NAPERVILLE, IL. (ECWd) –
At some point, public bodies must be held accountable for their actions.
Take the Naperville Park District as an example. The Park District Code specifically states that commissioners shall serve without compensation. Does that statement really need further defining or interpretation?
According to their policy manual, this Park District made a policy specifically designed to violate state law. Not only do they give themselves and their family members compensation while they are commissioners, they give themselves and their family members compensation for the rest of their lives. Do they not even bother to read the very statute that provides for their oath of office to faithfully discharge their duties?
To the Park District Commissioners: If you truly did not know this was wrong, you can demonstrate that by immediately revoking your policy and Appendix D to the policy. Please read the email I sent you.
Park District Code:
(70 ILCS 1205/4-1) (from Ch. 105, par. 4-1)
Sec. 4-1. Each member of the governing board of any park district before entering upon the duties of his office shall take and subscribe an oath to well and faithfully discharge his duties, which oath shall be filed with the secretary of said board. The members of such governing board shall constitute the corporate authority for such district and a majority of such members shall constitute a quorum for said board at any meeting thereof. The members of such governing boards shall act as such without compensation, and each member of the board shall be a legal voter of and reside within such district.
(Source: Laws 1951, p. 113.)
Naperville Park District Policy:
5.7.2 Restrictions Seated and Former Commissioners, and eligible family members, may use park district programs and facilities per the Policy set forth in Appendix D. A Commissioner shall not use a park district facility or participate in a Park District program if such use or participation will have the effect of excluding a paying resident or nonresident user. Appendix D (below) charts out the compensation:
[gview file=”https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/NapervilleParkDistrictCommissionerBenefitsAppendixD.pdf” save=”1″]
