Niles To Discuss Taking Down Sign Named For Convicted Mayor

Almost exactly a year ago, the Niles Village Board naming a garden-like area outside Nicholas Blase Plaza, after a convicted former mayor who served time in prison.

The trustees' vote split 3-3 on the issue and Mayor Robert Callero broke the tie, allowing the sign to remain and the plaza to continue to carry the Blase name.

Earlier:

At the Tuesday, Sept. 27 board meeting, Trustee Rosemary Palicki, who took office after the September 2010 vote, made a motion to place the sign issue on the agenda for the board's Oct. 25 meeting. Palicki was elected in April.

If the board votes to take the sign down, Palicki specified in the motion that it will be removed before the board's November meeting.

"The vote (from a year ago) was not decisive, especially because it was three to three," Palicki explained. "There was a lot of public opinion on this issue. I've heard from constituents about it."

Last year, as a private citizen, Palicki wrote a making the point that Mayor Callero had not permitted public input on the matter.

She said Wednesday it's hard to explain to non-Niles residents why the village honors a for mail fraud and tax evasion and served time in federal prison. Blase was released in March. However, she allowed that his service could be recognized in some way.

"I feel it's inappropriate for the village of Niles to keep honoring this man. There are ways to remember him because he contributed public service," she said.

"But to have a plaza named after him when he admitted committing crimes is inappropriate."

She declined to name other ways in which Blase's service could be acknowledged, saying ideas would have to come from the village.

"I don't want anyone to feel we should completely disregard him," she clarified.

Events surrounding Blase's arrest and resignation spurred a movement toward ethics in Niles, including the creation of an ethics committee.

"We have to send a message that it's not business as usual," Palicki said, "and that we are moving forward on ethics and integrity."

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