Group Plans to Protest Plainfield Park District Meeting

Editor's note: The special park board meeting for May 22 has been canceled, according to the park district website.

Read: Plainfield Park District Special Meeting Canceled

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Original story:

A grassroots group of protesters hopes to get a good turnout Wednesday morning as they rally in opposition to big changes at the Plainfield Park District.

A demonstration is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at the park district recreation/administration center, 23729 W. Ottawa St. The rally is scheduled to take place half an hour before a special meeting called to discuss personnel and to appoint a new park district recording secretary.

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The group is speaking out after the controversial decision to name Village of Plainfield trustee Garrett Peck interim executive director of the park district.

“We’re hoping to get at least 100 people,” said Joe Bostjancic, a former park district employee who retired in December 2012. That could be difficult due to the timing of the meeting, he noted.

“It’s going to be hard, because, once again, it’s in the middle of the day,” Bostjancic said.

He said demonstrators are upset with the decision to appoint Peck to the park district’s top job despite the fact that former Superintendent of Planning Cameron Betting is scheduled to take over the role on July 1.

In March, the previous park board voted unanimously to name Bettin as the successor to retiring Executive Director Greg Bott, whose last day was originally slated for June 30. But at a Saturday morning special meeting on May 11, trustees voted to Bott’s contract to end six weeks early.

Read: Village Trustee Garrett Peck Named Interim Plainfield Park District Director

"There was a group of people from around the community,” Bostjancic said. “We got together because we were really not happy with the situation at all. We’d like fairness, we’d like openness.”

Bostjancic said some residents have written letters and emailed park board members, but have not received a response, with the exception of a press release issued last week by board president Peter Hurtado.

Hurtado said Peck was chosen to help “put [the] park district on a path of fiscal responsibility.”

Read: Plainfield Parks: Hurtado Defends Decision to Hire Peck 

The board majority’s decision to hire Peck, a small business owner, has drawn criticism from residents, as well as park board commissioners Mary Kay Ludemann and Larry Newton.

The change came just days after newly elected board members Janet Silosky and Peter Steinys officially joined the board, and Hurtado was elected board president.

Bostjancic said residents are concerned with the swift decision to make big changes — which also included naming Peck board secretary and appointing former Sharon United Methodist Church pastor Doug Booth board treasurer. Sandi Walton was named recording secretary and given a stipend of $150 per meeting, but according to Wednesday’s special meeting agenda, the board is once again looking to fill that position. Previously, those roles were performed by park district staff.

“How did all this happen so quickly?” Bostjancic said. “I just can’t believe this — I can’t believe anyone would do this.” 

Board to discuss personnel

The May 22 special meeting agenda includes a closed-session discussion on personnel, followed by a vote. Last week, Peck could not confirm that the board will be discussing his contract, but said he will not allow two people to be paid simultaneously for the executive director role.

Read: Peck Says He’s Not Getting Paid for Plainfield Park District Job; Special Meeting Set for Wednesday

Bott, whose last day was May 15, will continue to be paid for the position until June 30, and said he has agreed to serve as a consultant to the district and the board until July 2014.

For now, Bettin still has a contract to take over Bott’s former role on July 1.

“Bettin’s unanimously approved contract, which currently remains in effect, calls for him to assume the post July 1, but some connected with the recently reconfigured board have said the group is considering changing course and keeping Peck in the position,” Bostjancic said in a press release. He went on to say he believes it would be a conflict of interest for Peck to stay in the job permanently.

“As a village trustee, Peck is obligated to promote growth and economic development, whereas a park district director’s mission lies largely in the expansion of open space for shared public use,” Bostjancic said in the release.

He said demonstrators plan to gather outside the park district office at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday to voice their disapproval with signs and slogans.

“It’s mostly just to let them know we care about the park district — about what they’re trying to do to the park district,” Bostjancic said. “This is Chicago-style politics in Plainfield. We can’t stand for that.”

For more information on the demonstration, call 815-715-2686 or email joejbost@comcast.net  

To view the May 22 special meeting agenda, click here.