Cook County Taxpayers On The Hook For Berrios' Political Firings

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jul 17, 2013 9:00PM

Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios, the Boss Tweed of Chicago politics, continues to cost taxpayers money with his autocratic moves. The County Board is mulling over whether to settle out of court with 11 former Assessor’s Office employees who were fired by Berrios shortly after he took office in 2010.

The Sun-Times reports the total settlement amount could reach $529,000. Clifford Meacham, a federally appointed county hiring monitor, ruled the terminations were a violation of the Shakman Decree banning hiring and firing for certain positions, and recommended the settlements, ranging from $1,000 to $95,000.

Berrios told the Tribune he believed the workers he fired were “at-will employees” whose positions he could do with as he wished. Cook County Commissioner Peter Silvestri (R-Elmwood Park) said he was troubled by the payments, “but I understand. I don’t want to accept it. But I have to.”

Berrios said he wants to be compliant with the county rules regarding hiring and firing, but in order to do that he would have to start by letting go of his son and sister from his office’s payroll. Berrios hired them shortly after taking office, moves the Cook County Board of Ethics said were violations of the County Ethics Ordinance which, among other things, prohibits elected officials and other county employees from hiring or directly supervising a relative. The Ethics Board fined Berrios $20,000, which he’s been appealing using attorneys hired by the county.