Politics & Government
Former Plainfield Parks Employee Appointed to Ottawa City Council
Landscape architect James Less reportedly resigned. According to park officials, the planning department will be eliminated.
Former Plainfield Park District landscape architect James Less, who reportedly resigned just before New Year's, already has a new gig.
Less, 37, was appointed to the Ottawa city council on Thursday, following the death of commissioner of public health Ed Whitney, according to the Ottawa Times.
Less ran against Whitney in 2011 and received praise from the incumbent city council member, according to the paper, which quoted Whitney as saying, "I think he ran a good campaign. He's a good, intelligent kid. I think in the future he will be a very good candidate."
According to the Times, Less is an Ottawa native and has served on the city's Tree Board, Plan Commission and Playground and Recreation Board.
"Being a landscape architect and having a planning background I feel I have a good understanding of what that plan is trying to accomplish and what it's going to do," Less told the Times. Click here to read the full article.
On Dec. 30, the Plainfield Park District issued a press release announcing that Less and Superintendent of Planning/Assistant Executive Director Cameron Bettin had resigned. No reason for the resignations was given.
In the release, Executive Director Garrett Peck said the positions would not be filled, and that planning department duties would be contracted out to a third party. According to Commissioner Larry Newton, Naperville-based Hitchcock design will be used as a consultant for planning projects.
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