Leaks, a watchdog group that has been critical of Naperville’s shift to digital smart meters, this week took City Council members to task. One of them criticized two of the councilmen specifically for paying some of their electric bills late, suggesting the tardy payments render them ineligible to remain in office.
John Kraft and Kirk Allen addressed the council Tuesday night, a day after Councilmen Joe McElroy and Dave Wentz, along with two other incumbents and 11 others, filed for council candidacy in April’s consolidated elections.
Kraft asserted that the overdue payments from McElroy and Wentz amounted to becoming “in arrears on a debt” to the municipality, which under state law disqualifies them from council service.
Allen, who identified himself as Illinois Leaks’ founder and a veteran, reminded the council members that they took an oath of office and cautioned them to honor and uphold it by taking action on wrongdoing brought to their attention. According to Allen, Illinois Leaks in recent months has “looked into matters with this city,” and said they have found cause for concern.
Neither council member denied falling behind on his electric bills. McElroy said he has never been assessed a late fee, and Wentz acknowledged receiving notices that his account was past due, but said he didn’t realize late fees were associated with them.
When council members sought the opinion of acting city attorney Jill Pelka-Wilger, she said a decision on whether to take up the matter was not theirs to make.
“For purposes of being in arrears, is it not the City Council that determines whether a seated City Council member will remain,” she said, suggesting Kraft file a complaint with the DuPage County state’s attorney’s office.
The council members asked Pelka-Wilger to investigate Kraft’s claims and report her findings later this week.