Community Corner
Plainfield Park District Treasurer Named Interim Director of Communications
Former Plainfield pastor Doug Booth is now in charge of public relations for the park district.
Just days after village trustee Garrett Peck became the permanent executive director, there’s another staffing change at the Plainfield Park District.
Read: It’s Official - Park Board Votes to Make Peck Executive Director
A source close to the park district confirmed that former Plainfield pastor and political consultant Doug Booth, who was recently named the park board’s treasurer, is the new interim director of communications.
The new post makes him supervisor to Public Information Coordinator Marianne Ryan.
Neither Peck nor Booth returned calls from Plainfield Patch on Friday morning. Park board president Peter Hurtado also did not return a message from Patch.
It’s unclear whether Booth’s new position is permanent, or how much he will be paid. Last week, the park district announced it had posted all full-time staff salaries and compensation on its website, but as of Friday morning, compensation for Peck and Booth was not on the list.
The Plainfield “Park Truth” citizens group, which has been outspoken in opposing Peck’s hiring and other changes at the park district, sent out an email blast regarding Booth’s new position. The group was also behind a May 22 protest outside the park district office. The email, sent Friday morning, read:
Doug Booth has been hired as the Interim Director of Communications at Plainfield Park District. Oddly, Marianne Ryan holds the position of Public Information Coordinator and reported to the Director. Now she will report to Doug Booth. Is the District saving money by having two people doing the job one was doing? Are they going to fire or just pressure Marianne out of her job?
FYI - Marianne's job is to put out press releases, articles and the Park District brochure with all the programming three times a year. She also keeps the web site updated with news and events. What will Doug Booth do?
The email urged residents to make their concerns known at upcoming Village of Plainfield meetings on June 3 and June 10, along with the next Plainfield Park District Board of Commissioners meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m. June 12 at the recreation/administration center on Ottawa Street.
Big changes
Peck’s hiring came after two new board members were sworn in on May 8. Three days later, the board voted 3-1 to name Peck interim executive director, while amending former Executive Director Greg Bott’s contract to end six weeks early.
New board members Janet Silosky and Peter Steinys joined Hurtado in approving the changes, while Mary Kay Ludemann voted no. Park commissioner Larry Newton was unable to attend the May 11 special meeting.
Meanwhile, former Superintendent of Planning Cameron Bettin was slated to take over for the retiring Bott on July 1. At a special meeting on Tuesday, the board voted to make Peck the permanent executive director, while amending Bettin’s six-month contract to make him assistant executive director.
Peck previously told Patch that Bettin will still continue to oversee planning, and that the superintendent of planning position will not be filled.
On Tuesday, park district attorney Matt Campbell said Peck’s contract had yet to be signed, and that, since it could still be amended, details would not immediately be released.
However, the Enterprise newspaper reported that Peck received a three-year contract for $110,000 to start. Park officials did not return calls from Patch seeking to confirm the details of Peck’s contract.
Editor’s note: Patch will submit a Freedom of Information Act request to obtain copies of Peck’s and Booth’s contracts.
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