Village Trustee Garrett Peck Named Interim Plainfield Park District Director

In a decision that came as a shock to some residents, commissioners voted during a special Saturday meeting to make Village of Plainfield trustee Garrett Peck the new interim executive director of the Plainfield Park District.

Meanwhile, outgoing Executive Director Greg Bott will be leaving earlier than his anticipated July 1 retirement date. The board voted to amend Bott’s contract to end next week, making way for Peck to take the reins.

The decision comes just days after newly elected Janet Silosky and Peter Steinys were sworn in as members of the park district board of commissioners.

With commissioner Larry Newton absent, board president Peter Hurtado joined Silosky and Steinys  in voting in favor of the changes. Mary Kay Ludemann voted no.

“I do not agree with the interim director decision,” Ludemann said, addressing Bott as she added, “You’ve been a valued and dedicated employee for 32 years of your life … After 32 years of service, I feel that [Bott] should be allowed to have the dignity and respect to retire on the terms he had originally agreed to.”

• Sign up for the Plainfield Patch newsletter
• Like Patch on Facebook and follow us on Twitter

The vote came after a 90-minute closed-session meeting. “There’s no question this is unusual,” Bott said of holding a special meeting on a Saturday morning. Ludemann said she didn’t think it had ever been done before, particularly with such short notice.

It remains unclear whether Peck’s position is temporary, or whether he will replace Superintendent of Planning Cameron Bettin, who was chosen as Bott’s successor by the previous board.

Peck’s contract — including start date and compensation — will be on the agenda for the board’s next meeting, currently scheduled for June 12. Bott said his own salary is just more than $164,000.

In March, the previous board chose Bettin to replace Bott. Since April 1, Bettin has been serving as assistant executive director in anticipation of taking over the new role July 1. Hurtado said Bettin’s contract, which includes his stint as assistant executive director and July 1 transition date, is still in effect.

As for whether that will remain the case is “up in the air,” Ludemann said, adding she thinks it’s “likely” that the board will discuss amending Bettin’s contract.

Bettin was first hired by the park district in 2004. He started his recreation career in 1989 as an intern with the Wheaton Park District, and worked there full time as the assistant superintendent of planning from 1990 to 1998. He also worked as the Waukegan Park District manager of planning services from 1998 to 2002.

Read: Plainfield Park District Names New Director

Saying he was in a rush to get to another event following Saturday morning’s meeting, Hurtado declined to answer questions about Bettin’s status.

"Why are you asking that? He has a contract," Hurtado said when asked whether Bettin's contract will be amended and whether he will remain on staff at the park district. Bettin could not be reached for comment Saturday.

Peck, meanwhile, has served on the Plainfield village board since 2009. He officially became involved with the park district May 8, when commissioners appointed him district secretary.

Residents react to Peck’s new role

Prior to Saturday’s meeting, upset residents attempted to get answers from Steinys, Silosky and Peck. About a dozen people showed up for the meeting.

Silosky declined to answer questions, but told residents to feel free to contact board members via email. As of Saturday afternoon, email addresses for Steinys and Silosky were not listed on the park district website, and neither board member responded Saturday when asked repeatedly for their addresses.

“I’m so glad you’re concerned about what we’re doing,” Silosky said. “We want the very, very best [for the park district],” she added. “For anyone to think we want anything but the best for the community, that’s an affront to me.”

Peck, meanwhile, declined to answer questions from resident Michelle Kelly, who asked him about his qualifications to serve as park district director.

“I’m not accepting any more comments at this time,” Peck responded.

Plainfield resident and business owner Michael Lambert expressed frustration at the lack of response from the new commissioners.

“I find it very, very frustrating that they can’t be transparent with something as simple as an email address,” Lambert said. “[Silosky and Steinys] made campaign statements that they’re not following through on.”

He also questioned Peck’s qualifications for the role.

“I do question how an elected official can serve in two capacities and think that they are doing a fair and responsible job for the voting community,” Lambert said.

Peck said his experience with village government will serve him in his new role.

“Whether it’s the village, the park district or the library, there’s a lot of similarity,” he said. “They essentially all provide a service ... In addition, as a business owner, I’ve dealt with government for well over a decade.”

As for how he plans to juggle running two businesses plus his duties as a village trustee and interim park district director, “I would say I’m happy when I’m busy,” Peck said. “I have plenty of help and I have the ability to be successful” in all three roles, he said.

On Friday, Peck said he spoke with an attorney for the Village of Plainfield to make sure there was no conflict with him taking on a role with the park district.

“As long as I’m not a voting member of the park board, I can do that,” he said. 

Bott: ‘The board wants to make changes’

On Saturday, Bott said he had yet to see his amended contract, but said his understanding is that he will relinquish his duties by Wednesday, May 15.

He said Peck was slated to begin his role on Monday, May 13, serving as interim director to Bettin’s assistant director.

Bott, who has been executive director since 1985, said he was shocked to learn about the impending changes earlier this week.

“It was a shock to me that they wanted to make a change so soon … My understanding is there is a new board and the majority of the board wants to make changes and move the district in a different direction sooner than the end of my contract,” he said, adding he doesn’t believe the board had an issue with his performance.

Hurtado, Steinys and Silosky all offered words of praise for Bott at the May 11 meeting.

“Greg, I had the opportunity to work with you for two years — I think you did a great job,” Hurtado said. “Unfortunately, we have to look in a different direction,” he added, saying he hopes Bott will continue to attend park board meetings and remain involved.

“They were very complimentary about how I’ve been doing my job,” Bott said, adding he is willing to help make the transition as smooth as possible. “I’ve been here a long time and I care about the park district. My concern is for the staff and the park district and I don’t want to do anything to harm the park district — I want to help.”

Bott said it’s his understanding he will still be paid through the end of his old contract, which expired June 30.

As for whether Bettin will still take the reins July 1, “I have no idea,” Bott said. “I have no way to tell.”

New board, big changes

Steinys and Silosky were sworn in at Wednesday’s regular board meeting. At the same meeting, Hurtado was elected board president, and Silosky was elected vice president.

Non-staff members were also named to executive board positions on May 8.

Commissioners voted to appoint Peck park district secretary, while former Sharon United Methodist Church Pastor Douglas A. Booth, who now works as a political consultant, was named district treasurer and Sandi Walton was appointed recording secretary.

In the past, park district staff members have served in the positions. Bott previously served as district secretary, while his secretary, Wendi Calabrese, served as recording secretary. Business manager Maureen Nugent served as treasurer.

The board also voted 3-1 Saturday to pay Walton a stipend of $150 per meeting.

Ludemann again was the lone dissenter, adding she would prefer the position to be volunteer, rather than paid.

“I do feel we have an executive secretary on staff that has acted in this role for a number of years,” Ludemann said.

Silosky and Steinys ran unopposed for the board in April, after former board president Michael Brann withdrew from the race following a challenge to his election nominating petitions. Another candidate, Thomas Breier, withdrew from the race for the same reason.

Read: Plainfield Parks Candidates Withdraw From Race Amid Objections

The park district serves a 42-square-mile area encompassing all of Plainfield Township and portions of Wheatland Township in Will County and Na-Au-Say Township in Kendall County, including areas of Bolingbrook, Crest Hill, Joliet, Plainfield and Romeoville.

Also read:

• Park Board Member Challenging Library Candidates
• Three Plainfield Library Candidates Removed from Ballot
• Plainfield Trustee Wants Names of 'Anonymous Cyberbullies'