Politics & Government

Protesters to Plainfield Park Board: 'Garrett's Got to Go'

Despite the cancellation of a special park district board meeting, demonstrators gathered Wednesday morning to sound off on the controversial hiring.

Carrying signs and chanting slogans, more than two dozen demonstrators showed up at the Plainfield Park District’s Recreation/Administration Center Wednesday morning to voice their anger at decisions made by the new park board majority.

“Our goal is to make sure they show transparency,” said rally organizer Deb Bostjancic. The rally was held in opposition to the recent hiring of village trustee Garrett Peck as the new interim executive director, despite the fact that outgoing Executive Director Greg Bott had just six weeks left on his contract before his anticipated July 1 retirement date.

Complicating matters even more, the previous park board in March voted unanimously to name former Superintendent of Planning Cameron Bettin as Bott’s successor. Bettin, who has been serving as assistant executive director since April 1, has a contract to take over the role on July 1.

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The demonstration was organized after the park district announced the board would hold a special meeting Wednesday morning for the purposes of discussing personnel and appointing a new recording secretary. The meeting was canceled on Tuesday, but that didn’t keep demonstrators away.

Park commissioner Mary Kay Ludemann attended the May 22 rally, but stressed she was there not as a protester, but to answer questions from park district residents. She and Larry Newton have been the voices of dissent as board president Peter Hurtado and newly elected commissioners Janet Silosky and Peter Steinys have voted in favor of big changes in the park district.

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“I came out to talk to people here today,” Ludemann said. “Larry Newton and I seem to be the only ones saying this isn’t right.”

To the residents gathered at the park district office on Wednesday, Ludemann said, “I appreciate your being here today."

Ludemann said she and Newton were slated to be interviewed on WJOL at 5:40 p.m. Wednesday.

The demonstrators found allies in Will County Board members Lee Ann Goodson and Liz Collins. Collins previously served as the executive director of the Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce.

Goodson was critical of the board's failure to allot time for public comment at a May 11 special meeting. It was at that meeting that the board voted 3-1, with Newton absent and Ludemann voting no, to appoint Peck to his new post.

“I think we should ask why public comment isn’t on every agenda,” Goodson said. “The park board needs to hear from the public, just as much as any elected board.”

Related:

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

Also in attendance were former park board members Michael Brann and Michelle Kelly.

“We need to have our whole community say, this isn’t right,” Kelly said. She questioned Peck’s qualifications for the job. “If they really feel we need to go in a different direction, they need to be transparent about it,” she said of the hiring process.

Referring to Peck’s status as a village board member, Bostjancic said, “Let him do the job we elected him for — not the one his friend Peter [Hurtado] wants him to do.”

Demonstrators marched along park district property, changing slogans including “Parks yes, Peck no; Garrett, Garrett’s got to go,” and “Take back our parks.”  

Peck, who started his new job last week, made a brief appearance, coming outside to conduct an interview with WJOL. His interview was momentarily interrupted by demonstrators, who chanted “Peck no, parks yes.”

A village trustee and owner of two small businesses, Peck has cited his government and business experience among his qualifications for his new job.

Demonstrator Jamey Alwood asked Peck if he was willing to take questions from the group gathered outside the park district office, but the new interim director declined, saying he would only speak with them one-on-one. According to WJOL, Peck did create a sign-up sheet for protesters who wanted to meet with him.

Peck, who is currently working without a contract, has said he will not accept a salary for his new role while Bott continues to be paid for the same job. Bott is slated to be paid until June 30.

The board didn’t give any indication when the canceled meeting will be rescheduled. According to Peck, the meeting could happen within a week to 10 days, although he noted that it could be rescheduled sooner.

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