Reaction: Plainfield Parks Officials Eject Resident ... And Play Tic-Tac-Toe?

Plainfield Patch readers had plenty to say after park district executive director Garrett Peck had police escort a resident from the Nov. 13 park board meeting.

The same woman, Vicky Polito, was also the target of Peck's ire when he posted an open letter on the park district website taking citizens to task for filing complaints with the Illinois Attorney General's Office. In the note, which remained online as of Monday afternoon, Peck calls concerned residents a "small group of radicals" and dismissed their complaints as "frivolous."

A video posted on YouTube by Polito also drew attention, as residents accused Peck and board president Peter Hurtado of playing tic-tac-toe as they were being addressed by upset citizens. At about 9:28 in the video, Peck and Hurtado appear to take turns writing on a piece of paper — at one point sharing a quick smile — as Citizens Advocacy Center executive director Maryam Judar speaks to them about Peck's Nov. 4 letter.

Here's what readers had to say on Patch: 

Mario: maybe we need to find the process on how to get them out of office. i know if i did that during a meeting my boss would escort me out the door. it not only shows a lack of respect but more of an i have power over you and there is nothing you can do about it attitude.

 Vicky Polito: ... choosing to play tic-tac-toe, smirking and snickering while members of the taxpaying and voting public are speaking to you, revealing a lack of management skill and ethics during the meeting, lying about and slandering fellow board members, etc., and doing all that when there are high school students in the room for a lesson in government and you are fully aware that you are being recorded is . . . well, I don’t even know what succinctly best describes that sort of activity but my husband said that it reminded him of a phrase he’s heard professionally, career-limiting choices.

Mayhem: Vicky, I do believe the phrase that you are looking for to describe the unprofessional, inappropriate, belittling behavior displayed by those clowns is called "Political Suicide". What you all should know is that this behavior wasn't just something that only happened during this particular meeting. The manner in which Peck and Hurtado displayed themselves is the norm. Usually Silosky is in on it as well; writing notes and snickering back and forth with Hurtado. Being smug, rolling their eyes and blatantly relaying a message of F.... You to the residents attending and speaking at the meetings. The fact that Peck isn't man enough to look people in the eye, well it's pathetic. A public official that can't look you in the eyes has much to hide folks. Believe it.

Frank: Wow; very childish and disrespectful display. How unfortunate.

Stella Reese: JustAn - it takes a special sort of idiot to do what those two did on camera. Here is no defending that kind of dumb. How reckless and self-serving do you have to be to blatantly flip off a roomful of people whose interests you have vowed to represent?

... and via Facebook:

Pete P: I've never been thrown out of a park district meeting , but I'm down for giving it a try.

Larry K: Peck needs to be ejected from his position for his disrespect toward the people who pay his salary. How can anyone disagree with that. He appears to be self serving and that's it.

Don G: Wow. Losing hearts and minds one at a time. His next run for office will be fascinating!

Read more Patch coverage of the Nov. 13 park board meeting:

• Term Limits, dog Park Permits: Plainfield Board Takes Questions to the Voters
• Peck Calls Citizens ‘Radicals;’ Resident Ejected from Park Board Meeting
• Plainfield Park Board Reverses Vote on St. John's Lease
• Video: Plainfield Park Board Terminates Lease; Citizen Advocate Speaks Up