CHICAGO (CBS) — The Chicago Board of Ethics wants to fine City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin $60,000 for violating the city’s ethics rules by misusing city resources for personal gain.
Under city ethics rules, Conyears-Ervin was not named in the board report, but sources confirmed the treasurer was the subject of the findings.
In a unanimous vote Monday, the board found that Conyears-Ervin had committed 12 violations of the city’s Government Ethics Ordinance, “arising from the official’s appearance at church services where the official engaged in partisan political activity, but used of city resources and property. and in preparation for those services.”
The vote follows an investigation by the office of Chicago Inspector General Deborah Witzburg, which found that she violated the ethics ordinance by misappropriating city resources for improper purposes by directing an employee to use his city time for personal purposes.
The board voted to impose a $5,000 fine for each violation, or $60,000 total. If the board and Conyears-Ervin cannot settle the matter within 60 days, the board may request an administrative hearing to impose the fine against her.
Conyears-Ervin’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The treasurer is facing a separate Ethics Board investigation into allegations that she violated the city’s whistleblower protections by firing two employees who raised concerns about her misuse of city property for personal reasons.
The board is asking Witzburg’s office for more information on that matter and could vote on that matter at its next meeting in May.
