Elmhurst Mayor Pete DiCianni says he made a rookie mistake when using the city’s official logo on a personal invitation sent out to residents about two weeks ago.

But that explanation isn’t satisfying everyone.

Resident Darlene Heslop brought up the issue at the June 15 City Council meeting during the public comment portion. Heslop said she received an invitation to a victory fundraiser held by Friends of DiCianni and was surprised to see the city’s logo used on something that was clearly not for city business.

“What upset me the most was that I knew that this was a fundraiser from when he was a candidate,” Heslop said following the meeting. “The other thing that upset me was the use of the victory celebration.

“To me it was way over the top.”

DiCianni said this was the first time he has used the logo on unofficial business and that he thought it was acceptable. He also said the invitation states that the event is not paid for by taxpayers.

“I receive a lot of invitations (from statewide politicians) and a lot of them use the logo (of their municipality),” DiCianni said. “This is the first time I’ve heard it’s wrong to do so.

“I assumed as the mayor that I could use the city logo.”

DiCianni said he has asked city attorney Donald J. Storino to look into whether he did anything wrong by using the logo on a non-city function event. If it turns out he did something wrong,

DiCianni said he would apologize and not do it again.

Storino did not return phone calls and messages requesting comment. Aldermen and DiCianni did not comment on the matter when Heslop brought it up during the public comment because they generally do not respond immediately to things brought up during that time.

City Manager Tom Borchert said he thinks the logo was used in error but not maliciously on DiCianni’s part.

“I truly believe that the mayor thought it was OK,” Borchert said. “He had no idea it wouldn’t be OK, and to his credit, there’s been so many things going through the office and city council and through ongoing operations of the city and mayors’ office, it perhaps didn’t get some of the attention it deserved and it was a mistake made.”

When asked about the matter Wednesday, Alderman Paula Pezza said she won’t have an opinion on the matter until learning whether or not the city attorney indicates whether the logo was used improperly.

Heslop said DiCianni should have asked permission to use the seal first.

“This logo belongs to the city of Elmhurst,” she said. “He owes an apology to the people of Elmhurst. Not to me, but to the people of Elmhurst.”

The mayor said he thinks Heslop is making something out of nothing due.

“I think she personally has got an issue with me. I’m trying to be nice to her,” DiCianni said. “Speaking to this issue, I did this because I’m proud of the logo, it’s been the icon of what Elmhurst is. I’m the mayor now and I’m proud of the logo.”