Peru Mayor vetoes council’s decision to appoint corporate counsel to full-time position

Peru Mayor Ken Kolowski vetoed two ordinances during Monday night’s Council meeting that would have allowed current Corporate Counsel Scott Schweickert to join the city as a full-time employee.

The aldermen voted 8-0 in favor of adopting an ordinance editing the language of the corporate counsel position and voted 7-1 on a second ordinance to accept an employment agreement with Schweickert. Kolowski vetoed both decisions.

Alderman Aaron Buffo was the one dissenter in the second vote and said he doesn’t disagree with statements saying Schweickert has done good work for the city. Instead, he said he disagrees with the agreement as it originally stands because there were no negotiations and he viewed it as a first draft.

“The city did not take this out for applications,” Buffo said. “It’s very likely Scott would be the best candidate, but we don’t know that for sure.”

Alderman Tom Payton spoke in favor of the ordinance granting the city a full-time counsel. Payton said the move would save the city money in the long term.

“The city did not take this out for applications,” Buffo said. “It’s very likely Scott would be the best candidate, but we don’t know that for sure.”

Alderman Tom Payton spoke in favor of the ordinance granting the city a full-time counsel. Payton said the move would save the city money in the long term.

Agencies