'It's Wrong, It's Illegal:' Plainfield Park Board Votes Down Term Limits

• Watch video of the April 1 Plainfield Park Board meeting

Voters in the March 18 primary overwhelmingly said yes to a non-binding referendum question asking whether Plainfield Park District board members should have term limits.

• Also read: Plainfield Park District Could Have New Director By July

But on Tuesday, park board commissioners said there was just one problem with approving a resolution that would put term limits in place: It's illegal.

"I don't know why it's even in here," commissioner Mary Kay Ludemann said of the agenda item. "It's wrong, it's illegal ... Our legal counsel did not want it in here."

Board attorney Matt Campbell agreed that the board doesn't have the authority to implement term limits.

Asked how the board could implement term limits, Campbell said it could only happen if the state legislature were to amend the park district code — similar to what's being asked in a bill sponsored by State Rep. Tom Cross (R-Oswego). Cross' bill, which passed the House rules committee last week, would change the code to add two new appointed members to the park board.

• Read: Plainfield Residents Support Bill That Could Reshape Park District Board

"We can look at this issue, but it has to be done through the legislature," Campbell said.

Board president Peter Hurtado supported the resolution, saying municipalities including Naperville, Downers Grove, Brookfield, Riverside and Utica have term limits for board members.

Campbell, however, said the resolution would violate the park district code, noting that every town Hurtado mentioned is a home-rule municipality — not a park district. 

"A resolution based upon this is, I think, a bad idea," Campbell said.

As written, the resolution stated that "no person shall serve on the Board of Commissioners for more than one additional six-year term, following the conclusion of their current term."

That differs from the language used on the March 18 ballot, which said, "Should the Plainfield Township Park District impose term limits on the members of its park board so they may serve no more than two six-year terms?" 

Campbell acknowledged the discrepancy, and said he didn't write the resolution.

The board wound up voting against the measure in a 4-1 vote, with only Hurtado voting yes.

"This would be a violation of the state constitution," Ludemann said. "If we would pass this, we would be open to a lawsuit."

Commissioner Larry Newton agreed.

"Let's heap more legal fees," he said. " ... I think if we're going to break the law with this resolution, we ought to add recall elections."

The failed resolution also contained a provision stating that "no person shall serve as board president for more than two one-year terms."

Meetings moved back to Wednesday

Starting next month, the park board will go back to the meeting schedule it abandoned in November.

Trustees voted unanimously to change the meeting dates back to the second Wednesday of the month. Meetings will also be officially moved to the Heritage Professional Center, 24023 W. Lockport St.

The next meeting is set for 6 p.m. on May 14.

Also read:

• Plainfield Parks Referenda: Yes to Term Limits, No To Dog Park Permits
• Plainfield Park Board Members, Soccer Group Discuss Missing Equipment, Field Use
• Plainfield Park Board Members Won't Attend Meeting on PSA Incident
• Plainfield Soccer Assoc.: Equipment Missing from Shed on Park District Property