Latest / Kendall County News - Shaw Local / Yorkville alderman rejects conflict of interest claim in representing ex-Oswego parks director
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- 0:06Speaker 1: Yorkville alderman rejects confident interests claim in representing ex Oswego
- 0:10Park's director. Written by Eric Schlkoff, This article is being
- 0:18read by an automated voice brought to you by Everlett.
- 0:23Attorney Daniel Transier is refuting Kendall County State's Attorney Eric
- 0:26Weiss's claim that serving as the defense attorney for former
- 0:29oswiggil And Park District Executive director Tom Bettsinger poses a
- 0:33conflict because he is a Yorkville City Council alderman. Weis
- 0:37filed a motion to disqualify Transier from serving as Bettsinger's
- 0:41defense attorney. Betsinger was charged last July with allegedly attempting
- 0:46to run over a person with his pickup truck in
- 0:48Yorkville and driving under the influence of alcohol. Bettsinger later
- 0:51resigned his position with the park District. The victim was
- 0:54not injured. A hearing on the case was continued until
- 0:58February twenty fifth to allow Transire the time to file
- 1:01a written response well if have an evidentiary hearing in February,
- 1:06Transier said. Transier was first elected to the Yorkville City
- 1:11Council in twenty nineteen. In his response to Weiss's motion,
- 1:15Transier said that during his time as alderman, he has
- 1:17represented individuals charged by the Yorkville Police Department of crimes
- 1:21occurring in the city. Additionally, Attorney Transier has been court
- 1:25appointed on multiple cases which were charged by the Yorkville
- 1:27Police Department, he states in the response. In his response,
- 1:32Transier also states he has no involvement in the oversight
- 1:35in the operations of the Yorkville Police Department that includes
- 1:38the hiring, firing, discipline, promotions, or assignments of Yorkville Police officers.
- 1:44Transier also states he does not have any role in
- 1:47setting the salary tables for Yorkville Police officers. It appears
- 1:52that the state's motion is primarily concerned about the impact
- 1:54Attorney Transier's role as alderman for the City of Yorkville
- 1:57will potentially have on the investigating officers, as it alleges
- 2:00that the officers may be cross examined by Attorney Transier.
- 2:03According to the response, this does not create a conflict
- 2:08as it relates to the appearance of impropriety should the
- 2:11jury learn of the conflict. Transier said he does not
- 2:14believe Weiss has presented any evidence of a conflict. In addition,
- 2:18he said information about his role as an alderman can
- 2:20be excluded from being disclosed to members of a potential
- 2:23jury with the filing of a pre trial motion without
- 2:27having evidence of an actual conflict, A probability that continued
- 2:30representation by the defendant's council of choice will provide grounds
- 2:34for overturning a conviction does not exist, Transier said in
- 2:37his response. In his January twenty second motion, Weiss noted
- 2:43that as an alderman, Transier votes on and approves funding
- 2:46requests for the Yorkville Police Department. Attorney Transer voted on
- 2:50and approved the last several collective bargaining agreements for employees
- 2:53of the Yorkville Police Department. According to the motion, Attorney
- 2:56Transier approved the appointment of the current Yorkville Police Chief,
- 2:59James Jens. Weis said that he is not accusing Transier
- 3:04of any alleged improper conduct. In his motion, Weisse also
- 3:10noted the incident involving Bettsinger was investigated by Yorkville Police officers.
- 3:14The case has not yet gone to trial. Witnesses are
- 3:17financially tied to Attorney Transier. His capacity as aldermen, as
- 3:21they are employees of the United City of Yorkville, for
- 3:23which Attorney Transier is an alderman. According to the motion,
- 3:26this puts the employee's officers in a conflicted situation in
- 3:29which they will be cross examined by one of their boss's,
- 3:31attorney Transier. Since the employees cannot be removed from this case,
- 3:35the court should require Attorney Transier to recuse himself or alternatively,
- 3:39to disqualify him as the attorney of record in this
- 3:41matter for the reasons set forth above, but it can
- 3:47according to the motion, there is significant risk that Transier's
- 3:50continued representation of Bettsinger will be materially limited by Transier's
- 3:54responsibilities in overseeing the Yorkville Police Department and its employees.
- 3:59The conflict it requires Attorney Transier to choose between representing
- 4:02his client or acting as an employer of the Yorkville
- 4:05Police Department. According to the motion,