Better Government Association

Apartment deal could be conflict in Orland Fire Protection District

August 1, 2007
By Isaac Wolf Staff writer

The Orland Fire Protection District board president and the district's union chief together bought two apartment buildings in January, raising concerns about conflicts of interest.

The purchases came weeks before the Professional Firefighters Local 2754, headed by Nick Anastos, endorsed the political allies of board president Patrick Maher in a hotly contested race for two seats on the fire district board.

Because the union and district are institutional adversaries -- their leaders must negotiate regularly over salary, benefits and grievances -- an outside relationship between the heads of these organizations is troubling.

Taxpayers and firefighters might question whether a business relationship between Anastos and Maher would compromise their ability to act in their constituents' best interest.

"This does not look good, any way you slice it," said Dan Sprehe, chief investigator of the Better Government Association.

Sprehe called on Maher to explain himself.

"How can he make decisions on the union?" Sprehe said. "Why should anyone feel like he's ever fairly addressing an issue if the union's involved?"

Maher said in May that his business relationship with Anastos has no effect on fire district affairs.

He refused to elaborate then and, asked again this week, would provide no more details.

Anastos repeatedly declined to comment.

On Jan. 9, Maher and Anastos bought a multifamily building at 15205 El Cameno Terrace, according to Cook County recorder of deeds' office documents.

That building, just west of LaGrange Road, is barely a block from the fire district's headquarters.

Days later, Anastos and Maher purchased another apartment building, at 1313 Argo Lane in Lockport, according to the Will County recorder of deeds' office.

Sprehe said Maher's arrangement with Anastos is far worse than politicians who accept campaign donations from special interest groups. In those situations, politicians at least have to disclose which donors they're taking cash from, Sprehe reasoned.

"It influences your decision-making," he said. "We don't have partitions in our head where we can literally put things aside."

A union president's job is to try to get the most money he can for the firefighters, Sprehe said. By contrast, the board is supposed to get the best deal for district taxpayers.

"You want to pay your firefighters a good, fair wage," Sprehe said, "but taxpayers don't want the store given away."

In the April 17 municipal election, the fire union endorsed -- and its members campaigned for -- Marty McGill and Glenn Michalek.

Those two candidates overwhelmingly defeated running mates Art Granat Cindy Nelson-Katsenes, a vocal critic of Maher. vThe Orland fire union is a chapter in the International Association of Firefighters.

Bill Glanz, a spokesman for the IAFF, could not say if the fire district or union official had broken any ethics rules. He refused to comment on Anastos' actions.

A senior firefighter in the district said Maher and Anastos' relationship is tarnishing the district's already sullied image. It has been stained by the mysterious departure earlier this month of Fire Chief Don Bettenhausen and the January arrest of Lt. Larry Masa, who allegedly lied about military service to collect pay.

"Whatever's going on makes us look bad," the firefighter said. "It's the perception."

The firefighter said he loves the district but that the board's handling of recent events is making him consider a new job.

"It seems like they're trying to burn down the building to rebuild the foundation," he said.

Isaac Wolf may be reached at iwolf@dailysouthtown.com