Wednesday, May 22, 2013
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 …
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
A demonstration to protest big changes at the park district is still scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.
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. 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…
Monday, May 20, 2013
Rally set for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at the park district administration center.
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 --------------------- 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. The group is speaking out after the controversial decision to name Village of Plainfield trustee …
Plainfield trustee took on new role as interim executive director this week.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Commissioner Mary Kay Ludemann said park board president Peter Hurtado tried to silence her over controversial hiring. Another special meeting is set for May 22.
Update: A group is planning a protest prior to the May 22 special meeting. Read — Group Plans to Protest Plainfield Park District Meeting Village of Plainfield trustee Garrett Peck started his new role as interim executive director of the Plainfield Park District this week, but said that, for now at least, he's not getting paid. On Friday, the board announced there will be a special meeting to discuss personnel at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 22, at the park district administration center, 23729 W. Ottawa St. The board is expected to discuss personnel in closed session before coming out in open session to take a vote. Peck could not confirm whether his contract will be up for discussion, but said that even if it is, "I won't let two people be …
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Send letters to the editor to shannon.antinori@patch.com
Dear Garrett, Do the right thing. DON'T do this. The appearances of wrong-doing with your taking the executive director position at the Plainfield Park District are far reaching. The first issue being that you put your friends in harm’s way. Peter, Pete and Jan were all elected to their positions with your help. Each of them also received help from the Plainfield Township Republican Committee. You have no, I mean “0,” qualification to be hired in a park district let alone run the park district. This is about Garrett and does not move the Plainfield Community Forward. Lastly, this just confirms what lots of people have been saying about you all along. Garrett is in it for Garrett. This move by you would discredit park doards all over …
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Retiring Executive Director Greg Bott said Wednesday is his last day.
It’s the end of an era for Plainfield Park District Executive Director Greg Bott, who said Wednesday is his last day in his current role. On Saturday, park commissioners voted 3-1 to name Village of Plainfield Trustee Garrett Peck interim executive director — despite the fact that Bott was set to retire July 1, and a new executive director had already been chosen by the previous board. Former Superintendent of Planning Cameron Bettin has been serving as assistant executive director since April 1, and is contracted to take over Bott’s position in July. While he’s been relieved of his day-to-day duties, Bott said he has agreed to work as a consultant to help with the transition through the end of June. “I’ve also agreed to act as a …
Monday, May 13, 2013
Peck is scheduled to start his new post next week. The board also voted to end retiring Executive Director Greg Bott’s contract two months early.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Peck is scheduled to start his new post next week. The board also voted to end retiring Executive Director Greg Bott’s contract two months early.
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…
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Incumbent Mayor Mike Collins and trustees Margie Bonuchi, Garrett Peck and Jim Racich held onto their seats.
Four familiar faces will return to Village Hall this spring. With little new blood on the ballot — only one challenger faced off against the three incumbent trustees — voters re-elected Margie Bonuchi, Garrett Peck and Jim Racich, according to unofficial election results. Meanwhile, Mayor Mike Collins officially ran unopposed after an election challenge knocked Michael Lambert off the ballot. Lambert ran as a write-in candidate, but couldn’t garner enough votes to unseat Collins, a veteran of the Illinois State Police and U.S. Air Force. "I'm feeling just excited," Collins said at a post-election gathering at HopScotch & Vine in downtown Plainfield. "Myself and my supporters really wanted to make a statement about the job myself and the …
Vera
10:34 pm on Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Garrett needs to stop comparing himself to Ray McGury, executive director of Naperville Park District. When Ray got the job, he had 27 years of law enforcement under his belt including three years as Bolingbrook Police Chief. Ray interviewed for the job at the park district. He didn’t get it the first time, but after the first pick left – he was invited back for another interview. An actual job … more ›