'Where's the Money?' Coach Files Complaint Against Plainfield Jr Cats

• Youth Sports Dustup: Controversy Over Plainfield Jr Cats Election
• Plainfield Jr Cats Hold Election; Some Barred from Board Meeting
  
  

Earlier this month, PJC commissioner and coach Lawrence Jaderberg filed a complaint asking the organization to open up the books amid questions over how finances are being handled.

"Based upon our attorney’s advice, we will make no comment on pending litigation," PJC board president Ron Muscato said in an email to Patch on Wednesday.

The complaint, filed Feb. 10, alleges that the PJC "through the executive board has caused waste or mismanagement within [PJC] by virtue of mismanagement of accounts, awarding of bids without a competitive bidding process and not properly accounting."

Jaderberg said he wants to see how much money is being spent by PJC, and where it's going.

"They are withholding financial information," he said, adding he's requested to see PJC's financial books several times.

Jaderberg claims there was around $150,000 in PJC's coffers three years ago, "and now there's next to nothing."

He also claims that there's a discrepancy between the amount of money spent on travel football, which has about 300 participants, and in-house football, which has twice as many athletes.

"Why do the minority of these people get the bulk of the funds, and where's this money going?," Jaderberg asked.

The filing asks PJC to "provide an accounting to the court for all transactions taking place in the last three years."

Election controversy continues

The complaint also takes issues with changes to the bylaws that prevented several candidates from running for the PJC executive board because they no longer have children involved in the youth football and cheerleading league. Previously, that was not a disqualifying factor.

"As a result of the defendant's actions, the plaintiff was prohibited from voting for candidates that were properly nominated and eligible at the time candidates were sought for the election," the complaint states, contending that the changes came after the nominating period for candidates had already ended.

"They basically manipulated the bylaws to get candidates out, to eliminate positions," Jaderberg said. 

The complaint contends that the Dec. 10, 2013, election was invalid, and asks that PJC conduct a new election process and "any and all other relief the court deems just and appropriate."

The next court date in the case is set for June 2, according to Will County records.