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March 29, 2024

College of DuPage – Video of the $762,867.77 vote –

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen

On January 24, 2015

College of DuPage (ECWd) –

With all of the uproar and disgust over the College of DuPage gifting Breuder one of the largest, if not the largest, severance package in the history of the state of Illinois, this article will focus on Chairman Erin Birt’s actions and comments during the discussion of this at the open meeting.

First, had it not been for the Chicago Tribune, nobody would have known about this contract addenda vote, and what was actually in the proposed addenda.

The Illinois Open Meetings Act never requires a meeting to be closed to the public, and since that is the case, there is absolutely no such thing as “private” or “confidential” mandates within the Open Meetings Act. A trustee can leave a closed meeting and tell first person they see everything that was said during the closed meeting, and there is nothing the board can do to stop it. It is not a violation of any law, statute, or rule. Despite that, almost all of Birt’s comments dealt with a claim that a draft copy of the addenda was leaked to the media, and she didn’t like it.

Claiming no one, not even the board members, had a copy of what was being voted on, and that the leaked copy “might not be the same thing up for vote” was one of her claims, additionally, insinuating Trustee Hamilton of leaking the information to the press and quickly backing up from that statement when Hamilton asked her to “prove it.” Birt even admitted to not having a copy of it when calling it to a vote!

At about the 7:40 mark in the video, the Board Attorney refused to state when a copy of the addenda was uploaded to the COD website, only stating “it is on there now” after three direct questions by Trustee Hamilton asking “when was it made available to the public” – then Birt jumps in to start ranting about it being a personnel matter, a draft, a confidential matter.

At 9:15, Chairman Birt, brought great embarrassment to the College of DuPage by falsely accusing Trustee Hamilton of making the agreement available to the public – you know, making a false statement during a public meeting, accusing a trustee of something she had absolutely no proof of. Something worthy of censure had Hamilton accused Birt of the same thing.

This vote makes me wonder how many of them were treated to a meal on the backs of the taxpayers prior to this meeting, like they’ve done many times before.

This is another shining example of everything that is wrong with this Board of Trustees.


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Below are photos from the meeting…

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2 Comments
  • screech0000
    Posted at 13:28h, 25 January

    Thanks for the video.

    The camera angle failed to catch the telling moment after the vote where Chairman Birt leans over and gives Breuder’s arm an affectionate squeeze, effectively congratulating him for screwing over the taxpayers once again.

    This action needs to be reversed. Breuder, Birt, and any other Board members complicit in this breach of public trust need to be prosecuted.

  • Chris M. Gaines
    Posted at 20:36h, 25 January

    Wow! Public corruption at it’s finest or worst depending of who you are of course. The College of Dupage board (I commend the one board member who spoke out and voted against this though) should be thoroughly investigated by the appropriate agencies and criminal charges should be filed obviously as well as civil lawsuits fied obviously. Who will take actions to do this is the only real question now?

    Thanks again John Kraft and Kirk Allen through their non-profit organization called IllinoisLeaks.com for exposing the truth and this valuable information to the public. They obviously should be commended as well for a job well done with no compensation to themselves personally. Their relentless investigative reporting on this issue and citizen journalism efforts are an example to us all and it should inspire us all of what we all can do as passionate and motivated citizens in our community, that get informed about and get involved in this Republic of OURS in our United States of America. Get informed. Get involved. Take action. Please!

    Demand electoral reforms and government transparency. Thoroughly vett all the candidates based on facts supported by evidence seeking our vote. Its not a popularity contest. It’s life and death issues in reality.Then actually vote regularly like your life depended on it because it actually DOES in reality, and vote these corrupt politicians/public servants out of office. Out with the old status quo and in with new, those who actually support and have the best interests of WE THE PEOPLE in mind.

    We the People truly have the power IF we UNITE TOGETHER in this battle against TYRANNY and FASCISM. They fear this unity obviously. Please get informed and get involved in the process to end this scourge of public trust erosion before it collapses the foundation of OUR government agencies as they in these secret societies have planned 100′ of years in advance.

    Thank you all who choose to get involved and get informed and take mitigated risks and even life threatening risks to get the job done because no one else can or will do it…for other people and defend their FREEDOM AND LIBERTY and security and ultimately that will secure our own. Unity of people is vital for our survival as a free society. Separation from each other and God is the real enemy. May God have mercy upon all of us and bless us all. Pray MORE! Do MORE! We the People can change our community if we UNITE TOGETHER in this world we all share together in this struggle in this journey through life. Peace. Love. Trust. I pray for and about all this today. Will you? We become what we think about the most. Fact. What are you thinking about today? Don’t be distracted by selfish desires. Please. Have a good day! I love you all like Jesus Christ loves you all. May God Bless you and yours today and tomorrow..throughout eternity.

    : ) Smile more, it’s all going to be ok I can assure you of that. Have faith in Jesus Christ. All things are possible. We have free will as a gift from God thankfully. Please make the right choices in your life because they affect us all in reality. Were all connected in this journey through life. Join us in changing our world for the better and stand up for those who can’t defend themselves for whatever reasons. Be willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. Be willing. Please.

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