Board grants waiver to enable a City employee to receive a home modification for a disabled family member

Grant of Waiver from the City's

Financial Interest in City Business Restrictions

Case No. 26010.W

At its April 13, 2026 meeting, the Board of Ethics, by a unanimous vote, granted a waiver[1] from the Governmental Ethics Ordinance's (Ordinance) "financial interest in City business" restrictions[2] to Juan Alvarez, who is currently employed by the Department of Streets & Sanitation.

In accordance with §2-156-402(b) of the Ordinance and Board Rule 9[3] we present the following summary of the granted waiver.

Mr. Alvarez would like to receive assistance from the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities' "HomeMod Program" ("Program"). The Program provides accessibility modifications for Chicago residents with disabilities. Mr. Alvarez, a single parent, wishes to apply through the Program to fund accessibility modifications to his home for his child, who was disabled due to being the victim of a shooting; the modifications cost over $1,000. Having reviewed this case, based on the totality of the circumstances, the Board granted a waiver to Mr. Alvarez from §2-156-110 (financial interest in City business) of the Ordinance to allow him to apply to the Program and receive accessibility modifications to the same extent as any applicant to the program who is not a City employee.

[1] 2-156-402. Waivers.

(a) When requested by a city official or employee, the board may grant a waiver from compliance with any of the following… (3) The interest in city business restrictions provided in Section 2-156-110…

[2] 2-156-110. Interest in city business

(a) Except with respect to the participation of Eligible Persons in Eligible Programs, no elected official or employee shall have a financial interest in his own name or in the name of any other person in any contract, work or business of the city, or in the sale of any article, whenever the expense, price or consideration of the contract, work, business or sale is paid with funds belonging to or administered by the city, or is authorized by ordinance…

2-156-010. Definitions.

The following definitions shall apply for purposes of this chapter: (l) "Financial interest" means an interest held by an official or employee that is valued or capable of valuation in monetary terms with a current value of more than $1,000.00 in any consecutive twelve-month period…

[3] Rule 9. Waivers

(1) Pursuant to §2-156-402 of the Ordinance, the Board may grant any current or former City employee or official waiver from compliance with respect to the following provisions of the Ordinance…(iii) §2-156-110 (financial interest in City business) …

(4) The waiver itself, if granted, shall be made public in a manner prescribed by the Board. However, the request and any information or documents related to the request or the Board's determination shall not be made public and shall be and remain subject to the Ordinance's and Board's rules on confidentiality …

(6) Upon receiving the waiver request, obtaining all necessary additional information, and considering the request, the Executive Director shall recommend that the Board grant or deny a complete or limited written waiver to the city employee or official. The Executive Director shall retain a copy of the grant or denial in the Board's files; report on the matter to the Board pursuant to the Open Meetings Act; and make the waiver public in a manner prescribed by the Board.