Politics & Government

Booth Says New Plainfield Park District Role is Temporary — At Least For Now

The park district treasurer and former pastor said he'll take home about $5,500 per month for his 90-day role.

Plainfield Park District treasurer Doug Booth took on a new role on Friday, but said that for now at least, it’s not a long-term gig.

“At this point, it’s temporary,” Booth said of his job as interim director of communications. Booth said he has agreed to take on the role for 90 days. The salary for the position is set at $66,000 per year, or $5,500 per month, he noted.

After the 90 days is up, park district leadership will decide whether the new job should become permanent. If that happens, the job will be posted and applications will be accepted, Booth said.

“I might apply if they post it,” he said, “but with the amount of controversy that’s been generated in the last few weeks, I’m not sure.”

Since newly elected board members Janet Silosky and Peter Steinys were sworn in at a May 8 meeting, the park board has made rapid changes — including naming Plainfield village trustee Garrett Peck to the park district executive director post. Peck, who is also the park district secretary, received a three-year contract for $110,000 per year. Booth said Peck will not receive a vehicle allowance, and will get two weeks’ vacation and the same health care benefits and 401K plan offered to all park district full-time staff.
Peck's contract also stipulates that the park district will foot the bill for continuing education — including tuition, books and fees — related to his position. Read Peck's contract on the Plainfield Park District website.

Read: It’s Official - Park Board Votes to Make Peck Executive Director

Former Superintendent of Planning Cameron Bettin, who had a contract to take over for retiring Executive Director Greg Bott on July 1, is now assistant executive director. Meanwhile, the board voted to amend Bott's contract to expire six weeks ahead of schedule.

The park board’s May 28 vote to name Peck to the position drew outrage from some residents who attended the meeting. Residents also staged a May 22 protest to voice their opposition to recent changes within the park district.

The latest change came on Friday, when word spread that Booth, who was named treasurer on May 8, had been hired for the newly created interim director of communications post. The move came even as park board president Peter Hurtado called for increased transparency and fiscal responsibility within the park district.

But according to Booth, the new job won’t mean a financial hit for the park district.

“I will easily save more than I’m paid,” he noted, adding his duties will include taking an active role in crafting the park district budget. “I have no concern about that whatsoever.”

Booth said Peck notified the park board about the new position in a memo sent on May 31.

‘There’s a lot of things to be done’

Booth’s new post makes him the supervisor of Marianne Ryan, the park district’s public information coordinator.

“Marianne has been doing a good job with what she’s been doing,” Booth said, noting he met Friday with both Ryan and Business Manager Maureen Nugent. “[Ryan]'s got a lot of good ideas that I think perhaps weren’t very well listened to,” Booth added, saying he plans to increase promotion of the park district through social marketing and community outreach.

“I think a number of different people have a number of good ideas — as a boss, that’s the kind of thing I like to foster,” he said.

Booth is the former pastor of Sharon United Methodist Church in Plainfield and has a background in broadcasting. He served as press secretary for former House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, and, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections, was a paid consultant to Hurtado's campaign in an unsuccessful bid to unseat State Sen. Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) last fall.

“I’ve got 40 years in communications in one form or another,” Booth said, adding his role will be to help promote the park district and make residents more aware of programs and services. Booth cited the Normantown Trails Equestrian Center, a park district amenity he said is little known.

“I think it is a diamond in the rough — it just has not been marketed well,” Booth said.

He said he’ll also work to make park district staff aware of programs available to them, such as professional development opportunities, and help with the transition as new Affordable Care Act regulations take effect.

As far as the budget process goes, “It is well within the bounds of reason that we can freeze the budget for the coming year … and not hurt any of our programs,” Booth said.

“I’m pretty excited about it,” he said of his new role. “There’s a lot of things to be done, and I think everyone’s going to be very happy.”

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