Plainfield Park District Special Meeting Canceled

A group of Plainfield residents say they still plan to hold a demonstration outside the Plainfield Park District administration center, even though Wednesday morning’s special meeting has been canceled.

The park district posted notice of the cancellation on its website Tuesday morning.

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While board president Peter Hurtado did not immediately respond to voicemail and email messages from Patch, interim executive director Garrett Peck said the meeting had been canceled due to possible lack of a quorum.

“It is also a positive as we had a few items that possibly need to be added to the agenda,” he said, but did not elaborate on what those agenda items could be. Peck said the meeting will likely be rescheduled within the next week to 10 days, but added it could happen sooner.

The board was slated to discuss personnel, along with appointing a new recording secretary at the May 22 meeting, which had been scheduled for 10 a.m.

A group of park district residents organized a rally to protest the fact that Peck, a village trustee, was named interim park board director during a May 11 special meeting.

The decision came three days after newly elected trustees Janet Silosky and Peter Steinys joined the board. Led by board president Peter Hurtado, the trio also voted to amend Executive Director Greg Bott’s contract to end six weeks early — despite the fact that he was slated to retire July 1.

Commissioner Mary Ludemann cast the lone no vote, and fellow board member Larry Newton was not able to attend the May 11 meeting.

Related:

• Group Plans to Protest Plainfield Park District Meeting
  
• Village Trustee Garrett Peck Named Interim Plainfield Park District Director
  
• Plainfield Parks: Hurtado Defends Decision to Hire Peck
  
• Peck Says He’s Not Getting Paid for Plainfield Park District Job; Special Meeting Set for Wednesday
  

On Tuesday, Ludemann said she learned of the meeting cancellation from a citizen.

“I was planning on being there,” said Ludemann, who previously told Patch she would have to take vacation time to attend the weekday morning meeting.

Ludemann said Newton also planned to be at the May 22 meeting.

"Larry and I were definitely going to be there," she said. "We both rearranged our days for that to happen.

“ ... I have no idea what they’re doing,” Ludemann said, adding she did not know when the rescheduled meeting might take place.

Although Peck could not confirm that his contract was on the special meeting agenda, he has said he will not accept compensation for his new job while Bott is still being paid for the same role. Bott will reportedly continue to be paid until June 30 for the executive director job.

Former park district Superintendent of Planning Cameron Bettin, who is currently serving as assistant executive director, currently has a contract to take over Bott’s former role on July 1. 

Former park district IT staffer Joe Bostjancic said he and a group of concerned residents still plan to hold a march and rally outside the park district offices, 23729 W. Ottawa St., on Wednesday morning.

The rally is set for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Residents to speak out on WJOL

Former District 202 board member Mike Kelly said he and fellow park district resident Deb Bostjancic plan to appear on WJOL’s Kevin Kollins Show Tuesday afternoon to speak out about the controversy.

Kelly, whose daughter is a former park district commissioner, has been vocal about his disapproval of Peck’s hiring as interim park district director.

He said he and Bostjancic will be interviewed on the radio station at 5:20 p.m. Tuesday.