Lake County Gazette

Waukegan Mayor Ann B. Taylor has vetoed a resolution that would have allowed aldermen to have a separate attorney from the city's corporate counsel. She said that the decision was made to ensure taxpayer funds are used prudently.

"The only place for this money to come out of is Capital Improvements. Personally, I feel our residents want their streets done more than they want their aldermen to have their own personal attorneys, so I have vetoed it," Taylor said during the Waukegan City Council's February 3 meeting.

According to the YouTube video of the meeting, Taylor mentioned there will be an opportunity for a vote to override her veto. She emphasized her responsibility as mayor to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and that city operations remain effective, transparent, and free of unnecessary duplication.

Taylor also highlighted that Elrod Friedman, a municipal law firm representing several municipalities, had been contracted by the Waukegan City Council through four votes. She noted that the firm spends more time with the aldermen than in her office, indicating no need for additional legal representation for them beyond what is already provided.

Furthermore, Taylor pointed out that 88.7% of the city's finances are allocated to staff expenses. She reiterated that any additional funds would have to be sourced from Waukegan's Capital Improvements accounts.